This was done quite a bit even before the advent of Photoshop. Digital manipulation just made it easier to create the illusion of perfection. Before computers became common in the home, and Photoshop was a household name, it was done with airbrush. That's how all those Playboy models looked so perfect even back then.
I do this type of thing for a living. Probably spend 90% of my work day in Photoshop, been using it since v 1.0. The photo editing I do varies from a simple color correction, to some pretty heavy duty 'plastic surgery', weight reduction, hair changing, etc. Its a lot of concentration and often very time consuming. Needless to say I don't open up Photoshop at home that much.
I honestly wish there was a way for the public to access the 'real' images to see the 'before'. The models aren't that perfect. There's a couple vids out there I hope I can find to post on this thread... they are very... educational.
Funny thing is, I haven't done a weight reduction in PS on myself. Though I wish I could just stick 'me' in there for real and Photoshop the weight off. And about 10 years.
