Russo 1

Elena Russo
Shelia Fielding
WRTC- Section 103
11 October 2015
Comparative Rhetorical Analysis
Most of the time, a procedure is done on a man or woman to fix an issue in their
body or to benefit their health. Nowadays, procedures can be done solely for good looks.
In 2011, Liz Wolgemuth wrote the article, People Have Cosmetic Surgery to Make More
Money, and she explains what Americans are willing to go through for a better job
and/or a better salary. Having a cosmetic surgery procedure done is a big process and
most individuals do not know this before they follow through with it. A visual, or public
service announcement, created by Elena Russo called; Is Cosmetic Surgery Really
Worth the Money? is a valid argument of this. The rhetoric of both Liz Wolgemuths
Opposing Viewpoints argument and Elena Russos companion PSA relies heavily on
ethos pathos, and logos to show individuals the cause and effects of changing themselves
just for money.
In her article, Liz Wolgemuth begins with a strong opening by bringing up two
very good-looking celebrities who have great salaries. Heidi Klum, who is a beautiful
model and David Beckham, who everyone knows as an attractive professional soccer
player. This is what every American wants and some will permanently change themselves
to achieve this. Wolgemuth follows up with saying, Theyre opting to nip, tuck, or
transplant their way into a better job or a bigger paycheck, (2). There is strong evidence
of logos that come up throughout her argument. She then explains by using reasoning and

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states, The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports that
last year about two-thirds of its members reported seeing men and women who requested
cosmetic surgery because they wanted to remain competitive in the workplace, (3).
The advantages of looking good is what Liz spends a decent amount of time
talking about next. During this section she uses multiple examples of pathos, including
when she says, Cuter newborns in a nursery are touched, held, and talking to more than
less attractive babies, (Wolgemuth 5). This portrays emotion because innocent babies are
being judged by their looks when they are first born. It is extremely upsetting if this fact
is true. She connects this with getting jobs after college by stating, Good-looking college
graduates are more likely to get hired. Employees themselves tend to be willing to do
more for better-looking bosses (Wolgemuth 6). An ear, nose, and throat doctor began to
lose his hair. Naturally, he decided to dye it and grow it out a little longer. Someone
noticed, told him it did not look good, and then had the nerve to say to him, You can
afford to do something about it (Wolgemuth 7). This credible example of ethos in the
argument shows how judgmental people can be and why people spend money to look like
a different person. Cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more popular for both
genders because of these incidents they encounter in their lives.
Most people associate cosmetic surgery with women but it is becoming more
popular with older men. Wolgemuth uses logos while talking about mens eyelid surgery
and mentions, It was the fourth most common surgical cosmetic procedure last year, and
the second most popular among men, according to the American Society of Plastic
Surgeons, (9). Again, most men are doing this for a bigger paycheck and better career
options. Penelope Trunk, a careers blogger, and Judy Jernudd, an executive coach, both

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made valid statements dealing with careers and cosmetic surgery. Trunk predicted that,
Plastic surgery will become a tool for the go-getters and career-minded and will even
be a routine procedure for college grads (Wolgemuth 11). Jernudd stated, I think that
people can go overboard with cosmetic surgery. But I do think that you can see people- if
its done correctly- where they can look 10 years younger, (Wolgemuth 12). These
statements are both validly assumed because of statistics and facts about our society.
Commercials only consist of perfect, and somewhat unrealistic, men and women.
Sometimes these are random people and sometimes these are very successful people. This
is why thoughts about careers and looking good are linked together and Elena Russos
PSA is a clear representation of this.
This is an image
representing the same
situation called, Is
Cosmetic Surgery Really
Worth the Money?
(Russo). Similar to
Wolgemuths verbal

Figure 1
PSA, Is
Cosmetic
Surgery Really
Worth the
Money? by
Elena Russo.
Shows what
working people
are willing to go
through for more

argument, it denotes
ethos, logos, and pathos
in plethora of ways. This PSA is explaining how most people used to have cosmetic
surgery procedures done to make themselves look better or younger, but now
it has resulted in a money issue. A woman is about to undergo cosmetic
surgery and a huge money sign is being drawn on her face to outline the
procedure being done.

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The weakest, but still evident, rhetorical appeal in this image is ethos. The quote

on the PSA (previously mentioned) by Liz Wolgemuth says, But more and more
Americans are facing the, well, ugly news head-on. Theyre opting to nip, tuck, or
transplant their way to a better job or a bigger paycheck, (2). This quote connects both
the image and the argument. It is powerful and shows that the author is credible and not
just trying to portray something based off of her own opinion. A second source that is
credible in Elena Russos visual is the logo of the American Society of Cosmetic
Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. This shows she is credible as well because the
society is real and deals with cosmetic surgery. These two items on the PSA can also
apply to a next rhetorical appeal, which is logos.
The quote by Liz is considered logos because it is from an article, which gives us
factual information. Similarly, the logo of the American Society of Cosmetic
Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery is logos because it is an actual logo for a certain
company. Another valid example of this is the website link towards the bottom of the
PSA to find out more information. The link shows reason for the audience and is a great
reference to people who want more.
The big appeal to emotion, or pathos, is definitely the most evident. In this visual
there is a picture of a patient about to undergo cosmetic surgery. A big money sign is
being drawn on her face representing the outlines for the procedure. This represents
emotion by making the audience stop and think about if they want to partake in cosmetic
surgery just for the money aspect. Another spot of sensitivity is the quote, Is Cosmetic
Surgery Really Worth The Money? (Russo). This gets the audience to question
themselves about what they are about to do as well.

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The public service announcement and the verbal argument have equal rhetorical
appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos. Although some points may be different, both authors
are attempting to get the same points across. Working individuals have come to the
realization that unfortunately, looks do matter in our society. This does not mean that only
good-looking people get jobs and make a lot of money. Over the past couple of years this
is what gets into everyones heads and they think the only answer is cosmetic surgery.
After an audience either reads Liz Wolgemuths argument or looks at Elena Russos
public service announcement, they will sit back and think about their decision. There is
no need for anyone to change his or her body just for more money. How will they even
know if the procedure will work and pay off?

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Works Cited
American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. Nonprofit Profile
for. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
North, Anna. "The Plastic Surgery Financial Index: How Many Years of Youth Can You
Buy?" Jezebel. N.p., 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.
Wolgemuth, Liz. "People Have Cosmetic Surgery to Make More Money." Cosmetic
Surgery. Ed.
Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from
"Nip and Tuck for More Bucks." U.S. News & World Report 144.18 (23 June
2008): 68. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Oct. 2015