Friday, December 29, 2006

Mickey Rourke - Bad Plastic Surgery?



Has Mickey Rourke had a bad facelift? I think so. Notice how his sideburns appear obliterated. This is a telltale sign of a facelift. The skin of the face is pulled back so far that the skin with the sideburns is removed during the surgery. This is one of the things that most plastic surgeons attempt to avoid with their facelifts.
How can his sideburns be replaced? There are two possibilities. Some of the hair from his scalp can be rotated into place to become new sideburns or he can have hair transplant grafts placed to regrow them. I was taught how to do hair transplants by one of my mentors, Dr. Steven Ringler. It's such a tedious surgery that I don't have any interest in performing it. I'd rather stick pencils into my eyes.

Photo source: dlisted.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Phony Plastic Surgeon Ordered to Pay $5 Million



A Cuban national, Reinaldo Silvestre, was recently ordered to pay $5 Million for pain and suffering to a victim of botched breast surgery. Mr. Silvestre, called "The Butcher of South Beach," apparently masqueraded as a bona fide plastic surgeon, performing numerous surgeries on unsuspecting victims. One victim of his botched surgeries was a male Mexican bodybuilder who asked him for a pectoral augmentation. Instead of putting in solid silicone male implants, he allegedly placed women's breast implants into the horrified man (see photo above).
"So this big bodybuilder from Mexico wakes up from this surgery expecting to look like Tarzan and instead he looks like Pamela (Anderson Lee), Dolly Parton,"

Check out Dr. Rob Oliver's excellent Plastic Surgery 101 blog for more details on this story.

This is just another lesson for patients to do their homework before having plastic surgery. Not everyone who says they are a plastic surgeon really is one.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas!



To all my blog readers:
I hope this Christmas finds you enjoying the company of your family and friends. I will be spending it in Bloomfield Hills with my wife, son, and in-laws. Have a merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Saturday, December 23, 2006

Renee Zellweger - Breast Augmentation?




Has Renee Zellweger had a breast augmentation? What about Britney Spears? Or Nicole Kidman? My opinions are published in the most recent issue of In Touch Weekly, currently on newsstands. Do I think Renee Zellweger had a breast augmentation?
I think so. Her breasts appear to have gotten bigger in an unnatural way.

There it is..."The truth behind the rumors!"

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn>

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Liposuction Fat to Power Cars?



A businessman in Miami is planning on using human fat taken from liposuction to produce bio-diesel fuel. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

Mr. Venoy's firm is signing an agreement with Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami to recycle 3,000 gallons of human fat a week from its liposuction clinics, according to the Norwegian Web site Aftenposten.no/english. That can produce 2,600 gallons of bio-diesel -- enough to power a Hummer for a week or two.

This sounds absolutely disgusting.

Story credit: plasticized.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Plastic Surgeon on Detroit TV



I was featured last night on the Detroit NBC affiliate local news for a segment called, "Plastic Surgery as a Gift." Click here to view it if you're interested. Thank you to WDIV NBC 4 for the nice feature.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Britney Spears - Tummy tuck?

Virgin.net is reporting that Jason Alexander, Britney Spears' first husband, claims she has had a tummy tuck after the birth of her second child. According to the report:

He said: "She had a tummy tuck after the birth of her second child. She's working on all of that. She's worth hundreds of millions - of course she looks good.

"She has the money to have surgery and nutritionists and get her body back. And now she's focused, she is doing it. She's motivated - she just got rid of a man."


I've seen those unfortunate photos of Britney revealing what appears to me to be her C-section scar. I saw no evidence of a tummy tuck in those photos. Is Mr. Alexander lying?

Story credit: Cosmetic Surgery Truth blog

To view a video of a tummy tuck I performed for Fox News, click here.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Saturday, December 16, 2006

Jennifer Aniston Doppelganger


I was recently interviewed by In Touch Weekly magazine regarding a video of what looks like a topless Jennifer Aniston which has been making waves on the internet recently. The story has been picked up by many other sites:
The Post Chronicle
The National Ledger
Socialite's Life
PR Inside
richandfamous.org

The one I like the best is the one which states "Surgeon comes to Aniston's rescue." Somehow, I doubt that she thinks I'm her hero.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Thursday, December 14, 2006

Nicole Richie - Good Plastic Surgery?


I have been asked by a number of magazines recently to comment on Nicole Richie and her possible breast augmentation. She has recently gained some weight, and it appears that her breasts have also gotten larger. Has she had a breast augmentation?
I think it is very likely. While she looks to have gained some 5-6 lbs (at most), her breasts appear to have enlarged more than would normally be expected with such a minor weight gain. (See link for previous photo of her) If she has indeed had a breast augmentation, it's a very nice job. They look good on her, and she looks healthier with a little more weight. I would still like to see her gain a few more pounds.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Humans with wings?



