The cosmetic gaze in reality television can be understood as the viewing of bodies as awaiting an improvement whether it be through body modification, weight loss, or some other phenomenon. Cosmetic surgery and the underlying beauty ideals behind it help to reproduce inequalities based on race, gender, and disability. The primary idea behind cosmetic surgery reality shows is that by fixing one part, the entire body self or body image will be fixed too (Wegenstein and Black 2011).
This cosmetic gaze can have negative implications for viewers, since exposure to cosmetic reality shows have been found to increase dissatisfaction with both body weight and appearance (Ashikali, Dittmar and Ayers 2016; Ashikali, Dittmar and Ayers 2017). Women who frequently watch cosmetic surgery programs tend to report higher internalization of the thin-ideal as well as lower self-esteem (Mazzeo et al. 2007). Viewers of these kinds of reality shows are more likely to want to alter their own appearances through cosmetic surgery and other means (Markey and Markey 2009). In relation, viewers tend to view the message of cosmetic surgery reality shows as positive and believe that women should be able to pursue their own beauty ideals through whatever means they wish to (Markey and Markey 2012). Cosmetic surgery reality shows also tend to market towards more middle-aged women since they are more prone to experiencing aging anxiety and may be more motivated to get cosmetic surgery done themselves if they see others’ experiences with it (Slevec and Tiggermann 2010).