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References

Cacciatore, B. (2020, Juuly 15). Netflix’s ‘Skin Decision: Before and After’ review: For a show about plastic surgery, this is surprisingly real. Glamour. https://www.glamour.com/story/netflix-skin-decision-before-and-after-review

Goto, S., Sakamoto, T., Ganeko, R., Hida, K., Furukawa, T.A., & Sakai, Y. (2020). Subcuticular sutures for skin closure in non-obstetric surgery. The Cochraane Library, 2020(4). https://www.cochrane.org/CD012124/WOUNDS_stitches-go-under-skin-closing-wounds-after surgery#:~:text=Stitches%20that%20go%20under%20the%20skin%20probably%20reduce%20wound%20complications,may%20be%20quicker%20for%20surgeons

Jackson, D. (2020, August 26). Who’s the Cast on Netflix’s Skin Decision? | POPSUGAR Beauty. https://www.popsugar.com/beauty/skin-decision-cast-netflix-47725279

Peck, M. (2020, July 26).  Skin decision: Katrina survived attack by Ex- Husband Carlton Goodwin. ScreenRant. https://screenrant.com/skin-decision-katrina-attack-ex-husband-carlton-goodwin/

Police: Waldorf Father killed daughters, shot wife before turning gun on himself. (2017, March 25). CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/police-waldorf-father-killed-daughters-shot-wife-before-turning-gun-on-himself/

Sansome, J. (2020, July 18).  Shocking story behind contestant on Netflix’s Skin Decision: Before and After. Manchester Evening News. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/shocking-story-behind-contestant-netflixs-18603897

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Final draft of my review on the TV Show, Skin Decision

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1) How does this show create a different persona for people who get plastic surgery or any kind of cosmetic procedure?

2) How authenticity and reality is presented in the series.

3) How well the show keep the viewers interest and evoke emotions.

4) Is there anything that viewers can relate to or draw connections to?

5) Is there anything that can be learned from watching Skin Decision?

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Medical Reality TV

Makeover Reality

Science

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Skin Decision showcases a different side of medical reality tv and cosmetic procedures, by striving to achieve natural beauty and increased self confidence in the patients, who all have a story behind their lack of self confidence. The purpose is to show that, even though someone is getting cosmetic work done, its not only about their appearance and changing themselves, but their inner self and even a part of a healing process for some, to become better versions of themselves. There is also a purpose to show that cosmetic surgery doesn't have to have be dramatic and unrealistic.

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people looking to get cosmetic work done

people who have a lack of open-mindedness towards people who have these types of procedures. In other words, people who think that people that have cosmetic work are trying to fit in with the beauty standards.

Makeover reality TV watchers

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Skin Decision is a Netflix series about people getting cosmetic procedures done to fix their physical imperfections that make them self-conscious.

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SKIN DECISION: BEFORE AND AFTER Trailer (2020) Netflix

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Before the makeover, DeLisa Stiles--a therapist and captain in the Army Reserves--complained of looking too masculine. But on Fox's reality TV makeover show, "The Swan 2," she morphed into a beauty queen after a slew of plastic surgery procedures--a brow lift, lower eye lift, mid-face lift, fat transfer to her lips and cheek folds, laser treatments for aging skin, tummy tuck, breast lift, liposuction of her inner thighs and dental procedures. The Fox show gives contestants plastic surgery and then has them compete in a beauty pageant, which last year Stiles won.

"The Swan" and other such plastic-surgery shows, including ABC's "Extreme Makeover" and MTV's "I Want a Famous Face," are gaining steam, but some psychologists are concerned about the psychological impact on those who undergo such drastic cosmetic surgery--and also on those who don't and may feel inadequate as a result. While such radical transformations are rare, some psychologists plan to investigate the surge in cosmetic procedures and whether these surgeries have any lasting psychological consequences.

The number of cosmetic procedures increased by 44 percent from 2003 to 2004, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Plastic surgeons conducted a record 11.9 million procedures last year, including nonsurgical procedures like Botox and surgical procedures like breast augmentation or liposuction (see chart).

How do such procedures affect patients psychologically? A recent analysis of 37 studies on patients' psychological and psychosocial functioning before and after cosmetic surgery by social worker Roberta Honigman and psychiatrists Katharine Phillips, MD, and David Castle, MD, suggests positive outcomes in patients, including improvements in body image and possibly a quality-of-life boost too. But the same research--published in the April 2004 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Vol. 113, No. 4, pages 1,229-1,237)--also found several predictors of poor outcomes, especially for those who hold unrealistic expectations or have a history of depression and anxiety. The researchers found that patients who are dissatisfied with surgery may request repeat procedures or experience depression and adjustment problems, social isolation, family problems, self-destructive behaviors and anger toward the surgeon and his or her staff.

