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PLASTIC SURGERY NEWS, SURGERY NEWS, COSMETIC SURGERY NEWS Current NEWS  |
Plastic surgery on reality shows is not a piece of cake
SHAYLA DRESSLER
Montana Kaimin
U. Montana
February 16, 2005
You can turn that flaccid fanny into a replica of J. Lo's rear that defies gravity and doubles as a shelf. You can extract abdominal fat until you have more definition than a dictionary. You can implant, cut, suck, inject and tuck your way to physical perfection.However, a number of local cosmetic surgeons said that this flawless fairytale, portrayed by TV shows like "The Swan" on Fox and "Extreme Makeover" on ABC, is just as phony as Pamela Anderson's chest.Asked if reality TV shows accurately represent plastic surgery, Dr. Stephen Hardy, a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons who practices in Missoula, said, "Absolutely not. It's despicable." He added that -- despite the false impression portrayed by these shows -- they have made cosmetic plastic surgery more acceptable.In the real world, plastic surgery grossed more than $8.3 billion dollars in 2003, according to the ASPS Web site. The most popular procedures were rhinoplasty (nose reshaping), liposuction, eyelid surgery and facelifts. Forty-five percent of all patients were repeat patients, and almost one-third of all plastic surgery recipients had multiple procedures.Females made up 86 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgery patients. The top three procedures for women were liposuction, breast augmentation and nose reshaping, according to the society.Males received close to 1.8 million surgical procedures in 2003. Buying oversized vehicles is out. Nose jobs, liposuction and male breast reductions are in.Dr. John Harlan, who is ASPS certified and practices in Missoula, said in "contrast to reality shows, we've spent years in training." He added that the three things that distinguish reality TV from reality are "credentials, experience and high ethical standards."Meanwhile, Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, who practices cosmetic plastic surgery on "Dr. 90210," disagrees. In an interview, he admitted that some TV shows have more skillful doctors and have a significantly higher quality of results but said that he would never "make somebody into a freak."Ellenbogen's own resume includes 30 years of experience, ASPS certification and a number of accolades and awards including his recognition in the 2002-2003 "Guide to America's Top Surgeons" published by the Consumers' Research Council of America.Ellenbogen said he must maintain a professional standard in order to keep his practice. For that reason, he said he will never create "porn girls" with "basketball breasts" or give males pectoral or calf implants.He said he remains successful due to his "artist's eye," his ability to stay abreast of technology, a deep understanding of his clients' desires and rigid safety precautions. "We don't cure anything," he said. "When the bandages come off, they're exactly the same person."After some programs finish, the contestants could be poster children for the witness protection program. According to their Web site, one recipient on "Extreme Makeover" had a chin implant; a face lift with neck and scar revision; liposuction on her arms, back, hips, thighs, buttocks, "saddlebags" and stomach; a breast reconstruction; skin removal from her armpits and lower back; a tummy tuck; a hair transplant; Lasik eye surgery; tooth bonding and six porcelain veneers.Dr. Catherine Selden, who is currently a psychologist for "Extreme Makeover," works to evaluate a potential contestant's ability to deal with the repercussions and stress of the show and eventually help them through the process. She said that she conducts four hours of testing with an hour-and-a-half interview to understand a contestant's expectations and warn them about what they are getting into.Asked if the contestants have severe emotional baggage, Dr. Selden said, "Most people have had issues with their parents, but that doesn't mean they're emotionally damaged."She said that most people feel bad about the way they look and are attempting to make the exterior match their interior.Selden does not deny that the show could have a major impact on a contestant's life. A new balance of power in relationships, self-image issues and jealousy are all components that must be factored into the adjustment process, she explained.Despite this, she said that "Extreme Makeover" provides a "better process than real-life plastic surgery" due to the testing and screening that allows the doctors to know the patients better.Most surgeons agree that the non-negotiable relationship between surgeon and patient must be based on understanding and trust.Dr. John Canady, the treasurer for ASPS and a professor at the University of Iowa, said an honest patient-surgeon relationship requires multiple visits, a safe environment for patients to ask questions and realistic feedback on the outcome of their surgery. "(My job is) no different than any other physician," Canady said.Harlan's main reservation about reality TV is the result. The lack of attention paid to the relationship between client and surgeon may result in the contestants being dissatisfied with their ultimate treatment, he said.Deb Nater, 54, of Great Falls, said, "Mother Nature can be a bitch."That is why she decided to have her chin, neck, forehead and eyes enhanced. She said she is satisfied with her results and enjoys her "perked up" and brighter appearance.Nater enjoys plastic surgery TV shows but wants to assure others that, despite what it looks like on TV, surgery is "no piece of cake."University of Montana Professor Steven Gaskill believes that cosmetic plastic surgery fits "the American psyche." He teaches exercise physiology in the Health and Human Performance Department and specializes in aerobic fitness and its correlation to work capacity and chronic disease.He noted that Americans live in an environment in which 60 percent of them are overweight and 30 percent are obese.Professor Gaskill said Americans do not want to face the facts. Weight loss is a long-term process, as is weight gain. Liposuction, one of the most popular procedures, is an example of the instant gratification that Americans desire, he said.Harlan and Hardy agree, Missoulians have an open and accepting view on cosmetic plastic surgery. Most of Harlan's clientele are female, and those who are male mostly receive reconstructive surgery after accidents and fights.Ellenbogen revealed that he might be participating in a new plastic surgery TV show tentatively entitled "Face Off." The premise is that Ellenbogen, representing the West Coast, will compete with an East Coast plastic surgeon in hopes of achieving the best facelift.Much of the reputation of cosmetic plastic surgery is now at the hands of reality TV's finest surgeons. It has been fashioned and formatted to fit into TV timeslots complete with all the right components: touching stories, appalling twists and a scandalous appeal that remains upbeat until the end.TV shows like "The Swan" and "Extreme Makeover" share similar blueprints and ratings success. The audience is introduced to the one-of-a-kind subjects: a music teacher who has excessive skin on her neck that hinders her ability to play instruments or a beat-up cowboy who has been trampled by the brutality of bull riding.
These people and their stories exude sticky-sweet emotion, a syrupy coating that Americans cannot seem to resist
http://www.gsusignal.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/16/42101dc8ad785
