Did anyone else watch Fox's "The Swan" after American Idol tonight? Wow. I don't personally know how I feel about plastic surgery, but I was having a bad diet day. I had purchsed a package of cookies and kept sneaking them every time I walked through the kitchen - they're my weakness. Well, after seeing what those poor women went through and what terrible self images they started with - I threw the rest of the package in the garbage. It may not advocate the healthiest way to lose weight or "become beautiful", but it sure was motivating for me - knowing that I'm starting out at an advantage compared to these women - with some self-confidence!

I watched it too. But the more I thought about it afterwards, with these girls having such deep emotional problems that no amount of surgery is going to fix, I think maybe this is taking the explotation of reality shows to a new low.

I also think it's sending a bad message - if you're in your 20's get nipped, tucked, sucked out and then you can feel beautiful. The only legit procedure I saw was the one girl's dental fix for her teeth that didn't close correctly. Do you really need a breast lift at 27? Did the other girl really need more boobs?

You're right Emily, you can't buy self confidence. I just hope this was an opportunity for those girls to gain some confidence in themselves and lead normal lives.

At least they didn't look as artificially sculpted as Pamela Anderson or Micheal Jackson!

Hi girls~
Your absolutely right you cant buy self-confidence but at the same time I was sitting there watching that show kinda wishing I could be on it, I think it would be nice to be "sculpted" or at least have a personal trainer who is gonna tell it like it is and make you get ur butt out of bed and in the gym working hard...it is however sad that to those 2 young women put all their self worth on the appearance shelf...I hope for them that they realize there is so much more to them than what they look like.
Michelle

How bout a mini poll.....How many of us....if offered, would take some liposuction and plastic surgery to help us along in our weight loss .... bear in mind I said "help us along" not as the easy way out
I think I for one would take it. Anyone else?

You guys both make very valid points. You do kind of have to worry about the message that it sends. After I posted last night I thought about the girl, Kelly I think, who didn't make it to the pageant. She had such low self esteem to begin with and was so emotional. I hope that there's some sort of continued support for these women because I could very easily see someone like her going back to her old eating habits and not exercising. Sure, she gets new boobs, a new nose, and nice teeth - but have they changed her lifestyle to the point of her taking better care of her overall health? I hope so.

As for the "poll" - I've thought about plastic surgery - even when I was really thin I never liked the shape of my torso - I always thought I was too "short waisted" and now I worry about my skin not being firm enough or elastic enough to bounce back after I lose quite a bit of weight. So I have to say that I would seriously consider plastic surgery for something like saggy skin - but I don't think I would ever have anything done to my face. These are some tough concepts to wrestle with!

I totally agree with you emily I would only take some liposuction and well maybe a little collagen in my lips hehe take it from my butt and put it in my lips lol. And, I also agree that these women who dont make it should be offered some sort of continued support, but If it were me I would definately take what was given/done to me and do my best to maintain or even take it further!!
Take Care

I watched it last night expecting to be really annoyed with the show. But after watching it, my opinions changed. I don't like the idea of "beauty competitions" - that part is annoying.

But watching these poor girls who have never once in their lives felt pretty - what a gift to give them! I especially felt bad for the girl with the husband and father who were continually making it worse for her.

I also liked that there was coaching and therapy involved so it's not totally superficial.

As for the poll, well, I've had a little of what qualifies as plastic surgery. I had a breast reduction 4 years ago and they did lipo on my sides as part of the reduction. I can tell you this - I would never willingly do that to myself. It hurts! The reduction involved cutting and almost 500 stitches and scars and what hurt was the lipo! I had bruises on the sides of my boobs for over a month from that.

So, while I've had a reduction, and lasik surgery, I don't think there's anything more I'd want done to me outside a little botox and teeth bleaching. It just seems like too much pain to go through.

well I can't say for 100% sure what I would do (until that day was here) but if somebody was willing to pay for it, I think I would jump at the chance to have my teeth whitened or capped with veneers (and they would be so white you would have to wear sunglasses to look at me when I smiled), I would have lasik surgery on my eyes so I could see without glasses and not have to cover up my pretty eyes and I would have the loose skin (or fat) removed from under my chin, and and and I would have this huge vericose vein in the back of my left leg over my knee REMOVED! I haven't worn a pair of shorts since I was 30 because of it. It is so gross! Those are the things I would do in a New York minute!!!!!

And if they ever found a way to remove 70 lbs of unwanted fat from my body, well dang I would do that too!

And if they ever found a way to permanently tan your skin - I would do that too. I am Snow White. Don't ya think everyone looks thinner/beter when they are tan?

Really it's kind of said all the things I would fix if I could - maybe I just need to learn to "love myself" the way I am? why is that so hard?

The other night on Extreme Makeovers they explained that they cannot remove cellulite. I did not know that. I thought thats what they sucked out of there.

Oh man, I'm sitting here dreaming when I should be working.

thanks for the break girls!

hugs,
cathy

I have horrendous stretch marks on my stomach. I'd definitely have them removed!

Oh god I hear ya on the stretch marks girls I have terrible stretch marks from pregnancy and some from the rapid weight gain on my arms and back of my legs behind my knees if they come up with a way to remove those Im game lol. As for the pain...I dunno I think I might endure it if it gave me a jump on my weight loss lol...geez I just hope that when I lose all my weight that I dont have really loose skin...if I do Im gonna see about getting it nipped/tucked...is that what they do with loose skin lol...
well back to the house work!!
Take Care

I never thought I would consider plastic surgery, even though I have some problems, such as a 6-inch long, 1-inch deep scar on my abdomen that looks like some kind of shrapnel wound. But at 47 everything begins to show wear and tear no matter how well you take care of yourself.

I'd definitely consider getting my chin done after I've maintained at goal for a year or two if it doesn't go away by itself. That really makes me look mannish, IMO. And my varicose veins and spider veins HURT, especially when I drive and during exercise. So they have just got to go. I'm saving lasik as my reward for reaching goal, and I'm hoping I'll have fewer migraines if I don't have to wear glasses. And I have to have various things done on my teeth this year-- no choice about that, as the enamel has worn off in spots and the gums are receding.

I feel like an old house that's getting renovated. When you fix one thing, it just shows up other work that needs to be done.

I just had lasik last Friday. It's the most amazing thing! In the space of 3 days I went from seeing 20/2000 to seeing 20/20. What a gift!

Omg!!!! Wow that is totally awesome I would like to get it but it seems like it would be pretty spendy...if you dont mind my asking....how much is it?

It varies depending how how much correction you need and where you go. The first place I went to wanted $4000. I shopped around a lot and did my research on the various groups in the area and ended up going about 45 minutes away to a very reputable surgeon with a huge amount of experience and ended up paying $2000 for both eyes.

For me, it's money well spent. And nothing compared to the $20,000 my insurance payed for the boobs!

wow Im gonna have to look into this!!
thanks!!

I think that anytime you can improve your image in the mirror you can improve SELF image. These "ugly ducklings" are people who have gone for years and I am certain that there is before and after therapy for these women. I would do it in a heart beat if I needed it. But, I am pretty satisified with what God gave me, but if I wasn't I would be the first in line to change.

Good Post!