Watching plastic-surgery reality TV shows such as “Extreme Makeover” and “Dr. 90210” influences patients’ decisions to undergo cosmetic procedures, according to a small study by researchers at Yale University.
Researchers polled 42 first-time patients who sought consultations at Yale’s plastic surgery clinic. Plastic surgeon John Persing and his colleagues found that 57 percent of patients, whose average age was 36, regularly watched one or more reality shows; only 12 percent said they had never seen one.
The frequent viewers cited the shows as a significant factor in their decision to consult a surgeon and were more knowledgeable about procedures than those who said they rarely or never watched the programs. The study, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, did not establish causality – whether viewing the reality shows frequently made one more likely to undergo surgery.
