Each contestant was assigned a panel of specialists — a coach, therapist, trainer, cosmetic surgeons and a dentist — who together designed an individually tailored program for her. The contestants’ work ethic, growth and achievement was monitored during a three-month transformation process. Two women were featured every week and at the episode’s conclusion, one went home and one was selected to move on to the Swan pageant, where the women competed with each other to be The Swan.

Rachel Love-Fraser, winner of the first season of ‘The Swan’, before and after.

This article is criticising the ethics of this reality show, calling the concept a ‘true, sick glory’ and calling the show ‘a commercial for plastic surgery.’

I myself think that this show is degrading women to an extent and finds it difficult that the contestants are letting themselves undergo such measures just to be a ‘swan’. It is funny how reality shows have changed so much that now even human beauty is being questioned.

Twin brothers Matt and Mike who wanted to look like Brad Pitt, (L-R: Pre-surgery, Post-surgery, Brad Pitt)

Crystal wants to look like Britney Spears (L-R: Pre-surgery, Post-surgery, Britney Spears)

Sha hopes to look more like Pamela Anderson (L-R: Pre-surgery, Post-surgery, Pamela Anderson)

 American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) featured an article on their website which claims that this reality program is setting a dangerous course for its viewers and the rest of the society.

ASAPS President Robert W. Bernard, MD, a plastic surgeon in White Plains, NY. quoted that plastic surgery “was never intended to change who you are, and to believe that surgery can achieve that will only lead to disappointment.” He also urged those who decide to undergo surgery to think twice before carrying on the deed. 

In this reality show, the participants are mostly teenagers or young adults, who have been encouraged to undergo the surgery and have the whole process filmed for the benefit of the show.

In my opinion, it is possible that most of them have not thought carefully before deciding on going under the knife. When some of them are asked what is the reason for them to go through the surgery, most of them claimed that they want to have a successful career as models or other famous jobs. One of them even claimed that she went through breast augmentation to look like Carmen Electra because she hopes that plastic surgery will finally convince her “guy friend” to give her the commitment she’s been longing for, since he is a “boob man” and a huge fan of Carmen’s.

Therefore, I strongly advise that everyone who decides to undergo surgery should think twice and consider the consequences that they are facing before going under the knife.

This is a news found from Newsvine about the new technology of fighting against wrinkles.  The new technology is competing with Botox. Either which one is better, I wish the chemical is really reliable and cause the least side effect because so many people believe the technology with no doubt. Although people said it is safe, but then no one can predict the future things. Just like some people say the food is still safe and it is good to let it being genetically modified. Yes, to some extent, they grow faster and have more nutrients, however, we are not sure about the effect after people start eating them for a period of time.

pictures below are having too much botox!!!

The above poster is launched by Dove promoting its campaign, ‘Campaign for Real Beauty’ in 2005. The Dove website states the Real Beauty manifesto: ‘For too long beauty has been defined by narrow, stifling sterotypes. You’ve told us it’s time to change all that. We agree. Because we believe real beauty comes in many shapes, sizes and ages. It is why we started the Campaign for Real Beauty. And why we hope you’ll take part.’ The ‘you’ve told us’ refers to a 10-nation survey of 3300 women that Dove commissioned from Harvard University  and the London School of Economics.

The Self-Esteem Fund, which backs projects that educate young girls on positive body image. Fat is a Feminist Issue author, Dr Susie Orbach, from the London School of Economics, and Harvard’s Dr Nancy Etcoff, who wrote Survival of the Prettist, guide the fund’s advisory board. The campaign came into a great success as the sales of the product featured with the ads has increased 600 percent in the first two months. 

 I feel Dove is spreading positive message to the public that helps to recall what is real beauty and break the sterotypes from the past after reading the news. And from the campaign, Dove is also showing they do care about the society but not just profit making.

Margarett Trigg was obsessed towards having the perfect body for herself. She requested for so many surgeries to be performed on her face to make it ‘more asymmetrical.’