A plastic surgeon at Dartmouth Medical Center has reportedly stated that he is planning to graft wings onto a human, possibly within five years.
According to an article in cyberpunks.org:

Dr Joe Rosen is not a quack. He works at the acclaimed Dartmouth Medical Centre, and has been a scientific advisor to Nasa. He is fond of making statements such as: "Human wings will be here. Mark my words." He believes in all seriousness that within five years he will be able to graft wings on to a human being`s body. This is possible because our brains adapt to create neural maps for new body parts. When we have a limb amputated, our neural map of that limb gradually fades away; and if we gain a body part, our neural map expands accordingly.

"If I were to give you wings, you would develop, literally, a winged brain. Our bodies change our brains, and our brains are infinitely mouldable," Rosen has said.

Surgical techniques already in existence can be used to stretch torso fat and rejig rib bones to create a wing. Although no human would be able to fly, they would resemble angels and have full sensation in their new hanging, boned flaps of flesh. Rosen has designed blueprints. This is the new world of radical plastic surgery, where Rosen is Moses. He would not be content to settle merely for wings either. He has been working on cochlear implants to enhance human hearing (a procedure which the US military has shown interest in, raising as it does the prospect of super-human soldiers), and even tails.


I have been to some of the most up-to-date conferences in plastic surgery and have heard none of this. It sounds as unbelievable to me as it probably does to you! Instead of wings, I wouldn't mind having a third arm. I could probably operate a lot faster...

Story credit: plasticized.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Sunday, December 10, 2006

Adrianne Curry - Breast Augmentation



Adrianne Curry, of "America's Next Top Model" and "My Fair Brady" fame, has recently admitted to having a breast augmentation to create more symmetry between her breasts. According to an interview with HollywoodScoop, her left breast has always been larger than the right. She had them both augmented by a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon.
I am happy that she felt comfortable in revealing this to everyone. In my experience, there are a LOT of women who have considerably assymetric breasts. Although surgery is not for everyone, I have seen it make a big difference in the self-image of many of my patients.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Friday, December 8, 2006

Beyonce - plastic surgery or wig?



A quite odd-looking photo of Beyonce has been circulating around the internet lately. Some websites have attributed the strange lines on her face to plastic surgery. As a plastic surgeon who has performed thousands of facial rejuvenation surgeries, I can tell you that this is caused by no plastic surgery that I know of. I'm no expert at wigs, but I would bet that these "Klingon" wrinkles are more than likely caused by a wig or extensions. Click here for a previous post on Beyonce.

Source: the Superficial

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Britney Spears - Plastic Surgery Offer



A New York-based plastic surgeon has issued a letter to Britney Spears offering her a free tummy tuck. In the letter he states:

"As a long-time fan of you and your music, your videos revealing your six-pack abs may just be as world famous as Frank Sinatra's blue eyes. Unfortunately childbearing and motherhood can rob you of those assets...or at least play havoc with them. I'd like to give "sexy" back to you...and everyone else...so we can all enjoy the old Britney, again."

Jacobs also writes in his letter "You made worldwide headlines, last week, as a global audience had the chance to view a lot more than your night on the town with Paris Hilton. While those pictures have become an internet phenomenon, my trained surgeon's eye uncovered the enduring effects of your recent C-section birthing experience. Therefore, as one of your devoted fans who happens to be a leading plastic surgeon, I'd like to give you a Holiday present - a tummy tuck that will restore your midriff to it's previous muscle tone and firmness."


I have seen no evidence that she even needs an abdominoplasty. Most women with C-Sections heal just fine without the need for cosmetic plastic surgery.
I have a feeling that Ms. Spears will probably not take Dr. Jacobs up on his offer...

Source: makemeheal.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Dolly Parton - Plastic Surgery



Dolly Parton was at the Kennedy Center Honors the other night. She is looking a bit unnatural. I do think she looks better than Andrew Lloyd Webber though. I need to take a look at his up-close-and-personal photos.
Click here to see a previous post on Dolly Parton from last March. She is similar to Cher in the amount of work that appears to have been done. If she came to me I'd recommend that she stop with any more surgeries, and concentrate on looking as natural as possible. Let the Botox wear off a bit, maybe decrease the implant size to help out her back, and things like that...

