Women's Health March 16, 2026 0 Comments

Pope Leo’s Shocking Take on Cosmetic Surgery Sparks Fierce Debate Among Top Plastic Surgeons—What You Need to Know!

So here’s a curveball for you: the Vatican just dropped a 5-minute read that’s got the whole world pausing before booking their next Botox appointment. Yep, Pope Leo XIV and the International Theological Commission have chimed in on plastic surgery, labeling it a “cult of the body” — a frenzy chasing some unrealistic, eternal fountain of youth ideal that’s kinda hard to escape these days. With over 1.6 million Americans opting for cosmetic procedures yearly — from face lifts making a comeback to Gen Z enthusiastically jumping on the Ozempic makeover trend — this isn’t just a niche debate anymore. But here’s the twist: I spoke with some top plastic surgeons, and their take? Well, it might surprise you. They’re not all condemning the scalpel; some actually see plastic surgery as a way to embrace, not erase, your natural self. So, is the “perfect body” a myth we’re chasing or a personal journey? Let’s unpack that. LEARN MORE

5 min read

Last week, the International Theological Commission released a document approved by Pope Leo XIV warning people against plastic surgery, calling it a ‘cult of the body.
Entitled ‘Thinking Through Christian Anthropology In The Face of Certain Scenarios For The Future of Humanity,’ the missive expressed concerns that cosmetic enhancements lead to unrealistic expectations for what the human body should look like.
We asked plastic surgeons to weigh in on the Pontiff’s views—and there were some surprising answers.

Nearly 1.6 million people in America have some kind of cosmetic surgery each year, making it a fairly common procedure. Especially nowadays: Face lifts are back, ‘Ozempic makeovers‘ are on the rise, and even Gen Z is all in on the trend. But a new wide-ranging document from the Vatican that was signed by Pope Leo speaks out against these enhancements, saying they “greatly change the relationship with one’s own body and therefore with reality and with others.”

The missive goes on to say, “The result is a widespread ‘cult of the body,’ which tends towards a frantic search for a perfect figure that is always fit, young, and beautiful. The real body is not truly loved, being a source of limitations, fatigue and aging. One desires a perfect body, while dreaming of escaping from one’s own concrete body and its limitations.”

And while the Catholic church has never prohibited cosmetic surgery among its followers and it still doesn’t, this message makes it clear that the Vatican isn’t eager for people to go under the knife.

Meet the experts: Anil Shah, MD, a Chicago and New York City-based facial plastic surgeon; Moustafa Mourad, MD, double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive head and neck surgeon; Anthony Brissett, MD, president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

We asked top plastic surgeons for their thoughts—and they may surprise you.

What do plastic surgeons think of this?

This is a consistent view from the Vatican, points out Anil Shah, MD, a Chicago and New York City-based facial plastic surgeon. But Shah says that many modern plastic surgeons encourage patients to embrace what they have and simply enhance it vs. trying to look like. a new person, he says. “The goal is to make yourself the best version of yourself, when possible,” Shah says.

Moustafa Mourad, MD, double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive head and neck surgeon, says he understands where the Vatican is coming from. “Overall, I agree with the broader concern the document raises,” he says. “It highlights something many physicians are seeing as well: A growing cultural focus on physical appearance, amplified by social media and the rapid expansion of aesthetic technologies.”

Mourad points out that there are many performance- and appearance-enhancing options for people right now. “While many of these have legitimate medical uses, they can also contribute to the idea that the body can be endlessly optimized or engineered,” he says. “That mindset can create unrealistic expectations about what medicine or surgery can actually achieve.”

Mourad stresses the importance of being “responsible” when it comes to cosmetic surgery. “The document raises a valuable reminder that the body should not be treated as something that can simply be redesigned without limits,” he says. “Responsible plastic surgery should respect the biology and structure of the human body rather than trying to override it.”

Why do many patients seek out plastic surgery?

Everyone’s motivation for plastic surgery is different, and it can also vary between procedures. These were the most common cosmetic surgery procedures performed in 2024 (the most recent year data is available), according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons:

Liposuction
Breast augmentation
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
Breast lift
Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)

“One of the most notable trends we’re seeing is that patients are approaching plastic surgery with much more intention,” says Anthony Brissett, MD, president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “Most patients are not seeking dramatic transformations. Instead, they want natural-looking results that help them look like themselves, just more refreshed and more confident.”

A large portion of people seeking cosmetic surgery are looking for reconstructive work, Mourad says. “Patients who have experienced trauma, cancer, congenital differences, or other medical conditions often need surgery to restore both function and appearance,” he says. “In those cases, plastic surgery can be truly life-changing.”

But he says there are still plenty of people who have plastic surgery for aesthetic reasons. “Most patients are not trying to become someone else or achieve an unrealistic standard of perfection,” Mourad says. “More often, they’re looking to address specific concerns, changes from aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or features that have bothered them for years.”

Shah stresses that plastic surgery isn’t for everyone. “But for those patients who want to improve themselves, it’s a nice option,” he says.

Doctors have some advice if you’re considering cosmetic surgery.

Again, not everyone needs or wants cosmetic surgery—or can afford it. While every procedure is different, cosmetic surgery isn’t cheap and tends to require some recovery time, making it out of reach for some. But if you’re considering cosmetic surgery, doctors say there are a few things to keep in mind. The first being: “Don’t try to change who you are. Try to enhance who you are,” Shah says.

While you can get cosmetic surgery purely to enhance your looks, Shah also recommends thinking about the function of a cosmetic surgery you’re considering. “Straightening a nose can help you function better…it can provide sleep better and the ability to give back more to those around,” he says. “Fixing someone’s eyelids literally helps their peripheral vision.”

It’s important to understand the limits of plastic surgery, too, Mourad says. “It cannot stop the aging process or resolve deeper emotional struggles or personal dissatisfaction,” he says. “Confidence and well-being ultimately come from a combination of internal and external factors.”

The best outcomes happen when patients have a healthy relationship between how they see themselves inside and outside, Mourad says. “When someone understands what surgery can and cannot accomplish, they tend to be very satisfied with the results,” he says.

Ultimately, Shah stresses the importance of carefully weighing whether this is right for you. “Plastic surgery is a personal decision and not one to be taken lightly,” he says. “If you can enhance the quality of someone’s life on multiple levels, and they are a good candidate, and it’s coming from within, I think it’s still in the spirit of this pope—and previous pope’s—statements.”

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.

Brian Underwood is beauty director at Women’s Health, where he oversees content strategy for the brand across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. During his tenure leading beauty content for the Oprah brand at Hearst, stories Underwood commissioned were awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Award for Editorial Excellence (his second). He was the launch Beauty Director of Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, and has held additional editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Underwood previously served on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and as partnerships director of the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York-based charitable organization that provided beauty services and workshops to the city’s trans community.