“Bridalplasty” – Brides-to-be Compete for the Ultimate Makeover
Every bride wants to look picture perfect on her wedding day, used to, that meant starting a few months ahead of time, working out, eating right and being in peak condition come that special day. Brides today however seem to be focusing on the bigger picture, taking it a step further and improving on everything from their lips to skin to noses to breast size. This new trend is being brought to the forefront with a new reality series set to premiere on E! November 28th.
“Bridalplasty” pits brides-to-be against eachother in a series of competitions, with the last one standing ultimately winning the bridal makeover of her dreams, and a dream wedding to go along with it. Television shows about plastic surgery are certainly not a new concept. Shows like The Swan, Dr. 90210 and Nip/Tuck have all capitalized on America’s image-centric and beauty-obsessed culture. “Bridalplasty” however is the first American reality TV show to have participants actually competing for plastic surgery as the end-prize. The concept of the show, produced by E!’s own Giuliana Rancic, has already drawn criticism as “pushing the limits of medical ethics” and undermining the “patient-doctor relationship”, according to Dr. Gayle Gordillo, associate professor plastic surgery at Ohio State University.
While plastic surgeons know that it is in fact quite common for women to come in for a procedure or two to perfect their look in preparation for their big day, many worry about the ethical and social implications such a show could have on their industry. There is fear that “Bridalplasty” will perpetuate the harmful ideals surrounding cosmetic surgery as a quick fix solution.
Regardless of how you feel about “Bridalplasty”, there is no doubt that the controversial show will ring in a sizable viewing audience come November 28th, and perhaps critics are judging the show’s premise too harshly for what it is, a reality show. Over the years, most viewers that tune into reality TV shows don’t exactly expect to see ethical decision making and moral reasoning. In fact this seems to be quite the opposite of reality television’s undertaking. It is the shock, awe and disgust that we have come to expect that keeps us tuning in. So it would seem that “Bridalplasty” has really already achieved its goal in the realm of media, where it’s better to be talked about than not talked about at all.
