Cosmetic Surgery

I've been thinking a lot about cosmetic surgery lately because one of my Facebook friends asked for people's opinions of whether they thought cosmetic surgery was okay or not. So here's my stance on the issue- because surprisingly, I feel pretty strongly about the subject.

• I am in FULL support for cosmetic surgery to repair damage or impairment, such as in the case of burn victims, cleft lip, reconstructive surgery after cancer removal surgery etc., extreme weight loss, or any other similar situations.
• However- for any other reasons I am COMPLETELY against it. Here's why:
• I feel that it's vain and materialistic. 
• I know a major reason in support of cosmetic surgery to improve self-image and confidence. But I just can't swallow the idea that permanently altering your body through a surgical procedure is the answer to improved self-esteem and body perception.
• It's disturbing and sad that we live in a society so focused on a fabricated "beauty ideal" that is insanely unrealistic and superficial. Especially when this "beauty ideal" causes people to lack positive body-image and self-confidence.
• It doesn't look natural if it's done wrong or too much.
• The cost.

**And on a side note that's not relevant to a lot of people- but I've had more than my fair share of surgeries in my lifetime already. I can't understand the mentality of voluntarily going under the knife and subjecting yourself to unnecessary risks, medical bills, PAIN, etc. Not to mention voluntarily spending time in a hospital with doctors, nurses,etc.

What's interesting- is that I seem to be in the minority with this stance. While discussing all my aforementioned reasons with my mom (and her arguing the opposite points), I realized that all those points stem from 2 major ideologies within me. These are:

• I'm jealous that people have the option to change what they don't like about their bodies and I don't. That someone can look in the mirror, pick out an aspect they don't like about their body, walk into a doctor's office, and then have it taken care of. Whereas when I look in the mirror (something I really don't like doing by the way) and see all the many things I don't like about my body--there's not a single thing I can do about it. I just simply have to accept and move on. 
• Finally, and most importantly, I would do anything to simply have a "normal" body. So it kills me that people who DO have a "normal" body aren't satisfied with what they have. That they take for granted something that I wish for every single day. 

However while discussing this issue with my mom, I realized I need to maybe be a little less judgmental of those who do choose to have cosmetic surgery done. It is their body and everyone does deserve to feel good about and confident in their body. If cosmetic surgery is the answer to that- then so be it for them. Meanwhile... I'll continue doing the best I can with the body I was given and waiting for my perfect body. I'm so excited. :)