Sunday, December 30, 2007

15 Worst Celebrity Plastic Surgery Disasters


TopSocialite.com has compiled a list of the Top 15 Worst Celebrity Plastic Surgery Disasters You Will Ever See. Yeah, some of these are just bad work and probably never should have been done (#s 1-3), while some others are likely due to known, sometimes unavoidable complications of plastic surgery (such as capsular contracture, or hardening of scar tissue around a breast implant). I believe that #'s 5,7,8,9,11,12, and 14 are relatively easily improved.
Link to story: here

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Friday, December 28, 2007

China's "Miss Ugly" Wins Free Plastic Surgery


Some interesting (and scary) developments in Chinese plastic surgery:
27 year old Zhang Di won a newspaper competition in China and was crowned the area's Cinderella, or as some media have dubbed her "Miss Ugly." She was given $16,000 worth of plastic surgery in 12 operations to give make her look more "Western."

Elsewhere in China, plastic surgeons are breaking the leg bones of patients and slowly lengthening them using tissue expansion techniques, reportedly adding up to 4-5 inches of extra height. This is something I have not heard of in the States, except for reconstruction when people have bone removed from the legs from trauma or cancer.

While some people may think that China's "Miss Ugly" contest is crude and mean, is it really that different from The Swan or Extreme Makeover here in the States?

Source: theage.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Dr. 90210 Celebrity Facelift Game


Eonline.com has a Dr. 90210 Celebrity Facelift Game, where you can take the various features of celebrities and combine them into "the perfect face." It's pretty silly, but hey, it's a slow plastic surgery news week.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Monday, December 24, 2007

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are enjoying time with your family and/or friends this holiday season. May this post find you happy, healthy, and enjoying the spirit of Christmas. I'm thankful that my son, who's been sick the last couple days, is finally feeling better just in time for Christmas. May God bless you all this holiday season.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Paula Abdul - Plastic Surgery?


TMZ.com recently posted these 'before and after' photos of singer / American Idol judge Paula Abdul. I see two major plastic surgery possibilities. First, her nose looks thinner and shorter, possibly due to a rhinoplasty. Second, her eyebrows appear to have that arched "Botox Brow" look. Click here to see a video of a TMZ paparrazzi ask her about plastic surgery. Maybe someday she will be 'straight up' and admit to some plastic surgery?

Photo credit: TMZ.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Friday, December 21, 2007

Savvy Miss Article on Plastic Surgery


Savvymiss.com has recently published an article on plastic surgery entitled: Plastic Surgery: How Far Will You Go? They were kind enough to include some of my comments in the article. I think the article is well-written, except some of the patient experiences are mind-boggling to me. These include breast augmentation patients not being allowed to shower for a week (mine shower the day after surgery) and being surprised at firm, hard breasts immediately after surgery (I warn all my patients about this, and in 98-99% of cases they will soften really nicely). All-in-all, worth a read.
Link to story: here

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Joan Van Ark - Plastic Surgery?


I've had some readers ask me what is going on with Joan Van Ark's face. Hmm...maybe some plastic surgery?


She's such a pretty woman so it's a shame she may have altered her looks considerably with plastic surgery. In my opinion, she appears to have had a browlift and upper blepharoplasty, creating the 'hollowed out' appearance to her upper eyes. Her nose looks thinner and shorter, possibly from a rhinoplasty. Her lips also appear augmented, likely from Restylane. In addition, her neckline is almost impossibly sharp for a 64 year old, and can be the result of a facelift. Her cheeks are somewhat puffy, possibly due to facial fat grafting. Finally, her skin has a smooth, waxy sheen. This can be caused by a combination of Botox (forehead), Juvederm (frown lines) and chemical peels or laser treatments.
While I think that some of these (possible) procedures work for her (facelift, injectable fillers), others have not improved her appearance at all (rhinoplasty, lip augmentation). Maybe she should take some advice from her contemporary Joan Collins and not have any plastic surgery at all! (see link)

Photo credit: prphotos.com (after)

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Madonna's Black Eyes - Plastic Surgery?


Madonna was recently photographed with two black eyes, as shown on this photo. The current In Touch Weekly magazine has my comments on it, but I will also offer them here.

