Dear Editor,
As the value of beauty is more emphasized in today’s society, various kinds of cosmetic surgery are being integrated into our lives. Some people consider it a marvellous medical advancement and just a normal part of our modern living. To be frank, I cannot accept this kind of so-called ‘natural’ surgery.
First of all, cosmetic surgery totally violates nature and gives a sense of disrespect to our parents. Everyone’s appearance is a present from their dearest parents. How we look is innately decided by the combination of our parents’ genes. In fact, our appearance is a kind of representation to show others that we are our parents’ children. Therefore, receiving cosmetic surgery just to get a prettier face is equal to disregarding ourselves as our parents’ children. Such an act is unnatural and totally shows no respect and concern for our grandparents who spoil us with so much valuable love.
Secondly, cosmetic surgery sends a wrong concept to our valuable young people. Those beauty promoting companies always promote themselves as our god in that they believe they can help remove the imperfect parts of our face and make us a perfect man or woman. Can one believe their claims? I can hardly believe them, but many people do. The large-scale existence of those companies helps promote the importance of outer beauty, which should not be so emphasized. We should note that the value of true beauty should come from our hearts but not our deceptive outer appearance. One should not deny the ever-true fact that our outer beauty will fade away as time goes by and no one can escape from it naturally. Therefore, the value of inner beauty should outweigh that of outer beauty.
Thirdly, cosmetic surgery really causes confusion and fear to us. Just imagine that your friend has undergone this kind of surgery and she now has a totally different face. How would you feel about that, happy or scared? I think that the latter would be more likely. In another case, if all people asked a surgeon to give them a face like one particular person, what would our society look like? One thing for sure is that there would be so much confusion.
Some people may argue that cosmetic surgery does have its benefits. It can help those victims whose faces are severely scarred from accidents associated with things like fire. This form of surgery can help them improve their outer appearance and help build up the confidence they have lost because of their scarred faces. Also, it will remove the victims’ scars which often remind them of their disastrous sufferings. As a result, they can lead a happier life than before.
In fact, I support this kind of treatment for those victims. However, I cannot accept those normal and healthy persons receiving cosmetic surgery. It is really unnatural.
In short, cosmetic surgery should be used wisely and should not be regarded as a part of our modern living. True value of beauty should lie in our honest and modest hearts and it’s all the word ‘beauty’ should mean.
Yours sincerely,
Lam Po Yi
HHCKLA BUDDHIST CHING KOK SECONDARY SCHOOL