Question to fellow Christians & non-believers alike?

Question

Other than reconstructive......do you feel that plastic surgery is wrong?

As a Christian, the bible is my gauge. So for vanity's sake, I feel that it's wrong.

What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

I do not agree with it persay--- but if I were to say it is wrong, than that would mean I would have to say birth control is wrong too, ( since we are messing with God's design, I mean preventing child birth, when God is in control) BUT many people are so obsessed with their looks, it becomes vanity and idolatry.
So it leads to sin yes....now if someone were to get in an accident and their face was completely deformed, or whatever and they wanted plastic surgery--- I would understand why they would, just to look normal or whatever- to look human again. Many do not have that option, which I think is even better in a way! I just believe we need to always give praise and thanks to God for who He is and what He has done in our lives. We do not "deserve" better faces or body parts......that is what has always bothered me the whole "I deserve better" UGH! We do not!

Answer 2

ideally, eveyone would be happy in the skin that God made them in, so from that point of view...i suppose you could argue people should not find it necessary...so it's wrong.

then again, possibly God would rather his people felt happy in their skin, rather than worrying about it constantly. if they got it changed, and it stopped them spending their lives worrying only about it, perhaps that could be more than acceptable?

the other issue to take into consideration is what is actually reconstructiv eplastic surgery, and what is for vanity's sake - like burns treatment is reconstructive, but what about breast reconstructions after mastectomies? there's a degree of that which is vanity, but probably people would not argue against that.

i suppose if it makes the individual happy, and it's an extreme problem, God proably wouldn't have an issue with it. That said, i can't talk for Him, but i think it's okay, as long as it does not become a serious problem, with people doing it for every little bump in their nose. That's pure vanity, and whether or not you believe anything to do with God, that can't be right.

basically, in between this long ramble i think i'm trying to say it is probably acceptable in some circumstances, but the boundaries blur - so if it will make the individual truly happier, and is not just solely for vanity purposes, surely God will not mind?

I would be interested to see thingd in the Bible about it, though, that's an issue i don't know much bible stuff about...

Answer 3

Plastic surgery would seem to be warranted if it would provide a significant therapeutic benefit in some regard, either physical (e.g., reconstructive surgery to restore function or utility in cases of accident or birth defect) or psychological. This is provided that the procedure does not damage some other equal or greater good and provided that it is not intrinsically immoral.

Plastic surgery would seem to be permitted —even without significant therapeutic effect—provided that it did not damage a significant good and provided that the procedure is not intrinsically immoral.

Plastic surgery would seem to be impermissible if it damaged a good greater than that to be achieved, being venial if the difference in the goods were light and potentially mortal if the difference in the goods were grave.

Goods that could be damaged by undertaking plastic surgery are varied. They might involve harming oneself—one’s own physical, psychological, or spiritual health—or they might involve harming others, such as being financially unable to provide for one’s family in a proper and timely manner.

As always, if a medical procedure is intrinsically immoral—such as so-called trans-gendering surgeries—it cannot be performed.

Answer 4

"Why do you care so much what other people believe?" First off, its called debating. Debating is how you learn about the other side, as well as strengthen your own. How can you possibly know if your logic is superior, if you never debate. If you are incapable of defending your opinion, then its clear that there is something wrong with it.... Furthermore, I simply don't like ignorance. If someone speaks about something they don't know, as if it were fact; and act like you most be stupid for believing otherwise; than its your job to try and enlighten them... What did you do when you first found out Santa-Clause wasn't real? You went to tell all your friends... "Tolerance. It's a beautiful thing." Why should I tolerate ignorance. The world is a better place without it. I am not saying people should stop believing in religion (though that would certainly help), they should simply open their eyes and realize "hey I might be wrong".

Answer 5

Other than to repair damage caused by accidents or burns, plastic surgery is pure vanity. It seems very few are happy with the body that God provided for them. They want some parts made smaller, others made larger, the striaght hair curled, the curly hair straightened, hair and eye color changed with the seasons, and the effects of overeating removed surgically. And none of the changes will bring lasting happines, as happiness has to come from within.

Answer 6

I would not have surgery for a type of surgery to make me look better, Now if I did not have any teeth, Yes, They can fill my mouth with teeth, or if I broke my nose, Yes they can reconstruct my nose, But just for a better looking face, I don't think any surgery will help me. Now there is a few kinds of surgery that is not necessary for recontruction, That I will accept, & one is if a man or woman is over weight, & they can do a Fat reduction surgery to help that person due to the fact that person is a diabetic, I will say Yes, go for it. I know a few that has had this done & now their Diabectics are doing better.

Answer 7

I wouldn't say "wrong" or a "sin."

But I do see it as reveling in vanity and a waste of money that could undoubtedly be used for better things.

I think what is more of a sin is that our culture holds women to such a ridiculous standard of beauty and focuses on looks so much that perfectly normal girls feel that they have to change how they look in order to fit in. I know a girl who I always thought was very pretty, and she recently had an eyebrow lift. I have no idea why. She's in her early 20's, and I think it's just sad that she felt she needed it done.

Answer 8

Personally unless I had an accident with major damage to my face or body I wouldn't even consider it for myself. I don't think it is a sin but our bodies are to be the temple of the Lord, so I think for those of us serving Him, it would be best to ask before we renovate the temple He created.

I have a friend that if she could afford it (and desired it) I'd support her as her nose is kind of off to the side a bit and as a result she sometimes has problems breathing. For her, although it might be aesthetically pleasing, the biggest benefit would be to be able to breathe better. So in that case it wouldn't be so much for the sake of vanity but health.

I think for health reasons, it would be acceptable like in the case of Operation Smile, which helps children born facial deformities to live a normal life.

Answer 9

That's an interesting question. King Solomon said, however, that "everything is vanity"... so does that mean we don't do anything at all. Doing things in vain or being vain is relative. For instance, would you consider it wrong to exercise or diet to improve the look of your body; is it wrong for a woman to wear moisturizer etc. to improve the texture of her skin? Or wear modest make up to improve her appearance? No. The Apostle said that "the wearing of gold, the braiding of the hair" etc. should not be our FOCUS... He never said they were wrong in and of themselves. It's all in how you prioritize your life. I am of an age where if I had the money, I'd be rushing to the nearest, reputable plastic surgeon for a little nip & tuck. Would I go rob a bank, sacrifice my spirtituality to GET the money for it. Absolutely not.

Answer 10

As a non-believer I don't see anything "sinful" about the procedures, but I (especially as a woman) do have issues with the constant focus on appearance and the obsession with external beauty. The bar just keeps being set higher, and to a point that the average person cannot, no matter how many times they go under the knife, achieve. It sets ourselves up for a lifetime of feelings of inadequacy.

No matter how a doctor "sculpts" you, surgery can't do anything for the person inside. At what point does that factor in?