This house would ban cosmetic surgery

The distinction between cosmetic surgery and other types of surgery such as reconstructive surgery
is that cosmetic surgery involves techniques intended for the 'enhancement' of appearance.
Cosmetic surgery involves both surgical and medical techniques and it is specifically concerned
with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond the average level toward
some aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic procedures have grown in popularity dramatically, in 2006, nearly
11 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States alone. The number of
cosmetic procedures performed in the United States has increased over 50 percent since the start
of the century. Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007. In Europe, the
second largest market for cosmetic procedures, cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business.
Cosmetic surgery is now very common in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and
Germany. In Asia, cosmetic surgery has become an accepted practice; currently most widely
prevalent and normal in China where it is currently Asia's biggest cosmetic surgery market

Proponents argue that the risks inherent in surgery that is not medically necessary are too great
and that women are merely succumbing to the pressures of men. Opponents, in contrast, argue
women have a right to choose both how they look and what methods they choose to get to how
they look. This debate will examine whether cosmetic surgery should be banned.

Cosmetic surgery is getting more and more popular for modern people. Some people believe that
it is a science to increase the beauty of a person. The basic aim of this surgery is to enhance the
appearance of the individual that is done by altering the parts of the body. On the other hand,
other people disagree with it. They say that cosmetic surgery involves risks which may cause
serious diseases such as heart attack. Can we trust the surgeons? Can we change our
appearance to whatever we want by getting cosmetic surgery?

Yes because...

It can alleviate mental illnesses

Some people are so consumed with their appearance that they let it affect their mental
well being. There are even some mental illnesses which are based solely on the bodys
appearance, things like anorexia and body dismorphia. These are illnesses whereby
people harm themselves through worry about their appearance. If we have people who
have the ability to change what these people do not like about their bodies then why
should we not use it to help these people with their mental well being?

No because...
This is not solving the problem at route. The problem is the perception that the mind has
on what is important. All cosmetic surgery is doing is changing the appearance but not
the mental state. Someone who has such a mental disposition to these illnesses will
have their offending limb changed, but they will ultimately always find something they
are not happy with. Instead of cosmetic surgery, these people should be offered
psychological help. Cosmetic surgery only masks the inner problem.

Yes because...

People have freedom of expression. .

A legal argument can be made for cosmetic surgery. Under the Human Rights Act
which enshrines the European Convention on Human Rights, we have the freedom to
express ourselves, Article 10 ECHR. If we feel that our body does not reflect who we
are as people, then we have the right to change it. If we can dye our hair, change our
clothes and have piercings, why should we not be able to express ourselves via
cosmetic surgery. Now, this right would not extend to NHS payment for the cosmetic
surgery, but if someone can afford to spend money on their own appearance, there is
no reason why they should not be able to, and the3re is a legal reason why they should
be able to

No because...
It is laughable to think that having larger breasts or lips can be classified as the use of
freedom of expression. How low has our society gone if we think the most valuable use
of our right to freedom of expression is the right to have cosmetic surgery and dye our
hair? The availability of cosmetic surgery and the making it more acceptable only lets
the idea infiltrate society that it is ok to want physical perfection, and that appearance is
important. Surely we would want our young to grow up with higher hopes and
aspirations.
Yes because...

Wealthy people need to spend their money some how

Currently, we are in a recession. But even in a healthy economy it is never good to have
vast amounts of stagnant cash remaining in one family. This money is economically
redundant. If people have money, and they wish to spend it they should be implored to
do so. The money would be paid to surgeons who have their own surgeries. Those
surgeries would pay for receptionists, cleaners, rep00airmen. These are all jobs created
out of money which would otherwise be left sitting in the banks of the rich. Cosmetic
surgery is a way of prising money out of the hands of the rich and vain, which is most
certainly a good thing.

No because...
Whilst money changing hands is always good in an economy, the reality is the money is
going from the hands of the rich back into the hands of the rich. Surgeons are already
among the upper middle class stratum. Then you have to take into consideration that
rich people will use the most experienced and popular surgeons. These surgeons will
be of a higher income than the other surgeons (who would still have a hefty salary). The
wages paid to cleaners and the other menial workers would pale insignificant to what
the surgeons were earning. The surgeon would then keep the money and they would
save it, so the money would still be redundant in our failing economy.

*****

No because...

We live in a world that is image obsessed, and this kind of procedure

panders to that.
We live in a world that is image obsessed, and this kind of procedure panders to that.
We should promote the idea that appearance is not as important as character. People
should be content with themselves and not be so hung up on their looks.

Yes because...
Thats nice. But given that the reality is that were judged on our appearance all the
time, its perfectly rational to want to look good. Nobodys forcing anyone to have
cosmetic surgery the market is driven by demand.
Is Cosmetic Surgery Good or Bad?
No because...

There are dangers involved in any kind of surgery.

There are dangers involved in any kind of surgery. Sometimes we must accept those
dangers, as they come in the course of necessary medical procedures. But with elective
surgery procedures people dont need, but rather merely want the risks cant be
justified. These risks apply both to the surgery itself, and to the long term. For example,
leaking silicone breast implants have been a widespread problem and can lead to
death. Once, paraffin was often injected into the face to smooth wrinkles, with
disastrous effects. Silicon often finds its way into other parts of the body, such as the
lymph glands, and can prevent the early detection of breast cancer as doctors often
think real lumps are silicon leakage. Who today knows the full future implications of
injecting the highly dangerous poison Botox into ones face?