Source: hollywoodrag.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Sunday, December 3, 2006

Michigan Plastic Surgeon / Michigan Plastic Surgery


Who am I? It came to my attention recently that in the past year that this blog has been around, I've never really explained who I am and where I come from.
Here is my educational background:
Greenville Senior High School: 1986-1990 (valedictorian)
Kalamazoo College: 1990-1994 (magna cum laude- B.A.)
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine: 1994-1998 (M.D.)
Michigan State University Grand Rapids General Surgery Residency: 1998-2001
Michigan State University Grand Rapids Plastic Surgery Residency: 2001-2003
Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship w/Dr. Richard Ellenbogen: 2003-2004

I was offered a spot in Dr. Ellenbogen's practice, a prominent one in Beverly Hills, California, but turned it down. My wife and I moved back home to Michigan, where we settled in Rochester Hills, a suburb of Detroit. I opened my practice, The Hills Plastic Surgery and Laser Centre, in August of 2004. I am thankful for the great success that we've had.

My practice currently consists of mainly cosmetic plastic surgery. I do participate with the major insurance companies as a resource for reconstructive patients in need.

I've been featured in Dr. 90210. My comments on celebrity plastic surgery have been published in many national magazines, including In Touch Weekly, Life and Style, US Weekly, JANE, The National Enquirer, and OK! Magazine, among others.
Some of the surgeries I specialize in include facial fat grafting, the Volumetric Facelift, Breast Augmentation, Tummy tucks, and VASER Liposelection, to name a few. I'm also an active writer for major plastic surgery journals and am on the Editorial Advisory Board for the prominent magazine, Plastic Surgery Products.

It feels like I've gone to school forever. The field of cosmetic plastic surgery is my passion, however, and I am dedicated to practicing my craft with the utmost in integrity and skill.

So that is who I am in a nutshell. In general, I prefer to keep the intimate details of my family life private and off the blog. Over the next several months I will post information on some of the plastic surgeons around the country whom I respect and consider either my mentors or my respected contemporaries.

Now back to the celebrities!

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Saturday, December 2, 2006

Dick Van Dyke - Bad Cosmetic Surgery?



I went to watch the movie "Borat" a few nights ago with my wife. In the previews, we saw the trailer for Ben Stiller's "Night at the Museum." Dick Van Dyke is one of the stars in the movie. On the big screen, I was surprised to notice that his lower eyelids look retracted. Click here to see a recent photo of him.
One of the complications of lower eyelid blepharoplasty is retraction of the lids, creating dry eyes with too much of the white (sclera) of the eyeballs showing. His eyes look inflamed and irritated, which often occur with eyelid retraction. Could he have had a lower blepharoplasty gone astray?

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Nicole Richie and Rachel Zoe



Nicole Richie appears to be in some type of feud with her ex-stylist, Rachel Zoe. She wrote in her MySpace page:

What 35 year old raisin face whispers her order of 3 peices of asparagus for dinner at Chateau everynight, and hides her deathly disorder by pointing the finger at me, and used her last paycheck I wrote her to pay for a publisist instead of a nutritionist?
HINT: Her nickname is lettucecup...

Rachel Zoe does have some pretty deep forehead wrinkles, which are relatively unusual for someone in her 30's. Botox injections would clear those up within a couple days, and keep the forehead smooth for about 3-4 months. I'd rather someone have those wrinkles though, than weigh 90 lbs and look like Karen Carpenter...

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Saturday, November 25, 2006

Fergie



Has Fergie had plastic surgery? These before and after photos from Cityrag.com indicate that she very well may have had a rhinoplasty and a browlift. Her nose looks considerably thinner and shorter in the after photo. The nose often gets shorter when it is thinned or a bump is taken off. Her brows are also excessively arched. This is most likely the result of an endoscopic browlift (short scars, less recovery than the traditional browlift), combined with some possible Botox. Her lips may be naturally fuller than most (see Angelina Jolie).
No comment on her humps...

Thanks for reading,
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Thursday, November 23, 2006

Giving Thanks


We'll take a break from the usual celebrity plastic surgery to focus on more important things in life. Here is what I am thankful for:
1. Family and Friends
2. Theodore(see photo), the most adorable furry creature on four legs
3. A successful career and practice
4. Employees and OR staff who make working each day a pleasure
5. Patients who put their trust in me and pay their hard-earned money to give me the lifestyle I have
6. The servicemen and servicewomen who put their lives on the line for our country's safety and freedom (including my friend Bob Solomon serving in the Middle East)

Finally, I would like to thank the readers of this blog. I started this less than a year ago as something to do after my son went to bed each night. The readership continues to grow and grow. As far as I can tell, this is now the most read blog by a plastic surgeon in the United States. Thank you for making it worthwhile!

