I think pretty much the same.
But I’m very aware that in public I may be characterized as hypocrite, because I have every reason to be satisfied with genes I inherited.
So it’s completely normal to me that someone with huge ears does not share my opinion.

Plastic surgery making a person look boring instead of better—there is something very true about that. I can’t tell faces apart very well either, so I appreciate a unique nose or even buck teeth to help me out. And what about people who use plastic surgery to erase marks of their ethnicity? This is increasingly common, sinful, and I find it interesting in our PC culture it is a welcomed practice. What kind of culture blathers on about diversity then applauds a person who eradicates their Latina cheeks or their Asian nose?

You’re so right.  I think especially of a good-looking girl I went to college with who now has a totally different nose (a tiny, non-descript one), because her old nose betrayed the Mexican ancestry she was ashamed of.  Or my little sister’s pretty Asian friend, whose mother and aunts pressured her to get her eyes Westernized at the tender age of 15.  I don’t know whether we should give Catholic Answers a hard time about it, though - it seems to me that natural human reason shows how sad and impoverished elective cosmetic surgery is.  Do we really need a specifically Catholic answer to tell us that?

Oh, and Simcha, for another way it damages society how about this: it debases doctors and the art of medicine.  If medicine is a true art, its proper goal is health.  So a “doctor” who uses his skill with drugs and scalpel for these purposes is not strictly speaking practicing medicine, even if he is using medical tools and skills.  That’s bad for him and also for society - since it’s important for society that doctors revere their art and shrink from misusing it.

I was called ‘ugly’ both in grade school and high school.  I was even called a’dog’ in comparison to an attractive blonde fellow student.  That incident has stuck with me for 30 years.  But I’ve never wanted to have a ‘face-lift’ as they used to call it.  I appreciate the article.  I wish more men would understand this; they usually are the the reasons why mostly women have these things done in the first place.

Briefly distracted by the Bill Idol holiday album cover . . . but, there are so many celebs trying to defy age with plastic surgery. Honestly, I think it backfires. Most of them look freakish, barely human. There’s something sincere and beautiful about aging gracefully.

I had a Catholic friend who told me that when she was done having children she was going to get a tummy-tuck because she felt she deserved one after giving her body up for the cause.  I admit, I feel more sympathy for this sentiment the more children I have . . .

It’s what comes after that elective plastic surgery that’s really dangerous…the obsession with self-image.  There is a substantial contingent of moms at my kids’ Catholic school who have had more than a few augmentations, tucks, suctions, injections, and lifts.  A small group of them even fly to California to have procedures done, because “they know what they’re doing out there.”  Not surprisingly, these are the moms who drop their kids off at a school event and run to the nearest bar for a cocktail, buy their kids cell phones in third and fourth grade so they can call when they’re finished, are late picking up because they’ve been at the gym all afternoon, and don’t repeat outfits.  They also spend their weekends partying with their equally beautiful friends, so you don’t ever see them at mass.  Those of us who actually look (and act) like moms just don’t measure up!

My mother recently was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Long story short, she had her breast removed, and had a reconstructed breast out of some of her stomach muscles.

I was helping her recover several weeks after surgery, and everything just looked gross.  It was manageable, because it was this option, or perhaps lose my mother to cancer, but was very hard to see her through the recovery process.  It will probably take a year before all her surgery is done to make her “normal” and for the rest of her life, she has to make lifestyle changes to protect the reconstruction (like remember she can burn herself there very easily).

I think a breast reconstruction due to removal and a face lift are two very different things (one was to save a life, the other was not) but it’s also important to remember we never really know why the surgery was done.  Because my mother is a very private person, she simply told some of her colleagues that she was getting a “tummy tuck.”

This year I read a teen fiction book titled “Hunger Games”. (I was teaching the book to a high school English class I substitute taught for a month.) In the futuristic book, there is one wealthy sector of the nation surrounded by six or seven poor sectors. The wealthy sector deliberately keeps the poor ones weak and hungry so they won’t rise up and rebel. Part of the plan involves annual “hunger games” in which teenagers from the poor sectors are chosen by lottery to go to the wealthy sector and compete to the death in the “hunger games”. The main character finds herself in the wealthy sector and marvels at the crazy fashions, body art, and other ways in which the wealthy spend money. While the citizens of the poor sectors spend nearly all their time trying to find enough food to eat, the wealthy throw lavish parties, hang out in salons having their hair dyed purple, etc. Hmmm. Does this sound familiar?

I will never think of cosmetic plastic surgery, botox, and other luxury vanity treatments without thinking of “Hunger Games” and questioning the morality of spending thousands of dollars on wrinkle removal or breast augmentation while people in the world are starving.

Cindy:  I’m sorry to hear about your mom’s illness, and I hope you don’t think anyone here is condemning that kind of plastic surgery.  That’s more like restoring the normal state of the body, isn’t it? I’d consider it therapeutic, anyway.  Likewise removing disfiguring birthmarks, fixing harelips, etc.

Stine, do you really think the obsession with self-image comes *after* the plastic surgery?

I agree with you and all of the comments.  Yet, if money were not an issue, I would have an imperfection removed and I would have comestic dental work.  The first, no one would ever know about, but me.  Someone might notice the dental work, but not likely.  Both of these are elective.  I can live my entire life in perfect health without having them done.  I wonder if anyone else has something that they would do.  Come to think of it, I might have Lasix surgery as well.  I wonder how different I am from anyone getting cosmetic surgery.

Clarifying my previous comment to say I am not judging those who have reconstructive surgery or other surgeries which might be purely cosmetic for some but medically necessary for others. I’m thinking of a friend who lost nearly 200 pounds after bypass surgery which almost certainly saved her life and then had to endure several surgeries to remove excess skin which was causing serious infections. Or of an 18 year old who had breast reduction surgery to relieve severe back pain.

And what’s with everyone on TV having to get teeth soooo bleached unnaturally white that they all look like they are wearing dentures????!!!!

