BMJ  2004;328:1208 (15 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7449.1208

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TV

Cosmetic surgery: the new face of reality TV

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Andy Warhol famously quipped that in the future everyone would have 15 minutes of fame. He never mentioned that to obtain your moment in the spotlight you might have to acquire Brad Pitt's cheekbones or Pamela Anderson's breasts.

I Want a Famous Face, a new MTV series, features seven individuals hoping to acquire the famous face of a pop star (www.mtv.com/onair/i_want_a_famous_face). Two participants, Mike and Matt Schlepp, conclude that their lives would improve if they acquired Brad Pitt's looks. To resemble Pitt, the brothers undergo rhinoplasty, receive chin implants, and obtain porcelain veneers. Sha is an aspiring model; she wants Pamela Anderson's physical features. She receives breast and lip implants and undergoes liposuction. Mia works as a Britney Spears impersonator; she wants Spears' "perky breasts." Jessica, a transsexual formerly known as Michael, receives breast implants, cheek implants, and an eyebrow lift. She wants to resemble Jennifer Lopez. . . . [Full text of this article]

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Leigh Turner, assistant professor, faculty of medicine

biomedical ethics unit, department of social studies of medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec Leigh.turner@mcgill.ca


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Veltman, C. (2004). The Good Body. BMJ 329: 237-237 [Full text]  
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