The most common cause of black eyes like this is trauma. Most people who are assaulted can get one black eye, but when the base of the skull is broken (such as in a bad car crash) then both eyes can often become black. Now, I seriously doubt she's been in a car crash or physically assaulted, so the next most likely culprit is surgery.
Lower blepharoplasty surgery is the most common cause of bruising under both eyes, as seen in this photo. While I saw this quite commonly with the traditional technique, the newer transconjunctival blepharoplasty (hidden scar) often doesn't create bruising.
Other common causes of bruising like this include rhinoplasty, facial fat grafting, and Restylane, Juvederm, or Sculptra injections under the eyes. Take your pick. I guess we'll see how she looks in the near future.

Photo credit: x17online.com and In Touch Weekly.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Monday, December 17, 2007

Lipodissolve Chain Goes Belly-Up

The lipodissolve chain, Fig, has filed for bankruptcy. This St. Louis-based company was probably the largest chain of fat-melting injectors in the country. According to their website:

The company is currently consulting with counsel and will likely seek legal relief under the bankruptcy code to ensure it preserves all options including the ability to reorganize and continue operations.
Current patients undergoing treatment will be contacted by the company regarding continued treatment options or making a refund claim. Please check this web site for the latest information.


Why did they go belly-up? Was it poor management? Overaggressive expansion? Or maybe poor clinical results? I would be interested to hear from their patients about whether they are actually getting taken care of, now that the company has shut down. Patient abandonment can, unfortunately, be a consequence of having procedures performed by a practice owned by business people, and not a physician.

There is currently an FDA-approved study being performed by ASERF which will hopefully shed some light on the safety and effectiveness of lipodissolve. I look forward to seeing these results.


Thanks for reading.


Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Ashley Tisdale's New Nose

Ashley Tisdale of High School Musical was photographed performing at a function in NYC recently. This is one of the first times she has revealed her post-septoplasty nose in public. Ashley recently admitted to People.com that she underwent a septoplasty to correct a deviated septum. It looks like a bit more work may have been done as well, as other parts of her nose look like they've been thinned. Her nose looks a lot like Ashlee Simpson's.


Photo credit: dlisted.com

For my previous post on Ashley Tisdale, click here.

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:




Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Reloxin - Botox alternative?


Medicis (maker of Restylane) has recently announced submission of Reloxin to the FDA for a BLA (Biologics License Application). This is a good thing for consumers, since Reloxin may become the first real competitor to Botox on the market. It is a form of Botulinum Toxin Type A, and can hopefully provide some competition for the massive Botox market. Currently, the makers of Botox (Allergan) have the only product of its kind on the market here in the States, and the prices seem to reflect this fact. I currently pay over $500 per vial of Botox, which is usually enough to treat only 5 different facial areas, or approximately 1.5-2 patients. This is the main reason why Botox treatments are so expensive. Hopefully the eventual arrival (still not sure when) of Reloxin on the market will bring the prices down, allowing more people to get the Botox they "desperately need!"

Photo credit: dermadoctor.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Fergie is Upset About Plastic Surgery Rumors



Yahoo! Music is reporting that music star Fergie is upset about a recent magazine suggesting she may have had plastic surgery to her nose and eyebrows. The article states:


Two pictures of The Black Eyes Peas star - one from the 1980s, and one from 2007 - are printed side-by-side in the current issue of Us Weekly, and a surgeon tells the publication it's likely Fergie has had a rhinoplasty procedure.
But the 32-year-old has denied the claims, and admits such speculation upsets her so much she has seen a therapist.
Fergie says, "One of those (celebrity) magazines says I've had a nose job and an eyebrow lift, which is completely untrue.
"Personally, I see a therapist. It's hard, it hurts my feelings. I call my hypnotherapist and cry and let it go. That's what I do (to cope). I think that they nitpick these days so much and it's just got to the point where it's ridiculous."



Is this type of scrutiny (such as what is presented in this blog) the price of fame? Should we not speculate on celebrity plastic surgery so we don't hurt anyone's feelings? Sometimes I wonder... I am interested in your opinions, so comments are appreciated.

photo credit: prphotos.com


Thanks for reading.


Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:




Saturday, December 8, 2007

America's Vainest City = Salt Lake City??


Forbes.com has released a report of the top 10 vainest cities in the United States. They took several factors into account, including the per capita number of plastic surgeons and the amount spent on beauty products and services. Here is the list:
8. (Tie) Los Angeles
8. (Tie) New York City
8. (Tie) Virginia Beach
6. (Tie) Nashville
6. (Tie) Louisville
3. (Tie) Miami
3. (Tie) San Jose
3. (Tie) San Diego
3. (Tie) Greenville, Michigan (just kidding)
2. San Francisco
1. Salt Lake City (!)