‘On the other hand, I hate it when people follow each other around saying, “Hmm, new shoes, huh? Don’tcha think that money could have been better spent feeding a hungry Ethiopian child?” I mean, it’s true, but sometimes we fall short of perfect generosity—we all do.’
//
I have nothing to say about the article, but on this slightly related note - one time in college, a girl got so mad at me for saying “I’m starving.”  She was all, “No, you’re not. Children in Africa are starving. You’re hungry.”  I wish I’d had the guts to politely agree with her that we should never ever use hyperbole or metaphor or simile or any other device when using everyday speech because obviously it doesn’t help feed the children! *eyeroll*
//
Okay I do have something to say about the article: Admit it, you wrote this because of Simon Cowell.  Have you SEEN his botched Botox face?

@Kelly
  I can (and I think many women can) easily entertain this way of thinking after multiple pregnancies and nursing babies.  I could use laser treatment for stretchmarks, tummy tuck for stretched out skin, certainly a breast lift and implants for breasts that never really looked like the ones you see in the movies anyway…
This is a dangerous way of thinking.  I do believe that God made this a part of motherhood for a reason.  Now, of course, some of us walk away with worse battlescars than others but personally I have seen this as a necessity in humbling my tendencies towards vanity and way to personal growth.  (I can’t say that I wouldn’t be rockin’ a bikini this summer if I didn’t have these battlescars to cover up.)

This article struck me funny and I agree with the basic theme of vanity…what is funny to me is that I very often think we have become a nation of SLOBS.  How often do you EVER see men wear a suit and tie to Mass?  A fat gut hanging out of a pair of shorts is fine for the beach but it has become the norm…and in our Churches.  Women feel the need to approach the Altar rail showing far too much of themselves and then amusingly wear a Chapel veil?  I love to see how people used to dress in the 40’s…dignified and womens styles were so nice even Joan Crawford looked good (save for her hair)!  Most women today (my wife excluded) look like tarts.  What happened to Mary-like?  The most dignified dress in Mass these days is usually at daily Mass…and of course the numbers are much smaller.

I appreciate your meditation on this topic.  It is however one of those topics that, if we are thinking about it for ourselves or in the abstract, we can have lovely conversations but once we cross the precipice into thinking too long on what other people do (“and OUGHT NOT TO!!!!!!!  Those un_Christians! Look at them!!!”) then we get into trouble.

I can’t wait for the Catholic botox brigade to show up here, though.

It’s about time someone tackled this topic.

Interesting article, lots of interesting points.  It seems that the important distinction is one of vanity.  There are lots of good reasons why people get cosmetic procedures done.  But if there’s truly an issue with one’s self-esteem or understanding of self-worth, then I think that should be addressed spiritually rather than physically.
As an aside, I’ve known a couple young girls who decided to get breast implants—one as a “reward” for high school graduation, the other after completing college—and I was dumbfounded.  Both of these girls were absolutely stunning before—just gorgeous!—and yet felt the need to have that extra “self-confidence.”  Unfortunately, neither one of them practiced a great deal of modesty in dress either, so I have to really wonder what motivated either one of them to go through with such a major surgery.  But then, I definitely have a bias against cosmetic surgery in minors for non-therapeutic reasons.

Of course FB and other social media are part of this bc photos and videos of us are now on display, globally and eternally.  Yikes!

All I have to say about physical cosmetic retouching is this:  I’m in my mid-40s and a veteran of 8 pregnancies.  If I had it all to do over again, I would wear those support hose.  You know the ones—expensive, ugly and hot, supporting your poor little leg veins when they get all bulgy during pregnancy.  I recommend the hose—that’s all I’m saying.

I agree, Simcha, and take it even further.  I think “little” things like a 60-year-old woman dyeing her hair or anyone getting their teeth whitened to an extent that one can tell they had their teeth whitened are both low moral choices.  Do the best you can with what God gives you, but going to the point of major artifice ... no.

N.B. regarding Botox ... did you know that it is an important treatment for stroke?  Yes, very few people know that.  Because it is so promoted and used for vanity, it is criminally expensive in stroke treatment ... parse the morality of that situation.  Botox is used to temporarily “deactivate” muscles that are spastic following stroke, allowing a window of opportunity to train and strengthen the other muscles in the affected limb, hopefully leading to better use of all the muscles once the Botox wears off.  So think of that whenever you discuss the use of Botox for vanity.

“But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God”  Wis 13:1

The other side of vanity…later in life ...I work with Dementia and Alzheimer’s residents people who need help with everything (ADL’s).  Persons who consider cosmetic surgery should spent one week feeding, bathing, toileting and dressing the elders.  Working with these people helps you to put EVERYTHING else in life into proper perspective.  GOD ALONE!  When you look into hollow vacant eyes that cannot process most of what they see and very little of what they hear…vanity does not exist in this world ...only compassion and love…the only thing we can take out of this world.

You know, I do totally agree. I used to think I would never have surgery like this unless I was in an accident or it needed to be done- like my jaw surgery which was cosmetic but also needed to be done to prevent problems later on. I know the Church has no problem with that.
However, four babies later my belly hangs to my knees. OPkay not really but it is a little saggy. I call it my belly butt. ;) I am having major, major body and self esteem issues. Major. I sometimes wonder if a tummy tuck would be worth it make me a happier person, feel better about myself and all that.
But we don’t have money for it so my tummy tuck would consist of my husband and a staple gun- no thanks!

Great post, I sgree with all of your sentiments. I like the tension in the post between not analyzing every purchase to death while also being mindful about what we do spend our money on. (fancy shoes vs. face lift) Because like you said we all fall short. But still….maybe we should analyze every purchase to death, and I am talking about our own, of couse it is more fun to point at others though.

I recently had baby no. 7 and 3rd c-sec. I have an umbilical hernia that has grown and my ob suggested a plastic surgeon bc my abdominal muscles are simply not connected down the middle.  So I have a medical justification for a tummy tuck or some such someday because of back issues etc., It’s humbling to admit I am pleased to know I *could* get the pooch fixed without relying on a shallow reason. Although, 4 weeks after a c-section I am not at all ready for any type of surgery every agagin!

