Skintight: An Anatomy of Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is everywhere: we are surrounded by altered, enhanced, skinny, and stretched celebrities in a hyped media culture that focuses increasingly on the body’s beauty. Once only associated with the rich and famous, cosmetic surgery is now widely available, advertised in magazines, doctors’ surgeries, and even on television. It has become an aesthetic and cultural norm in some parts of the world, yet it remains deeply troubling for many. Skintight argues that cosmetic surgery is the most provocative and controversial aspect of a new ‘makeover culture.’ Shows such as Ten Years Younger and Extreme Makeover demonstrate that ‘fixing’ the body is a way to improve lifestyle and uncover true identity. Meanwhile, celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Jocelyn Wildenstein show the horrors of extreme surgical alteration. Presenting a multidisciplinary approach and examining a wide range of popular culture case studies from women’s magazines, television, architecture, and the Internet, amongst others, Skintight dissects the realities of cosmetic surgery and culture.