How do most of your friends and family feel about plastic surgery? When it comes right down to it, attitudes toward elective cosmetic surgery are almost completely cultural. In the United States, for instance, more and more people are choosing to undergo cosmetic procedures, but are often afraid to reveal this for fear of judgment. But that’s not true in some countries, where plastic surgery is far more socially acceptable, and even expected in some cases. Here are some of the factors in attitudes toward plastic surgery worldwide.
Worldwide Changes
While it is true that in some places, plastic surgery is still considered more taboo than in others, the countries with the most plastic surgery procedures each year are relatively diverse and widespread, and global acceptance for plastic surgery seems to be growing. For example, South Korea tops the list of countries for plastic surgery popularity (highest percentage of citizens who have undergone cosmetic surgery), but the other top countries range from Greece and Italy to Brazil and Colombia, and of course, the United States. Even in the Middle East, plastic surgery is growing, and more patients are beginning to see the stigma fall away from the practice.
Celebrities and Plastic Surgery
Naturally, celebrities fuel popularity of plastic surgery worldwide, with some people hoping to emulate certain features of their favorite performers. However, many celebrities try to keep their own cosmetic procedures a secret, for fear of judgment. Celebrities are mainly criticized when the results of surgery are less than stellar—a problem that can often be avoided by taking certain steps before and after the procedure, such as choosing the right surgeon. In some cases, celebrities are lauded for their surgical alterations, while others, like beauty queens, are criticized for being anything other than “natural beauties.”
Status Symbol
In some countries, particularly in South America, plastic surgery has little to no stigma—and in fact is considered a status symbol. This is because procedures can be quite expensive, and are generally completely elective. In Brazil, there are even some plastic surgery tax deductions to help stimulate the economy.
Uniformity
While growing acceptance of plastic surgery around the globe is a generally positive phenomenon, there are some concerning trends that are of note, one of which is uniformity. Particularly in South Korea, there are concerns that plastic surgery is used to make each patient fit into a certain uniform ideal, which can be damaging to people who feel pressured into fitting this standard, and may induce people to seek plastic surgery too hastily. While it is true that in the United States, we struggle with this problem to a certain extent, there has been greater emphasis in recent years on customization and diverse results that fit the patient’s unique features and promote harmony and balance. This is an encouraging trend, and reputable facial plastic surgeons always try to follow the principles of customized surgery.
Plastic Surgery Tourism
Because of the popularity of cosmetic surgery throughout the globe these days, there are many skilled surgeons in different countries, offering patients great results. Unfortunately, there are also some money-driven doctors offering patients lower prices than in their home countries to have surgery performed overseas. These “bargain” rates typically come with great risks. While it is not necessarily a bad idea to travel for quality services, patients need to beware of scams and unsafe or poor-quality operations. Extensive research is highly recommended for picking a surgeon, and patients should never undergo surgery with a provider they do not trust completely, especially since medical regulations vary by country.
If you are looking for a qualified surgeon for facial procedures like rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, face lift, laser services, and much more, come meet with acclaimed, board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Stuart Bentkover. Dr. Bentkover has been helping patients get safe, beautiful, custom, natural-looking results for over two decades. Call Bentkover Facial Plastic Surgery and Laser Center in Worcester (508-363-6500) or Stoneham (617-247-0033), MA, today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bentkover.