Plastic surgeons are frequently asked what they think about 23 year old Heidi Montag's multiple cosmetic surgeries performed last winter by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Garth Fisher. The best answer to that question was this weeks episode of the reality TV show that launched Heidi to "reality fame", "The Hills" (April 27,2010; http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-hills-season-6-ep-1-put-on-a-happy-face/1637514/playlist.jhtml )



Heidi returns to her family's home in beautiful Crested Butte to
see her Mom for the first time since her surgeries. Those surgeries
included an eye brow lift, chin reduction, revision rhinoplasty, Botox
injections, fat injections to lips, cheeks, and nasolabial folds,
otoplasty, breast augmentation, and liposuction of the abdomen, waist,
thighs and back...whew!



Heidi’s mother, sister, and step-father disapprove of her "plastic"
look and are appalled that she risked her life to have more than 12
hours of elective cosmetic surgery, filmed by the way for yet another
possible future reality TV show. Her mother implies that Heidi looked
better before her "Octo-Plus" surgeries. Heidi shares her pain from the
multiple procedures (unable to chew hamburger without severe pain,
probably from her chin reduction), and her childhood insecurities, and
the "L.A.-Hollywood 'beauty is everything' spotlight" that led to her
obsession with plastic surgery. An obsession that may border on
Dysmorphic Body Disorder (DBD).



The big question here is why would a young, beautiful 23 year-old
voluntarily submit herself to such drastic body changes in one sitting?
Most questions like this can be simply answered by The Beatles song
"Love is the Answer". When we don't feel true love, we look for it in
"all the wrong places". In Heidi's case, it was obsessing that looking
as good or better than the "Barbies" of Beverly Hills, Malibu, and
Hollywood, she would find happiness. It is apparent that she has
instead found profound sadness. Her sadness is compounded after going
through all of these surgeries as well as their long, painful recovery
only to meet disapproval from the one person she craves love from the
most, her mother.



There are surgical indications for plastic surgical procedures in
young patients. A nose too big, breasts too large causing back
problems, ears protruding to comments like, "Hey, your cab's doors are
open" are all legitimate reasons to undergo an elective cosmetic
procedure. Expecting the surgery to "change" one's life is unrealistic.
You will not be loved any greater; you will not be more popular or
happy; it will not get you that dream job or mate.



So what is the moral of the story, what lessons are to be learned?
Best to follow the sage lyrics of Christina Aguilera's
"Beautiful"(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAfyFTzZDMM). Know that you
are truly "beautiful no matter what they say". Be grateful for what you
have. Be careful what you wish for, it may not be the answer. Love is
the answer.

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