Havent really put anything here in a while so heres the main body of a project i was working on about plastic surgery. I wanted to interview a plastic surgeon but none of the people i spoke to got back to me. Maybe il do it better during the summer. It was pretty rushed, but it has the bones and research for a good feature article.


My hypothesis is that the presentation and attention given to cosmetic surgery reflects a society that is obsessed with image. Furthermore I believe that the representation of cosmetic surgery on “reality television” programmes encourage people who ordinarily wouldn’t, to have surgery performed on themselves. The media both reflects and generates social activity and both aspects must be explored in order to understand the processes at work. I also believe that the mainstream media is manipulating their consumers by exploiting their insecurities and promoting a destructive message that equates wealth with happiness. The shows which I will be examining are The Swan, Extreme Makeover, and I Want A Famous Face. The Swan is a competitive show in which all the contestants undergo full body plastic surgery and then must compete against each other for a cash prize. On Extreme Makeover each show focuses on one particapant who has full body plastic surgery and examines the processes involved. On I Want A Famous Face a particant will undergo facial reconstruction with the aim that afterwards they will look like their preferred celebrity. While each of these shows have specific nuances, the basic premise is the same, therefore unless I make particular reference to a show I will be discussing them as a whole.

To begin with I would like to tackle the claim of these shows to represent “reality”. The label of “reality television” has always been a troublesome one. Some people believe that the name is an inaccurate description for several styles of program included in this genre. The viewer of these shows cannot see what is being edited. The process involved in a cosmetic makeover is a lengthy one that cannot be justifiably presented in a twenty or thirty minutes. The shows lack much variety and generally follow the same pattern- this leads the analyst to ask if the creators deliberately set up the show in such a way that leads to a favourable result time and time again.
An interesting theorist to look at with regard to these shows is the postmodernist Jean Baudrillard who made some significant contributions to the Semiotics and the study of signs. He believed that reality disappears underneath the interchangeability of signs, and this can be seen clearly on television shows about cosmetic surgery, especially when looking at how exactly the products of surgery is consumed and how beauty is a sign for success and those with the power to alter their appearance have greater symbolic power in society. Baudrillard thought that all purchases, because they always signify something socially, have their fetishistic side. The human obsession with perfection has reached a fetish-like scale, and the image of a flawless body has come to symbolise the object of attraction. His ideas about hyperreality could also be important in analysing reality television shows. Hyperreality is a means to characterise the way consciousness defines what is actually "real" in a world where a multitude of media can radically shape and filter the original event or experience being depicted. The media has become so complex and sophisticated that determining what is real can often be difficult.

Plastic surgery has existed in various guises for many years and reflects mans natural desire for self improvement. There is nothing good or bad about wanting to be better- it is a natural impulse, but when this desire is exploited for higher TV ratings or direct consumption we should be offended. When plastic surgery is highly necessary- in the case where an accident left someone disfigured or where not having plastic surgery poses a health risk, no-one can make a moral judgement. However there are those who believe that the “unnecessary” use of plastic surgery is negative influence in society. Their argument is the that widespread practice of plastic surgery creates or adds to a widespread obsession with image which is deemed as “fake” and dehumanising. Such people would argue that everyone is beautiful and that there is no need to “fix” anything and individuals should be judged not on their appearance but by their inner beauty. The opposing side to this argument would be that it is everyone’s free choice to alter their appearance and if you are unhappy with a certain aspect of your body you should be free to change it. It is this side that the media tends to side with and it is no coincidence that it is also this side that reflects the ideals of the free market economy.

It is interesting when applying Toderov’s equilibrium theory to these shows. His theory identifies and labels a changing state of affairs occurring throughout the narrative. These shows are also definite narratives as a discernable story can be seen to take place. For Toderov the five points of changing are equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempt and return to a new equilibrium or the restoration of a new equilibrium. But in the case of these makeover shows the first stage or status quo is not present. The patient or contestant’s starting point is disruption. Their life is disrupted because they are unhappy with their body or feel that their body restricts them from participating in life to its fullest. The recognition takes place when the doctors and presenters help the patient to realise that s/he needs surgery to alleviate the problem. The surgery becomes a metaphor for the next stage- attempt, as the doctors “attempt” to fix him/her. The return or restoration is again problematic because there was no beginning equilibrium. Something different takes place- perhaps this is meant to signify the beginning of something new for the patient; being born for the first time. But what are the implications for the lack of equilibrium at the beginning of the show? Perhaps it sends the message that balance is unthinkable if you have an undesirable physical appearance. There simply isn’t a way to be happy with yourself. The possibility of coming to terms mentally with our physical insecurities is not explored at all. Surgery is seen as the only option available. And if the surgery does not result in the long term satisfaction of the patient the road for repeat procedures is left wide open.

Results from a study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that plastic surgery reality TV shows influence patients to have surgery. According to the study, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, first time patients seeking cosmetic surgery are directly influenced to have a procedure by the shows they watch. The study examined 42 cosmetic surgery patients. Fifty seven percent of patients were considered high-intensity viewers of plastic surgery shows, regularly watching at least one ongoing programme. Patients in the high-intensity category reported a greater influence from television and the media to pursue cosmetic plastic surgery, felt more knowledgeable about plastic surgery in general and believed plastic surgery reality television shows were more similar to real-life than low-intensity viewers did. In addition four out of five people reported television directly influenced them to pursue a cosmetic surgery procedure, with nearly one-third very much or moderately influenced. Shows considered in this study included Extreme Makeover, The Swan, I Want A Famous Face, Plastic Surgery: Before and After, Dr. 90210 and Miami Slice. “It is unfortunate that patients are turning toward the entertainment industry for educational information- we had hoped for different results” said Dr. John Persing, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study co-author. “These shows may create unrealistic expectations about what plastic surgery can do for you.” According to ASPS statistics nearly 11 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in 2006 up 7 percent from 2005.

Fashion magazines advertising plastic reconstruction, reality television shows about cosmetic surgeries and TV shows like Nip/Tuck exist because there is a demand for them. These shows and media products focus on people who want to improve their appearance and are consumed by people who want to improve their appearance. Therefore media is reflecting society, but also influencing it as people tend to imitate and draw inspiration from what they see on a screen or in a glossy magazine. However there is a lot of resistance to these shows. A simple google search will reveal a multitude of critics slamming the culture of perfection worship and accusing the producers of these show of damaging and exploiting people. Therefore, these shows are definitely not representative of these peoples views. So the media simultaneously reflects some peoples views and forgets others.