Plastic surgery has become less and less of a secretive subject in recent years. UNA students reason that plastic surgery is more substantial now because of society’s portrayal of standardized beauty.

Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more acceptable because people in society are looking for immediate gratification, said May Takeuchi, assistant professor of sociology and family studies.

“People just expect good things to happen right away, they cannot wait,” Takeuchi said. “It’s either become more acceptable in society’s social norm or people’s expectations of the behavior have been changing a lot.”

Student Adam Elders does not fully agree that plastic surgery makes a person beautiful. He thinks natural looks best, he said.

“Now reconstructive surgery, that’s a bit different,” Elders said. “If your face was injured or you were born with a defect that’s a bit different scenario, (plastic surgery) definitely is an option worth considering.”

According to the 2012 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report done by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the percentage of people who received cosmetic surgery increased five percent compared to numbers recorded in 2011.

“From my perspective, we don’t even look at the cover nowadays,” Takeuchi said. “I think people who get plastic surgery are not really looking for being attractive, they just want to be on trend, so there is not individual uniqueness or personality anymore.”

The majority of our patients are women, said Jennings Plastic Surgery administrator Deb Cardwell.

“We see about 70 percent more women than men (and) breast augmentations are the most common cosmetic procedure,” Cardwell said. “Most people come in because they have something they don’t personally like about themselves.”

The Plastic Surgery Statistics Report showed that women accounted for 91 percent of all cosmetic procedures.

“It’s probably related to the major roles expected in society,” Takeuchi said. “Women are expected to be more social and form social relationships.”

Most guys can get away with wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt while most women are expected to try their hardest to look nice or presentable, said freshman Jessica Hartman.

“Men are very, very shallow and a lot of times men will just pay attention to a woman if she looks pretty, not necessarily if she has a good personality,” Elders said. “That can drive anybody to go to drastic lengths to change their physical appearance.”

Cosmetic surgery increases can be traced to the accessibility of cheaper technology, Takeuchi said.

“Thanks to the advancement of technology it’s getting more accessible,” Takeuchi said. “Twenty years ago it was much more expensive but technology is getting cheaper and better.”

The majority of cosmetic procedures are for 40-54 year olds — 48 percent total, according to the Plastic Surgery Statistics Report.

In a way our society is becoming more ageless and our lifestyles today are getting more standardized, so everyone is expected to have a similar kind of lifestyle, Takeuchi said.

“People 50 years ago probably had the same desire to look young, but at that time technology wasn’t available,” Takeuchi said. “Today it’s there, so why not just utilize it?”