Magical Appearances / Hair

[joanne0012]

No: HPFGUIDX 33481

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "judyserenity" <judyshapiro at e...> wrote:
> We've often seen magic in the story that is really too powerful and 
> probably should have been left out. . . . I think Hermione having her teeth 
> fixed is another example of this "overly powerful magic" problem. 
> 
> One could try to plug this plothole, perhaps by saying that only a few 
> specially trained medical wizards (like Madame Pomfrey) are capable of 
> doing permament body alteration, and that they charge too much or that 
> people are too embarassed to use their services (like plastic surgery 
> in the real world), but it's a stretch.  Alternatively, perhaps they 
> like looking less than perfect.  

Like, or perhaps are oblivious to the notion of wanting to achieve a certain 
standard of appearance.  The only two students who seem discontent with their 
appearance are Harry and Hermione, who were both raised in the muggle world.  
And Harry's discontent with his hair is really just a desire to shush Uncle Vernon. 
Perhaps the wizarding world just isn't very concerned with appearance.  Consider 
Fudge's propensity for vivid colors, or the fact that robes haven't changed 
styles in centuries.  

Madame Pomfrey hasn't done any cosmetic surgery, only restorative -- she even 
believed that her correction of Hernmione's teeth was just a restoration.  If 
wizards aren't concerned with cosmetic changes, they might not even have 
developed spells to implement them.