Plastic Surgery

A great transformation

            Is plastic surgery a modern trend? It came up a long time ago. It was a technique developed by ancient medicine. In ancient civilizations, a tissue or a nose could be reconstructed through it, for instance. In other words, it appeared with medical and repaired intentions. However, the society and its values have been changing and the intention for seeking plastic surgery has also changed. Not a long time ago, this kind of surgery ended up having a new intention – a cosmetic one, which has been increasing a lot. Some factors contributed for this raise. Nowadays it has become more secure and less aggressive surgical intervention because of advanced technology in medicine. Further, this surgery is cheaper and the kinds of payments are several. As a result any man or woman can undergo a cosmetic surgery and see a new person reflected on the mirror – not only someone more beautiful but also a person who is more self-confident. 

            From some years up we have had many facilities to make our dreams come true, and one of them is the several ways of payments for a plastic surgery. Nowadays, health insurances offer some plans that include reimbursement. On the other hand, if you want to pay a private plastic surgeon, you can pay him for it on installments or even obtain a good discount. Lately, as the demand for cosmetic surgery has been increasing, the prices tend to decrease, so it is more accessible for any person, not only for rich one.

            Besides the price, many people undergo a plastic surgery because medical procedures are more secure. The technology in medicine has advanced a lot during the years. Therefore, the durability of a silicone breast implants, for instance, is longer. Some years ago, a woman who had a breast augmentation had to change the silicone breast implants in a short period of time. However, nowadays, they last for a long time (almost one decade and a half) and are more comfortable. Another consequence of the advanced technology in medicine is the medical equipment is smaller and better. As a result, some surgical intervention are almost painfulness and the post operatory is fast, so you can go under the knife in the morning and go back home on the same day in the noon. In other words, you remain a short period of time in the hospital. 

            Depending on the kind of cosmetic surgery a person wants to undergo, she can see herself on the mirror few days after the surgery and feel proud of herself because when you put money on yourself it is an investment. You can have the body that you have always dreamed of or eliminate a burned skin or improve your health and quality of life indeed – in the case of people who have cleft lip, for instance. A cosmetic surgery transforms a person not only physically but also emotionally. Society imposes standards of beauty and there are some prejudice against those ones who have a different physical feature, so after changing the way they look like – mainly for esthetical reasons, people become more self-confident, they increase their self-esteem and change their way to see life. Thus, plastic surgery brings benefits for a person, mainly the psychological one. Through a plastic surgery people can remove a scar not only on their body but also, many times, in their souls. 

All in all, plastic surgery is a good and an important procedure invented by medicine to help people. And, nowadays, regardless of the reason for physical changes, more and more people can reach it easily and feel happier with the deep and superficial transformation in them.

Rites of Passage

A long path to feel free

         One of the most important rites of passage of my life happened when I took my drive’s license. I think it’s important because before that I saw myself too dependent on someone who would drive to take me wherever I wanted. Sometimes I needed my parent’s time availability or their good mood to ask them to take me to my friends’ houses, or to the shopping mall and even to a doctor. My parents always had time to take me to school or any educational course (such as, English course, swimming course, private classes etc). Other times it was necessary to ask for some friends to give a ride to go to a party, a concert – but I never liked to ask for a ride, so if my friends didn’t offer it and my parents couldn’t take me, I missed my appointment.

         To not depend too much on a ride I used to take bus or subway, and sometimes I took a taxi to go or leave some places. And for me, this was terrible because the buses are not so good and delay so much. The subway, as buses, are crowded, not comfortable and you spend much time when you use these kinds of transportation – you need to leave your house very early to take a bus to arrive on time in your destination, for instance.   

         I started to be browned off with this situation when I was about 18 years old because I had some friends that were already driving and I saw them as independent people. I felt the urge to start driving; however, my parents didn’t let me try to get my drive’s license since I had to study to pass Vestibular. At that time I was a teenager and I felt down in the dumps with it. Besides, I was very angry with my parents. No sooner I passed Vestibular than I went searching for my drive’s license. At that moment I thought it would be easy to take it, but it was a long way until I started to drive.

         Six months after I started my classes at College, I signed up for a drivers course where I learnt about car mechanic, traffic signs, first help and defensive car conduction. Then I made a test and passed this test, so I received a certificate of this course. Afterwards, I did a test at the Traffic Department of São Paulo and I passed too. So I could start my practical driving classes and it brought a smile to my face. I was very anxious to drive a car even as a learner.

         I did many driving classes and my mother agreed to take me to the driving school. Nowadays, I realize that she was very dedicated and patient with me. After many classes I did the practical driving test and I was very nervous and just a little self-confident but I got my approval – this fact made my day and I got psyched!

         However, my happiness lasted just a few. I was informed that I mustn’t have any kind of penalty with my new drive's license during one year; otherwise, I would lose it and have to go through process to get it again. After this notice, my parents and I decided to wait one year, so I don’t drive during this period. I confess that I felt sorry for myself and a little sad at the first moment, but I knew that it was not the end of the world.

         The time went fast and one year later – when I was almost 21 years old – I got my definitive drive's license. Once more, I signed up for driving classes to get practice on drive – it lasted almost three months. I gave up these classes when I felt self-confident in front of a steering wheel and among lots of cars. Then I gained a car from my parents and felt like a bird – I was free to go wherever I wanted – it was downright wonderful!

         Nowadays, the roles are inverted because I give and offer a ride. And now my parents ask me if I have available time to take them where they want to go, and I always have time for them.