Why all the ties?
I would put L.A. much higher on the list. I once heard that there is one plastic surgeon for every 500 people in Beverly Hills. Contrast that to the Metro Detroit area, where I am at, and that number is closer to 1 for every 80,000 people.
Saly Lake City topping the list is a surprise. Who would have thought that a city of nearly 50% Mormons would be so vain?

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Scarlett Johansson Threatens to Sue US Weekly

Scarlett Johannson has threatened legal action over a recent cover story in US Weekly featured photos of her with the headline, "A-List Nip / Tuck." According to OK! Magazine, Scarlett stated:

"I have always been straightforward with the press regarding my body image and I am very concerned that my fans (and perhaps even my employers) will feel misled. Thus, I feel compelled to take immediate legal action against US Weekly."

Her representative also stated:

"The publication (US Weekly) made a pathetic attempt to validate its story by using two cover photos...with obviously different make-up and lighting, and then relying on an 'expert's opinion' on what 'might' have been done. It wasn't.'"

I don't think she's had anything done, but I do believe in free speech. I'm glad I wasn't the 'expert' in this story!

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Ashley Tisdale Confirms Rhinoplasty



High School Musical's Ashley Tisdale has recently confirmed to People.com that she's had a nose job. According to the article, she stated:

"Growing up I always knew I had a deviated septum on the right side of my nose, which caused trouble breathing," a bandaged Tisdale told PEOPLE on Monday from her Los Angeles home. "The older I got, the worse it got. I went to get it checked out, and the doctor told me the septum was 80 percent deviated and that I had two small fractures on my nose." Tisdale's mother, Lisa, was by her side during the five-hour procedure.
"I didn't do this because I believe in plastic surgery. I did this to help my health. I literally almost could not breathe out of the right side of my nose," says Tisdale, who's openly discussing the procedure because "I want my fans to know the truth. I'm not someone who is going to act like I had nothing done. I just want to be honest because my fans are everything to me."

Hmmm...This is an interesting story. First of all, five hours for a septoplasty is a bit excessive. Most plastic surgeons can perform this procedure in an hour or less. Also, she does appear to have a bump on her nose, which is not usually removed during a septoplasty. This bump does not typically cause breathing problems. Therefore if she, like Ashlee Simpson, resurfaces with a nose that has the bump removed, then she did not have just a septoplasty, but a cosmetic rhinoplasty too. We'll see if she follows the recent Hollywood trend of admitting to a septoplasty but having the results of a cosmetic rhinoplasty.

photo credit: prphotos.com (photo is from July 2007)

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Monday, December 3, 2007

Kylie Minogue - Botox? Maybe not...


Is Kylie Minogue on Botox? The second photo is from Flisted.com, and shows what most people would think is a classic Botox brow. The first photo, however, shows a somewhat similar arched brow from her Locomotion record back in the 80's, before Botox.
So what's going on?
While I agree that the second photo may show an eyebrow with a classic Botox arch, I do find that people's facial asymmetries often exaggerate with age, and a slightly arched eyebrow may become more and more arched as a person ages. We may see this with Duane Johnson, aka the Rock, as he ages.
So does Kylie use Botox? Maybe...not.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Friday, November 30, 2007

Celebrity Plastic Surgery Game


If you need a fun little diversion, check out this celebrity plastic surgery match game on ivillage.com. Click here.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Debbie Gibson in Magazine

This unfortunate photo is from Star Magazine. I hope it's been photoshopped, since her nose was fine to start out with. I really like Debbie Gibson. I was a fan of hers in 9th grade, and think some of her pop songs (Only in My Dreams, Lost in Your Eyes) are pretty cool. Sometimes the nurses make fun of me because of it. Not as manly as Metallica I guess...

Photo credit: jezebel.com by way of dlisted.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Mommy Makeover Video with Dr. Youn

The local Fox affiliate here aired a nice segment last night on a Mommy Makeover which I performed on a patient of mine a couple weeks ago. If you'd like to view it, click here.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Britney Spears Plastic Surgery Rumors Abound



Rumors continue to swirl regarding possible fat reducing treatments for Britney Spears. MakeMeHeal.com has a piece where yours truly is quoted regarding recent rumors that Ms. Spears has undergone either SmartLipo (dumb ads) or Lipodissolve treatments recently while in Las Vegas. At this point, I would say, "WHO CARES??!! Someone should get her some psychological help and keep the scalpel (or needle) away from her!"