Overall, there are more questions than answers regarding psychological effects of cosmetic surgery: There are few longitudinal studies and many contradictory findings, researchers note. Many studies also contain small sample sizes and short follow-ups with patients, says Castle, a professor and researcher at the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria in Victoria, Australia.

"We really need good, large prospective studies of representative samples of patients, using well-established research instruments," Castle says. "While most people do well in terms of psychosocial adjustment after such procedures, some do not, and the field needs to be aware of this and to arrange screening for such individuals."

In particular, the extent to which cosmetic surgery affects patients' relationships, self-esteem and quality of life in the long-term offers many research opportunities for psychologists, says psychologist Diana Zuckerman, PhD, president of the National Research Center for Women and Families, a think tank that focuses on health and safety issues for women, children and families.

"These are fascinating issues for psychologists to look at--from the cultural phenomena to the interpersonal phenomena to the mental health and self-esteem issues," Zuckerman says.

In addition, plastic-surgery issues will increasingly affect clinician psychologists, and the area will offer new roles for them--such as conducting pre- and post-surgical patient assessments, says psychologist David Sarwer, PhD, director of the Education, Weight and Eating Disorders Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He has studied appearance-related psychological issues, including cosmetic surgery, for the last 10 years.

"As the popularity of plastic surgery continues to grow, many psychologists likely already have--or will encounter--a patient that has thought about or undergone a cosmetic procedure," he says. Therefore it will be increasingly important for psychologists to be able to talk with patients about their appearance concerns and what may make some one a good or bad candidate for cosmetic surgery, he says.
Research directions
Equally pressing, however, is the need for research that sheds light on plastic surgery's psychosocial effects, many psychologists agree. To help fill in the gaps, researchers suggest further studies on the following questions:

Does plastic surgery make patients feel better? Studies have shown that people report increased satisfaction with the body part they had surgery on, but results are mixed on whether plastic surgery boosts their self-esteem, quality of life, self-confidence and interpersonal relationships in the long term.

In a recent study, Sarwer--also an associate professor of psychology at the Center for Human Appearance at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine--found that a year after receiving cosmetic surgery, 87 percent of patients reported satisfaction following their surgery, including improvements in their overall body image and the body feature altered. They also experienced less negative body image emotions in social situations. The study, which was supported by a grant from the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, appeared in the May/June issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (Vol. 25, No. 3, pages 263-269). Sarwer and his colleagues plan to follow up with the patients next year.

However, Castle's team found in their literature review--besides some positive outcomes--a link between plastic surgery and poor post-surgical outcomes for some patients, particularly for those with a personality disorder, those who thought the surgery would save a relationship and those who held unrealistic expectations about the procedure.

Some studies have even gone as far as linking dissatisfaction with cosmetic surgery procedures to suicide. For example, in one study, the National Cancer Institute found in 2001 that women with breast implants were four times more likely to commit suicide than other plastic surgery patients of the same age as the women who underwent breast implants, says Zuckerman, who in April testimony to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged the FDA to deny approval of silicone gel breast implants because of a lack of longitudinal research ensuring their safety.

The other three studies on the topic found the suicide rate to be two to three times greater. Neither of the studies, however, identified a causal relationship between breast implants and suicide. Some researchers speculate that some of the surgery recipients may hold unrealistic expectations of it or have certain personality characteristics that predispose them to suicide.

How does cosmetic surgery affect those around the recipients? Physically attractive people often receive preferential treatment and are perceived by others as more sociable, dominant, mentally healthy and intelligent than less attractive people, according to research by psychologist Alan Feingold, PhD, in the March 1992 issue of APA's Psychological Bulletin (Vol. 111, No. 2, pages 304-341).

"It's not like looking good doesn't have real advantages--it does," Zuckerman says. "If some people get plastic surgery and other people don't, is that going to put the people who don't at all kinds of disadvantages, such as in finding a job or spouse?"

Nearly 30 years ago, many mental health professionals viewed patients who sought cosmetic surgery as having psychiatric issues, but many studies since then suggest that those who seek cosmetic surgery have few differences pathologically with those who don't have surgery, Sarwer says.

