Although “Plastic Surgery” is currently coming across as a so-called extravagant and improvident hobby, it used to be a necessity in Vietnam in the 1960s.
Firstly, why?
Over the past 150 years, Vietnamese beauty ideals have witnessed substantial changes. When France colonized the nation, physical characteristics like a high nose bridge were highly valued. The link of light and unblemished skin with higher socio-economic status has made it a highly desired trait for centuries and continue to remain so.
However, despite such justification related to to beauty preference, Plastic Surgery is called “necessity” primarily for the fact that soldiers during the French colonization who had suffered severe injuries or disfigurement had to undergo surgeries in order to survive during combat. Still, it is important to note that plastic surgery was not widely available or accessible during that period, and most soldiers would not have had access to such treatments. Indeed, although this phenomenon roots from this situation, it was only limited to few individuals and was not a common practice throughout the military.
Today’s Plastic Surgery: Is it really worth it?
I would say it’s totally worth it when it comes to boosting confidence and self-esteem of one’s own. In many cases, individuals may have physical features that they are unhappy with, and plastic surgery certainly helps them feel more comfortable and confident. However, people not only opt for Cosmetic Surgery to ameliorate their confidence, but also to deal with the outsiders’ assumption and social outdated beauty standards surrounding them each and every day, even when living in a modern society. In fact, Ms Ngoc, a 26-year-old Hanoian woman, has had her cheekbones reduced since Vietnamese culture advised men not to marry women with high cheekbones, unless they want to die early. In this case, the desire to undergo surgeries does not come from the patient herself, so I consider it completely worthless and futile. Social standards and assumptions had urged her to change herself for their content.
All in all, anyone should choose to go through Plastic Surgery only when they are ready and happy for it, not for anyone’s satisfaction or chasing standards that already hurt them currently and beyond.
