The cosmetic surgery industry is booming; the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) estimates that over 11 million surgical and over 13 million nonsurgical procedures were carried out in 2019. The way these procedures are marketed – a Kendall or Kylie Jenner package anyone? – has been contested and several countries have even proposed a ban on the advertising of cosmetic procedures.
In her new book Discourses of Perfection, Anne-Mette Hermans explores the societal context in which cosmetic procedures have flourished and focuses on how these procedures have been advertised since 2001 in the UK. Moreover, she draws parallels between the representation of cosmetic procedures and ‘other’ beauty products and services, which raises the question whether these beautification practices and products belong on a continuum.
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Interview EM: https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/