plastic Surgery

[bbrowns08]

What is Church teaching on Plastics.If for not purely for medical reasons what are the guidelines for facelifts, breast augmentation etc.

What about a person who is Catholic that performs these procedures because that is where the money is made. If against Church teaching does this make th doctor culpable for the sin of the patient?

Need Advice and cannot seem to find it.Seems to be a grey area in our Catholic Fai

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

I am not a theologian or an apologist, but I remember a similar thread about this topic.

If I am not mistaken, plastic surgery in and of itself is morally neutral. Meaning, getting plastic surgery is not a sin. But it can lead to sin.

What are the motives for getting it? Is money being used that should have been for the family or charity? Is it being done excessively?

I am sure someone else will chime in with more info…

But the Church cannot speak to every individual issue that our society faces, so most of these things are left to our own discernment…through prayer and study of our faith.

I hope this helped.

Malia

 

[Chichebe]

Good question - as far is I am aware there are no specific teachings regarding Plastic Surgery. In considering the role of Plastic Surgery in medicine it can have as valid a role as other medical specialties. The World Health Organisation defines health as follows:

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

From this although people requesting plastic surgery although physically well and not suffering any social consequences from their problems, can be affected in terms of their mental well being. So can plastic surgery be valid for these individuals? From this definition it can, as these problems can affect health. So at the end of the day it comes down to the motivation of the surgeon in offering surgery and patients who request it.

Lastly it is worthg remembering that Plastic Surgery is a broad field encompassing Burns, Reconstructive Surgery for cancer, Hand Surgery, Skin Malignancies etc as well as the Aesthetic Surgery.

Hope this helps.