Happy Thanksgiving! May God bless you and yours.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Diane Lane



Starpulse is reporting that "Diane Lane is Terrified of Plastic Surgery." According to their article:

Diane Lane is adamant she will grow old without the aid of cosmetic surgery because she is terrified of going under the knife. The star, who is married to Josh Brolin, is fearful of Hollywood's obsession with surgical enhancement and is not planning on having any work done in the near future.

The 41-year-old says, "It scares the s**t out of me. And I don't relish the thought of people staring at me, trying to figure out what I've had done."

But Lane has not ruled out plastic surgery completely. She adds, "I reserve the right to change my mind. Absolutely. I'm a female, that comes first."


During my time in Beverly Hills I used to live down the street from Diane Lane and would often go jogging past her house. Alas, I never got to see the star of "Unfaithful." I hear that she spends most of her time at Josh Brolin's house in another state.
Overall she looks to be aging very gracefully to me.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Sunday, November 19, 2006

Pam Anderson




Has Pam Anderson had a lot of plastic surgery on her face? I'm not seeing as much as some might expect. Pam should be measured on a scale different from most everyone else. Her over-the-top persona as an unattainable sexpot matches her appearance, hence the full lips, large breasts, and long blonde hair. Aside from the obvious lip enhancement, skin care (including lasers and chemical peels), and possible Botox and Restylane injections (which half of Hollywood has anyways), Pam doesn't show any obvious facial plastic surgery. She may have had some fat grafting to enhance the fullness of her cheeks, or this could be due to regular Restylane injections.
I don't have a lot of "before" photos to analyze except the one above, however. If anyone has other ideas, I'd be interested to hear them.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Friday, November 17, 2006

Gel Implants Are Back



The FDA has just lifted the 14 year ban on silicone gel breast implants. The moratorium was placed on these implants after numerous women came forward with what were believed to be arthritis and other diseases from gel implants. Subsequent large scale studies have not proven any connection between silicone gel implants and these "connective tissue diseases."
What's the difference between gel implants and saline implants? A lot. Prior to today, the U.S. was the only major industrialized country to ban the use of these implants. Gel implants feel and look much more realistic than saline implants. There is no comparison between the two cosmetically.

MEDIA: If you would like to speak with me about the subject of silicone gel breast implants, feel free to email me at miplasticsurgeon@yahoo.com or call my office at 248-650-1900 and have me paged if it is after hours.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Nicole Richie



Nicole Richie has posted a denial of the recent rumor that she's had a reversal of a reported gastric bypass surgery. According to her MySpace account:

So i gain a little bit of weight, and im acussed of having a gastric bypass surgery reversed? Its pathetic of Page Six to insinuate i have done this. Anyone that knows anything about this surgery would know that legally, you must be AT LEAST 100 pounds overweight to even have the surgery done, and is a serious, life changing procedure; not one to throw around as a joke or a rumor. Ive statement I am in the process of putting on weight, and that should be enough. Its a shame to hear that instead of hearing supportive words, someone needs to spin it into some negative, absurd way.

To my knowledge, gastric bypass surgery is not performed on anyone who isn't morbidly obese. Therefore, this rumor about her supposed gastric bypass is probably as true as the rumor of Britney Spears' post-C-Section tummy tuck.

Extreme Makeover: Hello...and Goodbye!



The ABC television show "Extreme Makeover" has returned to national TV...only to be yanked off the air after one episode. It had one low-rated airing this past Friday night, and has since been cancelled. How could this be?
Plastic surgery has now evolved from the at-times-hideous display of completely changing how someone looks. Good plastic surgery now involves more natural results, hidden scars, and above all, retaining the essence of who a person is. Most patients don't want to look like someone else. They want to look like a better version of themselves. That's what the top plastic surgeons now strive to do, not create a Barbie Doll carbon copy of the same "The Swan" contestant with over-arched eyebrows, DD breasts, plumped up lips, and long, flowing hair.
If I had a patient who looked in the mirror after surgery, put their hands to the side of their face like Macaulay Culkin in "Home Alone" and started screaming at the top of their lungs, I would be a tad bit concerned.
There still remains at least one major plastic surgery reality show on the air. "Extreme Makeover" is no "Dr. 90210."

Monday, November 13, 2006

Celebrities Looking Better with Age?



Some celebrities seem to look better with age. Is it from better hair? Losing the baby fat? More shaped brows? Or possibly plastic surgery? There is a website which looks at this, focusing on a number of famous stars. Sharon Osbourne is one of them. She has admitted to quite a few plastic surgeries to look better (including a gastric band to lose weight). Otherwise, Nicole Kidman appears to have a classic Botox brow and Celine Dion may have fixed her gummy smile. They all look better!

