BETHANY ESTRADA
Staff Writer
What will a Pepperdine student do to make themselves look just a little bit younger and a little but more beautiful? Local plastic surgeon, Tjerk Bury, says that many college-age students turn to plastic surgery, mainly breast-augmentation.
According to the March issue of American Surgeons of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) medical journal 5 percent of college-age women have cosmetic surgery. The study surveyed 559 women between 17-24 years old at six universities.
The most requested cosmetic surgery is chemical peel followed by breast augmentation, nose augmentation and breast reduction. The study also shows that college age women who view cosmetic surgery positively are more likely to care about their physical appearance, have mothers that worry about their appearance, and view celebrities as their physical-image litmus test.
More than 60 percent of the women surveyed say they would consider having one or more cosmetic procedures in their lifetime. Over two thirds of these women testified to knowing someone who has cosmetic surgery.
Fifty Pepperdine students were asked if they supported cosmetic plastic surgery. One out of every five females and three out of every four males said they supported plastic surgery. Pepperdine females who supported plastic surgery said they had thought about or had one or more procedures. They said the procedure would be for improvement of self-esteem. Of the 75 percent of males that supported plastic surgery, eight out of every nine said that they only supported females having plastic surgery but not males (including themselves.)
Self-esteem is composed of self-image and what we believe others perceive us to be. Plastic surgery alters self-image and what others perceive us to be, therefore plastic surgery directly alters self-esteem.
“Most people see plastic surgery as something negative, but it really isn’t,” Bury said. “It can change peoples’ lives in the right circumstance.” Bury suggests caution when choosing a plastic surgeon. There are no laws in the United States prohibiting doctors from performing plastic surgery procedures without any training in plastic surgery.
Bury suggests that prospective plastic surgery patients look into the background and education of their surgeon. A patient should research the schools from which the surgeon received his or her degrees and whether that school is reputable for general and plastic surgery. Bigger universities tend to give surgeons more practical experience. Prospective patients should ask to speak with former patients and anesthesiologists of their surgeon. Also, it is important to research lawsuits against the surgeon and to stay away from surgeons that advertise profusely.
The results from the Pepperdine survey convey the differences in self-esteem between males and females on campus. Most males deemed plastic surgery as acceptable for females to have but not necessary for males. The females that supported plastic surgery thought it was satisfactory for both sexes. By having this viewpoint males place pressure on females to have plastic surgery. Pepperdine males convey higher levels of self-esteem by accepting their self-image as is and refusing to accept plastic surgery for males as normal or tolerable. Pepperdine females convey lower levels of self-esteem wishing to alter their appearance to change the way they feel about themselves and the way others perceive them.
“If plastic surgery is what it takes to boost a girl’s confidence, then I say why not,” said freshman Jonathan Lee. Pepperdine females are most likely also facing pressure from males who have created a double standard. The standard is this: females should have plastic surgery but it is unacceptable for males.
Female-dominated plastic surgery procedures are the next logical step in the expectation that women should strive to be unreal and unnatural. Since the beginning of time females have gone to extremes to follow the image society deems acceptable. In the past women have worn corsets and today they have to wear make-up to be considered beautiful by societal standard. The fashion industry also pressures women more than men.
Men’s attire has been more uniform over the years and less trendy. “Magazines, celebrities, entertainment, and family,” said freshman Ivy Brewer, “are the main factors in getting plastic surgery.”
Magazines that feature beautiful celebrities and models such as People, albeit air brushed, help to increase plastic surgery clientele numbers. The new magazine New Beauty is centered entirely around plastic surgery. The magazine offers stylish yet realistic information regarding physical alteration through surgery.
The magazine downplays that plastic surgery could possibly be out of the ordinary, and features the names and numbers of many plastic surgeons that advertise in the newly popular magazine. This is yet another example of societal pressure for perfection.
According to a study conducted by researchers David and Johnson, women constantly exposed to images in magazines of abnormally thin women that had plastic surgery had a poor self image. Unnatural standards set by celebrities in magazines who had multiple plastic surgery procedures could never be met by these everyday women.
The ASPS states that women account for 82 percent of cosmetic surgery procedures nationally. Many college students are away from home for the first time and may choose to change areas they have not been happy with. The most popular cosmetic procedure for college age females, according to clinical studies, is breast enhancement, liposuction and surgery of the nose. “It is difficult to find the true number of college age students obtaining plastic surgery due to patient confidentiality laws, students answering falsely on surveys due privacy issues and cosmetic surgeons’ surveys that may skew results to benefit their own financial interest.
Living on campus with a strong Christian base also effects thinking of students. Some students who found plastic surgery appealing could not justify the process morally.
“I have always wanted to have plastic surgery because it seems like people get their lives back through gaining confidence and success in their social life,” said Junior Jae Um. “On the other hand, we are created perfectly in God’s image the way he wanted us to be, therefore we are born perfect. Plastic surgery distorts God’s intent and it goes against my Christian ethics.”
Though the majority of males on campus seem to support and find plastic surgery in females appealing, one out every 12 males didn’t support any form of cosmetic plastic surgery. These males said that they didn’t support plastic surgery because they believe it is un-Godly.
“Naturally, I may be more physically attracted to someone who has had plastic surgery,” said freshman Andy Frank, “but I think I am even more attracted to someone who is content with the appearance that God gave them and feel no need to make any major changes to it.”
An anonymous Pepperdine Christian female recently had cosmetic surgery. The majority of males responded with positive feedback saying she was “beautiful” and “hot.” One Christian male said that he wouldn’t be interested in her because she had plastic surgery but he could see other guys gaining interest in her because of the work she had done.
Though the majority of males on campus are attracted to females that have plastic surgery, there is a small percentage of guys, one out of every 12, that prefer girls the way God made them. This is truly what separates Pepperdine University from other institutions in California and other areas where plastic surgery is an every day occurrence.
12-15-2005