Think back to a time when you didn’t care how you looked. Can you even remember a time?
In a survey given to 100 random Fairfield students conducted by The Mirror, only 16 percent said they would ever seriously consider having plastic surgery to improve their appearances. However, 57 percent said the thought has crossed their minds.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 8.7 million people underwent cosmetic plastic surgery in 2003, which was a 32 percent increase from 2002.
“I think it’s getting to the point where the only thing people care about in this world is how they look,” said Jen DeNapoli ’06. “I think the media plays a huge role in how Americans feel about themselves and why they choose to do this.”
DeNapoli may be correct. MTV is producing a documentary called “MTV Plastic” under the “True Life” series. They will cover the process and lives of young Americans going under the knife to look like their favorite celebrities.
MTV is currently searching for these people. They must be between the ages of 18 and 23, having one of more procedures done to match features of a celebrity and having surgery during this coming summer.
“MTV is trying to promote being someone else instead of yourself,” said Matt Lupo ’06. “It’s going to influence and affect how young people feel about themselves. I don’t see any purpose of putting stuff like that on television.”
But MTV is not the only television station that causes young Americans to consider altering their bodies. ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” is running for its second season because they have received over 10,000 applications for makeovers. ABC has hired the country’s best plastic surgeons, eye surgeons, cosmetic dentists and makeup and hair artists to transform what America considers “ugly” into “beautiful.” The show lets the audience see the participants before, during and after the procedure.
“In my opinion, America puts way too much importance on outside, physical looks,” said Lupo. “To tell you the truth, if I found a pretty girl physically attractive but there was nothing upstairs or she wasn’t nice, I would probably pass her by and not think twice about her looks.”
But some girls feel there are large pressures placed on them to meet society’s rising standards.
“It seems like men have extremely high expectations of women’s appearances. I feel I could get more attention with bigger boobs,” said Shawna Murray ’06 who has considered having breast implants.
Jessica Riley ’06 says that she would also like implants, but for a different reason.
“I’d like to get them for me. I personally don’t care about how other guys perceive me because I have a boyfriend, but I definitely can see how TV shows and society influences other girls to become something they’re not,” said Riley. “What’s in now is to be a size zero and have large breasts. Most women just aren’t made that way.”
Tara Cushman ’05 agreed.
“The media and society have portrayed such stereotypical, nearly impossible goals that young adults are willing to go to nearly any extreme to fit into the mold they feel governs self-worth and success,” said Cushman.
According to CBS news, a growing number of college students are forgetting the beach and spending their breaks from school in the emergency room to get that perfect look. Doctors receive requests for nose jobs, breast implants, tummy tucks and liposuction.
Some of these students’ operations give them the confidence they lack and change lives. But for other students, altering their bodies can become an obsession. They struggle with trying to feel good about themselves on their own.
“Your self confidence level has to be crazily low to want to have plastic surgery done,” said Taylor Brown ’06.
Perhaps students should solve self-esteem problems before they take the plunge and buy new bodies. Doesn’t a sense of happiness and self-worth come from within?
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