Yes because...
We should not restrict freedom of choice. Certainly theres an element of danger
involved. But we let people box. We let people bungee jump. They undertake these
dangers for fun or for money. Why shouldnt we let people undertake dangers in the
pursuit of beauty, and higher self esteem?\
Furthermore, cosmetic surgery is becoming safer and safer. It is increasingly strictly
policed and sky-high legal pay-outs by bad surgeons have ensured that practitioners
take more and more care. Technology in surgery and in implants and so forth is forever
improving. The scare stories the proposition talk about are the worst examples of thirty
years ago theyre nothing to do with cosmetic surgery today.
Is Cosmetic Surgery Good or Bad?
No because...

To attempt to dress cosmetic surgery in the flag of feminism is

absurd.
To attempt to dress cosmetic surgery in the flag of feminism is absurd. If anything,
cosmetic surgery is the latest phenomenon in the long history of the objectification of
women in society. Women are driven to meet male standards of beauty, exaggerating
their shape and seeking to remain youthful lest their partner leave them for (often
literally) a younger model. Today many operations are arranged by male partners rather
than by the women themselves. Cosmetically-enhanced celebrities are redefining
definitions of attractiveness for new generations, leading young girls who would have
been considered naturally beautiful in past decades to see themselves as plain and to
seek their own surgical remedies.

Yes because...
This freedom issue is particularly important to women, who have historically been
subjugated by men, their bodies regarded as owned and for the use of men. Cosmetic
surgery the ultimate control over ones body, perhaps is the latest stage in the
emancipation of women and their ability to decide what happens to their bodies.
Cosmetic surgery is empowering.
Is Cosmetic Surgery Good or Bad?
No because...

The pressures of appearance apply particularly to women.

The pressures of appearance apply particularly to women. Pregnancy and ageing have
predictable effects: they should be accepted with grace, not fought against. The
messages sent when some women have procedures are firstly that the prejudices some
have about appearance are valid, and secondly that those women secure enough not to
contemplate going under the knife are letting themselves go.

Yes because...
If women or anyone else are secure enough not to bother with cosmetic surgery, then
fine. But there are many who find that their appearance truly troubles them and that
improving it would greatly enhance their quality of life. If they can afford it, let them.
Is Cosmetic Surgery Good or Bad?
No because...

Doctors should heal, not waste their talent on appearance.

Doctors should heal, not waste their talent on appearance. Precious talent and
resources are spent on this frivolous activity. Surgeons should do medical operations
that are needed, not cosmetic procedures that are desired.

Yes because...
People pay handsomely for cosmetic surgery. It costs the state nothing, except in
situations in which the operation is necessary medically. Cosmetic surgery can turn a
profit for hospitals that is put towards more general medical areas. And doctors receive
training and practice in difficult techniques which can then be used to help patients in
genuine need.
Is Cosmetic Surgery Good or Bad?
No because...

The black market argument applies to everything illegal.

The black market argument applies to everything illegal. Of course that risk exists, but
the number of those undertaking the activity will be smaller, as you concede. Lack of
legal safeguards and medical accountability, and the probability that only badly qualified
doctors will offer illegal operations will deter almost everyone from risking black market
surgery. Fewer operations must be desirable if it is agreed that the activity concerned
should be banned. Black market activity will be vigorously policed and after all, its
usually pretty obvious if someone has had surgery.

Yes because...
Cosmetic surgery happens because people want it often, desperately. If banned,
cosmetic surgery will flourish on a black market. It will still happen, but it will be very
expensive (and therefore only available to the very rich) and it will be much more
dangerous as it will be done by unscrupulous doctors and outside all the safety
precautions the legal environment provides.
Is Cosmetic Surgery Good or Bad?
No because...

Cosmetic surgery is addictive.

Cosmetic surgery is addictive: look at Michael Jackson, or Lolo Ferrarri, who got breast
implant after breast implant despite the harm it did her body. The compulsion to change
ones body is often a symptom of a deeper mental instability. It should be treated as a
problem, not indulged and encouraged with surgery. Its only a plaster patched over a
much deeper problem.

Yes because...
This is patronising, insulting and wrong. The vast majority of people who have cosmetic
surgery have one procedure and never look back. Theyre made happier and more
secure in themselves because of it. Its fine to oppose cosmetic surgery, but dont
falsely portray those that have it as being mentally unstable.
Is Cosmetic Surgery Good or Bad?
No because...

It's intention is to make money.

Pointing to accidental side-benefits of cosmetic surgery will not cover up the fact that its
intention is to make money, not make people better. If a fraction of the efforts pumped
into it went into proper medicine, the medical world would be much more advanced than
it is today. And the fact that the benefits arise from chance merely serves to highlight
the greed that constitutes the essential nature of cosmetic surgery: those benefits ought
to be all of medicines aim, not an accident resulting from it. Certainly people make
money and careers in normal medicine, but they are giving treatments that aim to make
people well, not look different.

Yes because...
The development of cosmetic surgery over the years has been intertwined with that of
reconstructive and more general medical surgery. Cosmetic surgery has greatly aided
reconstructive surgery. For example, maxillofacial surgery, or surgery of the jaw, has
developed with insights from both plastic surgeons and oral surgeons. Its impossible to
say in some areas who contributed the greatest advances, the cosmetic or the
mainstream. To shut down cosmetic surgery would be to cut off a valuable outlet for
research and discovery. The market can sometimes create great benefits: people work
hard in pursuit of profits and often their work can help us all. Plenty of people make a
good living from normal medicine and they are not criticised, the same should be true
for privately provided medicine: theres nothing wrong with turning a profit.