Body Shopping, RTÉ's new documentary series about the extremes to which some people will go to for the perfect body and face, really got under the skin of Irish viewers on Thursday night.
The three-part series, hosted by Dr Ciara Kelly, explores the highs and lows of cosmetic surgery and delves into the reasons why people want to undergo such procedures.
On Thursday night's first episode we met a tearful Orla Flynn, who revealed why she thinks going under the knife for a nose job will change her life. The Co Offaly woman is preparing to travel overseas for a rhinoplasty, having already undergone another procedure.
"I'm 25 and I don't want to go anywhere or be in any photos, I should be out enjoying myself now, not hiding away. I don't do anything all week, I work and then I come home," she said.
"I'd be out every weekend, I'd just be doing more. I don't want to end up at 40, 50, 60 and still not be happy with myself. I want to get everything done and then start my life off from there. Start my family off and stuff like that, once I'm happy with myself, that's what matters."
Viewers took to Twitter in their droves to share their views about the show:
Really sad to see such a beautiful woman going through all this work for perceived perfection 😕#bodyshopping
— Emma Toner (@Middlin_Tweets) April 27, 2017
'Increased demand in surgery due to selfies' oh dear god @rte #bodyshopping #rte
— Rebecca Lee (@Rebeccaleemedia) April 27, 2017
Watching body shopping on @rte omg it's so scary #bodyshopping #rte
— Rebecca Lee (@Rebeccaleemedia) April 27, 2017
I have big nose, no boobs & think I'm feckin lovely! Is it all in the mind? Or does acceptance come with age? @ciarakellydoc #bodyshopping
— patrice harrington (@patriceharr) April 27, 2017
Also on Thursday's opening episode, Panoraia Papouli chose a popular new alternative to breast implants and Ger Newmane decided to get a hair transplant.
Better off spending hair transplant money on nice clothes #bodyshopping
— Some Dad (@_SomeDad) April 27, 2017
Dr Ciara Kelly, who is well known to viewers after appearing on Operation Transformation, previously warned of the dangers of so-called "body shopping".
If you shower daily, is it like watering a plant & does your hair grow back quicker as a result? #bodyshopping
— Daithi O'Laoghaire (@Cunionsandphey) April 27, 2017
"I believe people do think they can actually go body shopping, but you can't - this is surgery and things don't always go exactly to plan," she told the RTÉ Guide.
#bodyshopping that's amazing... Pricey but seriously skillful work! 15k sounds fair to have a team of 20people working on you #hrbr
— Spotted (@red_kicks) April 27, 2017
"Some people go off and get exactly what they want and it all works out fine, but if it doesn't go that way for everybody. It's something you need to think long and hard about because you really need to know how you might feel if it goes wrong."
Huge congrats @ciarakellydoc on #Bodyshopping but I hope you might follow up the series with a panel discussion on this issue #affectsmany
— Barbara Edwards (@barbaraedwards1) April 27, 2017
Body Shopping continues on RTÉ2 next Thursday at 9.30pm
