Opinion

Plastic Surgery Is Not the Answer!

By Christine Cunanan-Nomura

I watched a television special recently that featured various people who had decided to undergo plastic surgery. While the show was very interesting, I was shocked at the foolish reasons many people had for wanting this major operation.

A normal 8-year-old schoolgirl, for example, was brought to a plastic surgery clinic in Fukuoka by her ambitious parents, who thought that giving her a prettier face would help her pass a school entrance examination. A plain-looking Tokyo OL changed her face so she could find a husband

What is wrong with society?

Modern science and technology have brought rich countries many benefits, including first-rate plastic surgery for anyone who can pay for it. However I was always under the impression that plastic surgery is basically for people who really need to repair or change physical features that are preventing them from living ordinary lives.

Plastic surgery's beneficiaries include accident and burn victims, people born with physical deformities or those who have contracted deforming illnesses, and those who must change their appearance because their lives are in danger (such as witnesses of crimes). Many such people have improved their lives thanks to science.

Other people, such as models or actresses, opt for surgery because their careers depend on keeping themselves beautiful. Elderly people who want to get rid of the signs of old age might also be forgiven for wanting to keep young.

However, I cannot imagine why perfectly normal young people would undergo surgery ― or how their parents can let them do so. There are few valid reasons why a regular schoolgirl or OL should have surgery. To me, such actions only imply foolishness, vanity and a mistaken notion that appearance matters over substance.

For sure, people who look nice have an easier time being liked or accepted by others ― whether for friendship, membership in a club or a new job. Attractiveness, however, is not about having the right shape of eyes or a smaller chin. It's about making the most of what you already have : keeping clean, healthy and fit; maintaining a good haircut and wearing the fashion style and colors that best suit you; keeping a smile on your face; and, most important, having a warm and friendly personality that makes others feel comfortable

As for entering the right school or company or finding the ideal marriage partner, what's in your mind and heart is still far more important than having perfect features. It's wrong to assume that success depends only on physical attributes.

The misguided parents who wanted to get their daughter into a good school by giving her a new face should have given her books, a tutor and various learning opportunities to develop her mind instead. The OL who blamed her lack of a boyfriend on small eyes and a large face should have first worked on becoming attractive, friendly, sensible and kind to others.

Life's problems and challenges will not be solved simply by a stint under the surgeon's scalpel!

Shukan ST: March 27, 1998

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