Where's the Line?

On taste and ethics in plastic surgery

My last post explored the stigma of plastic surgery—of the facelift, in particular. Shortly after publishing it, I scrolled upon a series of reels from Jason Emer, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, showcasing a dramatic Brazilian butt lift (BBL)—which is another procedure that’s heavily stigmatized, especially when taken to extremes.

jasonemermd

A post shared by @jasonemermd

In Dr. Emer’s first post, he introduces us to his patient and tells us that she’s had multiple BBLs and that she generally loves the look of her body, but wants to “fine-tune” her shape to address asymmetries, cellulite, textural irregularities, an umbilical hernia, and unwanted abdominal fat. “We’re not reducing the buttocks,” he notes, “because that’s not what she wants.”

In his second post (shown above, with the patient on the table), he reiterates that “this is the look she wants” and insists that he’s supporting her right to have her desired aesthetic and to feel good about herself. In the comments, people question the patient’s mental health status and the doctor’s ethics, integrity, and credentials. One injector writes, “This is what gives providers in our industry a bad name.”