When Cosmetic Surgery is More than Just Cosmetic

Criticism is not in and of itself a bad thing, especially when one has a chance to learn from past mistakes. Extreme Makeover had signs of poor management all around, from the website to questionable treatment of some of the people who appeared on the show. More importantly, I think it's pretty obvious the show failed as-is because it was viewed as being very superficial. Which is too bad, considering how many deep and compelling stories there were mixed amongst the "make me magazine pretty" types.

I would love to see a similar show put on the air focusing on people whose lives could be transformed in ways beyond matching the media's notion of beauty. Some probably even fly in the face of it. I think it'd be pretty worthwhile to show how cosmetic surgery can truly be more than skin deep. Between treating disabling and/or disfiguring physical ailments, less-understood conditions like transsexuality, and even treatment of more "mundane" issues such as severe acne scarring, there are plenty of stories out there just waiting to be told.