Cosmetic Surgery

 

 

The Down’s Syndrome Association fully supports the rights of adults with Down’s syndrome to choose plastic surgery although we are very sad that they feel the need to change their faces in an attempt to hide the fact that they have Down’s syndrome.  While we will always support them, we do question why parents decide to subject their young children to cosmetic surgery with all the discomfort and risk that any form of surgery entails.  What message are parents giving to their child in showing that they would like to hide their child’s disability?

 

Society must learn to accept people with Down’s syndrome for what they are – people who happen to have Down’s syndrome.  Giving in to prejudice and ignorance by hiding the outward signs of the disability is no solution.  Public perceptions and understanding have improved in recent years but we clearly have some way to go while demand for this type of surgery remains.   A vital part of our role is to educate the public, helping them to understand and to accept the contribution of people with Down’s syndrome.

 

January 2000