Surgery show to get UK makeover

Cynthia was one of the Extreme Makeover stars....

One of the most controversial shows on US TV is to be re-made for UK audiences, featuring people who undergo drastic plastic surgery.

The rights to a UK version of Extreme Makeovers were bought by Living TV.

Producers are now seeking people who want a complete change of face and body, from nose jobs to tummy tucks.

The British plastic surgery profession has already condemned programmes of its ilk for encouraging people to go under the knife for the wrong reasons.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has said these programmes give viewers an unrealistic impression that a complete overhaul is simple, and give an unrealistic expectations of results.

But the producers of the US version believes the show has a positive effect on viewers and those going under the knife.

Famous faces

...Undergoing thousands of dollars of surgery to get her new look

"In the other international territories where we have licensed the format, the show has made such a positive change to the participants' lives, providing some compulsive, feel-good television for viewers," said Tom Toumazis, senior vice president of Buena Vista International Television.

The trend for programmes about surgery has been steadily increasing, ranging from documentaries to glossy dramas such as Nip/Tuck.

MTV's I Want a Famous Face came in for particular criticism after those taking part were shown being transformed into their favourite celebrities, including Kate Winslet and Brad Pitt.

The original Extreme Makeover is now in its second series, pulling in 1.5 million viewers in the UK alone, a huge audience for a digital channel.

Living TV will produce 11 hour-long episodes of the UK version, with participants being transformed with the help of a team of surgeons, cosmetic dentists, stylists and personal trainers.