Boosting self esteem with... cosmetic surgery

The practice of reconstructing damaged body parts has been around since ancient times. According to cosmetic surgeon Dr. Kemel Gajraj of Ripon Surgi-Centre, it was during the First and Second World Wars that the number and severity of injuries experienced by soldiers and civilians, led to an increase in the techniques and testing of plastic surgery procedures.

During this period, army surgeons had to reconstruct ears, faces and skulls that were severely damaged during the fighting. After these conflicts ended, plastic surgery also known as reconstructive surgery, focused on fixing congenital deformities such as cleft palates, he adds. Surgeons also began marketing surgical procedures to affluent middle aged, middle class women who felt increasing pressure to remain youthful. Cosmetic surgery then developed, focusing on aesthetics as a means of helping patients look and feel better through the development of procedures such as tummy tucks, facelifts and silicone breast implants.

“What is new is not really plastic surgery, but cosmetic surgery… plastic means more reconstructive work, in terms of repairing or bringing back to normal while cosmetic surgery is a relatively new branch which was developed to help people who want to look better, feel rejuvenated or want to have better looking bodies.”

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