On a different topic, I do like her song "Gimme More."

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Monday, November 26, 2007

Nikki Ziering is Cool

Nikki Ziering (American Wedding, Playboy magazine) is one of the celebrities whom I met during my time in Los Angeles. She frequently came to our office for endermologie treatments with the finest cellulite reducer in town, Pamela Lee. Anyways, she was absolutely stunning in person and was always very nice. Right before I left, she gave me a stack of her magazine appearances and signed them "To the top Beverly Hills plastic surgeon," even though she never went under my scalpel.
I haven't seen her in the media lately, except these photos from Hollywoodtuna.com, but I hope she is doing very well. I'd like to tell her "Thanks for being nice to a young doc from Michigan."

For more on anti-cellulite treatments, like Dermosonic, click here and scroll down.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Meg Ryan - Plastic Surgery and Lip Implants?





I like Meg Ryan. Her roles in When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle are classics. But what the heck has happened to her lips???
Her lips do appear to have undergone quite a few changes over the years. She started au naturel (1st photo), then her lips seemed to enlarge and her mouth widen (2nd photo), and fairly recently (3rd and 4th photos) it appears that things are going back towards normal (or nearly that). Here is my take (totally unsubstantiated opinion here):

She appears to have had lip implants placed, most evident in her upper lip. Back in the late 90's many plastic surgeons used Gore Tex implants to "permanently" enlarge the lips. I put "permanently" in parentheses because most patients had them eventually taken out. The problem I see with Gore Tex implants (and most lip implants in general) is that they are too firm to look like normal lip tissue. This can cause the upper lip to look unnaturally stiff. In addition, it can also make the mouth look wider because the implant doesn't allow the lip to pucker normally. This result can be exaggerated with injectables like Restylane and Collagen, which surgeons use to enhance the borders of the lips.
Her lips do appear better now, possibly a result of removal of some or all of the implant, or maybe just due to laying off the additional lip injections. I like her the best before she appears to have had anything done.

Unlike what you see on many celebrities, lip enhancement doesn't always look fake. I enjoy using Juvederm at this time to enhance lips, because it's a very soft, natural-looking substance which seems to stick around for upwards of 6 months, possibly more.

At least she doesn't look like Lisa Rinna.

Check out cityrag.com's evaluation of Meg Ryan here.



Photo credit: 1st photo: urbanintimacy.org, 2nd photo: cityrag.com, 3rd photo: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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Thursday, November 22, 2007

Other Plastic Surgeon Blogs

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are some links to blogs by other plastic surgeons you may be interested in:

Plastic Surgery 101 : Dr. Rob Oliver's blog provides a nice commentary on plastic surgery and medicine in general. He covers some of the medical liability, reform, and general plastic surgery subjects which can be beyond the scope of my blog.

Truth in Cosmetic Surgery: Dr. Disaia's blog was one of the first plastic surgery blogs which didn't focus solely on promoting his practice.

John Diaz, M.D.: Dr. Diaz is a fellow Dr. 90210 alum and friend of mine. He covers plastic surgery, diet, and fitness in his blogs.

Richard Hainer, M.D.: Dr. Hainer is a well-respected Michigan-based plastic surgeon and good friend of mine. His blog covers some general plastic surgery subjects.

Kevin, M.D. Medical Blog: Dr. Kevin is not a plastic surgeon, but his blog is a good read for anyone interested in medicine and medical issues in general.

Any plastic surgeons out there: feel free to leave a comment with a link to your blog.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Scar Wars - My Collaboration with RADAR Magazine


This month's RADAR magazine and its online site have an article which I collaborated on, entitled "Scar Wars." They gave me photos of certain celebrities and asked me to alter their 'signature' features to look as if they've been over-operated on. Click this link to check it out. (Yes, the 'afters' are supposed to look overdone!)
Thanks to Editor-at-large Dale Hrabi for asking me to take part in this project.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Kellie Pickler's Breasts Are Smaller?




