THE POWER OF BEAUTY

"Wisdom is the sum of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future." Shakespeare, "As You Like It", Act III, Scene III.

Why does man or woman want to be beautiful? There is an ancestral need for beauty in mankind. Signs for this quest go back to prehistoric times: tattoos, rings through the ears and nose, the wrapping of Oriental women's feet, and many other tribal and cultural customs were for the purpose of enhancing beauty. More contemporary and sophisticated methods are more obvious - hair dying, cosmetic, and make-up techniques, and also the use of physical adornments, such as jewelry, earrings, clothing styles and hair styles in thousands of forms. All of these are for the single purpose of improving the appearance and creating beauty.

"Why?", we say. Improved self-image through improved appearance has proven to people over the centuries to be a means of better realizing ourselves as human beings, a means to influence other individuals and to communicate better in our lives, a means to gain power, if you will, and to obtain things. This urgent need threads its way through history as a mechanism for man to increase his level of acceptance. A more attractive and beautiful individual always appears to have a better chance to ascent in the social scale, to improve in his or her own fields of endeavor, and, perhaps most desirable, to reach new emotional and sentimental heights. Every man and woman searches for absolute truth through many pathways. However, beauty is almost always found in any of these as a constant, and, therefore, as an important intrastructure for the personal growth of the individual.

In this search, man sometimes lives mechanically as a machine with a set routine, or he aspires to be human with complex inspirations for living. In either case, beauty is an efficient means to help select the most appropriate option. This ability to exert options is evident in our selection of clothes, accessories, hairdos, cosmetics, and jewels.

When one of these produce adequate satisfaction, we may turn to a more transcendental solution in the hands of the aesthetic plastic surgeon. This, then, becomes another manifestation of the search for a balance that will create the capacity to experience life to its fullest extent.

Aesthetic plastic surgery is the surgery of harmony, good taste, and the beautiful attitude. The surgeon first trains his hands in the practice of general surgery. He then must further refine his talents and techniques as a plastic surgeon in order to combine his artistic with his scientific judgment. In this way, he evaluates the tissues' capacity to resist the surgical action of being "sculptured". But, the aesthetic feeling can only be acquired with intense acts of seeing, hearing, feeling, and studying. That is why plastic surgery is the surgery of experience, wisdom, and personal realization.

Aesthetic plastic surgery is also art. It searches for a way to feel, to create or recreate forms that will inspire the innermost vibrations of the soul or that which we may ultimately call happiness.

Aesthetic plastic surgery requires a knowledge of life, man, art, and the intimate study of how those elements intensely interrelate in our every day living.

It is important that all plastic surgeonsto be able to judge each patient as an individual. If a patient is trying to regain beauty, it is necessary to know what beauty represents for that individual. To understand the patient's psychology, the aesthetic surgeon needs to spend a great deal of time focusing on psychological communications. It is only by such means that the plastic surgeon shall be able to integrate in his surgery all of the critical factors that flow from art, science, and philosophy.

This search for beauty is not restricted to Southern California, or even the United States. It is easy to understand that this need exists for all mankind and throughout all cultures. Many plastic surgeons have developed their reconstructive and aesthetic talents throughout the world in various voluntary programs, such as Project Hope, Operation Smile, Interplast, Project Concern, and many other independent missionary hospitals, such as Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti. Communication creates understanding. My fondest desire, therefore, is to share these thoughts with you prior to your consultation. Hopefully, they will help us to understand each other, thereby creating for us a mutually satisfying surgical and aesthetic experience.

Thank you for your confidence in consulting with me.

Sincerely,



John M. Shamoun, M. D., F.A.C.S.






Philosophy, Style, Myths, Research/Publications, Awards/Organizations, Expert Witness in Legal Cases, Helpful Links, Contact Dr. Shamoun, What is Beauty? Why have Plastic Surgery?, Testimonials

©Copyright 2001, Dr. John M. Shamoun, M.D. All rights reserved.