Women and Cosmetic Breast Surgery

Abstract

In this article we provide a comparative analysis of qualitative, semistructured interviews with 24 women who had undergone different forms of cosmetic breast surgery (CBS). We argue that women must negotiate three types of risk: potential medical risks, lifestyle risks connected with choosing "frivolous" self-enhancements, and countervailing social risks affiliated with pressures to maximize one's feminine beauty. In addition, we highlight the challenges faced in negotiating these risks by examining the limits to traditional forms of medical informed consent provided to the women, who received little information on the medical risks associated with CBS, or who were given uncertain and contradictory risk information. Even respondents who felt that they were well informed expressed difficulties in making "wise" choices because the risks were distant or unlikely, and hence easily minimized. Given this, it is fairly understandable that the known social risks of "failed" beauty faced by the women often outweighed the ambiguous or understated risks outlined by medicine. We argue that traditional notions of informed consent and risk awareness might not be adequate for women choosing CBS.

Perception of cosmetic surgery and associated side effects

“…[4,5] With the popularity of cosmetic surgery, side effects such as failure of surgery, unexpected infections, and safety accidents are increasingly common, and these can have physical, psychological, and social consequences. [6][7][8][9] The Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea reported that 52.5% of female college students underwent cosmetic surgery, and 12% experienced side effects. [10] Additionally, the gradual decrease in the age at which cosmetic surgery is attempted in South Korea has also led to concerns regarding side effects.…”

The importance of reflecting on treatment and post-treatment care when assessing the social aspects of cosmetic nanomedicine and transdermal delivery system

“…For this reason it is likley that public responses to these developments will be influenced by wider social pressures centred on notions of embodied, comportment and the degree to which cosmetic therapies are interpreted as essential to post-treatment care, or as "frivolous" self-enhancements". 18 For these reasons, we suggest that the development of novel topical delivery systems, indicating the possible twining of therapeutic interventions with treatments designed to address the aesthetic and cosmetic dimensions of cancer treatment, raise profound social and ethical questions. In this context, recent studies have called for integrated and anticipatory approaches to the assessment of the social and ethical dimensions of nanomedicine.…”