The pursuit of beauty is a timeless human endeavour. In different epochs of human existence and civilization, people have, to varied degrees, made an effort to put up welcoming physical appearances. However, this pursuit has undeniably taken a new twist in contemporary times, especially as cosmetic and plastic surgery continues to broaden its horizon to offer seamlessly, a quick and easy path to achieving desired physical appearances.

In fact, in recent times, it has become very fashionable to go under the knife to seek a modification of a part of one’s body not looking so appealing in one’s estimation. Thus, cosmetic and plastic surgery is an area of medicine that has inadvertently gained the attention of some big guns and celebrities of our society, who, due to their rising fame and expanding financial capacity, seek to improve their appearances for personal satisfaction or societal affirmation.

While the Church remains tacit on the morality of cosmetic and plastic surgery for non-medical therapeutic purposes, such as facelifts, breast augmentations, and butt enlargement, the Catechism of the Catholic Church however invariably touches on this topic when it avers that “If morality requires respect for the life of the body, it does not make it an absolute value. It rejects a neo-pagan notion that tends to promote the cult of the body, to sacrifice everything for its sake, to idolize physical perfection” (2289).

With no intention to undermine the importance of Plastic surgery, especially in instances where it plays a therapeutic role, however, experience has shown that many resort to it today out of pressure and low self-esteem.

Self-assertion or the willingness to look good before others should certainly not be a reason to go under the knife, for to some extent, beauty indeed lies in the eyes of the beholder. Many who ventured into cosmetic and plastic surgery to look good before others only end up being disappointed,  as they are never free from criticism and backslashes.

More so, it is a well-known fact that every surgical procedure carries some level of risk, and we have seen in recent times how some who went under the knife for beauty’s sake end up with serious complications that are sometimes life-threatening. Should we talk of surgical complications such as infections, bleeding, scarring, nerve damage, and adverse reactions to anaesthesia, all of which are potential risks associated with any surgical procedure?

More so, we have seen in past situations where these procedures have produced unnatural results such as asymmetry, deformities, and an unnatural appearance, causing further distress and potentially requiring corrective surgery.

What of the psychological impact of cosmetic and plastic surgery? It has been scientifically proven that the constant pursuit of physical perfection can lead to body dysmorphia, a mental health condition characterized by an obsessive focus on perceived flaws in one’s appearance. More so, the desire for more procedures can become addictive, leading to a cycle of surgeries and dissatisfaction, ultimately harming both physical and mental health.

Considering, therefore, the numerous risks associated with cosmetic and plastic surgery vis a vis the whole stress and financial burden it poses for individuals, it is imperative to ask if modifying any part of our body merely for aesthetic sake is worth it.

While it is a plausible and good thing to look good, however, going through cosmetic and plastic surgery for a non-medical therapeutic purpose is a sign of undue attachment to the body. God, the perfect planner, has created everything beautifully, and no one should, out of pressure or an inferiority complex, mar this beauty under the guise of looking more appealing for one’s self or others.