The Media Focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
Citation: Plastic surgery in the press. Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgery. 2008 Aug;61(8):866-9 Authors: Reid AJ, Malone PS
The authors of this paper contend that the media play a major role in educating the public about medical and surgical treatment options. Because the media typically portrays only cosmetic plastic surgery, as opposed to reconstructive and medically necessary aesthetic surgery, the authors believe that the true scope of this medical specialty is ultimately misrepresented. A false public perception of this type could potentially hinder patients and even physicians from recognizing the types of reconstructive cosmetic plastic surgery options that may be available to them.
UK Media Portrayal of Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether such a skewed public perception actually exists, and to what extent. To do this, the authors performed a search of every newspaper article published in the UK during the year 2006 which contained the term “plastic surgery.” Of the nearly twelve hundred newspaper articles that the researchers analyzed, almost 90% referred strictly to cosmetic plastic surgery. Only 10% of the articles they found referred to reconstructive plastic surgeries.
The researchers did find, rather unsurprisingly, that articles which included quotes from plastic surgeons who were members of the UK’s General Medical Council tended to have a somewhat more balanced view than articles which did not. However, articles which included quotes from these non cosmetic plastic surgeons were much more likely to include mentions of potential plastic surgery complications and risks. Overall, the authors concluded that the medical profession needs to go to greater lengths to educate the public and members of the media about applications of aesthetic surgery procedures that go above and beyond cosmetic plastic surgery.