The Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City, NJ is giving away $25K in plastic surgery prizes to a winner of a players card contest. The winner will be given the opportunity to mix and match a variety of plastic surgery procedures including breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, and face lifts until the total hits $25,000. The winner will be awarded on October 29th.
Who is doing these procedures, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons code of ethics prohibits its members from these kinds of contests. “The member may be subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion if the member participates in a charity raffle, fund raising event, contest or other promotion in which the prize is any procedure or gift certificate or other document redeemable for all or part of the cost of a procedure.”
The purpose of this restriction is to prevent a patient from “winning” a procedure they are not a good candidate for. This would potentially put the surgeon or patient in a difficult position.
Is it wise to connect plastic surgery and gambling?
Another concern would be the forced association of gambling and cosmetic surgery. Both gambling and cosmetic surgery have the potential to be “addictive”. Taken to extremes, both can be quite unhealthy. Is it really in the best interest of a gambling addict to make plastic surgery readily available?