Story credit: cosmetic makeovers

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Cameron Diaz



Cameron Diaz has recently admitted to W magazine that she wants to get her nose fixed, but not for cosmetic reasons:
“I’m getting it fixed. I can’t take it. I cannot breathe at all,” says Diaz, who broke her nose for the fourth time while surfing a few years ago. “One side of my nose is totally shattered – my septum is basically like a train derailed.”

In the above photo you can see that her nose is crooked to the right. It is often caused by trauma to the septum, which is the cartilage and bone that separates the two nasal airways. I bet that if you plugged her left nostril with your finger she wouldn't be able to breathe through the right nostril. It is often fixed by removing the cartilage that is deviated and breaking the bone back over. Insurances often pay for it if it is bad enough.

The actress – who costars with Jude Law in the upcoming romantic comedy The Holiday – also admits that getting older has had one major drawback: She can no longer scarf down junk food with wild abandon.

“I used to be able to eat anything I wanted and then go right to bed. Fried chicken, onion rings, half a bottle of wine,” she says. “As you get older, your insides rebel. You’ve asked so much of them for so many years, and then they just go, ‘Uh-uh, bi-atch! Gonna eat cheese fries? See how you sleep!’ And you’re tossing and turning all night.”


I'm in my mid-30's and would echo that sentiment exactly. I can no longer drink more than a glass of wine without feeling the ill effects throughout next day. I guess it's the curse of getting older...

Source: icydk.com

Thursday, November 9, 2006

Celeb Boobalution



There is a new site called Celeb Boobalution which displays the breasts of various Hollywood women (clothed and unclothed) and allows the reader a chance to guess whom they belong to. Check it out to test your knowledge of celebrity figures. They plan to add male chests in the future as well...

Story credit: plasticized.com

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Lindsay Lohan - breast implants?





In a recent post, I quote Lindsay Lohan as saying "I like my breasts the way they are. I read that I had breast implants and that I'd had my lips done too, which is such b*****t."
Here are some before and after photos. It looks like some plastic surgery to me. You make your own judgement.

Photo source: In Touch (breast photos), Life and Style (lips)

To view a video of a breast augmentation I performed for Fox News, click here.

Monday, November 6, 2006

Kate Beckinsale



Good Plastic Surgery.com (The sister site to Awful Plastic Surgery) is reporting that Kate Beckinsale may have had her breast implants revised. There are numerous photos on the internet which show what appear to be capsular contractures of her previous breast implants. This is what happens when the body creates excessive scar tissue around breast implants, causing them to look round and hard. It happens to a small percentage of women, although in the past upwards of 80% of women with first generation silicone gel implants developed this dreaded complication. The 'after' photos show a considerably smaller bust.
Breast implants or not, she is a classic Hollywood beauty. I especially liked her in "Serendipity" with John Cusack.

Friday, November 3, 2006

Liposuction on a 12 Year Old



There is a story out of Texas about a 12 year old girl who is reportedly the youngest person ever to get liposuction. It was performed for weight loss purposes, since she was morbidly obese and was not able to lose weight with more traditional methods like diet and exercise. Her surgeon, Dr. Robert Ersek, who calls himself "the biggest fat sucker in Texas," lived up to his moniker when he liposuctioned 35 pounds of fat from Brooke's arms, back and upper midsection in March and removed another 10 pounds — most of it skin — in May by doing a tummy tuck.
Ersek acknowledged it was "a mega amount" of fat and "off the scale," but he is not alone in doing large-volume liposuction or in doing the procedure for weight loss. He cites other plastic surgeons who agree with him in a 2004 book he co-authored, "Mega Lipo."

I have two main problems with this.
First, liposuction or tummy tucks on a pre-teen are just plain wrong. Children who are 12 years old do not have the mental maturity to be able to make the decision to have elective plastic surgery performed on them. This is a decision that she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Also, if I were to perform cosmetic plastic surgery on a child my wife (a pediatrician) would kill me.
Second, liposuction is not a procedure for weight loss. It is a procedure that is best used for body contouring in order to get rid of areas of fat which are not amenable to diet and exercise. 35 pounds of fat is roughly 15 liters. Any surgeon knows that removal of 15 liters from a person's body will create massive fluid and electrolyte shifts which could make a person very sick. I stop my liposuction amount at approximately 5 liters (or 10 lbs), which is, I believe, the recommendation from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

I once had an Asian mom call me up to inquire about cosmetic blepharoplasty on her son. I asked her how old he was. She told me he was 7. Yes, SEVEN! I asked her, "Do you think he has the maturity to make a decision to have plastic surgery?"
She answered, "He tells me he wants the surgery all the time."
I couldn't believe that this mom would even consider plastic surgery for her child. He was not deformed, either, but wanted a "double fold" to look more caucasian. I didn't know who to feel more sorry for: the kid who at age 7 had self-image problems, or his mom who must go through life as a complete tool.