Vasectomy I see as self mutilation, a horror. But the rest is neutral but often Iill advised. Loved Jennifer Grey for her Jewish nose, lamented to see it disappear.

I have been married for over twnety years.  All the imperfections of my wife (average breasts, graying heair, bulge left by babies, etc.) I find far more attractive because of what they illustrate about our life together.  Definitely not boring, but loving.  A lot safer than surgery, too.

As the 9th of 10 kids I was not afforded the chance to get braces and was determined to make sure my kids did not endure the teasing I did if they got ‘my mouth’ and not their father’s (naturally straight). 

My oldest was given my mouth and endured three years of metal but I was happy to hear our ortho (who would be losing the money) say about my 2nd child - “Let her pay for her own braces when she becomes a super-model!”  In other words, her slightly askew teeth was strictly cosmetic and not of concern.  She’s quite pleased to have been told her smile is much like Isabella Rosselini’s who is beautiful in everyone’s eye but does not have a ‘perfect’ mouth!

As for the rest of my kids - I’ve got some who have had braces and some who won’t and a few who it is too early to tell.

As for me - I went for a consultation for my own mouth a few years ago but when they said around $6,000 due to my age and issues, I almost choked.  Even if we had that much money it wouldn’t go to my mouth - it would go to my tummy tuck!  After 11 babies it has suffered a bit but I have managed to keep my great legs.

My great legs (my mom still has hers at 85) as with my teeth is a result of my genes and very heritage.  If I were to rid myself of my Belgian beak (nose), I would be saying good-bye to my great-grandparents who came over on a boat some 90 years ago and endured their own challenges.

While plastic surgery can offer many a chance to truly function better and feel more whole - the majority of folks I have encountered who have told me of their most recent procedure left me wondering - ‘what was wrong in the first place?’ 

Vanity, oh vanity…

I like the content of this article, and agree with most of it. I have to add though, that sometimes a procedure that can be done for what seems like vain reasons, may not actually be.

I have a medical condition which gives me facial hair, like a light beard. I am a woman. It is, as you can imagine, horribly humiliating. I take care of it with waxing and such, but if I could afford it (and if I ever can) I would do laser hair removal in a heartbeat. I don’t even know how much it costs, but I would do it. To some of you, it might be considered vain, but to me, who has lived with this for over ten years, it would be an act of “restoration”. Better start saving my pennies now!

I had seven babies, four of them weighing in at over 10 pounds. So you can imagine what my tummy looks like! Although I am at a healthy weight, I have a tummy “pooch” and lots of wrinkling skin. Like Tracy C. - I have a gap between those muscles, too. To be honest, I would LOVE a tummy tuck and some procedure that would smooth out my belly. It would make me feel beautiful and young. And as a previous poster commented, it would restore my body to its “normal” condition. Is that so different from reconstructive breast surgery? I don’t know. I will probably never be able to justify the expense, or the danger involved in surgery, so I’ll just wait til I get to heaven to get my glorified body. But I am admitting I would like a prettier one now. Most likely I am a “victim” of not ever feeling pretty and young even when I was, which is a result of many factors - including a father who was extremely harsh on my mom because of her weight/appearance (even though she was thin!)

If money was no object, I would have laser hair removal, may be get hair plugs (I have balding from alopecia) and if my tummy was destroyed from having kids I’d have a tummy tuck.  To be honest, I’m too scared to go under the knife just to “look” better.  I’m happy with my looks (except for my alopecia), so I guess I have no room to comment.

I have a question for Teresa Tomeo.  Why, after several interviews, does she insist on forcing us to think that being vein about our appearance is ok.  I admire her for her conversion and enlightenment, but her insistance that it’s important to do your hair and make up and have your nails done as a social necessity is wrong.  It bothers me that it’s so important to her that she expresses this opinion at every interview.  No, it isn’t important.  In my group of 7 very good friends, none of us wear make-up.  We are all very active in the church and our communities and every one of us has a beautiful and unique appearance and character - we don’t need make-up to complete us… When there is a special occasion, we may add eyeliner or mascara, but nothing too drastic.  It feels good to feel good about myself without hiding it and when I go out into the world without make-up, I don’t feel naked.  I feel comfortable in my own skin.  I don’t judge women who have the need to spend so many hours on their appearance, but I certainly don’t want them forcing their vanity on me.  I don’t wear make-up, I won’t dye my hair but I love my life and my husbands seems to love me - that’s all that’s important to me. 

Ms. Tomeo, address your own vanity and leave the rest of us alone.  Thank you.

oops!  My husband would like me to clarify that there is only one of him, that he knows about and he would like it to stay that way… Yikes!  (John, my husband graciously agrees with you - thank you honey!!)

I’m torn. Some plastic surgery is just dumb and plain vanity but the type of plastic surgery that I would like to eventually get would alleviate several physical problems and potential problems. I just don’t have the money so I’m stuck dealing with the problems and trying to prevent the others from occurring.

I agree with this article.  Had to laugh at the comment about how it used to be ok to be ugly.  I’ve been saying that for years that in the past, you had to have real talent to be a singer/musician, now you just have to be good looking.  I am vain enough to wear makeup, color my hair, and remove facial hair but I would never go under the knife just for cosmetic reasons.  However, I admire women that don’t do that because I think that is a sign of real confidence. In the past before coming back to the Church, I used to entertain the thought of getting rid of a turkey neck (when I get older) but I won’t do that now. I know I will never in this life look 20 or 30 again in my face or body. I do exercise and try to look the best I can for my age but it’s not a big deal to me like it used to be.  A bigger deal to me now is my soul.  I have make sure I live my life so I can enter heaven and one day have my glorified body after the resurrection.

I think the reason this question is so hard is that it is a “heart question.”  Where is your heart when making the decision?

For example, this procedure is risky.  So is sky-diving, roller-coasters, playing any physical sport.  This procedure is vain.  So is paying a few thousand dollars more for a perceived better car, home, boat, yard, dog, jewelry.  This procedure is not how God designed you or He would have given it to you at birth.  But God did not give us the seal of Baptism either.  It is expensive.  So is golf.

