The Basic Ethics of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgeons always tend to walk on a string as they needs to occupy a precarious position, with obligations to cause no harm to the patient, and at the same time, helping the patient achieve what he or she is asking for.

Although, the most important part of a surgeon’s decision is the health as well as safety of a patient, the surgeon must also consider the request of the patient while deciding on a particular procedure. According to the ethics of plastic surgery, he must take the opinion as well as written consent of the patient before surgery. Plastic surgeries cannot be performed on a child or minor without a consent letter of his or her parents or legal guardians.


Gray areas of plastic surgery

The already discussed issues occupy the legal domain. Apart from these factors, there are number of factors that occupy the gray areas in plastic surgery. For example, before surgeries, patient themselves as well as their relatives tend to question issues like the risk factors connected with it.

More such gray areas emerge when the more recent and untested or lesser-tested techniques of surgery are considered. Another issue that is of significant exposure is the question related to the experience of the surgeon as well as his exposure to this innovative device of surgery.

The ethical issues in plastic surgery becomes more clouded when the mental as well as the emotional state of the patient is brought under consideration. These issues involve a number of problems related to psyche. The most important question is probably - how does a surgeon determine that surgeries or rather reconstructive surgery is no longer essential in case of a particular patient?

A number of patients go in for more and more surgeries, as they think they are not looking perfect even after their plastic surgeries.

The surgeon should decide whether a patient is in requirement of more reconstructive surgery. The patient must understand that plastic surgery can never change the life of an individual; it can just bring about a few changes in their looks.

These surgeries are usually reconstructive in nature and cannot completely change the looks of an individual.

The surgeon can also be in trouble in case a patient suffering of BDD or Body Dysmorphic Disorder goes in for a surgery. It is impossible to satisfy a patient suffering from BDD, as they are obsessed with their looks, regardless of their being imaginary or real.

Screening of the patient

Surgeons need to screen their patients before finally opting to operate on a particular patient. The surgeon needs to make the patient go through a series of questions in order to get a glimpse of the expectations as well as the emotional state of the patient. The surgeon must get a clear picture about the patient’s needs, and needs to assure himself of the fact that the patient is not asking for complete transformation.

In the eyes of the beholder

These gray areas do not stop at considering the emotional or mental state of the patient. Beauty tends to be subjective in nature, so the features that appear pleasing to a surgeon may appear degenerative to the patient.

Good communication may prove to be helpful in this case. It is rather difficult to understand whether a particular surgery would improve the features of the patient or would destroy it.


Conclusion

It is actually the surgeon, who, through his experience as well as training determines whether to operate on the particular patient or to send them to the psychiatrist for counseling.

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