| Cosmetic surgery is not a sharply defined area. An | | | | medicine. They enjoyed the protection of the polio |
| operation of any kind should achieve a good | | | | vaccine and life-saving advantages of antibiotics. |
| cosmetic result, even an appendectomy or a back | | | | Fitness programs and better eating habits have |
| operation for a ruptured disc. Also, many cosmetic | | | | contributed to their good health also. |
| operations have a functional as well as cosmetic | | | | Another factor that accounts for the recent increase |
| aspect, such as upper eyelid surgery to improve the | | | | in cosmetic surgery is the publicity it has received in |
| field of vision, or breast size reduction to alleviate | | | | newspapers, women's magazines and the media. Prior |
| neck, back, or breast pain. | | | | to 1979, ethical plastic surgeons did not advertise. |
| By virtue of common usage, cosmetic surgery has | | | | Then the Federal Trade Commission declared that |
| become an acceptable term. There are some plastic | | | | this restriction created a monopoly, which was illegal. |
| surgeons, however, who prefer the term aesthetic | | | | Now physicians, even those not trained in plastic |
| surgery. Cosmetic is derived from the Greek word | | | | surgery and advertise and they do. As a result, the |
| Kosmos, meaning order, beauty, or improving on | | | | number of people, particularly women, seeking |
| beauty. Aesthetic is derived from the Greek word | | | | cosmetic surgery has increased. So too, has the |
| Aisthetikos, meaning to perceive by the senses, or | | | | number of the qualified and unqualified practitioners. |
| pertaining to the senses of the beautiful. | | | | Only diplomats of the American Board of Plastic |
| There is nothing new about the desire to look | | | | Surgery are recognized by the American Board of |
| younger or more attractive. Improving self-image is | | | | Medical Specialists as specialists in plastic surgery. |
| an acceptable concept in today's health regime. Most | | | | They have been trained in general surgery and |
| American women discuss restorative surgery with | | | | subsequently in plastic surgery and therefore are |
| their friends and family and they do not feel guilty | | | | qualified to operate on the entire body. Other groups |
| about having such surgery performed. Of course, | | | | of physicians operate above the collar bone on the |
| they do not usually advertise their operation and | | | | head and neck. Dermatological surgeons perform |
| sometimes ask how they can camouflage the | | | | chemical peels, a popular way to defeat the skin's |
| postoperative look so they can return to work as | | | | aging process. |
| soon as possible. | | | | Who pays for cosmetic surgery? Being elective, it is |
| Many factors account for the increasing popularity of | | | | usually paid for by the patient. Surgery to correct |
| cosmetic surgery. Contemporary culture in the United | | | | congenital deformities such as cleft lip and palate, |
| States is preoccupied with youthful appearance. | | | | deformities resulting from accidental injury and cancer |
| Women who are threatened with the loss of a job | | | | deformities such as mastectomy may be covered by |
| because the look too old, may have cosmetic | | | | insurance. Some women forgo vacations and others |
| surgery for monetary reasons. Unfortunately, many | | | | spend practically no money on clothes for years so |
| employers value the look of blooming good health | | | | that they can save up for cosmetic surgery. Some |
| associated with youth rather than years of | | | | borrow money; others sell a valuable piece of |
| experience and a mature sense of responsibility. The | | | | jewelry. Girls in their teens are sometimes given |
| "baby boomers" in the workplace are well aware of | | | | money to spend on a "nose job" for their 16th |
| this. Now entering their fifties, this generation was | | | | birthday. |
| the first to enjoy the many advantages of modern | | | | |
