An ethical stance on the World of cosmetics by Dr. Salma Al-bargawi
- Article
- 17th June 2023
I working in the field of cosmetics and speaking in this manner does not contradict with my mission!!
As doctors, we have sworn to be honest with our patients and not to harm them or be a source of healing and comfort.
We are not salespeople who want to take the most money from the patient," says Dr. Salma Youssef Al-bargawi, a Saudi consultant in dermatology, cosmetics, and lasers.
"In a world where beauty has become an obsession to achieve certain aesthetic standards, the true meaning of beauty is lost. Its emotional and sentimental value is overlooked. Beauty is a subjective value and does not have a unit of measurement. It is a relative and subjective concept that differs from one era to another and from one culture to another!"
In Japanese culture, for example, beauty standards are measured by a woman's calmness, low voice, small steps, and the precision of the size of her feet. While in some African tribes, it is based on the length of a woman's neck. Mothers put a ring after another on the newborn's neck until she grows up, forcing her body to adapt to these harsh standards.
Similarly, Japanese women put their daughters' feet in small metal molds so that they do not exceed the ideal measurement, and throughout history, we find practices that resemble mythical legends. They narrow the wide concept of beauty and make one shape and specific standards, for example, for beauty.
Therefore, it may not be strange that the whole world is now leaning towards imitating the American model of the ideal beauty, with a Hollywood smile, Angelina's lips, and Kim Kardashian's curves, etc. Faces have become similar, not just their owners!
In this case, beauty becomes something harsh. People are driven in a coercive and sometimes hysterical way to abandon the privacy of their features, and thus their essential selves and safe features in this mystery emanating from the halo of the divine face.
The portrait that the Lord has chosen and portrayed. This does not mean that a person should live with something uncomfortable or have a salt need for balance in proportions or to achieve harmony for no reason.
But the intention here is to mold features and faces to make them all the same manufactured mechanical direction!
In the clinic, the lady comes asking for her face to be like a famous picture or a filter from social media filters!
Everyone wants to become like everyone else, as if they are repeated copies of each other. Doesn't this seem scary?
How did advertising cancel individual desires and erase the majority's minds by accepting the same commodity?
When some people promote strange procedures and promise that they will become like princesses, beloved dolls, or some celebrities, it is considered a belittling of their value and a reduction of their unique beauty and special feature!
She adds: "The doctor must evaluate the psychological situation of patients to understand their true needs and psychological state that made them seek cosmetic surgery. It is neither ethical nor professional to exploit the critical psychological stage that some people go through, or the dissatisfaction with their appearance…
Dysmorphia! To the extent that it becomes an obsession or coercive anxiety that controls behavior and dominates fears related to appearance and facing others... In this case, it requires a psychological specialist.
The professional and ethical distortion in practicing a noble profession can be attributed to: "Unfortunately, we find some people working in the field without fellowship or specialization... and this is another tragedy and poses additional risks.
After the spread of Botox and fillers among different age groups and stages around the world... to the extent that the procedures no longer satisfy them, and they seek more and more, which led to the emergence of terrifying and shocking forms!
No one is satisfied with the results and they continue to search for more without finding what they are looking for because it is unnatural and unattainable.
Under the umbrella of dysmorphia, new diseases have emerged called Zoom Dysmorphia or Snapchat Dysmorphia!!
Cosmetic surgeons must be aware of these psychological disorders and deal with them wisely and intelligently in the patient's best interest.
What I want to say clearly is that the world of cosmetics has become accessible to everyone, and despite its noble goal, unfortunately, it has been misused for the purpose of quick profit and fame.
As doctors and patients, we all need to take a step back and reflect on why we want to undergo cosmetic procedures? What is the true beauty within us? Will it improve the person's self-image, or is it just a trend that we must follow?
We all carry a great responsibility in advising and guiding patients, and rejecting what we see as inappropriate. We can negotiate and explain what we see as suitable.
Dr. Salma raises the slogan of ethical responsibility stemming from individual conscience and self-evaluation in order to maintain professional honor and human duty.
"In conclusion, I would like to say that the doctor bears a great responsibility, and he must fear God in it. He must reject what he sees as unacceptable, even if another doctor accepts it. It is enough for you to have the honor to say no and elevate your character, manners, and respect for the ethics of your profession and the oath that you took upon yourself"."