Beauty Junkies: In search of the thinnest thighs, perkiest breasts, smoothest faces, whitest teeth, and skinniest, most perfect toes in America

I read the paperback version of Alex Kuczynski's book, so I'll stick my review here. I don't understand why the publisher decided to muddle things up by re-launching the paperback as a new-ish piece of work with a brand new subtitle of "In Search of the Thinnest Thighs, Perkiest Breasts, Smoothest Faces, Whitest Teeth, and Skinniest, Most Perfect Toes in America." Not only is that a sales-flopping mouthful, it's also off-base. First, she hardly talks about toes. There's just a fleeting reference to them, no longer than a paragraph. Second, the book does a 360 degree look at the cosmetic surgery industry, not just the 'search' which sounds like it's purely a consumer-centric look. The subtitle of the hardcover was more spot-on: "Inside Our $15 Billion Obsession With Cosmetic Surgery." That's a better indication of what's inside.On page 215 of the paperback, the author notes that "(t)he multiple eyes on the cover of this book are mine..." Well, not on my paperback, with its lame 'Barbie doll pieces in a surgery pan' photo that probably got scooped off of iStockPhoto. That text should have got changed for the paperback version. Plus, the cover concept of the hardcover version - 16 marked-up instances of the author's very attractive eye - is brilliant: it completely captures the spirit of the book, in which not only does Ms. Kuczynski report on the cosmetic industry, she participates in it. In fact, as her reporting unfolds, so too does her immersion as a patient...or, at least, her level of revelations. We're told of her eyelid surgery, botox treatments, regular dermabrasion sessions, liposuction and Restylane lip injections. Some of these are successful (the eyelid surgery is cast that way), others have innocuous and humorous endings (she's satisfied with the liposuction until getting busted at the pool by an eight-year-old). But the Restylane treatment goes horribly wrong, and it's that event that brings with it talk of addiction and a reconsideration of the amount of risk she's taking on.Back to the paperback/hardcover thing: Even Amazon is confused here: none of the hardcover reviews make it here to the paperback (that alone should give any publisher pause); and Amazon's "Better Together" pairing agent gets fooled into recommending that I buy the hardcover together with the paperback.

I purchased this book when I was having a difficult time in regards to my body image. Prior to this book, I underwent cosmetic surgery on my breasts with implants. Since day one, I was unhappy - not with the results - but with myself and my choice. I did not feel like myself anymore. I was looking for a book in which I could relate to why this culture emphasizes body image so strongly. This book helped me see that many women and men go through the same things, some fall pray to surgery, while some cannot afford it, or choose not to. Alex Kuczynski has an empowered writing style. I read this book in all of three days and loved every page of it. It was hard to put down. She discovers her own decision to undergo plastic surgery and walks you through her journey. I found this book helpful for me and I have since decided to reverse my decision and get to a more comfortable place in my life by reducing my implants for now... then eventually removing them all together. To put yourself through something equivalent to chinese foot binding all for vanity is beyond my scope of happiness. Since my own surgery, I have decided what really is important in my life, and surgery did not make me happy.I found humor, strength, answer to my questions, and more important, guidance with this book. If you are thinking about surgery, read this book first. It may help you really think about your decision and offer you more insight before entering into a irreversvible journey of cosmetic surgery. Although implantable procedures are technically reversible, the damage done to your body, as well as the stretching of your skin, is not reversible. She discusses the realities of surgery, pains, mistakes, malpractice and quite literally, the poisons of surgery - mentally and physically. Don't be fooled, she is quite unbiased in this subject entirely because she herself has received more than one procedures herself.

This book has generated great buzz as written by a noted NY Times writer who becomes obsessed with plastic surgery at the age of 28 and have various procedures over the next ten years. It's an interesting story but it only occupies 15% of the book and is the closing.Prior to that the book is an exhaustive summary of the history of plastic surgery dating back to the 1800s and sorted by the various body types being transposed, i.e., face,[..] botox, etc. Therefore the book is written somewhat as a clinical history until she closes with her personal story which is quite interesting. She uses herself as the new American who obsesses with not growing old and builds a compelling case that Americans will use more and more plastic surgery as some South American countries are currently experiencing.Overall, a quality book on the subject. Personally, I preferred the recent "Confessions of a Park Avenue Plastic Surgeon" for a summary of the issue and more in depth personal stories from the perspective of doctor and patient.

I purchased this book after having botched plastic surgery on my body. It was interesting to see what motivates one to undertake such drastic measures. 20/20 hindsight, I never needed any of the procedures, but only when this happened, I understood that the issue lay within my own self.Be careful out there, even excellent surgeons with great expertise can get it wrong too.