Should people have cosmetic surgery purely for aesthetic reasons?

Annie Tai, 16 Shung Tak Catholic English College

How can we stop wealthy aesthetes from exercising their human rights?

The majority of people who receive cosmetic surgery are satisfied. The results are safe, if you don't consider Michael Jackson.

Nose jobs, brow lifts, liposuction, silicone breast implants, Botox injections ... with improving technology, we can choose to enhance our facial features and maintain youth medically.

A low risk procedure performed by a licensed, qualified doctor costs about $15,000. Where there is a demand, there is a supply. Seeking beauty and physical perfection is a basic human need. Look at magazines and advertisements. We are accustomed to seeing well-built bodies and flawless faces. We judge people by their appearance. If a better look can help achieve success and confidence, why should we block the road to beauty?

In the US in 2003, 8.7 million cosmetic surgeries were performed. People need to feel gorgeous all the time. Women especially want to fight wrinkles and gravity.

I would not encourage psychologically unstable people to reshape their bodies as they may have unrealistic expectations. Beauty is not a guaranteed solution to all problems in life. Patients are responsible for their decisions.