Margaret’s notes to one of her plastic surgeons two years ago on one of many marked-up photos found in her Thompson Street apartment.

Margaret was obsessed with the balance and symmetry of her face.

Her mother claimed that when she was young, people often made fun of her because of her body weight, ad the insults never left her. She was so determined to get others’ attention by having a slim body and started to abuse laxatives, up to the point where it destroyed her rectum and she began losing control of her bowels.

After taking a turn for the worst, and many more unfortunate events, she died in Bellevue Hospital on November 16, 2003. Her official cause of death was a heart attack resulting from prolonged amphetamine abuse.

I think this is a very sad case on how a person lack confidence of herself so much that she began to have drastic measures and thoughts on how she can change herself so that people can begin to accept her. It was unfortunate that she could not understand that she is beautiful in her own way and external looks are nothing compared to the inner beauty that she used to have. 

In the mid-1930s, the American cosmetic manufacturer Max Factor invented a device for measuring the different forms and details of female beauty, which involved comparing many complicated shapes and measurements in what he called a ‘beauty calibration’- the result was a Hollywood ideal of beauty used to grade potential female movie stars.

Yet, a Scottish philosopher David Hume, believed that beauty was perceived differently by different people- it was not really tangible or measurable, being ‘only in the observer’s mind’, each person ‘perceived a different beauty’ and therefore beauty only existed ‘in the eye of the beholder’.

Although some people support that beauty is not measurable, but in fact more people tend to fall in the other side. In every place, there are beauty shops and beautifying forms of cosmetic surgery available to help both men and women conform to a modern ideal of regulated beauty, where beauty is manufactured for mass consumption. It is a culture in which individuals who have little natural beauty are advised to use the vast range of beauty products available, plus a new array of clothing, adornments, and other aids to the greatest possible advantage, to hide their physical faults, and to make the best of their ‘good’ features. The end result will be a perception of beauty. If one fails, the display of wealth, social position or power will be essential in order to compensate the lack of beauty.

After all, I agree that all the descriptions above are true and they are the reality. Nevertheless, the idea agreed by the mass popluation may not be correct and some of them may not agree at the first time but being assisimlated by the majority in the latter time. It is difficult to judge who is correct and who’s not.

From the very past, individuals have started to make changes on the shape, color, texture and size of almost every feature, such as eyes and nose. All these changes are hoping to reach the ultimate aim, that is achieving a socially desirable and sexually appealing appearance.  People are willing to tolerate suffering from surgeries for ‘improvement’. So that as a result, they will be envy by their peers, admired by members of the opposite sex or that will clearly mark them as members of a particular cultural group.

The surgeries are not limited on face but also on the bodies. People will ingest the eggs or cut-up sections of live tape worms so that they become infested, have parts of their intestines surgically removed so as to reduce the waistline and lower their calorie intake, or have their buttrocks, breasts or thighs reshaped. Some parents even give their female children inhibiting growth drugs so that they do not grow too tall, and foce their feet into tight , narrow shoes to impede their natural development and to reduce their eventual size.

Although the west and east are taking different measures to make changes for ‘body improvement’, but then both of them are sharing the same aim, that is transforming themselves to be more attractive to peers and opposite sex.

This is a photo of some contestants of a beauty pageant held in the Philippines.

Now, can you believe that this bevy of attractive women are actually, umm..men?

It’s true. They are contestants of Amazing Philippines beauty pageant, which aims to give opportunities for transsexuals and cross-dressers to display their beauty and talent.

This contest was held in Manila at year 2007, with the coronation night on 19 October. Five winners will join the the Amazing Philippines Theatre (APT), a theatrical show that showcases the best of the Filipino Gay talent that has been going on for the last six years.

Read an article written by Diane Chung about the pageant here.

It is evident that these men have undergone various surgeries to correct their features and turn themselves into females. Thailand is another country where transsexuals are often seen around. In fact, the Thai transsexuals make use of their appearances to earn money in many places including Pattaya, where transsexual cabaret shows are often found in.  

