Cosmetic surgery has often been a controversial subject in the media. With many people in the limelight shamed for botched jobs or too many enhancements, others feel embarrassed when admitting to having had plastic surgery. However, over the years, there has been a rise in interest in cosmetic treatments and, with the help of ITV2’s Love Island, it now receives much more positive press. 

However, this has not stopped the public’s interest in surgery that has gone wrong. Whether it’s too much filler, a dodgy breast enhancement, or unnatural looking anti-wrinkle injections – people are curious about the complications and unfortunate results of others receiving cosmetic treatment from unreputable clinics. 

That is why, in today’s blog, we’re looking into why, as humans, we are so fascinated with the idea of botched plastic surgery. In addition, we’re exploring where this interest originated and how various media has influenced the fascination over the years. 

Where Did the Interest Begin? 

Fascinatingly, the interest in “body horror” can be dated back to the early 19th century when the novel Frankenstein was published – written in 1817 by Mary Shelley, the book details how Victor Frankenstein used various corpses to create an artificial man. From then on, the body horror genre took off with many other authors using a similar premise, such as George Langelaan in 1957 with The Fly. 

These fictional body horror stories shocked and entertained readers, much like the reactions of real-life body horrors in plastic surgery that has gone wrong. 

The Media’s Influence on The Fascination with Botched Plastic Surgery 

Gossip magazines provided us with one of the first real-life looks into botched plastic surgery we had seen. Publications such as ‘Heat’ gave us ‘The Circle of Shame’ – where journalists would scrutinise celebrities for breast implant mishaps, tummy tuck scars, and other evidence of surgery that had gone wrong. Because this was a new insight into the world of cosmetic surgery, people were fascinated, and it only fuelled other media formats to follow the trend. 

With the rise of reality TV came a sub-genre often referred to as car crash TV – meaning television made to be controversial and shocking, but something that draws viewers in and leaves them unable to stop watching. For example, several television shows have depicted plastic surgery mishaps, such as ‘Plastic Surgery Knifemares’ on Channel 5 and ‘When Plastic Surgery Goes Wrong’ on BBC One. 

‘Botched’, which premiered on E! in 2014, gave us a different perspective on plastic surgery mishaps. We follow Terry Dubrow and Paul Nassif – experienced cosmetic surgery doctors – as they “remedy extreme plastic surgeries gone wrong”. The show highlights the importance of visiting a reputable clinic rather than television shows that show cosmetic surgery in a negative light and shame people for going through with treatments. 

Additionally, social media has had a significant impact on how we view cosmetic surgery. Many celebrities take to their Instagram and Twitter accounts to reveal that they are no longer interested in the artificial look that unreputable clinics provide. In addition, reality TV stars such as Molly-Mae Hauge and Faye Winter have taken their followers on a journey to becoming more natural. However, this doesn’t mean ditching the dermal fillers altogether – it just means that the days of dangerously overfilled lips are long gone.  

If you’re interested in receiving dermal fillers, you must visit a reputable clinic such as Aesthetic Skin Clinic. We are medical professionals with years of experience and knowledge, so we will guide you through the process step-by-step with professional care and treatment. 

You will discuss your treatment beforehand during a discreet consultation, where we will provide medical advice on what we recommend. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team – we are more than happy to help you become a more confident version of yourself. 

How This Fascination Affects Cosmetic Surgery Anxiety 

Being exposed to such negative depictions of cosmetic surgery can seriously affect how we view aesthetic procedures. People interested in receiving treatments to tackle a personal area of concern on their body or improve their confidence could be put off after watching one of the TV shows mentioned above.  

You must visit a reputable cosmetic clinic such as ourselves if you are thinking about going through with cosmetic surgery or treatment. Our award-winning practitioners are here to help you and will only advise a procedure if you are comfortable with it and if it is safe to do so.  

We take pride in the care we provide for our patients, so, from the minute you book your consultation to long after your downtime, we will be there for you. If you have any questions or would like to enquire about our treatments, please don’t hesitate to contact our team, and we will go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable.