http://www.nationalpost.com/artslife/story.html?id={7C3E5A47-
1FD8-4436-BD69-E239C2F3A8D6} Dr Ivo Pitanguy, one of the world’s best plastic
surgeons, thinks plastic surgery is a democratic right:
“Plastic surgery can be important for self-esteem for anyone
and should be available. This is true democracy at work.”
I don’t think the state should pay, but I don’t see anything in principle wrong with (cosmetic) plastic surgery. There’s no substantive moral difference between changes brought about by plastic surgery and changes brought about by, say, waking at 5.00 each morning to go to the gym, eating well, or getting better clothes. Appearance matters, and plastic surgery is a not illegitimate way to effect change.
(Still need to account for: (a) the stigma associated with plastic surgery and (b) the usual failure to acknowledge that one has had plastic surgery—note toupee similar.) 15:47