The Ethics of Cosmetic Surgery: Empowerment or Reinforcement of Beauty Standards

What is plastic surgery? It encompasses the reconstruction of facial features or other body parts to improve one’s appearance. Plastic surgery can be broadly categorized into two types: Reconstructive surgery and Cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery seeks to restore the body after an injury, illness, or congenital defects, such as vitiligo. It treats burns and blisters. It not only improves physical appearance but also restores a person’s comfort and confidence, thus empowering individuals. This does seem like empowerment. However, the narrative shifts when discussing cosmetic surgery which is pursued by individuals without medical necessity. It has become synonymous with the search for an idealized beauty, manifesting the notion that natural beauty is inadequate. Thus, this does reinforce beauty standards.

When individuals, who are otherwise healthy and normal, express a desire to have cosmetic surgery, it reflects their underlying insecurities. Pakistani celebrities like Mahnoor Baloch, who always looks like she is a day older than twenty, is in fact in her forties, and this is because of her having undergone multiple such surgeries. Ghana Ali, and Hadiqa Kiani openly admitted having plastic surgery, while rumors surround others like Ayesha Khan and Mehwish Hayat etc. In addition, it is quite common in Hollywood, and many celebrities have openly admitted to undergoing various procedures to enhance their appearance such as Kim Kardashian, Cardi B Courteney Cox and the age-old icon Michael Jackson etc. This trend shows the pressure to maintain perpetual youthfulness and conform to society’s ideals of beauty. However, there is a distinct charm in embracing one's authentic self, and that is real empowerment.
The allure of being the epitome of beauty leads to dependence on cosmetic intervention. Why does a woman want to be the most beautiful among her relatives, friends, peers and neighbours? In fact, why does she strive for titles like “Miss World''?  Why does she want so much attention and validation from everyone, when it is constrictive. Having cosmetic surgery is like always needing to upload a perfect selfie to get 200 likes straight, and nothing short of it. It is too much pressure to have. Eventually who is benefiting from this? People do not realize that they are being exploited for their insecurities, which are lucrative for businesses across the globe. I get it that women need to have their moments of beauty. They need makeup to enhance their beauty. However, cosmetic industry being a multi-billion-dollar business and  especially cosmetic surgeries being one, is way too much to swallow. How would you feel if you go to a cosmetic surgeon and he says, “Oh I  think you need a lot of work. We need to fix this here, and that there ''? Not only will you feel really hurt, but you will realize that they are only trying to make money out of you.

If only every woman could wake up in the morning and say to herself, “I am beautiful just the way I am,” feeling complete in herself. This reminds me of a beautiful Quranic verse, “Indeed, We created humans in the best form.” (Surah At-Tin, verse 4). It emphasizes that human beings have been given the finest bodies, which no other living being has. There is inherent perfection in human creation and if we can internalize this ayah, then it will foster inner contentment in us by working as an antidote to our insecurities. It will liberate us from the shackles of society’s beauty standards.

Furthermore, we must recognize that we are not just bodies, we are souls. We are our personalities. We are our good traits like our kindness, our affection and/or our easy going nature etc. Having soft and sweet words for everyone we come across and emanating good vibes to them. Also ponder upon this: would we prefer companionship with people of integrity, loyalty and warmth or with those with mere physical beauty -  who lack these essential qualities? It is not everything!

Moreover, the relentless pursuit of unattainable beauty standards has dire consequences like fueling eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa etc.) and body dysmorphia. The preoccupation with perceived flaws brings constant dissatisfaction with one’s appearance and the self-loathing can lead to disturbing mental disorders. And what if a person is still unaccepting of her/his body, even after the surgery. Amongst a sample of 200 patients with BDD who received cosmetic surgery, the most common outcome was no change in the severity of BDD symptoms (Phillips et al., 2001). This shows that cosmetic surgeries do not boost confidence for everyone. The insecurities remain! 

Cosmetic surgery may fix perceived flaws, but true empowerment comes from self-acceptance and inner beauty, freeing individuals from society's restrictive beauty standards.