I am not saying go hog wild on anything, I am saying that it is a heart issue, meaning very difficult to say it is all bad or all good.  I would lean in the direction to proceed with caution.

There does seem to be a trend to get imperfections “fixed” without recognizing that the imperfections are perfect to someone else. I remember wiggling my eyebrows up and down in hopes of getting lines on my forehead like my dad’s. I also remember visiting my parents and discovering, to my horror, that my mother had all her front teeth done because a broken tooth was impossible to replace without the front 6 teeth being done as well. So, suddenly when my mother’s face smiled, I saw Florence Henderson’s dentures. Luckily I complimented her instead of expressing my disappointment, but I think we all can think of people we like just the way they are. Maybe we need to find those in our lives who like us “as-is” before jumping into surgery. My body is a scrapbook of the life I have lived. I have earned every mark upon it. As long as it is working, I’m going to work it.

Much of what’s said here all comes down to things being relative.  This one wears makeup, colors their hair and has laser hair removal, but would never go under the knife.  That one would never color their hair, but wears mascara for special occasions.  Do you cut your hair?  There are women out there who would make the very same argument about hair cuts (and leg/pit shaving, for that matter) that you make about hair color.  They’re all not natural, so that can’t be the deciding point.

Same continuum: someone else decides microdermabrasion, chemical peels and facial fillers are worth the cost.  Others would go for the tummy tuck, &/or lipo.  Another would get ears pinned back or a neck lift or remove under eye bags.  Some plan on removing the unsightly-but-not-dangerous growth.  Or the slim down the large bump in the nose.  Every single one of those decisions - on both ends of the spectrum - can be made for both the right and the wrong reasons.  Prudence comes in different packages.

Years ago when I was just a Lamb, my Spiritual Director told me that we do things thinking: “Now is Salvation!” But it isn’t. Today we see and hear of people who are tortured by their inner thoughts about how they look. so they eat, or purge nip or tuck. After the “remedy” they realize that they are still the same person they were before! and so, they think that if they do something more, hay will get a different result: (cf. definition of insanity!) the greatest lift we can ever get is the Forgiveness of the Lord and His grace! then we have Peace and anyway, all the lovelies of the Earth wanted to be seen with Mother Teresa, who as we admit in Hollywood terms was no raving beauty! Yet, in her presence, one felt the Beauty of Holiness! No nose-boob-butt job is going to match that beauty! Teach our kids how beautiful they are in their Souls! And how beautiful they are with the Holy Trinity living within them! That they are Temples of the Holy Ghost! And not only that they are Royal..They inherit the Kingdom of Heaven!

@KayGee:  I agree with you 100%! Not that it’s impossible to do wrong by making any of these choices, but it’s probably not possible to say that such-and-such is always wrong for everyone.  That’s on a personal level.  I do think that on a societal level, it’s pretty safe to say that the trend is downward, not neutral.

In chapter2 of Genesis God performed the first Anesthetic ( put Adam under), The first Thorasic Surgery ( removed one of Adam’s ribs), and proceeded to the worlds first cosmetic surgery He created WOMEN, the result which has never never been equelled in thehistory of plastic surgery!

This article is too much….there is no relationship between plastic surgery and my beliefs as a Catholic.  I totally agree with Jared, so, are some of theses people saying they dont have a better car…..they dont have expensive habits, such as golf?  No one should be judged if they choose to have something cosmetic done.  Everyone has their reasons. BTW i did have to chuckle when i read an earlier post of women that justify cosmetic surgery by the the numbers of pregnancies they have lol ohhh c’mon !!!

I don’t think that many individual proceedures that are the problem, because many are preformed for a combined health/vanity reason, and I can only sympathise with not feeling beautiful after lots of children (I haven’t yet, but I do imagine it would be hard). I think the problem is the global trend, as was said: It used to be ok to be ugly. We used to be different, and that was ok. To me, it is just another symptom of the change in society, where women (who get the majority of cosmetic surgery, but also more and more often men) are seen as purely sexual, as objects, therefore requiring perfection. It’s all about the sex, all about the sex (to clarify: talking global trends here, not individuals who have had their teeth straightened, or tummy tucked or boobs enlarged. Just talking about the general increase in surgery). There is a tremendous amount of pressure to be BETTER, and I think it is really sad that the beauty of aging and changing and having children is not looked upon more favourably in society.

this post made me think about circumcision. It’s not really cosmetic and it’s not necessary… unless you practice Judaism, why? It’s weird! Frankly, I’m glad for my foreskin

@LisaL: I’m not Teresa, but I do agree with her ideas regarding appearance.  I was taught that for a wife to maintain her appearance is not an issue of vanity- it is an issue of charity.  Charity toward her husband!  Many of our husbands are bombarded with sexual images all day (billboards, advertisements, inappropriately dressed women at the office, etc.) so it is charitable on our parts to provide him with a beautiful wife at home!  BTW- I don’t dye my hair and I don’t spend “hours” on my apprearance- but I do blowdry my hair most days and wear some make-up.  It doesn’t have to take many hours or many dollars to take care of our appearances- and I mean hair, make-up and clothing!

You could fly to China and chalk it up to a cultural experience and only spend a couple hundred for that eye lift or what have you ;)

I am not for cosmetic surgery. I think you should be happy whether you are old or young, rich or poor, healthy or sick… what is that prayer?

Not easy to do, and definitely, I don’t have it down yet, so I don’t have any place judging anyone who gets elective surgery for any reason, but I think your article raised valid concerns everyone should consider.

@Dan, since cosmetic surgery is what we’re talking about, circumcision is not relevant to this discussion.

@ ARM, call them “cleft lips” please :)

That’s one of those nit-picky terms that people want to fade out though no personal offense taken of course.

Not trying to be annoying, just sayin!!!!