Country music star Kellie Pickler was present at the American Music Awards last night. I think she looked fabulous. Very stylish, I must say. Her breasts also looked quite a bit smaller, after their sudden appearance on American Idol several months ago. They appear to have gone from a disproportionate D to a curvy C.
This could be due to one of three reasons: (1) She has lost some weight, causing her breasts to become smaller, (2) Her surgeon replaced her old hefty breast implants with smaller ones, and/or (3) her implants have settled in and swelling has diminished, resulting in smaller breasts. I would bet that the changes we see in Kellie Pickler are a result of both (1) and (3). No matter what they are from, this "small town girl" looks like a big-time beauty.

Photo credit: FOX TV, prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Kim Cattrall and Simon Cowell Use Botox, But No Plastic Surgery




Sex and the City (and Mannequin 1) Actress Kim Cattrall and American Idol judge Simon Cowell have both copped to using Botox as a way to stave off father time. According to MakeMeHeal.com, Ms. Cattrall stated,
“I’m too terrified to get any proper work so I’ve had just little things done. I have a big crease between my eyebrows and I use Botox to get rid of that, but that’s kind of it.”

Simon Cowell stated something very similar recently, according to TMZ.com:
What about plastic surgery? Has Cowell gone under the knife?
"No, absolutely not. I have not had cosmetic surgery," he sniggers. "Yes, I've had Botox, but not in an obsessive way. Then again, every guy I know who works in the City has had it now."

In the photos above, you can see an absence of frown lines between the eyebrows and in the foreheads of both celebrities. Their plastic surgeons have done nice jobs. In other news, Nicole Kidman has finally admitted to having Botox too........just kidding.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Breaches of Patient Confidentiality in Donda West Case?


With all the hubbub about Dr. Donda West's plastic surgeon and his background, one important aspect of this whole tragic turn of events has failed to catch the attention of the media: Patient Confidentiality. I've always been taught that government-mandated patient privacy laws prohibit a doctor from giving out a patient's private health information to others without the consent of the patient. Only under certain circumstances are we, as physicians, allowed to release this health information to another person (usually only in emergency situations). So then... Was it lawful for the two plastic surgeons involved with this situation (Dr. Jan Adams and Dr. Andre Aboolian) to discuss Donda West's plastic surgery with the press??? Did Dr. Aboolian break the law by announcing through his publicist that he saw Donda West in consultation for plastic surgery? (click here for link)

As a physician and plastic surgeon, patient confidentiality is of extreme and upmost importance to me and my patients. The fact that these physicians are discussing the tragic details of Dr. Donda West's plastic surgery to the lay media strikes me as self-serving on both counts. With all the horrible accusations being hurled at Dr. Adams, one can see why he would talk with the media as a way to explain and protect himself (who would blame him?). As for Dr. Aboolian, what purpose does it serve (other than self-promotion and publicity) that he release Donda West's personal health information to the public the day after she tragically dies?

These are just some thoughts from an admitted 'non-expert' in patient privacy laws. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

More on Donda West's Plastic Surgery-Related Death



More information is coming out regarding the tragic death of Kanye West's mom after plastic surgery. According to CNN.com, Donda West underwent a breast reduction and tummy tuck on Friday, Nov 9th at the surgery center of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Jan Adams. The procedure took approximately 8 hours, after which she was sent home to recuperate. On Saturday she was found unresponsive and in respiratory distress. She was later pronounced dead at 8:28 pm at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center. An autopsy performed today was inconclusive, pending toxicology tests.

So...what happened??

Obviously I wasn't there and cannot comment exactly on the specifics of this sad case, but there are some points to consider:


1. The plastic surgeon who performed the procedure, to my knowledge, is a bona-fide plastic surgeon who underwent all of the necessary training to perform these surgeries competently. Although the internet is buzzing with reports about his past, his training at the University of Michigan and UCLA earned him board-eligibility to be a plastic surgeon (although he was not board-certified). He is not some kook ER physician posing as a plastic surgeon.

2. An 8 hour "body" procedure is a long surgery to perform on someone who is 58, but is very often performed successfully. I know of no absolute guidelines limiting the length of a surgery, as this is usually a joint decision between the plastic surgeon and the anesthesiologist. In general, a healthy 58 year old should tolerate surgery well. I try to limit my surgeries to 6 hours or less, but this is just my comfort level and cannot necessarily be transferred to another surgeon.

3. Preoperative clearance is important for patients who show signs of heart disease or other illnesses. While this cannot ensure that there will be no complications, it can help prevent unforeseen risks. I routinely require preoperative clearance by a primary care physician prior to most plastic surgery procedures. There is no evidence in this case that preoperative clearance was not obtained by Dr. Adams (although he hasn't commented on this).

