Plastic surgery has become a big business, but some people still are against it. Some people feel plastic surgery is wrong because it changes the person inside. Others say it makes women look too fake or unnatural. Yet others argue that it’s dangerous because it can lead to complications later. Plastic surgery has become so popular in Ireland and in other countries that many feel pressured to go under the knife.
Cosmetic Surgery in Ireland Driven By YouTube and Instagram.
A recent study found that nearly half of Irish women aged between 25-45 would consider having cosmetic procedures. This isn't surprising considering the number of selfies taken daily on Instagram.
Plenty of YouTube videos show off before and after photos of people who've undergone plastic surgery. Some of them are just experimenting. But others are doing it because they're told they need it. Or maybe they're looking for love or attention.
Talking to the Sunday Times last week, Jillian Doyle, 89, a psychologist and member of the Psychological Society of Ireland, said that the rise in altered images of celebrities online is causing young people's bodies to feel undervalued and that this is harming their self-esteem.
The unattainable standard of what a woman should look like and what a man should look like has been created by social networks. Many celebrities, including Dr. Phil, say that this unattainable standard of beauty is the worst thing to have happened to young women and has damaged so many marriages.
In the same Times article, Anna Nauka, a psychologist at Silver Lining Therapy in Dublin city centre, said lip fillers and other facial aesthetic procedures had become a “beauty standard” because of social media. There are some things that people now think about when they look at people on social media.
It's become a standard for women to look nice and be looked good, which is what people are looking for. Many surgical options are readily available in Ireland and abroad, which has enabled it to become very common.
Some people in Ireland are becoming more accepting of cosmetic procedures. The risks associated with such procedures are often not well communicated. Some people are convinced that cosmetic surgery is safe — but not many understand the risks.
Some people travel to other countries to afford plastic surgery, as it's cheaper there. There are serious risks involved with unlicensed doctors doing such procedures, which could cause both physical and mental risks.
Ailish Kelly, sales manager for Avoca Clinic, said women wanted procedures done to look good and not look like they were being judged as beautiful. Doctors say women are putting back what they've lost by having cosmetic surgery. Some women have lost a lot of weight and are looking for cosmetic surgery to help them look and feel like they did before having children. Women are planning an emotional journey — and I think cosmetic surgery is becoming restorative.
Some patients requiring cosmetic treatments to be reversed or corrected have been seen at a hospital in Dublin, which has seen a surge in the number of people presenting with problems following procedures abroad. Patients have been warned about the “hidden costs involved” if they run into complications after St James's Hospital highlighted the burden of cosmetic tourism on the Irish healthcare system in a snapshot survey. Eight women were presented to the Dublin hospital in four months and were referred for treatment after experiencing problems following surgery overseas. All patients were female and aged between 18 and 48, and each surgery was performed within Europe, with 75% of cases in Lithuania or Turkey.
The main procedures people are travelling for are breast and buttocks implants in addition to fillers, which are mainly for the buttocks, as well as tummy tucks. According to Dr Dempsy, seven of the eight patients presented with either wound breakdown, infections after their surgery, or a combination of both. Two of the patients had their implants removed because they had infections.
Complications can happen in any hospital or clinic, but when travelling overseas, you do not have the same degree of planning before the surgery, Dr Demsey warned.
“There is that aftercare as well. It would be pretty standard in Ireland to have a least two consultations before any major plastic surgery,” she explained.
This gives you a chance to tell the surgeon what you are looking for and what your expectations for plastic surgery are.
“It also gives the surgeon a chance to examine you and let you know whether those expectations are realistic.”
If going overseas, she said it is normally “not practical to have that degree of consultation in advance” and “certainly not in a face-to-face” manner as you would have with cosmetic surgery in Ireland.
Regarding aftercare, complications usually happen sometime after recovery and not within the first few days after.
She advised patients to “protect themselves” and consider all options carefully.
“While there may be an initial saving travelling overseas, you want to think about the hidden costs involved if you run into complications down the line and just that difficulty accessing follow-up care with your treating surgeon if you have travelled overseas,” she said.
We try to ensure that all the clinics we list and review on our site reach the highest possible standards of patient care. It would be best if you tried to have a second opinion with a local specialist before deciding to travel overseas and remember, that the cheapest is not always the best.
Admin is Blogger David Miller FRSA. M.Sc A respected British journalist based in Helsinki Finland. David's portfolio is at http://livewire.pressfolios.com/ David is contactable via the site or at david@dmiller.co.uk
