Miss Cosmetic Surgery, Trivialises Surgery Says Industry

“Has cosmetic surgery changed your life and looks? Then why not enter Britain’s first ever beauty pageant open only to women who’ve had cosmetic surgery.”

That’s the strap line for the Miss Cosmetic Surgery Transformation UK 2011 contest sponsored by Linda Briggs Ltd, the company of the well-known, independent cosmetic surgery adviser, herself a veteran of the surgeon’s knife.

To be held on 9th April 2011, the final contest could see the winner scoop a five-star cosmetic surgery holiday (including two airline tickets and a hotel stay), plus the operation of their choice, up to the value of £3,000.

Entrants need to be over 18, but unlike other ‘beauty’ pageants which parade a host of young beauties, there is no upper limit on age, as contestants must simply provide before and after photographs of themselves, along with a list of the procedures that they have had (a minimum of one) and 100 words explaining why their cosmetic surgery has changed their life.

That aside, it could still be rightfully argued that this type of contest trivialises the serious nature of cosmetic surgery, which is after all an elective yet invasive, medical operation, and reaches out to those individuals who feel that their life could not or will not get to the point that they want it to without the intervention of cosmetic surgery, (perhaps even those borderline body dysmorphic cases).

Rajiv Grover, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, President-Elect of the BAAPS and advisor to Consulting Room was very dismayed to hear of this beauty pageant and its prize.

"Any competition that gives surgery as a prize is trivialising a serious medical procedure down to the level of a high street beauty treatment.

The BAAPS condemns any cosmetic surgery prize and wants the public to know that a successful outcome to surgery requires most importantly a thorough consultation with a qualified surgeon to first see if surgery is safe, necessary and will satisfy expectations. 25-30% of patients presenting for surgery are usually unsuitable so offering it as a prize sends completely the wrong message."
 
Additionally, the prize itself is for cosmetic surgery abroad, (hardly a holiday!), which is something that UK plastic surgeon groups, industry advocates and Consulting Room recommend against pursuing due to many potential issues that can arise in terms of the consultation process, the aftercare (particularly in the case of complications), insurances and regulations and other problems associated with seeking invasive medical treatment far away from home.

We thought this kind of cosmetically enhanced beauty pageant was just for the likes of U.S. TV shows as The Swan aired back in 2004 but it seems that they have now landed on our shores too.