4. Plastic surgery is serious business. Death is a possibility with every medical procedure, from colonoscopy to plastic surgery, whether preoperative clearance is obtained or not. This is one of those things that I always pray never happens to a patient of mine, and is always a concern every time a patient undergoes anesthesia. A report in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal noted only 1 death in 51,459 plastic surgery procedures. That number is still too high for me not to get gray hairs on my head.

5. What caused her death? I can't tell you for sure, but some possibilities exist. A pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lungs) is possible, but would usually be a bit more delayed. Excessive bleeding is a possibility, and may have contributed to heart strain resulting in a heart attack. This may also be a result of massive fluid shifts after a lot of plastic surgery. This is something that could occur in this time frame.


I think the lessons for patients to take from this are:


1. Make sure to question your plastic surgeon as to whether the length of your surgery should have you consider splitting it up into two separate operations. I quite often do this with patients who want a breast lift with implants and tummy tuck.
2. Get preoperative clearance by your primary care physician, especially if you are older than 40 and have medical problems.
3. Make sure your surgery is performed in an accredited surgery center with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
4. If you have general anesthesia and go home afterwards, make sure someone is with you at all times during your immediate recovery (first 16-36 hours) so they can call for help if needed.


For more information on choosing a plastic surgeon, click here and here.

For information on safety in plastic surgery, click here for the ASPS FAQ's.


Photo credit: prphotos.com


Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Monday, November 12, 2007

Kanye West's mother dies from plastic surgery-related complications



A very sad story is being reported by several news sources. Apparently Kanye West's mother has died recently likely from complications of plastic surgery. One source is reporting that she underwent a breast reduction and liposuction and stopped breathing while at home recuperating. She was rushed to Centinela Freeman Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.


A Beverly Hills plastic surgeon has claimed to have seen Mrs. West in consultation and offered surgery after she passed a medical clearance, which was never returned to him. She may have had a thyroid condition or other problem which could affect her heart and predispose her to a heart attack. Reports are still sketchy, and an autopsy is expected to be conducted by Wednesday.

It's always a sad thing to hear of someone dying after having elective surgery. My thoughts go out to Kanye West and the rest of her family.

For more information on the death of Donda West, click here and here and here.

Photo credit: prphotos.com
Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Chyna Doll and Plastic Surgery



Former WWE Wrestler and The Surreal Life star Chyna has undergone quite a metamorphosis over the last dozen or so years. When she first arrived on the wrestling scene she was quite masculine-looking. Since then she appears to have undergone a number of plastic surgeries that have made her look more and more feminine. Some procedures she may have had include breast augmentation, chin reduction, brow reduction, lip augmentation, Botox, cheek implants, rhinoplasty, and possibly upper blepharoplasty. She looks much better than she did during her earlier years.
I won't write much more, because if I ever come across her she'd probably kick my a--.
Photo credit: prphotos.com
Thanks for reading.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

You're Invited







We're having a Holiday Open House at my office this Tuesday, Nov 13th from 4-7 pm. Stop by if you'd like to meet me and/or my staff to discuss skin care, laser treatments, chemical peels, Botox, Restylane, and surgery. There will be refreshments, food, and gift bags for everyone. We will even be holding raffle drawings for hundreds of dollars worth of prizes (sorry, no surgery!). I hope to meet you there!





To print out the invitation, click here.



Call (248) 650-1900 to RSVP.



Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Plastic Surgery Disasters

Here is a link to a website called Plastic Surgery Disasters. It has quite a few before-and-afters of celebrities and their plastic surgery. It looks like quite a few may have been lifted off the Awful Plastic Surgery website, though.

Click here for the site.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

The controversy of fat melting injections



Allure Magazine has a fascinating article this month (November) written by Joan Kron on lipodissolve and other fat melting injections. The article, titled "Fat Chance," is an in depth analysis of the risks, benefits, and even unethical marketing of this controversial treatment. I have touched on mesotherapy (the generic term for fat melting injections) in this blog in the past, and must admit that I do not perform these treatments. I am, however, very interested in their possible utility once they are proven safe and effective.
Some interesting points about fat melting injections:
1. The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts in August voted to outlaw lipodissolve treatments, except for approved drug trials. A court judge then blocked the ruling from taking effect in response to legal action from a lipodissolve chain. A trial is pending.
2. It is against the law to perform lipodissolve in Canada and Brazil.
3. England has prohibited advertising lipodissolve, and doctor's insurance no longer covers these procedures.
4. There are some documented scientific papers which show nice improvement from fat melting injections without major side effects, but none of these have included an FDA-approved clinical trial to formally document its safety and efficacy.
5. According to an online Allure article, Realself.com has found that employees from two of these fat melting clinics have bombarded their message boards and comments areas with propaganda while posing as actual patients.
6. According to Allure: Essentially, lipodissolve clinics are practicing "human experimentation, due to the lack of significant data to support the claims to the consumer," says Dr. Rod Rohrich, chief of plastic surgery at the University of Texas, Southwest Medical Center.

