The boom in cosmetic procedures, from Botox to plastic surgery, is raising ethical questions that many experts say are not being adequately addressed. As treatments become more accessible and pervasive, particularly among younger demographics, theologians, philosophers and bioethicists are calling for wider conversations about the moral implications.
Natalie Carnes, a feminist theologian at Duke Divinity School, argues that the conversation should not place the burden solely on women while also respecting their moral agency. 'Beauty is something that’s good. And beauty is something that is good to pursue. Botox and Ozempic and face-lifts, they’re all ways of really narrowing the cultural ideals of beauty,' she said.
Major religions have offered little official guidance, but some have spoken out. In March, the Vatican released a document decrying the 'cult of the body,' warning that excessive modification turns the body into an object. Meanwhile, Dr. Jerry Chidester, a Latter-day Saint plastic surgeon in Salt Lake City, tells patients to make their own choices without worrying about others' opinions.
Demand for cosmetic surgery has increased across all ages and ethnicities, says Dr. C. Bob Basu, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 'Forty years ago, perhaps people would think, “Cosmetic surgery is for the superrich or the celebrity elite. It’s not for regular folk.” That’s not the case anymore.' He notes a rise in younger patients seeking preventive treatments like 'baby Botox.'
Despite the ubiquity of these procedures, bioethicists say plastic surgery is often overlooked in their training. Arthur Caplan of NYU Grossman School of Medicine explains that trainees typically focus on intensive care, palliative care, and transplants, leaving plastic surgeons to set their own ethical boundaries without specialised guidance.
