Tally's transformation in Uglies, Pretties, Specials

Confession: I have finished the series. Rather addicting, I must say. So, trying not to give away anything too important, I'm going to try and give a few general thoughts about these books.

Sort of a spoiler but not really a secret either:
I have to say that I was surprised when Scott Westerfeld did not have Tally eventually change back to her original "ugly" face.

In this dystopian society, we read that the operation-reversing pills do not only give you your brain back, but that they also melt the "pretty" surgeries and eventually leave you with your natural body. However, by the end of the third book, Specials, Tally has cured herself of all of the operations she underwent... within her own mind. She never does take any pills to cure her of her surgeries.

I was surprised because - obviously - one of the major themes of these books is how important it is to appreciate your natural self, your own unique look, and your independent-thinking brain. The best way for Tally to triumph over the people who keep changing her looks and her brain would be to eventually return to her pre-surgery looks, right?

Well, actually, no. I think Westerfeld deliberately allows Tally to retain all of her physically-altering surgeries while still gaining back her own mind.

The bottom line is: each person IS a product of their circumstances. I think Westerfeld is trying to tell us that even though Tally overcame the operations by digging deep into her own brain, a large part of who she is in the end is shaped by all of the trials and experiences - and surgeries - that she went through.

Take another dystopian novel: The Hunger Games. Isn't Katniss forever changed by the Games?

Plus, in an ironic sort of way, Tally's involuntary surgeries do leave her with a look that is unique. Once the mind-altering surgeries are banned, Tally is now the only living person who looks just the way she does. She's an example, a reminder, and she's also straight up intimidating.

So, what do you think? About the way the surgeries affected Tally in the end? About the way she could never completely go back?

Or just comment about the book in general. Likes, hates? Want to see it made into a movie?