I don’t often write about television shows covering plastic surgery—especially programs that could actually be useful—but there’s one airing Wednesday, November 24 that might be worth catching. It will be an episode of ABC’s “Primetime,” showing at 10:00 p.m. in most areas, called, “Celebrity Plastic Surgery Gone Too Far?”
Judging by the title of the show, and the nature of network television today, the content will certainly lean heavily toward the sensational. Not only that, when you check out the interview lineup (see link below), you’ll know that Cynthia McFadden and her team won’t exactly be speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Middle America.
First, there’s Heidi Montag, the reality television star who arguably looked much more “real” before the day she had 10 cosmetic procedures at once. Next up will be Pete Burns, an 80’s rock star who has had so much cosmetic surgery over the past several years he almost looks like another species of human. Then there’s Janice Dickinson, a multi-surgery model who has been quoted saying that everything about her is fake “…and I’m perfect.”
If you’re a celebrity junkie, a television show like this might be right up your alley. But if you’re not, how could you benefit from tuning in on Wednesday night?
If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, it could be useful to see what happens when people get carried away. It may seem like those who populate the gossip columns are the only ones who ultimately abandon all reason in search of perfection, but that’s not so. It can happen to regular people as well. Like the young woman I interviewed a few years ago who had already had nose surgery, was scheduled for breast enhancement because her wedding dress needed more filler and was planning a “mommy makeover” before she ever bore child number one.
I would not want the program to stop you from seeking the rhinoplasty you’ve wished for all your life. If your nose makes you crazy and you’re certain you would feel more at peace if it were fine-tuned, and you have done research, thought long and hard about it and have found an expert board certified plastic surgeon, I would be first in line to cheer you on. After rhinoplasty, however, if you recall that it was relatively easy and start considering breast augmentation, a thigh lift and cheek implants, I would also be first to urge you to pause and think. “Primetime: Celebrity Plastic Surgery Gone Too Far” might head off an impulse to keep forging ahead with more surgery.
In addition, if you have a teen who talks often about cosmetic surgery, it might be helpful to watch the show with him or her—a possible “reverse psychology” move. Especially since there’s a segment scheduled toward the end of the show where teenage plastic surgery will be discussed, including the question about how young is too young.
You might want to consider recording the program first and viewing it yourself to see if there’s s possibility this strategy could backfire, though.
There’s just no telling about network TV these days.
Link to a description of the show:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/pressroom/2010/11/primetime-celebrity-plastic-surgery-gone-too-far.html