Most people are motivated to undergo cosmetic surgery because of body-image dissatisfaction, says Susan Thorpe, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Surrey in Guildford, Surrey, who conducts cosmetic surgery research.

"They want to look normal--that is, they don't want to stand out in an obvious way or to have features which cause comment or make them feel self-conscious," Thorpe says. "They also want their physical appearance to be more in line with their personalities and feel that they want all the bits of their bodies to match."

What effect does plastic surgery have on children and teenagers? In 2004, about 240,682 cosmetic procedures were performed on patients 18 years old or younger, and the top surgical procedures were nose reshaping, breast lifts, breast augmentation, liposuction and tummy tucks. However, very few studies have been conducted to examine the safety and long-term risks of these procedures on adolescents--an age in which teenagers are still developing mentally and physically, Zuckerman says.

When does changing your appearance qualify as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)? BDD, first introduced in the revised third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1987, is characterized by a preoccupation with an aspect of one's appearance. People with BDD repeatedly change or examine the offending body part to the point that the obsession interferes with other aspects of their life. Several studies show that 7 to 12 percent of plastic surgery patients have some form of BDD. Plus, the majority of BDD patients who have cosmetic surgery do not experience improvement in their BDD symptoms, often asking for multiple procedures on the same or other body features.

Sarwer often works with plastic surgeons to help them identify such psychological issues as BDD, so surgeons then can refer patients to mental health professionals. He encourages them to look for the nature of the person's appearance concern, such as whether a patient has an excessive concern with a body feature that appears normal to nearly anyone else. Part of that also includes accounting for patients' internal motivations for surgery--are they doing it for themselves or out of pressure from a romantic partner or friend? And, he encourages surgeons to ensure patients hold realistic expectations about the procedures, rather than expecting the surgery to end long-standing personal issues.
Psychology's role
Apart from research, psychologists can find clinical roles in aiding cosmetic surgery patients too, such as helping plastic surgeons conduct such assessments. For example, they can help plastic surgeons identify patients who may not adjust well psychologically or psychosocially after surgery, researchers say.

Castle says that empirically based screening questionnaires will help plastic surgeons select cosmetic surgery patients likely to experience positive psychosocial outcomes.

Sarwer has teamed with other psychologists and plastic surgeons to develop such screening questionnaires, which are included in the book "Psychological Aspects of Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery: Clinical, Empirical and Ethical Perspectives" (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2005). The book, to be published this month, features a chapter on how to help both surgeons and mental health professionals screen for BDD, as well as explore the relationships among physical appearance, body image and psychosocial functioning.

Sarwer believes more psychologists will begin to examine issues related to cosmetic surgery because of its increasing popularity and the link between appearance, body image and many psychiatric disorders, such as eating disorders, social phobia and sexual functioning. "Scientifically, we're just starting to catch up to the popularity of [cosmetic surgery] in the population," Sarwer says.

And, as more studies commence, Castle says they need to characterize the population being studied, clearly identify outcome variables and use standardized and state-of-the-art measures.

"There may be strong cultural pressures that are so unrealistic in terms of how we're supposed to look," Zuckerman adds. "Psychologists should...figure out why this is happening and what we need to know to make sure that people aren't going to be harmed by this."

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Cosmetic surgery is booming, but what's the mental cost of changing your appearance? Psychologists look to fill in the research gaps.

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In today's society, there is an increase of people getting body augmentation work done to achieve the dream body that aligns with the beauty standards of majority of society. However there are people ho are against getting these procedures done and have a close mind to the consideration that some of these operations can affect someone emotionally and mentally, as it also affect someone physically. One of the biggest things that play a role into the beauty standards in today's society, is social media. Many influential people that we as a society look up to, have body augmentations, especially women. Not only do they get body augmentation procedures, but their results aren't made to look natural. Therefore, this creates a bad stigma for people who get body enhancement work done. This also creates a stigma that natural isn't as beautiful and you have to alter your body to fit in and be accepted. Nevertheless, there are certain ways to get procedures done that still look natural. All in all, anyone and everyone is entitle to do what they want with their body, as long as it makes them feel like a better form of them self.

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Filmed at a medical practice office in California. The setting really adds to the feel of reality.

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In all episodes, there is a common theme between all patients, which is that they all struggle with their self confidence due to some physical imperfection. In addition, all patients had a emotional story for coming to get their procedure done.

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Body augmentation is a rising trend that has its good and bad. As someone who is aspiring to become a plastic surgeon, shows, movies, and books about cosmetic procedures really pique my interest. Therefore, I have a very strong connection with the film. Not only do I love the topic of cosmetic surgeries, but I also love reality TV shows, and Skin Decision just combines both genres that I love.

