To Give or Not to Give: Cosmetic Surgery for Christmas

December 11, 2006
As the Christmas season rolls around, men and women are in a frenzy to look and feel their best. Making it even easier to do this are the numerous cosmetic surgery facilities nationwide that are offering gift specials, where procedures such as liposuction or Botox injections are credited to the gift giver.

While giving the gift of plastic is an increasing trend, experts are concerned about the medical ethics.

“It's not perfume, a piece of jewelry or a spa treatment. Giving cosmetic surgery as a gift trivializes a serious medical procedure,” said David Sarwer, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine's Center for Human Appearance.

While Sarwer believes the cosmetic surgery gift giver might have good intentions, such a present could be placing a lot of pressure on the recipient.

Others think giving someone a gift card for a tummy tuck or breast implants could be offensive to the person on the receiving end. According to Long Island plastic surgeon Zachary Gerut, it's not unusual for a husband to give his wife the gift of breast enhancement during the holiday season.

“Why don't you just insult the poor lady and be done with it? It's like telling someone they have bad breath,” Gerut says.

Furthermore, some cosmetic gifts like Botox are only temporary solutions and patients would need to be treated every six months in order for results to last—a commitment all gift givers should be aware of.

However, many experts argue that plastic surgery gifts can be physically and psychologically rewarding for those who have wanted a particular procedure. “It gives the giver the opportunity to say, ‘I hope I have helped to make you feel better about yourself,'” says New Jersey plastic surgeon David Wyatt, who offers gift packages only on the condition that the patient undergoes a full consultation.

If you're considering giving the gift of cosmetic surgery, it is important to choose an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. Please contact us today to find surgeons in your area.

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