Plastic Surgery Picture Book My Beautiful Mommy All About 'Pretty'

For those old enough to remember, actress Jennifer Grey of Dirty Dancing fame became virtually unrecognizable after having plastic surgery on her distinctive nose.

Lucky for her she didn't have to explain the procedure - or why she chose to alter her looks - to a young child.

But for mothers facing the post-surgery complication of telling a child why Mommy has bandages and why - when she takes them off - she may look different, a picture book offers an easy out.

My Beautiful Mommy was written by a plastic surgeon who - no surprise - is depicted as a good-looking, barrel-chested guy who helps make Mommy pretty. (Since this is a book published by a vanity press, hey, he's paying for it.)

Plastic surgery is a reality for many women, and many do have children at home who deserve an explanation of what's going on. But this book missed out on a great opportunity to talk about acceptance, changing what we can to feel better about ourselves and improving self-confidence.

Ideally, it could have evolved from a discussion about why Mommy exercises, or why Mommy eats healthy foods with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, or why Mommy works hard to take care of herself.

Instead, it falls back on the "mommy wants to be pretty" cliche, instead of looking at plastic surgery as part of the spectrum of self-improvement inside and out.

Women are more than ornamental, and many choose plastic surgery for reasons other than wanting to be 'pretty.' Too bad this book didn't try to accomplish more.