Is It Morally Acceptable To Spend Money On Plastic Surgery?

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Lilyofthevalley:
Is is morally acceptable to get a nose job or breast implants?* Or should a person accept what God gave them?

*This is not referring to people who have been severely burned or been in a bad accident, etc.
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depends on the reason behind the surgery or more to the point who is the surgery for? for instance if you are doing it to feel better about yourself or if you are doing it for your spouses enjoyment (breast enhancement for example) then i think it is ok but if you are doing this because you want to be an exotic dancer or something than it is clearly wrong
 
if you are doing it to feel better about yourself or if you are doing it for your spouses enjoyment (breast enhancement for example)
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So, my happiness, or that of my spouse’s, depends on how I or she looks? This is much more than a change of clothes, mind you.

I still maintain that it is vain.
 
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demolitionman65:
So, my happiness, or that of my spouse’s, depends on how I or she looks? This is much more than a change of clothes, mind you.

I still maintain that it is vain.
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i am not saying that a persons happiness has to depend on looks. my own happiness does not depend on chocolate for instance but i do like it. lilyofthevalley may like having plastic surgery to improve her appearance without her happiness depending on it.
 
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YesORno:
i also find it kinda sad that im the only one whos voted that it would be vain… if everyone just went around getting surgery to look how they wanna look instead of how god made them i dont think god we be too happy about it…
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vis a vis michael jackson. he doesn’t even look human.

i think plastic surgery would bo ok for some one that has defect that bothers their self esteem
 
This reminds me of Mother Theresa telling a story about a woman who loved beautiful saris. She would spend $800 (or whatever the amount was) on a single sari. The Missionaries of Charity spend something like $8 on theirs. The woman asked Mother Theresa if she should start wearing $8 saris. Mother told her it wasn’t necessary that she be as radical as the sisters, but it would be a good thing to dial it down to $80, and sacrifice more for the poor.

Plastic surgery is very expensive. One ought to really consider what the benefit is going to be before they do it. A person can also be altered to make one look totally unlike the rest of one’s family. It isn’t unusual for someone to say, “Well, it is perfectly okay for them to look like that, but I want something better.” Think about that. Maybe what is being treated is not a defect, but a difference. It may be heretical to say so in the US, but purposeful eccentricity is not poor in spirit.

Every case is different, but be honest with yourself and look at how your looks fit into the big picture. You probably don’t need it.
 
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Lilyofthevalley:
Is is morally acceptable to get a nose job or breast implants?* Or should a person accept what God gave them?

*This is not referring to people who have been severely burned or been in a bad accident, etc.
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should a diabetic accept the body God gave him and refuse treatment? should a person born with a physical disability accept the body God gave him and refuse treatment? you are talking about elective surgery, which could be for cosmetic purposes, but also rehabilitate some condition. it is not immoral. It could be if you took the money for a nose job instead of supporting your family, but by itself, no problemo.it may not always be prudential, but it is not immoral unless it results in deliberate mutilation, or arises out of immoral or disordered motives. i.e. a person rejects his ethnic or racial heritage and seeks to destroy aspects of his appearance that may indicate that heritage. The surgery would be neutral, but his motives may be problemic.
 
The risks involved may be a greater problem. The motivation is selfish, but it may be inferiority complex as much as regular vanity. I believe it’s perfectly acceptable to restore one’s looks after an accident or similar. Probably not much of a problem for someone wealthy who’s already a big spender and buys clothes for more than a surgery costs. But otherwise? I’m not a fan on enhancements, but I have a different view on fixing changes which happen to the body as a result of aging or illness.
 
There are good reasons for plastic surgery. For example, one of my Confirmation students were in a terrible auto accident. Another example is a friend of mine whose breast size caused physical problems with her back.

However…not to be content with the you God has designed seems vain and a rejection of God. To enhance ones breast seems to give into this culture of sexuality. As a man, while my attention is drawn to big breast…it is not necessarily favorable. Is one getting breast enhancements to TEMP the opposite sex, call attention to themselves,…? For the most part, I consider plastic surgery for vanity as sinful!

I wonder how many who spend fortunes on such false looks, put equal amounts in the collection baskets at church to help it evangelize Jesus to the world?

By the way…my oldest daughter had breast enlargement for vain and sexual reasons…and…I still think it was sinful and totally unnecessary. She was already beautiful!

Love & peace in Christ,
Bob
 
I messed up the previous post. I intended to say the motivation was selfish in enhancements, not in after accident surgeries or when a plastic surgery was required for medical reasons. Sorry for confusion.
 
