Dear Reader,

This topic has been requested by one of our readers, and perhaps will be of interest to you, as well. No further qualifications were given, so we’ll need to take a general look at the subject.

By definition, cosmetic plastic surgery is surgery that changes the appearance of some aspect of our physical features. That being the case, I am limiting this paper to two broad categories; surgery performed to correct a problem resulting from accident, illness, or birth defect, and surgery performed simply because I do not like the way I look.

I would trust that our readers would have little or no problem with the first category mentioned. If I could have surgery performed that would repair or replace a nose, chin, cheek, or an ear that had been destroyed by disease or accident, I would certainly consider that an option available to me. Other considerations would be what the price is, whether insurance would help, and how functional I would be after surgery. I recall reading of leprosy patients who had lost facial features ( nose, ears, etc.) who were so embarrassed by their appearances that they sought the help of plastic surgical remedies, and many of these were so successful that the patient regained the confidence needed to become part of society again. And who would deny a person the opportunity to have some semblance of their former appearance restored after having been the victim of burning or other accident or mutilation? We are human, and we do have feelings. And God understands those feelings.

I move to the second category, then, and consider the subject of seeking surgery simply because I do not like the way I look. I want to be careful to differentiate between an abnormality that causes embarrassment or unkind remarks, and a desire to be better looking. I suppose any of the conditions above could be labeled as pride, which God detests, and therefore one should accept his/her condition as from God, but I believe this last group, the one who just doesn’t like the way they look, would be the one who may experience more of a problem with pride than the others. There is something to be said about accepting ourselves the way God made us, or, in some cases, the way He permitted us to be born or made. We’re dealing with our sense of self-worth, our personal value, and many people run aground on this issue. For instance, cosmetic plastic surgery does not stop the process of aging. And if my sense of personal worth is tied to my physical appearance, I am in serious trouble indeed. There’s an old adage that still carries a lot of punch: “Beauty is as beauty does”. Real beauty and attractiveness comes from within the person, and is not contingent upon our outward appearance.

The Apostle Paul suffered from something that he considered a thorn in the flesh, and bears testimony that he asked God three times to remove it. Commentators have various opinions about what that thorn was, and some have concluded that it was a physical problem, perhaps even something that made Paul rather offensive to those who saw him. At any rate, Paul tells how he came to grips with the situation, and tells Timothy, a younger minister, that he, Paul, “has learned to be content in whatsoever state I am.”

Are you wrestling with the problem of personal appearance? Permit your heart and spirit to be ministered to and led by God as you consider the options that are available and feasible.

Thanks for reading,
Pastor Ritchey