Story credit: statesman.com




Thursday, November 2, 2006

Avril Lavigne




Has Avril Lavigne had a rhinoplasty? Life and Style Weekly has recently reported that she may have had her nose reshaped. This could have been part of the makeover she's undergone after signing a contract with Ford Modeling.

Story credit: Cosmetic Makeovers

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Would you like to be on TV?

If any of my readers has an interesting plastic surgery story they think would make for good television, email me at miplasticsurgeon@yahoo.com. You must be willing to appear on live television to tell your story to a national audience. Some examples include: plastic surgery addiction, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or even feel-good stories about how plastic surgery has changed your life. I often get inquiries from national media looking for people who'd be interested in sharing their stories.

Plastic surgery to look bad?

A woman in China recently attempted to get plastic surgery to look worse, in order to woo back her boyfriend who thought she looked so pretty that he would eventually lose her. Here's the story from chinadaily.com:

Woman forsakes her beautiful face

A young woman from Chongqing sought plastic surgery to make her face less attractive recently, after being crossed in love.

The 23-year-old woman's sweetheart left her weeks ago to stay with another woman. Although the two had been in love for six years, her ex-boyfriend feared that her too-beautiful face might lure many other men and thus he didn't feel safe staying with her.

She came to hate all men after being courted by many others, prompting her desire for the surgery. But the doctors refused to co-operate, saying she had a mental disorder and needed to seek help from psychotherapists.


Good thing that her surgeons refused to operate on her. I have seen some pretty crazy things in this field, but plastic surgery for the sole purpose to make someone look unattractive may take the cake. I acknowledge that some people do look worse after bad plastic surgery, but I doubt that that was the purpose (except in the case of Michael Jackson and BDD patients).

Friday, October 27, 2006

Barbra Streisand



Barbra Streisand is looking a bit droopy lately. It's nothing a breast lift (mastopexy) couldn't help. Unfortunately, breast lifts are not perfect surgeries since they create significant scars on the breast. The scars usually go around the areola, vertically down to the under-breast crease, and sometimes under the breast as well. The scars usually fade with time, but it can take 1-2 years.
Some patients get breast lifts with implants (augmentation mastopexy), but the implants are only necessary if the patient wants her breast to be larger.
I do believe that Star Jones and Carnie Wilson both had breast lifts with implants. I wouldn't recommend implants for Barbra. Her breasts are big enough!

Photo credit: kurlander.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Tara Reid on Awful Plastic Surgery

Tara Reid was on the Today show today talking about her plastic surgery experience. It's a nice interview. She is really doing the public a service to let them know that there are people out there doing plastic surgery who are not real plastic surgeons. Even in my geographic vicinity, there is a plethora of doctors who perform plastic surgery who have no formal plastic surgery training at all. It's extremely frustrating to see so many of their complications. Most of them could have been prevented had the surgery been performed by a competent plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. There's a reason I don't perform tonsillectomies, treat diabetes, or remove cataracts. I don't perform surgeries I haven't been properly trained to do. I wish other doctors in town would do the same.

Here is a link to the Today show site. Scroll down to find the link to the video of the interview.

Demi Moore



Demi Moore has reportedly had her knees done. According to the Daily Mail, the star has reportedly been unhappy with how her knees looked and recently had them surgically altered. Here is their story (abridged):

Despite her enviable figure, Demi Moore, 43, always had one or two things she wanted to hide away - her knees.

After her flaw was pointed out to her, the mother of three - who is very conscious that actor husband Ashton Kutcher is 15 years younger than her - asked her plastic surgeon to see what he can do.

"Demi went to Brian Novack, who has already done work on her," a source close to the actress said. "He is a fantastic surgeon and his clients don't look like they've had surgery. Demi couldn't stand it that there was any part of her that is not perfect.

"She is also sensitive about her age, although Ashton has told her a million times he doesn't care about what she looks like because he loves her.

"A lot of her friends were trying to talk her out of having more surgery. Worrying about her knees, of all things, is just silly. She's lucky that's the only part of her left to sag!"

Knees are one of the hardest areas of the body to have done because there is nowhere to conceal the scarring.

"If you cut away skin there is going to be scarring," said plastic surgeon Alex Karidis of the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in North London. "If you have a neck lift you can hide the scarring behind the ear, but the knees are one of the most exposed areas of the body.

"I would always advise my clients against having knee surgery because it is impossible to hide. And even though the scarring might not be as bad as the sagging, it will be a telltale sign that you have had surgery."

