Is getting plastic surgery a sin against God?

Plastic surgery may seem to be a common medical procedure for several individuals around the globe, but the Catholic Church still has different points of views when it comes to changing the naturally bestowed beauty from God. Some medical practitioners, on the other hand, sees themselves as an instrument in the fulfillment of God's purpose - healing.

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MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Plastic surgery to some may be a common medical procedure performed by individuals who want to improve someone else's physical appearance. However, for some Catholics this procedure is a sin, while others, medical practitioners in this case, sees themselves as instruments fulfilling God's purpose of healing.

The Jubillee Memorial Hospital in India caters to the poor populace who cannot afford cosmetic procedures. He even quoted a story in Luke 22 of the Holy Bible. He believes that when Jesus healed the lopped ear of one of the high priest's servant, Jesus was performing cosmetic surgery.

The doctor believes that there is a difference in changing the looks of a person with helping a person live a normal life. He claims, "Some radical Christians believe that God created you like this and therefore you should not change your face. God is not going to look at the face of anyone, he is going to look at the heart... that the heart is beautiful, not a face."

The doctor still believes helping a child with a crooked nose causing difficulties in breathing is different from changing one's look for vanity's sake.

Lilian Calles Barge on the other hand told Christianity Today that surgery "is not a free choice."

Changing one's look is something she considers as "false beauty" and "bends cultural norms." She believes that, "The body is not just a hunk of meat. The Bible talks about how we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. The question is what are we offering our bodies up to when we do that?"

However, no concrete scriptures are indicated in the Bible claiming whether plastic surgery is right or wrong, but the Bible tackles on the cost and motivation for doing so.

"When vanity motivates a person to undergo surgery, he/she has become his/her own idol," the website reads. "The Bible warns us not to be vain or conceited (Philippians 2:3-4) and not to draw attention to ourselves by the way we look (1 Timothy 2:9)."

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