Most should know I like reality TV shows. Not The Bachelor, and that ilk, but the 'human interaction' ones. A new wave of reality TV shows is people getting face lifts and body modifications. There is "The Swan" (which is on right now), "Extreme Makeover", "I Want A Famous Face" and there are probably more I don't know of or they are in production. After all, there has to be at least 12 of any genre of reality show.

Extreme Makeover. Haven't, and won't, watched this one.

I Want A Famous Face. This one is on MTV and watched 2 episodes, and won't watch again. The premise is that a young person (seems 18-24 or so) wants, well, a famous face. Some people take a photo of a famous person into a hair stylist to get their haircut, but these people want their faces. How or why the surgeons perform these things is beyond me. The two episodes I saw were pretty pathetic.

The Swan. I'm sitting here watching this for the second time because Suzy wants to watch it. Well, I'm half watching since I'm here typing :-) The Premise is there are 16 "ugly ducklings" who will compete in a beautify pageant to become "The Swan". Every week, 2 ugly women go through major surgeries.. new noses, new teeth, liposuction, exercise programs, tummy tucks, boob jobs... you name it! Then, one of them is deemed less improved and beheaded. Well, not beheaded (maybe one day), but just not allowed into the pageant. Last week, I'll admit, the two women looked 101% better. I expect they will look better this week as well. Of course, knives, thread, small vacuums and full D-cup implants can help about anyone. What amused me last week, was when one (the "winner" last week) said "Thank you God!" when she saw herself. I then said "How can she be thanking God, when she just undid almost all of what God created?" But, I digress.

I think this trend is dangerous for TV. I'm not a big plastic surgery fan to begin with. I guess some people can benefit from a nose job, tummy tuck, breast lift and some of the more singular tame things. Self esteem can improve and that can have positive effects on other aspects of someone's life. Some women don't lose weight after birth, or have loose skin. Maybe they just want to get rid of it to feel better about themselves. Perhaps there isn't anything wrong with this. But I think there is something a bit perverse about the extreme changes these people are going through, and all at once. Having kids see this stuff on TV like this also isn't that great. How many 17 year old girls will watch these shows and think major surgery will be the answer to all their problems?

Then there are shows like "What Not To Wear", which basically gives someone a makeover and new wardrobe. Usually, they end up looking much better. I wonder if those simple, non-permanent, changes can change someone life in the same positive ways. Blah, I'm rambling here now...

If you could change something about your physical self, what would it be? And, would you ever have it done surgically?