So, did you catch VH1’s new special—Plastic Surgery Obsession? Just in case you haven’t, the show is all about—as you might have guessed—plastic surgery. It takes an in depth look at how the cosmetic industry is taking the world (or at least Hollywood) by storm. Cosmetic surgeons, their famous patients, and experts on pop culture are interviewed to find out just how much impact the world of cosmetics has had on today’s society.

Getting a VH1 special about this particular subject tells you a number of things already: first, a lot of people are interested in plastic surgery; second, that plastic surgery is not to be considered as a medical thing anymore. Nope, plastic surgery has gone mainstream.

Cosmetic surgery used to be something exclusive to celebrities and rich people—society’s cultural icons. These days, with the increasing sophistication of cosmetic technology, the industry can now cater to a wider clientele. Procedures and operations are now much more affordable to the common individual and these citizens are now able to look like their favorite movie stars!

Plastic Surgery Obsession is an examination of how cosmetic surgery has evolved into a major cultural phenomenon. It serves as a commentary to the kind of world we live in today. And what kind of world is that, exactly?

It is a world where beauty and success are tied up to their material manifestation. People want to look like the celebrities they idolize not because they want to be like them, but because they actually want to become celebrities themselves!

Specials like Plastic Surgery Obsession show us just how important the cosmetic industry has become in our culture and society.

Sources:
http://www.cosmeticsurgery.com/articles/archive/an~157/
http://www.vh1.com/shows/vh1_news_presents/episode.jhtml?episodeID=164295
http://celebritycosmeticsurgery.blogspot.com/2010/03/vh1-news-presents-plastic-surgery.html