In America, another prominent transsexual figure is Amanda Lepore. She has received attention for her modeling, fashion, partying, and business skills. At the age of 11, after watching a TV show about transsexuals, she professed that she wanted to have a sex change operation.At the age of 15, she began designing costumes for dancers at a local . During this time, she received  hormofrom an underage transsexual friend who accepted outfits as payment. After her body developed breasts, her tutor recommended a . Lepore was diagnosed as a transsexual. The psychiatrist informed her parents and helped in getting the hormones legally.

Lepore in a Playboy 2008 magazine shoot.

Transsexuals have been subjects of controversy for many years. A majority of people are not used to seeing transsexual characters in the society. However, some communities are starting to support them by holding out pageants like the Amazing Philippines beauty pageant. Even Alcazar Pattaya cabaret shows are attract many tourists to come to Thailand and watch it. This means that the society are starting to accept them as normal human beings instead of outcasting them. This is essential because I think even though transsexuals lead different lifestyles with us, they are humans too, and people should not ostracize them.

Read the article here.

In this article, Douglas McGeorge, a private surgeon who specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery, said that he has “reshaped the nose of one youngster” and also “fitted breast implants for others.” He also claimed that he had already performed surgery on a 14-year-old girl’s nose costing around £3,500 after she was targeted over her appearance at three schools.

However, the reason for carrying out the surgery, as he has claimed, is that the bullying is so bad that some children and their parents felt there was no alternative. He denied it had anything to do with teenagers wanting to look like their idols.

Statistics have shown that the number of teenagers having breast enlargements has increased by more than 150 per cent in the past year. The statistics of three of Britain’s largest cosmetic surgery chains show almost 600 teenagers aged 18 and 19 had the surgery last year.

Personally, it is sad that children are taking such extreme measures just to get away from being bullied. There should be another way, instead of having the surgery, to avoid the bullying. This phenomena is suggesting that only people with bigger chests or more attractive physical features will be accepted in the society. That would be such an unfair judgment of people, wouldn’t it?

Apart from that, it is worrying that children are undergoing the surgeries at such a young age. It can cause them physical pain and can also affect their growth, especially since they are still at an age where their bodies are not fully developed yet. Also, some of them may be too young to deal with the emotional effects of the surgery, and moreover, the costs of the treatment which needs to be done after the surgery. These are just some of the factors which need to be pondered upon carefully before deciding on going ahead with the surgery.

Hence, in this article, it has been pointed out how parents have chosen such drastic measures to protect their children. Personally, I feel that it is wrong for them to do so. What do you guys think?

This is a photo of her before any of her surgeries:

The woman was first getting addicted to plastic surgery since she was 28, that was 20 years ago. Her first attempt had path her way to the habit of getting plastic surgery within the following 20 years. In order to fulfill her wish to get more surgeries, she moved to Japan a few years later after her first surgery. But then, she found out she was out of money soon so she sought silicone injections from a doctor. And she was also given a syringe and her own supply of silicone so she can take her own injections. At the time her silicone ran out, she started to inject cooking oil into her face, resulting such a reaction. The Korean TV asked for donation to Hang after her appearance to the audience. Yet, though some operations have undergone, still she could not get back her original face.

We found this news quite shocking not because the appearance of the woman after the cooking oil injection but is the addiction level to plastic surgery of the woman. It’s seems like she already got some psychiatric problem after her decision moving into Japan just for having plastic surgery. To some extent, we reckon her condition will be much better if her friends or family tried to oppose her decision moving into Japan. Although we don’t know much about her background, whether she is lacked of confidence or just want to satisfy her addiction to plastic surgery, the only thing we are sure about is she can’t get out of this addiction. Plastic surgery seems have transformed to a religion to her since she acted like a worshipper of taking plastic surgery over 20 years. It’s quite obvious that without the incident happened in recent days, she will be still trying to get silicone injection on her face.