‪« Je ne vous opérerai pas. »‪. Registres argumentaires des refus d’opérer en chirurgie esthétique

This article studies for what reasons certain surgeons refuse to operate on potential cosmetic surgery clients. The analysis is based on articles published in professional journals, observations during professional congresses and eighty in-depth interviews. Setting aside anatomical and physiological questions, the surgeons point to what they deem to be the client?s inappropriate request or behaviour as the main reason for their refusal to operate. The client is then labelled as a potential troublemaker, because his attitude can lead to interpersonal conflict or even legal trouble. Our multi-level analysis includes two main dimensions ?professional identity and professional autonomy? which show the potential fragility of the surgeons in the client-physician relationship. Moreover, reframing the situation as question of ethics (they insist they are not interested in making profits), these professionals push away clients whom they judge to be undeserving or potentially dangerous. Doing so, they de facto discriminate.