Article May 31, 2004 Issue

A true-life makeover—the real kind

By Michael Taylor

Years ago , Groucho Marx reportedly quipped, "I wouldn't want to be a member of a club that would have me." That self-deprecating humor was funny. And today many comedians, such as Ray Romano and Conan O'Brien, use the same self-effacing shtick in their routines. And maybe that kind of humor is popular because, underneath the laughs, there's an element of truth—people relate to feeling kind of worthless.

Where does all this low self-esteem come from, even in people with every reason to feel great about themselves? A lot of people say that life has dealt them too many disappointments and failures, which makes it hard to handle pressure or to get anywhere in life. And this lethargy in the present causes anxiety and depression about the future. No wonder that for these people, living "happily ever after" exists only in fairy tales. In a culture that often equates happiness with money, fame, youth, beauty, and plain good luck, achieving happiness for so many people seems out of reach.

Given this scenario, it's no wonder that the "makeover" phenomenon has become epidemic. At first, a makeover might involve a new hairdo and updated clothing. Or dieting and a fitness program. But such incentives to improve oneself have increasingly given way to everything from hair and breast implants, restructuring dental work, liposuction, and extreme plastic surgery. All because people are trying to grab the brass ring that promises they will become a different (and therefore better) person. And that through these radical physical changes, life will become exciting and full of promise —providing a brand-new chance to start over.