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My name is Latonya Palmer and I am a high school junior, taking English 1302.

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Each episode starts off fairly similar, introducing the patient and then meeting Nurse Jamie and Dr. Nazarian. Then there is segment for the patient to tell their stories and give the viewers insight. The stories do tend to get emotional, so beware. After the story segment, the patient and doctors go through a consultation to see what work needs to be and what would best suit the patient. Patients then come in for their procedure, which is filmed as well, so it does get graphic (beware of the nudity). There is then a follow up and we will see the real transformation of the patient.

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There are different sound effects in different parts of the show, to enhance the type of conversation that is occurring. Sound effect really impacted the way the stories of the patients were told. While the patients were telling their story, there was a sad background music playing, which can enhance the emotions that viewers feel.

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Skin Decision is a great film, especially because of the fact that it presents real life people who struggle with their self-confidence, there are also medical information presented throughout the show that viewers can use in their personal life, and real time proof of the transformations were shown. However, the main selling point is that there is a lot of transparency and honesty seen in this show, which is hard to find in today's time.

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Finding the primary media source that I wanted to review

Brainstorming my ideas

Finding different main points to discuss

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Finalizing what points to focus on

Not overwriting and oversharing

Not being bias

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Compare the film to different medical reality shows that I've watched.

Narrow down my focuses to around 3 main topics.

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Check for grammar and punctuation

Made sure that I was following the guidelines

Made sure that my review was properly formatted

Made sure that I used sources to support my claims and main topics.

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The reason that someone seeks plastic surgery is personal, complex, and emotional, and this show treats it as such. In each episode, skin and beauty expert Jamie Sherrill (known as Nurse Jamie) and plastic surgeon Sheila Nazarian, MD, see two patients with stories that have led them to seek plastic surgery. One was a domestic abuse and gunshot survivor who wanted to forget the past. Another struggled after having quadruplets and wanted to take back her body. One hoped to complete their transition to finally feel more like themselves. After hearing each patient's story, they are provided with a unique procedure plan that's either performed by Nurse Jamie, through the use of fillers and lasers, or Dr. Nazarian, for surgery.

Throughout the show, both Dr. Nazarian and Nurse Jamie touch on both inner and outer beauty - making the transformations about more than just physical looks, but also the quality of life. Episode two introduces us to Nicholas, an entrepreneur who was involved in a near-fatal car crash that left him with facial scarring that affects how both he and others view him. Through various cosmetic treatments with Nurse Jamie, those scars are lightened, which turns out to be a transformative experience for Nicholas on a much deeper level. After his big reveal, he said, "I thought that getting the scars removed from my face, it would allow people to be open to see who I am . . . Now, I realize it's not about that. It's just about how I feel about myself, me living in my truth, bringing out my light."

"Skin Decision doesn't use words like "perfect" to describe plastic surgery outcomes. This is refreshing in a world where we're constantly being deceived by things like photo editing, retouching, and filters."

I also appreciate that Skin Decision doesn't use words like "perfect" to describe plastic surgery outcomes. Nurse Jamie and Dr. Nazarian carefully manage the expectations of each patient and provide them with realistic, obtainable goals. This is refreshing in a world where we're constantly being deceived by things like photo editing, retouching, and filters. The series kicks off with Sanaz, a young woman with a very relatable story about battling with acne that has left her with self-confidence damaging acne scarring. As she talks about her skin-care journey thus far, you can feel her pain and desperation to feel beautiful in her skin. But before even divulging her treatment plan, Dr. Nazarian has the tough but necessary conversation with Sanaz about the ultimate end-goal and says, "I just wanted to be honest with you, we can get you better. It's never going to be perfect. And we need to hear from you, is that enough? Are you going to be happy?"

Inspiring, emotional, and life-changing transformations aside, I can't not touch on how inspiring it is to see a female plastic surgeon on a big-time streaming platform. In an industry that is largely dominated by male doctors, despite a majority of the patients being women ( 92 percent as of 2018, to be exact), Dr. Nazarian's presence is energizing and I can only hope to see more of it - in real life and on TV.

While cosmetic treatments and plastic surgery are and always will be a personal choice that only the individuals can make, it's nice to see a TV show break down the stereotypical storyline we've seen time and again - and make people feel more empowered in the process.

