Critical Interpretation of Culture Annice Lappin and Larissa Boyhan

This presentation examines the use of cosmetic surgery and critically examines and evaluates the cultural influences behind this.

Cosmetic surgery is concerned with the correction, restoration or enhancement of the body. It has a history dating back to the 6th century in India.

Which of the following would you agree is cosmetic surgery using the above definition.

Movie of Heide from popular sitcom The City reflecting on her plastic surgery.

Use of Cosmetic Misuse of Surgery Cosmetic Surgery

Aesthetic reasons. Reconstructive reasons. Gender dysphoria. Aesthetic reasons. Body dysphoria disorder Unattainable body image Industry consumerism

Healthy Effects of Cosmetic Surgery

Increased self esteem

Unhealthy effects of misuse of Cosmetic Surgery

Debt

Being able to contribute positively to society. Surgeons operating out of desire for Being able to live a money. normal life restrictive models Empowering to of femininity. improve conditions of life eg get a job

Major risks of surgery

A good plastic surgeon walks a fine line between the Hippocratic ideal of doing no harm and giving the patient what he or she asks for. Obviously, the surgeon should put the health and safety of the patient first in deciding whether or not to accommodate a patients request for a particular procedure. Ethics dictate that he or she would not perform any procedure with the written consent of the patient. Nor would the surgeon perform surgery on a minor without the consent of his or her legal guardian(s).

Ethical Gray Areas the ideal of full disclosure to patients regarding the scope of the surgeons experience with a new technique or piece of surgical equipment. The issues of ethics become even more complex where mental and emotional state of the patient is concerned. How does the surgeon determine when enough is enough, in the case of a person who displays signs of plastic surgery addiction?

A Judgment Call Ultimately, it is up to each surgeon to call upon his or her experience, training, and judgment to make the decision.

appearance-oriented ideology
patriarchal ideology promises of power, pleasure, and freedom Body consumption. beauty ideal -unrealistic conceptions of beauty desire for self-improvement. Consumerism conforming to an acceptable standard of appearance

Gain People with disfigurements

Females. Western Culture. Doctors Fashion industry Cosmetic Product Industry

lose Females
Racial minority groups

Media - (TV, film, magazines, internet)

The business of Cosmetic surgery Fashion industry Stockholders

Positive

Equality of opportunity for all eg Moira Kellys work Quality of life.

Negative

Societies acceptance of women being judged by their appearance more than men inequality and oppression. Imperialism of a Culture to the detriment of another e.g Asian American and Korean

When aesthetic plastic surgery remains where it commenced, in the realm of the medical system where it was intended to seriously benefit patients it is a positive contribution to society.
But when cosmetic surgery crosses entirely into the commercial world reinforcing naturally unachievable stereotypes of beauty and its immediate focus is on benefiting the business it can have a negative impact on the social construct of identity and feminism.

When cosmetic surgery is used address social justice issues such as to enhance the lives of the disadvantaged or marginalised such as the work with Moira Kelly or with the work of Fred Hollows foundation with the Indigenous communities of Australia then it is having a positive impact on society. Cosmetic surgery has a positive impact on the lives of people when used in a responsible manner such as reconstruction after trauma or due to disfigurements, as it can enable the recipients to live a better quality of life. When cosmetic surgery is marketed to society as a normal way to achieve the unrealistic body images portrayed in the media it becomes a manipulative and exploitive force that impacts on the identity formation of some members of society.

http://www.cosmeticsurgeryaustralia.com.au/ accessed on 25.3.10 Rosemary Gillespie. Women, the Body and Brand Extension in Medicine Cosmetic Surgery and the Paradox of Choice. Accessed at http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a904837204&db=all on 25.3.10 Woo Keong Ja . The Beauty Complex and the Cosmetic Surgery Industry. Accessed at http://www.ekoreajournal.net/archive/detail.jsp?BACKFLAG=Y&VOLUMENO=44&BOOKNUM=2&PAPERNUM=4&S EASON=summer&YEAR=2004 on 25.3.10 Bryan C. Mendelson. Aesthetic/Cosmetic Surgery and Ethical Challenges. Accessed at http://www.springerlink.com/content/t1377x2656365447/fulltext.pdf?page=1 on 25.3.10 Deborah A. Sullivan. Cosmetic surgery: the cutting edge of commercial medicine in America Accessed at http://books.google.com.au/books?id=XgPAzXxGGE4C&pg=PR12&lpg=PR12&dq=ideology+of+cosmetic+surg ery&source=bl&ots=_PqKyfXpbJ&sig=qmkWsukqMBl7ycy-gNQcDfr2RXY&hl=en&ei=cS6rS82iEZSXkQX_qDEDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBcQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=ideology%20of%20cos metic%20surgery&f=false on 25.3.10