Q: I would like to know if it is a mortal sin for me to get breast surgery for aesthetic purposes only, given that the surgeon and nurses would have to see those parts of my body and could have bad thoughts or be aroused? Thanks. – Monica

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A:

The fact that you ask this question might be a sign that the Holy Spirit is nudging you to rethink this operation.

Health is a gift, and we should take reasonable care to protect it. This could include avoiding unnecessary procedures and medications.

Surgery of any kind poses a risk (and expense), so you might want to ask whether the operation is warranted. Is it purely for vanity?

It’s interesting that you are concerned about being an occasion of sin for the surgeon and nurses. Healthcare professionals are no strangers to seeing body parts.

But what about people who later might be tempted to lustful looks at your “enhanced” body parts? Have you considered them?

Of course, we can’t be responsible for how everyone around us reacts all the time. But it is laudable to avoid unnecessary things that might scandalize others.

Another issue is your self-esteem.

If you want more confidence, it helps to appreciate your dignity as a daughter of God, created in his image.

Jesus tells us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Sometimes we overlook the first part of that directive.

We should love ourselves in a healthy way, not in a selfish way. That implies accepting ourselves as we are.

This doesn’t rule out trying to cultivate our talents and keeping fit. We need to be careful, though, not to focus too much on surface things.

After all, a woman’s most beautiful feature is her loving heart.

Some of this might be worth taking to prayer.