Getting ready for my 30th high school reunion and feeling fat and wrinkled.  This post really lifted me up.  I am what I am.  I have a sister who had a tummy tuck, something I dream about, who was angry after a cruise because she got seasick while getting a pedicure.  Go figure.  My life is rich and full.  It shows in my figure and my face.  Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.  Whether it’s the car, the house the body, there is no difference.

And yes I’ve heard people say our Cathedral shouldn’t spend too much money on an organ, when they could be helping the poor.  Not the same thing!  Not even close!

I gotta think more before I comment.sorry

When my mom was in college (Seven Sisters) you basically had to look like an old maid to fit in.  She was a clueless midwestern girl who was brought up to care about her appearance.  I think there is such a thing as reverse vanity - there are people who think they are above it all, their intellect makes up for the fact that they have a beard or old man eyebrows.  Whatever.  I’m for doing what you can with what you have.  It takes discipline to look good.  It’s hard to work out hard each week and to watch what you eat all the time.  Sometimes I think it would be easier to go the slothful route and make up excuses why I should eat another piece of cake and not bother with makeup or shaving my legs.  If you can afford plastic surgery and it improves your life, go for it.

I used to be vehemently against plastic surgery. As a medical student I was assigned to shadow a plastic surgeon. I anticipated weeks of having to deal with shallow people and fake, consumer medicine.

I learned a lot in that experience, probably because the doc used to be a general practitioner and had amazing people skills. I still don’t know what I think about plastic surgery, and I would not choose it for my specialty. But I realized that life is not so simple, and that the “obviously shallow” or “clearly would do better with therapy” patients were few and far between.

I recognized myself in some of the patients. I seek treatment, sometimes expensive medical treatment, for my acne. (I appear to be going through the world’s longest puberty.) Acne is a completely normal part of the aging process. And yet, I want it gone. It annoys me no matter how much I tell myself I’m a beautiful creation of God. It affects how other people treat me and their impression of me. It is totally natural, and I still want medicine to make it go away. I’ve yet to hear anyone judge me for that. These middle aged women felt the same way about their wrinkles.

There was still a lot that went on in plastics that I did not agree with. Anytime I saw a man accompanying his wife/girlfriend to a consult and she would go on about what was wrong with her, I wanted to scream at him “THIS IS THE PART WHERE YOU TELL HER SHE IS BEAUTIFUL JUST AS SHE IS AND THOSE IMPLANTS WILL NOT CHANGE WHY YOU LOVE HER!”  But I never did, and the guys just looked at the computer-edited images of their partners with big grins and said “Wow!” It made me sad.

Thank you for this article. This is actually something that I have thought about a lot, and I appreciate the discussion. I am an unmarried woman in her mid-20s and have almost a completely flat chest. One very faithful Catholic young man who was courting me a few years ago told me that he had considered not pursuing me due to my small chest and had considered asking me to get breast implants. He likened my small chest to a birth defect. I was crushed. This comment planted the fear in my head that no man will ever want to marry me without surgical modifications. This fear is only reinforced when other women tell me that I should consider surgery so that I’ll be able to “please my husband” one day. I don’t necessarily feel that elective cosmetic surgery is immoral, but for me, the reasons for plastic surgery would be all wrong. I think I would lose at least part of my self-respect if I had plastic surgery for the sole purpose of trying to make myself more attractive to men.

‘Similarly, women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds.’

1 Tim. 2: 9-10

Eileen, your story should make all of us parents re-evaluate how we are raising our sons.  I’m so sorry you were hurt by that jerk.

Eileen, this stuff drives me crazy. That’s not catholic of him at all. I’m really sorry you dealt with that. That’s not cool to have that wound now.  Just know that there are plenty of good guys out there, guys that wouldn’t dream of asking you to undergo the knife to move up a cup size.  I know a couple beautiful women who have married and are small but their husbands don’t seem to mind. ;)  I would say wait for the marriage and the babies, instead of spending money on implants, you can be saving money nursing and inevitably will end up more well endowed than you went in to the pregnancy with. 

(Folks, this is not and will not be a discussion about circumcision. Anybody veering toward that topic will be edited, like Emily just was. - Simcha’s bodyguard.)

This is a tough topic. Our culture demands certain outward evidence of femininity, but we as Catholics find it hard to pin down what it means to be a pleasantly appealing icon of nurturing grace without being chemically, surgically, or ornamentally contrived and where the acceptable boundaries are. Some think the curves make the woman and some think the accoutrements make the woman-add in tone of voice, functionality of biceps, or mental acuity with numbers and weed eaters and you have a morass of confusion. I’ve been a woman for nearly 47 years and I am still not sure what it means exactly either, and for some reason every Athleta catalog I get keeps me thinking kettle bells, a tummy tuck, and a marathon are the defining elements in addition to or instead of the 13 healthy breastfed babies I bore and raised/am raising. Am I a victim of marketing or of the timeless human ideal or both?
How exactly do we get the real deal from God’s perspective and heart? That is the pertinent question really isn’t it? I can’t quite get ok with “Oh He doesn’t care how you look or what you wear!” or we would not have the obvious distinctions and issues or Sacred Scriptural references that we do. What does the Bible say and what does the Church teach?

This post reminds me of an episode of the TV show “Bones”.  In this particular scenario, the murder victim is a girl who underwent numerous plastic surgeries because she was never satisfied with how she looked.  Ultimately, it makes identifying her remains so much more difficult and Dr. Temperance Brennan is repulsed by the notion of purposely changing the very core of who you are.  She tells the plastic surgeon that what he does is barbaric, and she mourns for the girl who wanted to take away what made her truly unique.
While the show has many flaws, I found that particular episode very interesting because it raised the question of “How much is too much?”  Most fascinating was Dr. Brennan’s view, for her character is logic-driven and struggles with ideas like love and God, yet she recognizes the fundamentality of individualism—it’s not based on mere opinions and preferences, but is something written into our makeup. 
I won’t claim to know the answer about plastic surgery, but I’m one of those people who trims their hair, has pierced ears, cuts fingernails and paints toenails, shaves their legs, etc.  But that’s about where my vanity ends.  I would never spend that much money on something so trivial (from my perspective), just as I would never spend an extra $5,000 on a car that looked flashier or another $100 on designer jeans—I just don’t care that much.  I too think it’s silly, but it’s not my call to say whether it’s a sin or not.

