Week 4 MedTech and Art

Medical technologies are increasingly accessible in our daily lives, among them; the growing trend of plastic surgeries is particularly alarming. Modern plastic surgeries were developed to care for soldiers that suffered disfiguring facial injuries during the First World War; the intention of facial surgeries was performed to correct functional impairments with the hopes of sending them back to their normal lives (Chambers). However, plastic surgeries right now are cosmetic surgeries that aim to change individuals’ physical appearance.

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In 2007, nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. and the numbers are growing higher and higher each year (Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). Women who had surgeries hope that they can achieve what is deemed the perfect facial feature and body image. However, this so-called perfection is merely unrealistic ideals of beauty and gender roles purported by media, thus making women feel insecure about their body.

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French artist Orlan underwent nine plastic surgery operations in the 1990s to change her face into historically famous paintings and sculptures of women (Jeffries). Orlan argues that her intention was not to appear younger or better but to disrupt the standards of beauty based on the Occidental culture (Frank). Indeed, Orlan’s art work has powerful effects in fighting female objectification and beauty norms.

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When we talk about plastic surgeries, South Korea’s surgical culture can definitely top the list. Recent study found that one in five South Korean women has had some form of cosmetic surgery, which is the highest rate of cosmetic surgery per capita in the world (Stevenson, Whitelocks). This number is alarming because of the underlying message that is being spread around the globe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni-Yjy9WqHE

According to the modern version of the Hippocratic Oath, a doctor “will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures that are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism” (Tyson). But in fact, doctors profit from performing sophisticated surgeries that can earn them more money. These procedures are often unnecessary and strayed from the original goal of repairing facial deformities. In all, the technological advancement in the medical field has both pros and cons. On the one hand they can improve women’s confidence about their appearance, but at the same time they are used by doctors to make profit and lost their sense of individuality in the process. 

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Works Cited

Chambers, J; P. Ray (2009). "Achieving growth and excellence in medicine: the case history of armed conflict and modern reconstructive surgery". Annals of Plastic Surgery 63 (5): 473–478.

Frank, Priscilla. "ORLAN Talks Plastic Surgery, Beauty Standards And Giving Her Fat To Madonna (PHOTOS, INTERVIEW, NSFW)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 29 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. 

Jefferies, Stuart. "Orlan's Art of Sex and Surgery." The Guardian, 1 July 2009. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2010). "Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank Statistics". Aesthetic Surgery Journal: 1–18.

Stevenson, Alexandra. "Plastic Surgery Tourism Brings Chinese to South Korea." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. 

Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath Today." PBS. PBS, 27 Mar. 2001. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. 

Whitelocks, Sadie. "One in Five Women in Seoul Have Gone under the Knife as South Korea Tops Global List of Plastic Surgery Procedures." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.