A Face Heidi's Mother Could Love

Even kids young enough to be my grandchildren think The Hills is uncool. Never in my wildest dreams did I plan to write about this show, but I saw a scene Monday night that was so poignant, so moving, that I consider this episode brilliant--most likely on accident.

Everyone has seen pictures of Heide Montag since her 10 elective surgeries. Can you imagine how her mother would react to these drastic changes?

The new season begins while Heidi recovers from her surgeries. Although, these procedures were elective, Heidi is in extreme pain while she adjusts to her new self. She makes a trip to Colorado to visit her family. Heidi's mother cries at the sight of Heidi; she yearns for the face of Heidi that she loved and adored. She is dumbfounded that Heidi would risk her life to change something that was perfect in the first place. The surgeon has robbed Heidi's mother; you can see the pain in her eyes and hear the sadness in her voice.

Why would someone go to such extremes? This is the question that viewers of The Hills and readers of the gossip rags want to know. Heidi's mother and sister were once in awe of Heidi's self-confidence. What happened to Heidi? She says that she has felt pressure to be beautiful, living in Los Angeles. According to her mother, moving back to Colorado would be a more feasible option but this kind of talk hurts Heidi. What's the point?

Dining together at a restaurant, the family struggles to understand Heidi and the extreme changes to her appearance. Apparently, the side effects from the various surgeries made Heidi very sick. Her jaw and face hurt; she cannot chew her meat. When Holly's mother suggests putting Heidi's dinner into a blender, the pain in Heidi's eyes makes her mother--and all of us watching this episode--want to reach out to Heide while she stifles the need to sob. Although Heidi's face looks stiff from the tightness of her skin and she cannot readily move her face, her eyes express the disappointment she has in her family. She obviously hoped that her family would greet her new face--and body--with more enthusiasm.

Cosmetic surgery is a personal choice for those who have the money. When an individual makes a subtle change with a little tweak here and there, I say go for it. Why Heidi would go to such extremes is no mystery. She states that she didn't like herself before these drastic changes, but there is absolutely no doubt that Heidi's surgeon should have recommended a good therapist when he discovered how deep her insecurities go.

While I hope that Heidi's choices help her accept herself in the long run, every teenage girl should watch this episode of The Hills. Honestly, Heidi is a poster child for all the wrong reasons to have plastic surgery.