5 Christian Arguments for Cosmetic Surgery

Some Christians consider it morally wrong to use cosmetic surgery to change their appearance. Others see facelifts and tummy tucks as being positive and acceptable uses of new technology.

Here are five Christian arguments in favor of cosmetic surgery:

1. Many cosmetic procedures have significant value in the treatment of health problems. Such operations can treat disfiguring conditions and, in many cases, improve the self-esteem and emotional well-being of patients who undergo the procedures.

ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now

2. "Beauty comes from within," as the saying goes, but noticing a person's inner beauty may involve getting past his or her exterior façade, which may need an overhaul, according to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Some people may need plastic surgery to regain their confidence and ensure their inner beauty will be seen.

3. According to Christianity Today, nowhere does the Bible condemn undergoing elective self-improvement procedures. "While it's silent on cosmetic surgery, God's Word has much to say about the condition of our heart and upkeep of our body, his temple."

VOTE NOW: Do You Support Prayer in Public Schools?

4. Though some point to the Biblical passage of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to contend cosmetic surgery may defile our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit, most cosmetic procedures don't actually damage the body, according to Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes. "In fact, some could use the exact same Scripture to justify their cosmetic enhancements."

5. The relatively new "nip and tuck" culture illustrates the yearning people feel for meaning, fulfillment and transcendence while allowing them to gratify old desires in new and more effective ways, wrote Dr. Hans Madueme on the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity's website. He wrote: "What are we after? What do we want? What are we willing to do to get it? Like the practiced fingers of a surgeon, these questions peel away our polished masks, revealing our true selves, our real identities. From wearing makeup to choosing friends, from buying a house to considering liposuction, life in its ordinariness, life in its spiritually charged imperfections and sufferings, reveals the kinds of people we are and are becoming."

ALERT: Should 'One Nation Under God' Stay in the Pledge of Allegiance? Vote Now

Related Stories:

• 6 Christian Plastic Surgeons Talk About Their Cosmetic Surgery Practice

• Cosmetic Surgery: 7 Quotes From the Heated Christian Debate