New ‘Botched’ Rewind Series Isn’t ‘Anti-Plastic Surgery,’ Says Cast (Exclusive) ArticlePure

(Warning: This article contains spoilers.)

What’s made of plastic isn’t always fantastic and that’s what E!’s new series, Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind is here to shine a light on.

Premiering on July 9, the new reality television show follows the “transformative journey of self-discovery” of nine celebrity and influencers who want to turn back time and reverse their enhancements.

There couldn’t be a better time for this new series — which was two and a half years in the making — to land on TV.

In recent years, there’s been a rapid increase in plastic surgery confessions from Hollywood’s biggest stars, most notably Kylie and Kris Jenner, who spoke out in recent months about their respective breast augmentation and facelift.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow, psychotherapist Dr. Spirit (both of whom lead the show’s debut season as medical experts) and host Michelle Visage are not blind to this newfound transparency. But, in response to it all, Dr. Dubrow tells PEOPLE that he’s set out to “temper” the very new-normal “enthusiasm” around cosmetic alterations by showing the flip side of transformations — a sense of regret.

“People treat plastic surgery, and even more so, filler, as something you do like having your hair and nails done when, in fact, a lot of the effects of filler are irreversible. Even if you do reverse them, it may end up much worse than you realize. It just doesn’t go back to zero again,” he says, noting that he’s also had some oops moments in regards to the filler he’s introduced to his own appearance.

Don’t be mistaken, though: The list of cosmetic enhancements isn’t exclusive to injections, as the show also explores stars who’ve undergone a variety of invasive and non-invasive procedures, such as Brazilian butt lifts, breast implants and facial threading.

The bottom line is, viewers will get to watch Dr. Dubrow dish out any and all reality checks the cast needs to hear, because that kind of honesty hasn’t been around enough. “It’s time for plastic surgeons to be more transparent,” he says.

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The moral of Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind is simple at its core: Think twice before going under the knife (and the needle). However, all nine participants will have to make a decision that’s anything but clear-cut: to continue their plastic surgery journeys or to reverse some of their enhancements, either of which will be determined through a series of consultations with Dr. Dubrow and reflective exercises guided by Dr. Spirit at the “Rewind Retreat.”

One particular test challenges four of the cast members to take selfies. The catch? Doing so without a full face of makeup. It’s actually an activity that Visage was inspired to take part in herself.

“I thought, you know what? If I show a person who’s known for makeup and beauty and glamour that they can do it and is as willing to be that vulnerable, in return, I hoped we could get something out of the people that were in the house, and it worked. I’m always willing to do something that will help me grow in hopes that it would help other people grow too.”

Though the exercises uncover something deeper in their makeup, including conversations around body dysmorphia, a mental disorder that Dr. Spirit explains is when “a person who legitimately cannot see themselves from a reality,” meaning those professionally diagnosed with the condition cannot see beyond perceived imperfections relating to their appearance. She does make clear that there is a distinction between that and suffering from “a distorted sense of self.”

There’s a huge part where identity is at play too, especially with most, if not all, of the stars depending on their looks for their claim to fame. “So much of their identity is tied to these different body parts that they’re considering reversing,” says Dr. Dubrow.

Adds Dr. Spirit: “For some folks, if you have a fan page where you do certain things, or that’s how you make your money, or your beauty is what you’re known for and you need that for your self-esteem, we had to talk about it. What would it look like if the money went away? What would it look like if the clients and followers go away?”

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At the end of a star’s stay at the “Rewind Retreat,” they will exit through the “Time Tunnel” either looking the same as they came in or as completely new versions of themselves, with a new body and a new sense of emotional strength.

The cast can’t tease much about the transformations that will take place during the season, but they do promise surprising twists, great television moments and stories that are heartfelt and courageous.

On which star she resonated with the most, Visage, who had her breast implants removed due to her Hashimoto’s disease, shares: “I started in this industry when I was 19 in a girl group [Seduction]. I always felt the pressure of being ‘hot’ or ‘f——-‘ so to speak. So, I relate to most of the girls that are in the house. But I think the one that impacted me the most was probably Kathy [Brown, a former Playboy model] and her story with her breast implants. She just felt like, at this point in her life as a grandmother, she didn’t want these giant knockers walking around on the beach.”

Aubrey O’Day will also show a lot of growth through the series, which she started filming amid Sean “Diddy” Combs’ public arrest. O’Day was a member of the girl group Danity Kane, formed under MTV’s Making the Band (which was hosted by Combs), but was removed by the music producer in 2008.

“The psychological fallout of that for her — the relief of it, the anger of it, the media of it all, while she’s trying to focus on being in the right mindset — that was an absolutely fantastic journey to watch her go on,” says Dr. Spirit.

While Plastic Surgery Rewind dives into what Dr. Dubrow describes as the “underbelly” of cosmetic procedures, Visage makes it clear that the show isn’t “anti-plastic surgery.” Dr. Spirit agrees. “Having the opportunity to see people want to go back to themselves, want to feel the realness of who they are, I think that that is everything that this show stands for.”

Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind airs on E! on Wednesdays starting July 9.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.