Plastic surgery?

Does the Bible make any references to surgically altering our looks? After I had my first chile I worked really hard and lost all of my baby weight. There's this line on my stomach that won't go away though. Now I have two children and I'm not so sure a tummy tuck would be such a smart move. Its a lot of money(which I don't have) and it can be very dangerous. I want to know what you think...

I don't know of anything in Scripture unless you count the OT law against tatooing. I would never bother to do it, since to me the inside is more important, and we are clothed with Christ's image.

Since surgery was thousands of years past the period of scriptural writing, there is simply no references to surgery of any kind much less to plastic surgery which basically started after WWI.

There are references to vanity and some people who use plastic surgery do it because they are vain. But the surgery is not the issue the vanity is.
There are many references to healing but none for the many reasons for plastic surgery. Genetic deformities have no mention due to general ignorance at that time of genetics.

Only the most general of advice is that if you cannot afford it due its cost then dont spend the money. So dont get a loan to buy such a procedure.
I seriously doubt there is any more "danger" than any other medical procedure which means there is some minimal risk because there is always some risk.
But if the money situation is OK and you have a skilled plastic surgeon then go for it.

You have a great point about vanity being the issue.

Good point with the vanity.

I'm kind of on the fence with this one. I mean, I don't have to think about this much partly because I'm a dude, and partly because my face is...well you know. Yeah, I just don't see it's necessary for a person to cut themselves open just to look better.

It's like a science teacher once told my class, if you rip a piece of clothing, then stitch it, then keep ripping it the same place, and keep stitching it in the same place, it's just going to grow weaker and weaker.

There's my meaningless escapade for the next 5 minutes.

Hmm, for me, I think its up to the individual. What about those who have gone through a tramatic situation such as an accident, fire, or somthing that causes them to need reconstructive surgery to make them feel or look normal in society? How would one feel if it were a child or thier child who had undergone this situation such as an accident to grow up with half a face?

Whats the difference between getting a new limb or getting a new stomach cause someone lost over 150lbs and now theirs so much access of weight it makes it impossible for them to be healthy due to flab that is not removable without surgery?

There is scripture that talks about if your arm or hand causes you to sin, its better to cut it off than to sin. I know its not the same, but the principle here is. The thing is, many people go through difficulties in their appearance. Vanity is one that should not be dealt with in surgery i agree. But when it becomes more than that. A deep issue such a deep hurt or an issue that they are not a whole person becuase of something that is eating them, that it has interupted their life in some way or harming their social life to the point of isolation, then who am i or anyone to say different to say otherwise...

God says to not sin and to not let things cause us to sin.. This is something that might cause one to sin under the right situation.
How do we help each other when this happens? We can help by using the word and not being a stumbling block and giving wrong info to others when they are in difficult times. Each of us has a stumbling block in our own lives, and to each of us it might be many things... for this person it might mean this issue...

All i know is,, i am not the judge... I leave this in the capable hands of the Almighty One who is.. and for those who are going through,,, My prayers are with you,,,

That's a really hard question, and I believe it's really an issue of the heart rather than a strict law. I could name 100 things I'd fix about my appearance if I had the money, but then I also think if I did have the money I'd have 100 other things I'd find more necessary to spend it on. There are many things to consider. Are you done having kids? Will you fin another fix it project after a tummy tuck? What if the result aren't what you'd like? Can you maintain a tummy tuck? A tummy tuck really makes no difference if you gain weight. How will you feel afterwards when there will possibly surface other items that were more important to spend your money on? ---big car repair, kids need braces, a number of health issues, etc.
I'm asking you these questions to think through the decision, not because I want to sway you. Think and pray.

Thank you all, these are great, well thought out responses! It is definitely something that needs prayer.

Of course on the other side of things, our society can be cruel to those whose appearance is out of the normal, and people can be ostracized over things that have no reason. So if plastic surgery is to correct or make more normal an appearance then it is not vain. On the other hand, how will society ever learn to accept people the way they are: I remember a Twilight Zone episode about this issue. (kind of indicates just how old I am doesn't it?)

Or how many holidays you stayed home watching the reruns. Actually, most of the old shows, and many foreign English language shows in America have less attractive stars than the American shows now have. You are so right, it's a matter of culture and custom.

Canole... if you could feel their painful longing and knew how many women there are who want to have babies but can't and would give anything to have the honor of looking down and seeing the evidence upon their body ... that they had been blessed with fruit of the womb... I think this would cease to be a dilemma for you.

That's very well written. I forget to look at things from that point of view sometimes.

I personally don't feel comfortable commenting on the morality of body-altering surgery. If I did, I feel I would have to also justify the use of cosmetics for vanity purposes, as well as women buying an expensive wedding dress, hair growth formulas, people dying their hair (by dying your hair, are you saying that God didn't do a good enough job on your hair color, and that you feel you can do better?), and so on.

I do, however, think there is a line. One side of the line is stuff like removing an unattractive mole, or fixing a facial deformity you've had since birth (or from an accident). The other side of the line is getting Botox injections to look younger, breast implants to flaunt your sexuality, or getting liposuction instead of dieting (yes I know breast implants can also be used on breast cancer patients; I'm not referring to that).

That's just my opinion on it; I definitely don't think this is the battleground for morality...this doesn't have a whole lot to do with loving God or loving your neighbor as far as I can see. Nice topic though! It got me thinking.

There is a lighter side to this issue: I sought out a plastic surgeon once. He took a whole lot of pictures, played around on the computer for an hour or so, then printed out his plan for me. My stomach flesh be would wrapped around and be attached to my back. My chest skin would be separated and half added to each forearm. Each cheek in the rear would be stretched and attached to the inner knee area of each leg. My ankles would be pulled up and attached in the inner knee area just below each cheek. The good news was, my face was just fine for my age. And all that for the special price of $173,000. Modern medicine. how amazing!

hey guys, I hope you know that the preceding thread was intended as a very exaggerated touch of humor.