The Swanhad a “team of experts,” including plastic surgeons Dr.Terry Dubrowand Dr.Randal Haworth.
In the episodes, contestants detailed their insecurities and expressed excitement over making a few physical changes. However, some women in the documentary said they felt pressured to get the multiple procedures the surgeons presented in their transformation plans.
With her plan consisting of a nose job, lip enhancement, breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck and more, season one’s BethHarris said she was told “that if I didn’t get everything that was on my list, I would be sent home.”
Added season one’s CindyIngle, “I didn’t feel like I could say, ‘No, I don’t want that.’ Or, ‘Not so much of that.’ I trusted them and let them do it.”
Meanwhile, season one’s TawnyaPerrotta suggested she wasn’t sent to the pageant because she refused certain facial procedures.
“I was disappointed,” she said. “But on the other hand, I was kind of proud of myself for not letting them go in and just do whatever they wanted to do.”
However, Haworth—who called the show “empowering”—denied the allegation contestants didn’t have a choice.
“There are no victims in life. There are only volunteers,” he said in the doc. “And as long as people understand what they’re getting into and they’re of sound mind, sound intent, and there’s no hidden agenda here, then that’s solely up to the individual to make that decision—is it not?”