Instant Plastic Surgery: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

In the real world, plastic surgery is a long and painful process, with clearly-defined limits on what can be accomplished. Thankfully, in a magical, or sufficiently futuristic setting, things are a lot more simplified; all you need is the right spell, artefact, or professional, and minutes later you can be taller, prettier, or a fully-fledged member of the opposite sex. Heck, why not all three?

A popular trope in video-games and high fantasy, where often the only limit to these fantastical transformations is the inability to swap [[Five Races|races]], and sometimes not even then.

 

 

{{examples}}

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== [[Advertising]] ==

 

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* ''[[Pet Shop of Horrors]]'' has a horrifying example of this played in the "Diet" chapter. A model comes to Count D, having heard that he has weight loss pills. He gives them to her, rather than assign her a personal trainer as he did for the teenager that was stress-eating and venting to him. At first the model is fine, and shares the pills with another model. Then they both start transforming into creepy buglike creatures.

** Subverted, however, with the girl in question. The personal trainer puts her through the wringer while helping her work out and watch her weight, while also telling her to stand up and speak for herself rather than let others define who she is. She uses a beautiful prom dress as an incentive. Even though the girl loses the weight and gains self-confidence, complete with her smacking a guy at prom who is a douche to her and her friends, while still stress-eating on the side at times, D thought that she didn't deserve to pay any price for such magic and made her put in the real work. The girl also sincerely wants to find the trainer to thank her. D says the trainer had to move, but would be very happy if the girl adopted a sweet kitten. The girl adopts the kitten, while noting she seems very familiar...

* In ''[[Ultra Maniac]]'', Nina reveals that different spells can achieve this goal. She can change herself or anyone else of the opposite gender, make them taller and prettier, and so forth. The hitch is you need the counterspell to reverse the effects. If you don't have it ready? Nina has to spend hours finding it on her computer.

 

== [[Comic Books]] ==

== [[Live-Action TV]] ==

* ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' episode "Number 12 Looks Just Like You" explains there is a process called The Transformation. It will make anyone beautiful from a limited set of body types and looks, and extend their lifespan. Marilyn, the protagonist who is "pretty" but not beautiful, shocks her family and the doctor wanting to operate her by saying that she doesn't want to look beautiful. She says that she wants to stay as herself, in mind and body. {{spoiler|Sadly, the doctor and nurses take the choice away from her, turning her into a vapid Barbie.}}

 

== [[Oral Tradition]], [[Folklore]], Myths and Legends ==

* Subverted in the tale of ''[[The Story of Tấm and Cám]]'', which some Western readers may refer to as the Vietnamese Cinderella. It follows the Cinderella tale, up to the part where Tấm returns home to pay respects to her dead father. As she undergoes preparations, her stepfamily murders her. After a series of Tấm's reincarnations, including when she becomes a bird, peach trees, and a golden apple tree, she comes back to life, still beautiful as before. Tấm reunites with her husband, as her stepsister Cám asks how the former retains her youth and beauty. Tấm reveals that she boils herself in boiling water or sesame oil every night to peel off her skin. Either she "helps" Cam with this step, using her royal authority to get this revenge, or Cám is stupid enough to step into a boiling pot. [[Reality Ensues| The boiling water or oil kills Cám instantly]].

* In "Strong Wind," a Native American version of Cinderella, it plays out a little differently. The Cinderella figure, the youngest of her chief father's daughters, is scarred by her sisters, ''not'' her stepsisters, out of pure spite and cruelty. They cut her hair into jagged streaks and press red-hot coals to her face. She goes to see Strong Wind, a magical warrior seeking an honest woman for a bride because he believes someone who would lie to be with a prospect is not worthy. Because she is the only one who answers honestly that she cannot see him, Strong Wind reveals himself to her and says that she passed the test. He then heals her scars and grows her hair back. As punishment to her sisters for being bullies, however, he turns them into trees.

 

== [[Puppet Shows]] ==

* The sadly banned episode of ''[[Sesame Street]]'' with Margaret Hamilton played the Wicked Witch of the West has this. When David finds the broom -- rather, it lands in his hands-- he refuses to give it to Witchy on the grounds that she was very rude to him. She transforms herself into a "sweet old lady," that is Margaret Hamilton without her makeup, in the blink of an eye, to con him into giving it back to her. Even so, everyone recognizes her; David pretends not to and says he would return the broom, if she asked politely. Witchy finally does, and David returns it while wishing her a safe trip back to Oz.

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

** There are some things that even Vicissitude can't do—trying to change [[Red Right Hand|a Nosferatu's]] appearance is impossible.

*** Changes that make them prettier, anyway. Changes that make them uglier, or cosmetically status quo (don't move their appearance trait at all) stick, while improvements 'heal' painfully in minutes. Makes sense considering Clan weaknesses are a malevolent curse rather than a genetic quirk to be fixed.

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* ''[[City of Heroes]]'': Thanks to the good people at Icon (or the somewhat less morally inclined folk employed by the Facemaker), heroes and villains can easily change the size and shape of their bodies, even switch genders. Of course, in a world where there is a black market for magical artifacts and [[Alternate Universe Reed Richards Is Awesome|super science is used daily]], this is pretty well [[Justified]]. During the game's original run this was only available to those players who had purchased the Super Science Super Booster, but with the game's resurrection in 2019 has become available to all.

* This is the in-universe excuse for Shepard's appearance if you change it between ''[[Mass Effect 1]]'' and ''[[Mass Effect 2]]''; s/he ''died'' in the interim and had to be completely rebuilt.

* ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' barbers can change your gender, hair, facial features, and skin colour.

* Galathil from ''[[Skyrim]]'' offers this service for an affordable price down in The Ragged Flagon.

* In the world of ''[[Elden Ring]]'', one need only approach the Clouded Mirror Stand to change your age, gender, or any other cosmetic features of your character.

* You can build a "Dressing Table" (which is a mirror attached to a small storage desk) after the first chunk of ''[[Dragon Quest Builders]] 2''. It actually gives significantly more options than initial character customization offered, and allows setting any armor or weapon you've obtained as your appearance instead what you actually have equipped. {{spoiler|You can also find one just after the tutorial in the Isle of Awakening before leaving for Furrowfield and play with it almost immediately. Also an [[Easter Egg]] lets you [[Ascended Glitch|duplicate the effects of]] the Sword of Ruin glitch from ''[[Dragon Quest II]]'' by equipping the cursed sword and changing its appearance to the Falcon Blade to once again get the best of both weapons.}}.

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* In ''[[The Owl House]]'', one can use illusion bracelets to obtain this effect. Remove the bracelet and the illusion vanishes. It's revealed that the Blight parents make Edric and Emira wear them, and {{spoiler|Darius designs a potion for Eda to disguise herself as Raine for his plan to stop the Day of Unity}}.

* One gag in ''[[What's New, Scooby-Doo?]]'' showed the gang visiting an amusement park of innovations. Daphne jokingly pushes Velma into a high-tech makeover machine. Velma steps out in five seconds with makeup, her turtleneck turned into a tank, and stylish platforms. The machine does nothing to Daphne, who says there's no improving on perfection.

 

== [[Real Life]] ==

 

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