The surgery added another £5,000 to the £220,000 tally of improving her body. Among the work she has allegedly had is liposuction to her hips, thighs and stomach, estimated to have cost £16,000, a £9,500 breast implant operation and £20,000 of work on her face.

After a string of film flops in the late Nineties and a difficult break up with her husband of 11 years, Bruce Willis, Miss Moore has enjoyed a comeback since having the main work done nearly four years ago.

What cosmetic surgeons believe Demi has had done:

• Liposuction to her hips, inner and outer thighs and stomach - £16,000
• Beast implants for 1996 film Striptease - £11,000
• Subsequent operation to reduce her breast implants and have a breast lift - £9,500
• Brow lift - £3,600
• Chemical facial skin peel - £10,000
• Collagen injections (per course) - £200
• Teeth veneered and laser whitening - £6,200
• A long-term diet and fitness routine, including nutritionist, personal trainer, yoga instructor and kick-boxing champion - £165,000
• Knees surgery - £5,000


Total: £226,500


I haven't checked the exchange rates in years, but last time I was in the UK, a U.S. dollar was worth about half a British pound. That puts the total amount she's estimated to have spent around $400,000! I would doubt some of the amount above, as a chemical peel should not cost 10,000 pounds and liposuction 16,000 pounds. If that was the case, I would retire at age 40!

Monday, October 23, 2006

Lindsay Lohan



Lindsay Lohan has expressly denied having a breast augmentation. According to Showbiz News:

The 'Georgia Rule' actress - was reported to have had her breasts surgically enhanced after recently being photographed with a fuller cleavage - is fed up with the constant speculation about whether she has gone under the knife to boost her bust.

She is quoted as saying: "I like my breasts the way they are. I read that I had breast implants and that I'd had my lips done too, which is such b*****t."

The 'Mean Girls' star - who has previously been dogged by anorexia rumours - insists she has never been happier with her body.

She said: "I feel great. I like having a shape."

I'm likely one of the plastic surgeons she has read about. The photos I've examined from national magazines are pretty convincing, especially in regards to the lips. Breast augmentation, however, can be difficult to determine due to all the nice push-up bras nowadays.
It's like that 90's song by C&C Music Factory: Things That Make You Go Hmm....

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Sharon Osbourne



Sharon Osbourne is planning to have her gastric band removed. A gastric band is a band placed around the stomach to make it smaller. This causes the person to feel full quicker, and therefore eat less.

According to the Associated Press:
Osbourne, who has written a memoir, "Sharon Osbourne Extreme," had surgery in 1999 to have the gastric band put inside her, but intends to shed it in December (when she returns to the U.S. from Britain). Though the band is designed to limit food intake by squeezing down the stomach's capacity, she packed on 15 pounds this year, she says, "from overeating."

"I keep trying to eat more and more ... I'm a pig," says Osbourne, who has indulged in "chocolate, French fries and junk food" instead of sticking to the nutritious diet required of gastric-band patients.

What happens when she eats too much? "You throw up...then you eat more," she says.

Hopefully she can keep her appetite in check after the band is removed. The gastric band is a nice alternative to gastric bypass surgery. The recovery isn't as difficult, the surgery is reversible (as far as I know), and it doesn't seem as risky as gastric bypass. Weight loss doesn't seem to occur quite as fast as with gastric bypass as well, which may actually be a good thing.
I have operated on several people who have had gastric banding, lost a lot of weight (80-120 lbs), and then needed a tummy tuck to remove excess skin. There are some plastic surgeons who focus solely on treating people with massive weight loss.

Story and photo credit: www.washingtonpost.com

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Eva Longoria



From chinadaily.com:
Eva Longoria has said she would never have plastic surgery - because she has a phobia of needles.

The Desperate Housewives star does not have a moral issue with cosmetic alterations, however, and does not necessarily look down on those who choose to do it.

"It's not that I'm against people who do it, but I'm terrified of needles," she told Maxim. "I've seen those shows with the operations. The sound of the chisel! Aaah! I almost passed out. No thank you. Egg white omlettes, some exercise and some eye cream is fine for now."