Theresa, good comment.  I’m a big fan of Bones, and that episode does highlight some good points.  Let’s not confuse basic hygiene with the question at hand though.  Trim fingernails are not vain; it would be unreasonable in our culture and society to grow them as long as possible until they fall off, or chop them off erratically that they catch on every fabric.
//
The same applies to many of the points brought up here.  Many of these issues are cultural, not religious.  Cosmetic surgery for purely cosmetic reasons - it may be silly - but since the community as a whole wouldn’t know the whole story or intentions of the recipient, it would be impossible to make a qualification of “sin or not?”.  Which is a good thing, since we as a community shouldn’t be worrying about pulling the needles out of our neighbors’ eyes.

It was worth reading this entire post for the ugly album covers alone—those were fabulous!

For me personally, plastic surgery is tempting for all of the reasons listed in the earlier posts.  However, I remember once hearing the following:

“True beauty shines the spotlight on the other.”

Nice thought.  And, for what it’s worth, Bobbi Brown said not to ever mess with your lips or get a face lift—it rarely looks like natural beauty. 

One thing no one has mentioned is the competition women often feel to “keep up” with the beauty standard of their peers: “Hey!  No fair!  Can’t you just get old ald saggy along with me?  You’re making me look ugly by comparison!”  Yep.  Compare and despair.

So for now I’m just trying to get in some regular exercise, eat well, and look like I made an effort to edify the people around me.  The hardest part for me is working on inner beauty, praying that it will shine the spotlight on the other…from behind my sagging eyelids.  ;-)

Late to the party but had to comment after reading the first few comments about people erasing their ethnic profiles using cosmetic surgery. Comments like that really piss me off.  I’m Asian and have a classic Korean looking face. If I decide to change my face because I’m sinfully vain or because I need my face reconstructed because of some accident, the decision will be made based on what I must do for me. I have no obligation and feel none to maintain my looks for the sake of others’ desire to gaze upon my typically Asian eyes, nose, cheekbones, etc. A very Catholic man once told me he thought it was sinful for me to marry a white man and have children because our children will begin a generational erasure of ethnic beauty. Today I have a white husband and three children who are beautiful souls and I don’t even notice their “Westernized” looks because I only see them for who they are.

I also have a hard time believing that people who make complaints like this truly appreciate the different ethnic groups. Most people I’ve met can’t tell the difference between people who are Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indonesian or Mongolian so I don’t believe the “concern” is sincere.

And you need buck teeth, unique noses, squinty eyes and fat lips to tell people apart? Geez, how ‘bout asking people for their NAMES.

Kitty Cleveland, I do see women all dolled up and sometimes it looks fake. I think it is refreshing to see women look more natural and I do agree that women play a comparison game. I think we all need to begin to see the dignity in the other person as a child of God and when we all realize this, our true beauty will shine through. I would love to see real pictures next to the touched up pictures of celebrities.
I enjoy listening or watching to Teresa Tomeo or Joanette from Women of Grace, both theses women wear far more makeup than I would but they are basically on stage. I wouldn’t expect a mother at home to be made up in a similiar fashion but then again I am one who barely wears make up.
Nobody has mentioned the need to look tanned as that seems to be another competition in the vanity department.

Like Eileen, I’ve been flat-chested my whole life. Not that I would ever have the guts to have plastic surgery…but whenever people roll their eyes about breast augmentation I shake my head, because unless you’ve been there, you can’t imagine what it’s like to have the body of a twelve year old. I’m not exaggerating—most of the junior high girls at my kids’ school are more well-endowed than I am. And the ones who aren’t will be soon.

Girls are told that, as a fact of life, developing is a sign of womanhood. Ad campaigns constantly yap about how *real* women have curves. So…I never became a woman? I’m not a *real* woman? What’s up with that? Yo, people gave me funny looks when I said I was breastfeeding my kids, like, huh, I wasn’t aware that was *possible*. (Which I kind of get, because really, have you ever tried to find an A-cup nursing bra? Heads up: they don’t exist.) I could go on and on…

I wouldn’t like the message that having plastic surgery would send to my daughters and I think that alone would keep me from ever doing it…but I have to say, I totally understand why someone in my position would do it. It would be fabulous to be able to wear clothes that were, you know, made to fit *real* women.

Wow.  I’m really just floored by this uncharitable article and I actually completely disagree with every point attempted to be made.  I could write an entire article in response but I’ll focus on the author’s thought that “Why not just get therapy until you learn to stop thinking about cup size?”  Well, that’s a real cute and funny thing to say, if you have greater than an A cup.  If you’re flat chested and must spend considerable time and effort trying to find a AAA cup bra and would desire to actually look like a woman, well it’s really not so funny. OK, maybe I will respond to the other points… Vacations and home improvements cost a lot of money too, are they sinful?  More people die in car accidents than in plastic surgery, does that mean riding in cars is sinful? (Just because everyone does it doesn’t mean it’s necessary).  And yes, I think the reason most people choose plastic surgery is because they want to be boring and they dont’ want to stand out by having a huge nose/ears or a flat chest or super wrinkles.  They want you to see THEM not their imperfection.  The last objection, I just won’t go there.  Yes, I am fully aware that beauty comes from within and I am not aiming at physical perfection.  I would just like to look like a woman and be able to wear tops that actually fit.  If I had the money, I would augment my breasts in a hearbeat, and it’s not because I’m shallow.  I wouldn’t be doing it for anyone but myself, and if that’s bad for society, well.. I said I’m not going there.  Anyway, go ahead and makes jokes about those who are lacking in cup size if it makes you feel better, I’m fine with myself this way, but I’d go for a little something if I could.  And by the way, circumcision is not medically necessary and is totally cosmetic.

