There is a new form of identity theft.
MTV’s new series, “I Want a Famous Face,” brings a documentation of young people committing to plastic surgery in order to resemble their favorite celebrities.
In the first episode, March 15, MTV followed a set of twins, Matt and Mike Schlepp, 21, of Phoenix, AZ, as they shared their story of cosmetic surgery.
The siblings told viewers they had an ultimate goal of looking like actor Brad Pitt.
During the show, Mike Schlepp said, “The girls may not want us now, but after our surgery to make us look like Brad Pitt, they’ll definitely change their minds.”
Next, they went to consult the works of plastic surgeon, Martin Lloyd Johnson M.D, in Paradise Valley, AZ.
Together the surgeries, which were not funded by MTV, cost the brothers $22,500.
Although neither Matt nor Mike regret the end results from the surgeries, MTV left out a small detail.
“They wanted to look like a better version of themselves,” said Patricia Soffel, 43, an administrator at Johnson’s office. “In order to qualify for MTV, they had to say they wanted to look like Brad Pitt.”
Soffel does not see a trend of celebrity look-alikes in the future.
“We do not get many people who want to look like a certain celebrity,” she said.
The show, which airs Mondays at 10:30 p.m., will continue to follow fans that are willing to undergo operations. From Kate Winslet body lifts to Elvis chin implants or Pamela Anderson lip injections, cosmetic surgery is not rare anymore.
“Plastic surgery used to be more for the rich and famous, but not now,” Soffel said, after nine years of working in Johnson’s office. “After their first time, patients become more comfortable with the experience.”
MTV’s original idea for the show was a follow-up series to “True Life: I’m Getting Plastic Surgery,” which debuted in February 2002. The episode documented four young people, all undergoing some form of plastic surgery.
According to MTV.com, the casting call brought a bigger turnout than was expected, causing producers to create an entire series based on these several individuals.
Plastic surgery shows are not only on MTV though.
Currently, ABC is in their second season of “Extreme Makeovers,” where contestants “win” a dream come true, with cosmetic operations.
Last season, the television show catered to a resident of Baton Rouge, Cynthia Lunceford, 49, who received over a dozen alterations to her body.
Another round of casting calls for “Extreme Makeovers” will take place this Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. at news channel’s KTBS event center in Shreveport, LA.
“The show wanted to come back to Louisiana, but we also talked to them [about coming to Shreveport],” said KTBS receptionist, Sue Wagnon.
Saturday’s event is expected to bring a large crowd.
“We have a bunch of applications that have already come in,” Wagnon said. “With something this popular I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
In order to make it on “Extreme Makeover,” applicants must be 21, complete a 13-page questionnaire and submit a face and body picture, Wagnon said.
Although each area of the United States has different trends, Baton Rouge does not hold one for cosmetic surgery.
“No, it’s not a trend,” said Ginny Kimberlin-Webber, office manager of plastic surgeon James W. Wade on Dijon Drive. “Our practice has been all cosmetic for the past few years and I haven’t seen much change.”
Since prices have lowered and techniques have been improved, the public is just reacting to what’s available, Kimberlin-Webber said.
However, for MTV, the show must go on. In an online poll at MTV.com, 11 percent of viewers said “Hell yeah,” to cosmetic celebrity surgery.
  “They have this philosophy now,” Soffel said, “You upkeep your house, your car, so why not upkeep yourself?”