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Netflix's Skin Decision Is a Modern "Makeover" Show About More Than Plastic Surgery

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Skin Decision on Netflix is about more than just plastic surgery and physical beauty. It's a show about self-acceptance and life-changing treatments.

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One Of The Many, Most Heart Wrenching Stories 

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One Of The Many, Most Heart Wrenching Stories 

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Katrina was a patient who appeared on the first episode of "Skin Decision." She struggles with her self confidence after she was shot multiple times and wanted to fix her physical imperfections, not only for her appearance and self confidence, but also for her healing journey after such a traumatic experience.

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US-based Katrina was shot nine times by ex-husband before he took his own life

She appears in the first episode of Netflix's Skin Decision: Before And After

The new eight-part makeover series launched on the site on Wednesday

A woman who was shot nine times by her ex-husband before he killed their two children and turned the gun on himself in a shocking murder-suicide had her scars removed in an emotional new Netflix makeover show.

Katrina, from the US, explained how she was shot in her head, arms, legs and torso by her ex-husband in the attack in her home, leaving her with scars covering her body. She awoke in hospital to discover that he had murdered their two children while she lay on the floor, before taking his own life in front of her.

Appearing on the first episode of Netflix's Skin Decision: Before And After, which launched on Wednesday, Katrina asked for help lessening the appearance of her scars and wanted a tattoo of her husband's name removed. She said she did not want the physical reminder of the horror she had endured.

Following corrective surgery, including a tummy tuck and laser resurfacing to remove layers of skin, Katrina revealed she feels 'fixed' and is now actively trying to get pregnant with a new long-term partner.

Twitter users were left in tears after watching the new eight-part series and took to their social media accounts to praise Katrina for her 'inspiring' courage.

Speaking on the show, Katrina revealed: 'On March 23rd, 2017, I was shot nine times. I was shot in my face, I was shot on every limb of my body, except for my right leg.'

Recalling the traumatic ordeal, she said: 'I came home from work just as I normally do, and my ex-husband had a gun in his hand.

'I heard a bang. And my husband walked upstairs and continued to shoot [at me]. He noticed me crawling toward the door and took his own life in front of me.'

Katrina later woke up in hospital and discovered that her former husband had also killed their two children.

'My tragedy was the lowest point of my life. It changed my life in many ways,' she explained. 'I'm remember waking up in hospital.

'I found out that when my ex-husband stopped shooting me, he took the lives of our children. I didn't find out my children were dead until four or five days after I woke up. I had to plan my children's funeral from a hospital bed.'

The grieving mother added: 'When I look at these scars, that's what I think of. I think of lies, betrayal, and hurt. Every day is a reminder of my children that aren't alive anymore.'

Revealing that she no longer wants to have to tell her story after people notice her gun-shot markings, Katrina explained to the show's cosmetic experts, plastic surgeon Dr Sheila Nazarian and beauty expert Nurse Jamie, that she wanted her scars removed.

Renowned skincare expert Jamie used micro-needling (which is the insertion of very fine short needles into the skin for the purposes of rejuvenation) and laser resurfacing to help heal Katrina.

Meanwhile, Dr Nazarian removed 2.2 pounds of skin from Katrina's stomach with a Fleur-De-Lis tummy tuck, which uses two incisions to provide horizontal and vertical skin tightening.

The tattoo of her husband's name is also lazered off - leaving Katrina feeling 'human' once again.

'I don't see [my ex-husband] anymore,' Katrina said at the transformation reveal. 'I see me, I smile at me.

'I felt deformed before my surgery and now I feel human. I've been covering myself for so long and I don't have to anymore.'

She then joked: 'I feel like I'm about to tell y'all the weather. It's smoking hot in here. I can tell y'all that'

Katrina's journey left Twitter users in tears, with one person writing: 'The first 10 minutes of Skin Decision on Netflix has me balling... no one should have to go through that... NO ONE!'

Another added: 'Katrina on Netflix 's Skin Decision. So happy she was given something she felt she needed to heal. Her story left me speechless.

A third said: 'My plastic surgeon has a new show on Netflix now (Skin Decision), I've been watching for like 10 minutes and I'm already crying.'

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Woman shot NINE times has her scars removed on new Netflix show

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In the first episode of Netflix's Skin Decision: Before And After, which launched on Wednesday, Katrina, from the US, asks for help with her appearance following her traumatic ordeal.

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My essay was informative, and had many high points. I will revise my essay by keeping the flow of my essay, but edit to be in correct APA format. To grab the attention of readers, I will also create an intriguing title.