So what do I think of fat melting injections?
My take is that these controversial treatments are very intriguing and hopefully will live up to expectations. As a physician, however, my first priority is to the safety of my patients. A treatment like this needs to be proven to be safe and effective before I perform it on someone. Otherwise, it is considered human experimentation and should be explained to the patient in this way. There are too many doctors out there, however, who get blinded by greed and see this as their ticket to riches. Our patients deserve better than a non-proven treatment without proven safety, standardization of medication, or realistic expectations. Hopefully in the near future fat melting treatments will be proven safe and effective.

Photo credit: Allure.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Daniel Craig States People with Plastic Surgery Look Like "Freaks"


Actor Daniel Craig was recently quoted by AZ Central on his thoughts about plastic surgery:

The James Bond star is determined to grow old gracefully, and thinks stars who do choose to go under the knife risk looking like "freaks" when they are older.
He said, "It's tricky, it really is, because no-one likes to get old and sag. People can improve themselves when they are younger, but when you're 60 or 70, you start looking like a freak. You end up looking like a lesbian big sister and that's not right!"

"Lesbian big sister??" What an arse.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Nicole Kidman Denies Plastic Surgery



According to TransWorldNews, actress Nicole Kidman has denied having anything done to her face. According to the article:

The Australian actress insists her face is all natural. “To be honest, I am completely natural. I have nothing in my face or anything,” she says.
So what keeps her skin looking like porcelain? “I wear
sunscreen, and I don’t smoke,” she adds. “I take care of myself. And I’m very proud to say that.”

Hmmm....No Botox???

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Friday, November 2, 2007

Jane Seymour Admits to Plastic Surgery


56 Year old Actress Jane Seymour has recently admitted to having plastic surgery. According to People magazine, she had a blepharoplasty over a decade ago to remove bags from her eyes ("Genetically I had baggy eyes, and photographers said they didn't want to spend money endlessly having to eradicate the bags"), breast implants (so small her plastic surgeon had to "special order them"), and Botox only once a few years ago. She stated, "I haven't had a facelift. This is what a 56 year old woman looks like - with wrinkles."

I've always liked Jane Seymour. Most women who have plastic surgery are like her. She's had a few things done to improve her outer appearance, but hasn't gone overboard nor changed the essence of how she looks. It's refreshing to see a star like her admit to well-done plastic surgery.

I hope she continues dancing right into the finale of Dancing with the Stars.
Link to other post about Jane: here
Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Christopher Knight - Laser Hair Removal



On the latest episode of Dr. 90210, the Brady Bunch's Christopher Knight underwent laser hair removal on his neck, between his eyes, inside his ears, and even inside his nose! While my practice offers laser hair removal, I've never seen it done to some of these weird areas. I'm not the one who normally does it though, since most of my time is spent in surgery.
Come to think of it, maybe I can have my aesthetician Otilia zap the inside of my nose...

To view a television segment I did of laser hair removal for local Fox 2 News, click here.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.



Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Queen Latifah on her Breast Reduction



The latest issue of People magazine has an interview with Queen Latifah, where she discusses her breast reduction surgery in 2003:

What were you before? "An E or an F cup. I was pretty big. Now I'm like a DD. I wanted to be a triple. They took one D too many! So that was hard to deal with. And there's scarring and stitches."

I find it unusual that a breast reduction patient asks to be a DDD after surgery. Most of them ask me to be a C or even a B, which often doesn't proportionally match the rest of the body. Health insurance will often pay for this surgery, but most patients need to have documented pain with removal of over a pound off each breast to be approved. Women who have less than a DD or DDD cup size usually don't get insurance coverage.

I think Queen Latifah's breasts look good. They seem to match her body. She does probably have scars which extend around her areolae, vertically down to her breast crease, and horizontally under her breast. Most scars fade considerably with time, and often end up as a faint line.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.



Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Hot Topics in Plastic Surgery

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. My wife and I spent the weekend in Baltimore, where I attended part of the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. I presented a talk on "Lunchtime" facelift surgery at the "Hot Topics" seminar, which covers new and emerging trends in plastic surgery. Some of the other interesting topics included:

1. Mesotherapy and Injection Lipolysis - separating the hype (a lot) from the science (pretty little). Most physicians agreed that practitioners who are performing these treatments on patients were basically conducting their own human experimentation, since these substances are not standardized nor are they approved by the FDA for this purpose. More on this later.
2. Smart Lipo - no scientific evidence was presented that it actually VISIBLY tightened up skin, in contrast to some misleading advertising. I prefer VASER LipoSelection.
3. Stem cell advances - the wave of the future. The Distant future.
4. Fat grafting to the breast - very controversial, as it may create calcifications which can mimic breast cancer on mammograms. Often used in breast cancer reconstruction, though, after the breast tissue is removed via a mastectomy.
5. Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Therapy for postoperative pain - by Ivivi Technologies - has some promise. I used the Actipatch in the past and didn't notice any change. However, Ivivi is a different product and a different company, so there can definitely be some merit here. A friend of mine, Dr. Rob Oliver, has some good information about it. Check Plastic Surgery 101 for more info.
6. "Lunchtime" Facelifts - This trend often involves misleading advertising and deceptive marketing tactics. In contrast to what many of these companies will tell you, the procedures are not innovative or new, and in fact have been around for decades. Most of these types of "mini-surgeries" have been long abandoned by reputable plastic surgeons since they just don't work very well. A mini facelift has mini results.
7. GFX - Radiofrequency waves which ablate nerves, thereby reducing wrinkles. Nicknamed "the permanent Botox," this treatment has potential to do what Botox does, but permanently. Not FDA approved yet.

These are just a few of the many very interesting 'hot' topics in plastic surgery today. Thanks to renowned plastic surgeons Dr. Joe Gryskiewicz, Dr. Bill Adams, and Dr. V. Leroy Young for inviting me to be a presenter.

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Britney's Lips Still Look Overdone


It's been several days since Britney Spears appears to have had her lips augmented. They are still puffy, with obliteration of the cupid's bow of the upper lip. Her lips are also out of proportion, looking unnatural. This type of swelling is unlikely to be caused by collagen, since it usually creates less initial puffiness than Restylane, a more likely culprit.

US Weekly has a nice article on Britney's lips in this week's issue.

Somebody help her.

For more on lip augmentation and celebrities, visit cityrag.com

Photo credit: dlisted.com

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
:

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Marie Osmond : A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Plastic?


Marie Osmond is making news lately for fainting on live TV last night during Dancing with the Stars. She made waves a few years ago sporting what appeared to be a browlift. In the second photo you can see that her brow is excessively elevated, a possible consequence of a recently performed browlift. It appears to have settled down quite a bit over time, and looks pretty good now. Some of my endoscopic browlift patients look a bit over-elevated in the initial postoperative period, but never to the extent that we saw with Marie Osmond. It's possible that her surgeon may have released some of the fixation to her browlift (allowing it to drop) after the public backlash against her appearance.
I hope her health is fine after her abrupt face plant on TV last night. I don't watch the show regularly, but have always been partial to Jane Seymour. She looks fantastic! Not an ounce of Botox on her beautiful face! She looks almost as good as she did in that great classic movie filmed here in Michigan, Somewhere in Time.
Photo credit: francesfarmersrevenge.com by way of AwfulPlasticSurgery.com?, prphotos.com
Thanks for reading.




Monday, October 22, 2007

Georgio Armani = Sun Damage Galore


Calling Obagi! Dr. Disaia's blog has a post on the sun damage which is evident in Georgio Armani's face. The dark skin and age spots can be nearly completely reversed by a strong course of the Obagi Condition and Enhance Program. This is the only skin care line that I've seen to effectively reverse damage as bad as his without chemical peels or laser resurfacing. It takes some time (months) and usually creates some skin reaction (like dryness and flaking) but it does seem to do the trick. With skin like his, I would anticipate a good chance of skin cancers in the future which could have some devastating consequences. Click here to see that!

Stay out of the sun everybody! (Or at least use good sunblock)

Thanks for reading.
Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon
Anthony Youn, M.D.
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