I voted “It’s their money and thier business”. Though not on plastic surgery, I do spend money that could have gone towards more worthy or even practical things.:o
 
I used to think, “hey, if it makes them happier and more able to help others because they feel better and are more confident, fine.” But then I found out a way to deal with unwanted physical imperfections that made me even happier. I started thinking of my small physical defects as my poverty (the pimples, the stubborn thigh fat, the bulging stomach). Then I can embrace it as part of the cross, I can offer it up. I make it a game, I don’t ever complain about my looks to my girlfriends, even though there is tons of stuff I’m not happy with. This is very difficult for me to do, given how much girls like to talk about things they don’t like about themselves, but I think it makes a nice sacrifice to offer Jesus, and it has made me so much happier. I don’t know if anything is morally wrong with spending money on plastic surgery, but I definitely think it indicates the materialism of our society and the fact that we are so desperate for physical solutions and don’t even look for spiritual solutions to our unhappiness.
 
I think it depends on the kind of surgery and whether the person has really considered the necessity. One could probably make the same argument against braces for your child’s teeth or buying a luxury car. I think there are too many considerations to make a blanket judgement.
 
I had a breast reduction and my only regret is that I didn’t have it done sooner. I was given my life back and every day I thank my doctor.
~ Kathy ~
 
People spend a lot of money remodeling and decorating the insides of their houses which hardly anyone ever sees.

People should take just as much care about how they look and dress when they are out in public.
 
After I saw a television spot on how cheap it was to get plastic surgery in Costa Rica, I was all set to get on the plane:D

Seriously, though, it is just too easy to get fixed up these days- so one can do what? I think it is just because folks want to stand out, and have it better for themselves, and this is just a bad idea no matter what we choose to do it with. It does nothing for everyone else, and actually adds to the pressure everyones else feels to look good. Gross abnormalities, I can understand, because they cause so much pain at times, but tweaking and enhancements seem to me to be self-centered and cowardly. At this point I have thought to myself, “the world already has plenty of beautiful people, why should I become just one more when I can let them judge one another while I am free to be myself?” Still, it is tempting . . . . .
 
I would have to say no to elective cosmetic surgery. Why add risk for a look.

Now, I have considered the lazer hair removal thing. I don’t wear any facial hair and I like a smooth shave. Over a 30 year span, I’ll spend over 1000 hours shaving, plus all the blades. I must admit, it would be nice to use thousand plus hours and shaving equipment money for something else, Maybe that wouldn’t be for vanity…just laziness? :rolleyes:
 
Only for reconstrutive or severe deformities, maybe after severe weight loss. Implants can be dangerous, be happy with how God made you.

Once you pass forty, everyone wants to look younger. But the grey hair and wrinkles are little notices than we’re no longer spring chickens. God may be calling us home soon, so best to think of storing up treasuer in the next world, and forget about the vanities of this one.
 
Somehow, I can’t picture the early Christians who sold all their possessions and gave it to the apostles holding some back in order to have kohl permamently dyed around their eyes, or to wear rich clothing, or ride fast donkeys.

I believe that we Catholics have definitely been sidetracked by our selfish, materialistic culture. Think about it, if it really bothers us to have a mole, or a crooked tooth, we’re probably spending way too much time thinking about ourselves, rather than going about doing good unto others.

In Christ’s peace,

Robin L. in TX
 
Somehow, I can’t picture the early Christians who sold all their possessions and gave it to the apostles holding some back in order to have kohl permamently dyed around their eyes, or to wear rich clothing, or ride fast donkeys.

I believe that we Catholics have definitely been sidetracked by our selfish, materialistic culture. Think about it, if it really bothers us to have a mole, or a crooked tooth, we’re probably spending way too much time thinking about ourselves, rather than going about doing good unto others.

In Christ’s peace,

Robin L. in TX
 
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birdie74:
I used to think, “hey, if it makes them happier and more able to help others because they feel better and are more confident, fine.” But then I found out a way to deal with unwanted physical imperfections that made me even happier. I started thinking of my small physical defects as my poverty (the pimples, the stubborn thigh fat, the bulging stomach). Then I can embrace it as part of the cross, I can offer it up. I make it a game, I don’t ever complain about my looks to my girlfriends, even though there is tons of stuff I’m not happy with. This is very difficult for me to do, given how much girls like to talk about things they don’t like about themselves, but I think it makes a nice sacrifice to offer Jesus, and it has made me so much happier. I don’t know if anything is morally wrong with spending money on plastic surgery, but I definitely think it indicates the materialism of our society and the fact that we are so desperate for physical solutions and don’t even look for spiritual solutions to our unhappiness.
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This is a beautiful post. I was born with a physical defect that involves my hair and nails. It was very difficult growing up and listening to other girls complaining about their thick, gorgeous heads of hair when my own head had as much hair as God gave a baby chicken:) ! However, I am now thankful that God gave me this cross as I have learned much about humility and not judging others based on their appearance.

AEBS
 
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