meritocrat

Why do some TEENS consider plastic surgery??

I disovered this website - http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com/teen...astic_surgery/ - and was shocked.

First, let's ascertain WHY they NEED it. Because they are 'unhappy'? Because they want to look more attractive? If these are the reasons why they want cosmetic surgery, don't they have some kind of psychological problems? I also read things about 'awkward appearance'. What does that mean exactly? So if you have big ears, that needs correcting? Even though it cannot be classified as a disability?

Personally I feel people seeking plastic surgery (especially people as young as teens) should meet with a psychiatrist to determine whether the 'need' for cosmetic surgery cannot be met in other ways.

sweep

for many it is the projection of an image, which most closely adheres to a celebrated role model. many behaviour are demand characteristics such as big tits, a thicker penis or a less dominating nose. unfortunately, when we try to perfect the phenotype, as opposed to the genotype, the result is well... shit. the question is: do you want a homogenous society full of A.I.(tm) type entities?

flowering for young girls must be a difficult process, especially where insecurities arise. I suppose that if the mind is encouraged other than the eye then those people will thrive. When a person walks into a public place (namely a teenage girl) She is met by wide eyes and roaring. In this context, the social exchange is shaped due to attentional bias.


Cash (1990) defined body image as a perception of the body and the way that person feels about that perception. Fallon (1990) stated that the kind of body image one must adhere, is bound culturally by prevailing aesthetic standards.

meritocrat

In other words, these people are emotionally unhealthy.

What is WRONG in accepting your body?

sweep

there is nothing wrong with accepting your body, unless you want o society with less variety in the gene pool.

Vorkosigan

Merit, various forms of body modification are common among both sexes. If you do not want to have cosmetic surgery, that is fine. However, some people feel they need it and that is their choice. Having cosmetic sugery says nothing about one's mental state, any more than having ears pierced, lifting weights until one is buff, or shaving (an act of cosmetic surgery indulged in all over the world by billions of people on a daily basis).

More to the point, why do you constantly inflict your narrow-minded and shallow judgments on us? Do you think that someone whose posts invariably involve a negative judgment about some other group of people whose behavior or habits he disapproves of might have issues that should be better worked out elsewhere?

Finally, in addition to whatever problems this repeated behavior of yours might indicate, it does nothing for Infidels. It does not create solidarity, disseminate information, rouse people to take action, amuse, delight, or divert. Perhaps, in light of this, you might consider revising your posting style to accomodate the needs and growth of our community.

Vorkosigan
Moderator

Opera Nut

Excellent answer, Vork.

Several trolls here come in and make sweeping and simplistic generalizations and then wonder why people take issue with them. Meritocrat is merely the most currently egregious example.


The reasons for cosmetic surgery are many and varied; meritocrat would no doubt think that the two procedures I have had were for frivolous reasons: my health AND my appearance.

The appearance part was secondary. But even if my appearance was the primary reason, so what???

Ronin

A. This is 'elsewhere'.

B. I have been prolific in posting what invariably involves a negative judgment about theists and have not ever been regulated in such a manner.

C. Meritocrat has posted a valid inquiry for discussion "Why do TEENS consider plastic surgery" and then given a personal opinion regarding the issue to include a potentially encouraging discussion with sweep.

D. Growth of any community is not obtained by stifling topics or considerations that fall within the IIDB rules and guidelines.

meritocrat ~ as to the OP:

Perhaps...and nothing is more healthy than the pursuit of happiness.

Maybe...and nothing is more healthy than having friends and lovers.

No...it would appear normal and human to desire happiness and attractiveness.

Lacking assurance and self esteem.

I don't have big ears, so I cannot say.

I'd like to be slightly taller and if there was a safe procedure that would make this so, I would consider it.

Perhaps they have.

Enai

Because of concerns about the health of such young teens, it is forbidden in germany to perform cosmetic surgery on underage (younger than 18 years) youth. OK, they can have their ears altered so as to not stick out from their heads, but I believe that's all that's permissible.

I don't know if that's really a good law, but teens are known to do a lot of stupid things to improve their looks and self-image, and surgery can undoubtedly do a lot of damage.

Enai

ieyeasu

Hmm...

People have drawn a parallel between body modification in the tattoo/piercing realm and the plastic surgery kingdom.

And while I'll agree that they are part of the same overall behaviour, I'd also have to say that its the difference between posting on a message board once or twice a day and living on live chat in front of your computer, and marrying people you've never met in the hard-copy world.

Plastic surgery is much more extreme. And just as I'd have questions about that person who sits in front of a computer always, so would I about a young person--or for that matter, any person--who considers plastic surgery.

sweep

alright, I've just had a shave, and that's mainly because my beard was making my chin itchy, and it's really hot out. I lift weights and am now reasonable happy and proud of my body. BUT, I will not have plastic surgery as I consider it extreme. I approve of changing genes before birth, and consider changes to the developed product to be odd looking and botched, to a degree. What does that tell you about my mental state?

In order to want to be more, one has to consider that one is less. My recent endeavours into this field of research have lead me to believe that one cannot attain perfection. One striving for this extra 'need' will never see theirselves as perfect. Even though many report satisfaction I am not sure whether this is any more than a temporary solution.

In some cases it is almost like a boy appealing to his friends with new toys. They don't actually respect him, they just hang for the new toys. Then when they get bored, the kid has to go get a new toy. This is what I mean by demand characteristics. In a similar sense, if a teenager wants breast implants, they aren't for the self, they're for someone else. The reactions are usually fleeting, then the changes become ordinary, just as a big nose or a wart is ordinary, if you see it everyday. We are self obsessed because others makes us see more of ourselves, and it isn't always nice. Girls are affected mostly since blokes are so 'eye' oriented. Teenage girls have to measure up all the time, but, as current research shows, the same trend is starting to affect boys too.

There does exist a chart (I'll dig later) that shows, with 99% reliability, consistenly patterns of facial beauty and ugliness. This applies to symmetry, size of the eyes, fullness of the lips etc... a person with facial deformities demonstrates that beauty is not always in the eye of the beholder (i.e. we see particular types the same) if we can rely on the chart as an indicator of beauty. So, in cases where a person was born with major deformity, plastic surgery can have a profound psychological impact.