She looks great and shouldn't have any plastic surgery done anyways. When women who look like her come to my office I tell them to take care of their skin (Obagi products are amazing) and consider non-invasive treatments like lunchtime lasers, or maybe some Botox.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Dave Navarro




Dave Navarro...hasn't had any plastic surgery that I can tell. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Navarro and call myself a fan. He's a guitar legend and one of the key members of Jane's Addiction. He also has a pretty rad (80's term) goatee. One thing I have learned as a plastic surgeon is that men often wear goatees to cover up a small chin or a double chin. In the same way, women often wear bangs to cover up wrinkles of the forehead. I believe that Dave Navarro is no different. He does appear to have a smallish chin, termed microgenia, which is hidden by his goatee. A chin augmentation would be great for him, as it would give him a much stronger jawline. I would place a large size solid silicone implant through the inside of the mouth. This creates no visible scars, and heals very quickly. Then he could shave off the flavor-saver and get on with rocking out with his new band, Panic Channel.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Dr. Youn on Ashlee Simpson in In Touch Weekly



Has Ashlee Simpson had more plastic surgery? The latest issue of In Touch Weekly focuses on this, and presents some of my comments on her possible latest work. We all know she had a rhinoplasty, which is confirmed by her surgeon, Dr. Raj Kanodia. He, like me, is an alumnus of the Dr. 90210 TV show. For the record, there is a distinct possibility she has had a chin reduction procedure (called a genioplasty) and an endoscopic browlift.
A genioplasty is a fairly invasive, painful surgery which I do not perform regularly. It basically entails breaking the chin and setting the bone back to make it look smaller.
An endoscopic browlift is a procedure I perform quite often. It is a minimally invasive surgery in which the surgeon makes small incisions in the scalp and uses fiberoptic cameras to release the forehead and pull it upward. It is contrasted with the sometimes ghastly old-fashioned forehead lift, where an incision is made across the scalp, from ear to ear. It can be very visible in some people, especially if they go bald.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Tara Reid's Surgeon - Dr. Steve Svehlak



Tara Reid and her plastic surgery "nightmare" is the cover story of the latest US magazine. She goes in detail about the various problems with her first plastic surgery, with the following quotes from USmagazine.com:

On why she had plastic surgery in the first place:
“I got my breasts done for the first time because my breasts were uneven. I was a 34-B, but the right one was always bigger than the left. I weigh 110 pounds now, but I always used to fluctuate by 10 pounds, so my skin was kind of saggy. I figured, I’m in Hollywood, I’m getting older, I’m going to fix them.”

On what went wrong:
“First of all, I asked for big Bs, and he did not give me big Bs. He gave me Cs, and I didn’t want them. At all. Right after the surgery, I had some bumps along the edges of my nipples, but the doctor said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s going to be better.’ But after six months of ‘it’s going to get better,’ it started to get worse and worse.”

On being intimate:
"Guys I was dating would be like, ‘What’s wrong with them? They look really bad. You know, you should really get them fixed.’ So embarrassing. I mean, you definitely need to turn off the lights, that’s for sure.”

On getting lipo:
"I got lipo because even though I was skinny, I wanted – I’m not going to lie – a six-pack. I had body contouring, but it all went wrong. My stomach became the most ripply, bulgy thing.”



A very good friend of mine (and former associate during my time in Beverly Hills), Dr. Steve Svehlak was identified as the surgeon who fixed her previous unsatisfactory work. She states that he helped "get her confidence back."
Liposuction which is performed overly aggressively or in the wrong tissue plane can create unsightly bulges and depressions. It is most often seen in the tummy and outer thigh areas. I have corrected many of these myself, usually coming from local cosmetic surgeons who are not board-certified plastic surgeons. I believe that the attempt to create a "six pack" using liposuction (called "etching" makes no sense at all. Some surgeons will try this to make the fat look like muscle. Unfortunately, fat is not muscle and will sag with time. No one wants to have a saggy, fat-filled six pack. Eventually that six pack of Heineken bottles will turn into a six pack of Milwaukee's Best in a can. It is bound for ultimate failure.
Anyone on the West Coast who is interested in a world-class plastic surgeon, visit Dr. Svehlak's website at sunsetcosmeticsurgery.com. He's a great guy and outstanding surgeon. Let him know I sent you. OK...enough of the plug.

Sunday, October 8, 2006

Lil Kim...Big Mess




What the heck is going on with Lil Kim's face? It seems that the recently parolled rapper has lost more than a few months of her life while spending time in prison for perjury. She appears to have also lost her mind. Her face looks distinctly like Priscilla Presley's now, except even worse. Her brow is overly elevated (the result of a possible endoscopic browlift), her nose has been whittled down to become Jackson-esque, and her cheeks resemble that of a blowfish. She appears to have had either excessive fat grafting or massive cheek implants, placed by a cosmetic surgeon who either didn't know what he or she was doing, or unfortunately didn't care. She used to be such a pretty woman too. She appears to me to be a classic case of Body Dysmorphic Disorder combined with a plastic surgery addiction. Somebody needs to stop her before she is mistaken for an alien.

Photo credit: dlisted.com




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