Over the last decade, there has been a 465 percent increase in cosmetic work, and we spend over $12 billion annually on procedures like liposuction, face-lifts, tummy tucks, and boob jobs. In this provocative book, sociologist Laurie Essig shows how the plastic surgery industry merged with the plastic money industry to finance our quest for bodily perfection. The result, Essig observes, was a perfect storm of greed, technology, and desire.<BR><BR>This profound surge in cosmetic surgery is also linked to a fundamentally American belief that we can always improve ourselves. Essig observes that plastic is crucial to who we are as Americans. We not only pioneered plastic money but lead the world in our willingness to use it. It's estimated that 30 percent of plastic surgery patients earn less than $30,000 a year; another 41 percent earn less than $60,000. And since the average cost of cosmetic work is $8,000, a staggering 85 percent of patients assume debt.<BR><BR>Essig traces the history of plastic surgery, tracks the effect of fashion and porn on our desire to "fix" ourselves, and explores our image and youth-obsessed culture. With over two hundred interviews with plastic surgeons and surgery recipients, Essig creates an unforgettable portrait of contemporary America. American Plastic is a powerful and original commentary on the relationship between cosmetic surgery, credit, and culture, all of which sold us the promise of plastic perfection while charging us a pound of flesh.