Attaining the Unreal: The Mainstreaming of Plastic Surgery on Reality Television

This paper traces the sharp rise in network and cable television programming centered on plastic surgery between 2000-2010. The study takes a feminist approach to a textual analysis of the reality programming. Attention is paid to the changing hegemonic beauty standards for women as portrayed on reality TV. Findings show a limited view of “beauty” on such programming. Programs focus almost exclusively on white female subjects, framing other races and ethnicities as less aesthetically pleasing and, therefore, relegating non-whites to a status of “otherness.” Plastic surgery is naturalized and normalized within the programming, while health risks and economic barriers are downplayed.