I’m with you, Adele, and no plastic surgery discussion can be complete without these two websites:
http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/
and
http://www.goodplasticsurgery.com/
WARNING: NSFW
Every single person you’ve ever seen on screen has had it done, especially if they say they haven’t!  Even the politicians are getting on the Botox and eye-bags bandwagon; people want to like what is visually more pleasing.  That’s how God designed it. 
Some plastic surgery is great and some is downright disfiguring; it’s up to each person to decide what to do or not to do.  The best you can’t even detect, no matter how much you all think you can.  (PS It’s been going on for years; Marilyn Monroe wouldn’t have been the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe had she not had her nose done and jaw remodeled.)

Eileen,
My very Catholic husband delights in my very flat chest. Never fear! There are men out there who will find you beautiful just the way you are.

There are a lot of interesting points in the article and in the comments. Here are my current thoughts: Price does matter to me. Unless a person is independently wealthy, they will make a limited amount of money in their life, and if they are going to raise a family, they need to take that into consideration first, as well as the concept of “distribution of goods,” aka our duty to help the poor if we have more than enough for ourselves, so the independently wealthy aren’t off the hook either. Even though we shouldn’t be pointing fingers at others, I think each one of us IS called to take a nice hard look at our own spending habits in this consume-consume new shiny thing addicted society. We are like frogs in slowly boiling water, we don’t jump out because we don’t realize we’re about to boil! I will agree that it is difficult to make a black and white statement about which costs are too excessive and which are acceptable, but that doesn’t justify each individual from making informed, prayerful decisions. Here I can only speak from my own ways. I use makeup for work and for special occasions, and with the idea that a little goes a long way, and I don’t have a large variety to select from. I use it until it’s gone or too old to use anymore, I don’t throw it out in favor of the “new and shiny,” the same goes for my wardrobe, I replace my clothing as it wears out or if I change sizes. I save older things to wear around the house. The same goes for my shoes, I replace my work shoes when they start to look ragged because it’s not professional to wear ratty shoes, but I’ll wear those ratty shoes to go on a walk etc. I shave my armpits because it’s generally considered unhygienic to not do so, and, well, it helps with body odor. I shave my legs for similar reasons, it’s literally stated in our employment agreement that women who wear skirts must have “proper leg hygiene.” I don’t consider these things to be vanity, they are all rather inexpensive and in our society are signs of basic self maintenance. However, I must say that I have small breasts and I would never dream of implants. I also gained some weight due to depression and genes, and while I’m slowly working it off, I have stretch lines. However, my husband still married me even though I had gained a lot of my weight in the year before our wedding. What would it say about him if he didn’t?! Some women would probably have cosmetic surgery to look better in their wedding dress. I would never do that. To me, unless there is a physical need, I treat my stretch lines as just another cross to bear (who but my husband sees them anyways..? I think bikinis are immodest, personally). And my breasts? I see nothing wrong with them, admittedly they are more like A and not AAA, but, I saw tons of AAA sized women in Japan who by our American standards would “look like 12”, and they have fashions that tailor to that body time and that look completely feminine and not like children’s clothes, and you can acquire them online. There are also some such fashions in this country as well, I’ve had friends complain that modern size zero fashion in fact DOES cater to women with no curves, and that they always found their breasts were too big for the shirts. I have to believe there are options out there in our diverse country, less expensive than surgery, certainly! Likewise, they are coming out with more and more “woman size” fashions that are more flattering on a wide-waisted woman. I know I had a hard to accepting that I needed to wear larger woman’s clothing when I was at my biggest, but you can look ten pounds lighter just by wearing clothes that actually fit! And exercise is more healthy that sudden surgery, unless you are morbidly obese. Plus, I’m not a mother, but I never judge a mother for having a “pudgy” tummy, I don’t think mothers who are over 30 or 40 should be worried about “competing” with 20 year old women in terms of looks. Most people these days are overly concerned with their appearance in the first place, and I’ll agree that everything is sexualized up to 11. Just because our husbands are being bombarded with implanted and frequently airbrushed women doesn’t mean we need to compare ourselves to them. My husband agrees with me on this. He thinks there is something wrong with THEM not me. I mean, there’s a reason people were getting offended at “modern” images of Our Lady with plunging neck lines. If you don’t want Mary to wear it, maybe you should consider not wearing it yourself? No one says Our Lady needs to have larger breasts. All in all, I don’t see anything that would ever convince me to have surgery unless there was a health issue involved. People look down on me for my appearance? That’s something wrong with THEM, not me. When my weight is unhealthy, I deal with it, but imperfections that are not a health concern? They aren’t even real imperfections, they are just preferences of the modern age. Look at Renaissance art work and Greek statuary, clearly standards of beauty change, and I’m not under any obligation to meet current trends. I can dress up in a modestly priced dress for a formal occasion, say, to celebrate a friend’s wedding, but I’m not going to get bigger breasts because society says we are now a C minimum country. That’s my thought.

On the issue of breast implants: I can imagine if your a woman with an extremely small cup size (I’m talking you look more like a man than a lady) that would (at least to me) be a psychological need to have the surgery.  However, those women who get implants just to increase their cup size because of vanity (which really means showing off to men).. I would deem that sinful because you are trying to entice men with a part of your body (we’re talking an issue of lust here). That would be immoral because of the intent. And many women who do have their cup size increased, wear the low-cut tops (and such) to show off their body parts. Indeed, that is not Christian modesty at all.

Monica made a lot of great comments and I have enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts on this. As a mom who has gone through 5 c-sections and 1 VBAC, I know all too well the issue of changing body image. I tried very hard not to gain extra weight in my last pregnancy because the one before it added 20 pounds to my former size. I tried to exercise but being a mom and having so little “me” time (not to mention lack of sleep, which I think contributes to the difficulty of losing weight), I couldn’t lose it. Then the next pregnancy came and I added another 6 pounds to that.  It might be age related and so I have to accept what I am: fat, stretch marks and stitch lines. Do I think of plastic surgery? No, because going onto the operating table for cerclage surgeries and c-sections over and over was horrendous! Surgery is dangerous! Unless there is a serious need to undergo surgery, I don’t think one should do it. One has to consider the risk factors such as permanent disability or even death when going into surgery.

