Newswise — The newest breed of reality TV programs that shows people re-creating themselves through extensive plastic surgery is dangerous, says Randall Flanery, Ph.D., associate professor of community and family medicine at Saint Louis University.
"This is extreme," says Flanery, who also is a psychologist at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. "It's particularly insidious because on one hand, you have people who are willing and eager to undergo radical transformations and you also have depictions of people strongly approving of the changes."
The programs -- Fox's "The Swan," ABC's "Extreme Makeover" and MTV's "I Want a Famous Face" -- go beyond reinforcing the idea that how you look is more important than what and who you are, Flanery says.
People on the shows undergo a variety of cosmetic, dental and extensive plastic surgeries as well as sessions with hair stylists, make-up artists and personal fitness trainers to dramatically change their appearances. In many cases, viewers can't tell that before and after video is of the same person.
"As an influence on people's attitudes and behaviors, there's little more that would have more or greater impact," Flanery says.
The shows send the same message: change your physical appearance and you can become the person you hope to be or, worse, what you think everyone else wants you to be. Flanery, who specializes in treating patients who have eating disorders, fears the programs will fuel feelings of self-loathing by some people who think their faces and bodies will never be good enough.
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