Plastic Surgery was first carried out around the year 2000 BC in India, and since then its quality has increased massively, and I am sure will continue to increase. Although many people believe that the term derived from the material plastic, it actually derived from the Greek work plastikos which means to mould or shape. The types of plastic surgery differ dramatically, as do the uses for it. Moreover, the uses for it have drastically changed since its original use four thousand years ago. Its original use was to help injured soldiers look and feel more normal, despite often looking as different as they would without the surgery, it helped them be more able to do different things.
The first known person to have benefited from plastic surgery is said to be Walter Yeo a World War One soldier who had a skin graft onto his face. Although it constantly looked as though he was wearing a mask after the surgery it was better than living without it, as without he had no upper or lower eye lids and therefore risked losing vision completely. Unknown soldiers were helped with plastic surgery during Roman and Egyptian times, although the surgery was relatively basic, they did help to repair ears and noses.
The healing of the wounded via plastic surgery continues to this day, with far more complicated and more effective procedures taking place. Skin grafts now are better although often do still stand out more than normal skin. However, they are vital in helping burn victims, be there burns through fires at home or through wars. More reconstructive surgery of damaged faces, body etc can be performed on damaged soldiers and others as well, which to these people is a massive help and results in them being able to continue with their everyday lives almost as normal. People who are born with deformed features can often get plastic surgery to help them look and feel more normal. Much of this is psychological, as some surgeries can be as little as having ears pinned back. It seems the person who is most bothered about having ears that stick out is the person with them, most other people, although they may notice, do not really care, as it does not detract from the personality of the person with them.
Other uses for plastic surgery and now probably the most popular and common is body enhancement surgery. This is for people that have nothing wrong with them, but want to improve somehow. Famous surgeries being breast implants, which can go to extremes such as Katie Price (also known as Jordan) who has had implants to get her to a 32FF from her natural 32B, although there have been indications in recent years they have been reduced, still well above her natural cup size however. Many girls undergo this surgery, especially in the modelling industry, where it appears bigger is better!
Many other surgeries for personal gain are undertaken. Very few are necessary, such as botox injections, which some experts say are dangerous. These injections are used to defy age, and are an easier alternative to face lifts, which are another type of plastic surgery. This age defiance is also used in other ways to essentially stop anything that sags, be it breasts, buttocks or face. Surgery is expensive, and is not covered on health policies in general, therefore each person has to pay thousands of dollars of their own money for these surgeries, and money that I can't help but think could be better spent, even donating to charities to help injured soldiers have surgery!
Surgery removing fat is very popular, especially in the stomach region, or even buttocks. Liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery, but not plastic surgery, however if a great deal of fat is removed, then plastic surgery has to be carried out to reshape those areas, the famous example being a tummy tuck. Despite many people wanting less fat, some people want more, especially in the lips. In fact surgery on the face for enhancement is probably, after breast implants the most popular type of plastic surgery. This can be from lip enhancement, as already mentioned, as well as rhinoplasty or nose job as is the name on the street, cheek or chin augmentation to name a few. The idea of these is to make the patient look ‘perfect'. Whatever happened to natural beauty?
So far it appears that the majority of these surgeries are only performed on women. Not true, as many men have tummy tucks, and facelifts, and also quite popular with men is phalloplasty. Yes, penis enhancement. Apparently, the media has got to some men, and they now feel the need to improve their genitals as in most cases they believe it is not big enough. A surgeon said on a television program about penis enhancement that the majority of the men who have it already have adequate packages, but are for some reason unsatisfied. Women can also have alterations to their genitalia, the most common being having labia reduction and also reshaped. In fact there is also surgery in place to make women feel like a virgin again.
It seems that the necessary use of plastic surgery is still in use and perhaps the cosmetic surgery is helping fund further development for war victims etc. However, cosmetic plastic surgery has gotten out of hand. Why are people not satisfied with how they were made, if they want to alter anything do it naturally, partake in exercise, eat healthily, don't waste thousands of dollars on having your body cut apart!