Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But how far does the freedom to alter one’s own body extend? Legal scholar Nuran Haydar Celik examines the limits the law may impose on medically unnecessary procedures.

Botox for wrinkles, breast augmentation, a hair transplant: Anyone who is dissatisfied with the current state of their own body will find all sorts of options in the beauty industry to change it. These services are available to anyone who can afford them and is willing to do so. And they have the right to do so: The right to self-determination, which is also a fundamental right in Switzerland, grants every adult of sound mind the freedom to make decisions about their own life, body, and personal affairs.

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