A new documentary on HBO examines American enthusiasm for plastic surgery, and it comes with a title that tells volumes.

It’s called Youth Knows No Pain and premieres August 31st as part of the channel’s 2009 documentary series. The film serves as an intimate look at plastic surgery in this country, and was produced and directed by the daughter of a plastic surgeon.

Her name is Mitch McCabe. To make the film, she spent two years traveling nationwide, examining our desire to stay young and beautiful. To do this, she interviewed many doctors and specialists, but also lived with some of the people you see onscreen — average people from both the north and south. What they have in common with each other, the film suggests, is what they have in common with many of us.

Which is that, more and more, many of us see a link between how we look and how we feel about ourselves. As a result, more and more of us are changing how we look to change the way we feel. Along the way, we’ve not only created different appearances but also a tremendous American industry that makes this very easy.

The documentary makes it clear, that while cosmetic surgery may or may not be the key to happiness, it’s no longer open only to the upper class.

Youth Knows No Pain played at a number of festivals earlier this summer and will soon be seen on HBO. You can find more information on Facebook or at youthknowsnopain.com.