I think for me the test for whether cosmetic surgery is morally permissible is whether it corrects something that is a distraction to others.  So deformities would be okay to fix.  Some examples in my mind of this would be ears that stick out, crooked teeth,a conspicuous mole on your face, etc.  I would even consider a AAA cup a female deformity that would be okay to fix. The point is you want people to be able to relate to you without staring at your teeth or marveling at your completely flat-chest or whatever when you are talking to them.  But if you are simply trying to change things to look younger or thinner or prettier, I am against that.

My good people.  Let us not try to confuse issues by abstract arguments and justifications.  We are all adults.  We know when we are going after something purely out of VANITY.  And that we know in the deepest of our hearts is PRIDE.  Everyone knows that any medical procedure which is necessary to save a life is quite in order. To neglect it, is not only foolish but uncaring to oneself and to their loved ones.  However, for these so called cosmetic procedures, no matter how much we try to justify our selfish and vain impulses which are manifestations of the modern god of “me, I and myself”, will never give one what they are looking for - self-acceptance.  If one cannot accept oneself the way God created one, and must break “their legs” and “blow up thousands of dollars to satisfy the trendy lifestyles” to feel good about oneself,then that poor person needs counselling in order to accept oneself and finally attain self-acceptance and peace of mind.  And that is where the Teaching of the Catholic Church comes in.  To clarify issues between pandering to our VANITY and ESSENTIAL MEDICAL PROCEDURES TO SAFE OR PRESERVE OUR LIVES WHICH BELONG TO GOD

Personally, I consider the growing popularity of cosmetic surgery evidence of our failure as a people to build a civilization of love, and also evidence of our failure as individuals to know what gives us our security. Its proliferation indicts us. It is a personal experience that influences my view on this matter, so I’ll share it here. A woman I know well got breast implants a few years ago. We were close, so she felt comfortable telling me what she had done. And she was quite happy she had done it; she was all smiles as she told me, and it was clear a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Knowing her as I do, I believe her choice came from a deep place of insecurity. She did not believe she was acceptable, lovable, or desirable because she had a small chest. It is not hard to imagine why she felt this way, if you just turn on the TV for a few minutes or walk through a mall. I really think it was an anguished kind of insecurity that drove my friend to do undergo the surgery. I sympathize with her pain and I think it was really hard for her. I also do think the surgery relieved that pain tremendously. But I wish she had struggled with it more and let God show her where her value really comes from. The question I saw beneath her decision was one that we are all asking in our own ways: “Who gives me the security that I need?” I pray that she and all women who find themselves in the position she was in find the real answer to this question, because in the end, there is only one man who answers it, and that man is Jesus Christ. No merely human man can give this kind of validation; no mere surgery can heal this insecurity. Christ alone has that power. My friend is not worth loving because her breasts are now larger; she is and has always been worth loving because she belongs to Christ. Whether men know this about her really is their problem and not hers, if she has eyes to look to the bottom of the issue.

So I think there are two sides to this issue, a shared responsibility. First, we are, in our society, putting a terrible burden on women’s hearts. We are causing them anguish (I believe) by pushing them 1) to let other human beings define their value 2) on the basis of characteristics that have nothing to do with their value. In the ever more popular practice of cosmetic surgery, I see much heartbreak, longing, and fear, all of which have their origin in the evil spirit - and most certainly not the spirit of Christ. For me, then, the mere discussion of this practice occasions an examination of conscience. How do I treat the women I meet every day? The full magnitude of this problem is well beyond my control, but I can do my part by treating each woman I meet with gentleness, love, and respect. I can help the women who are close to me by making sure to compliment them on things that don’t have to do with their bodies. I can ask Christ to help me see where their value really comes from.

Second, Christian women who are considering this option should, IMHO, see the deception that lies beneath the urge. I really think that women who undergo cosmetic surgery validate weaknesses that are not theirs to claim, but which belong to others. Let Jesus show you your worth, and ask Him to help you embrace the suffering others are causing you, through their own ignorance and weakness, as part of His Cross, through which your own redemption takes place. Leave the lies to the devils - the daughters of God the Father deserve only the best.

Also, on makeup: though this can be motivated by vanity, I think it is a mistake to say the effort to appear attractive is intrinsically sinful. Wherever we strive to create real beauty in the name of God, we are sharing in his creative work and helping to build His Kingdom. The mistake comes in when we believe it is others who validate us, or use beauty for self-centered ends. Beauty is always good, no matter where it is found, because beauty is of God. It is meant for our enjoyment and appreciation. The problem comes in when we abuse beauty and use others.

I cannot believe all of the “trash” talk going on about this topic.
sounds like a bunch of Baptists that ain’t never going to have any fun because someone might see them smile. Must be a bunch of ugly people writing here.
How about one wanting to appreciate one’s body just for the sake of looking good to themselves? How about a woman that wants to look as good as she can to appeal to her man?
There is nothing wrong with looking desirable for as long as you can.
You can make all of the fiancial arguments that you want to and there is nothing that’s going to change one’s own attitude of giving.

There’s working with what you’ve got, and then there’s what one might call revisionist history…

Sorry my english is not my first language so bare with me. Well Im 33 years old and I was never satisfied with my apearance,at the age of 13 after physical abuse that I received from my mom who was sick,I started eating and gain like 30 pounds then I started lifting weights because I wanted to defend myself lol
The thing is that led me with deep stretch marks on my arms,that people get pleasure asking me how do you get those comments.Also after I went through a very horrible eppisode of demonic obsessions I developed smile lines at the age of 31 my brothers and sisters who are 45 they don’t have them, So I went to a plastic surgeon so he can inject me with perlane and they dissapeared then I went and got laser for my stretch marks,that didn’t really did too much,and Im stuck with the stretch marks,I don’t know I guess I want somebody to tell me this is not a mortal sin? I dread to the thought of dying and facing God and he telling me not to enter heaven . Because im not really doing it to be notice but not to feel gross.well god bless u all