Vegas Meets Nip/Tuck—Not Surprisingly, Critics Boo!

Ronald Bailey | January 17, 2007

Europa International is offering free plastic surgery in Prague to winners of a lottery it is running. Naturally some people object. For instance, Douglas McGeorge, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, tells the BBC, "I am appalled at this new scheme but unfortunately not surprised. Companies are plumbing new depths to take advantage of a growing interest in plastic surgery."

Are the winners adults? If yes, then what's the problem? Is the product being offered fraudulent? If not, again, no problem. Human beings have been trying to enhance their looks since the first caveman smeared some soot on his face to strive for that tall dark and handsome look in formal bearskins. By the way, most plastic surgery patients report being satisfied with their results.

In world in which Nick/Tuck is in its fourth season and women on The Swan have their bodies dramatically reshaped in front of a TV audience of millions, a little promotional gambling for a plastic surgery gift certificate is pretty tame stuff. Is BAAPS against this lottery because of concerns about the patients or because its members fear the loss of business as more Brits hop flights to Prague to indulge in some inexpensive body-sculpting tourism?

For an extended presentation on the ethics of voluntarily transforming our bodies, see transhumanist Anders Sandberg's interesting, "Morphological Freedom: Why we not just want it, but Need it. "