Transsexuals, Extreme Plastic Surgery, and What We Can Learn from Both

by Jennifer Fulwiler Wednesday, June 13, 2012 4:41 AM

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jennifer-fulwiler/transsexuals-extreme-plastic-surgery-and-what-we-can-learn-from-both

Over the past couple of years I've been watching two related themes play out in popular culture: The increasing acceptance of gender-reassignment surgery, and the increasing rejection of extreme cosmetic plastic surgery.

A father who lives as a woman after having his male organs removed through surgery is highlighted as having done something necessary and even admirable; but a woman who undergoes extensive surgery because she believes that she was meant to look like a "Human Barbie" is scorned, and even kicked off of a popular television show while being called "dreadful" by the host.

[...]

I think we should also consider our unease with non-gential extreme plastic surgery, and ask ourselves if the same principles perhaps apply to gender-reassignment surgery. It is now taken for granted, at least by popular media, that it is possible to change your gender through surgery. I worry that this misconception is as dangerous as if it were to be accepted as true that it is possible to change your ethnicity through surgery: More people might be tempted to make irreversible changes that wouldn't accomplish their goal, and that they may one day regret. A post-op transsexual who was born male wrote in a forum for those wish they had not had sex-change operations:

This person really is being much too simplistic.

Omg for realz. For one, if a transsexual has any of the plastic surgery that was touched upon in the article then they are not looked at any better, they're probably open to more judgement. Second, she obviously thinks having SRS done is comparable to a woman getting breast implants. And thirdly, she appears to be making SRS sound like it's easy to get.

The author of this blog includes links to a sex change regret website, among others. 

Z

The blogger writes:

It is now taken for granted, at least by popular media, that it is possible to change your gender through surgery.

I didn't realize medical science has achieved the brain transplant.  My gender has nothing to do with my genitals.