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Reality check: Doctors look at reality TV's portrayal of plastic surgery Turn on the television these days and on one channel you're likely to see someone getting liposuctioned, lifted, and tucked. Change the station, and you may watch someone else being trimmed or implanted. Personal improvement reality programs such as ABC's Extreme Makeover, FOX's The Swan, and cable shows such as Dr. 90210 and I Want a Famous Face have recently exploded in popularity. An essential element of these transformation tales is the willingness of ordinary Americans to undergo substantial cosmetic surgery.