Who's Getting Breast Implants? And the Portrait 3D by Axis Three

Last night I was featured in a segment on the local NBC affiliate Channel 4 WDIV in a segment titled Who's Getting Breast Implants? In the segment we meet a patient of mine and you can even see how we've been using the Portrait 3D by Axis Three to help the patients decide what size breast implant to use. To view the streaming video, click here.

Thanks to Sarah Mayberry and Dr. Frank McGeorge for a great segment.

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

Beauty Junkies:

I've been reading this very interesting book by Alex Kuczynski, called Beauty Junkies: Inside our $15 Billion Obsession with Cosmetic Surgery. I'm about halfway through, and have really enjoyed it so far. The writer is a 30-something woman who explores the past, present, and future of cosmetic plastic surgery. So far she has followed a woman on a surgical safari in Africa, chronicled the history of plastic surgery from World War I to today, explored the boom in non-plastic surgeons performing plastic surgery with its sometimes terrifying results, and detailed how the definition of beauty may (or may not) have changed over hundreds of years.

It's a fascinating read for anyone interested in plastic surgery and beauty in general. And no, I'm not one of the many esteemed plastic surgeons quoted in the book.

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

Botox Gel and Internal Bras? The Future of Plastic Surgery

For all of you who are wondering what the future of plastic surgery has in store, there is a very interesting article on Aol.com written by Lan Nguyen which addresses it. Be on the lookout for Botox gel, nonsurgical fat reduction with ultrasound waves, injecting your own platelet-rich fibrin into your face, and a bra implanted inside your breast. These four products/procedures could dramatically change the field of plastic surgery if proven effective. There are several big-name plastic surgeons quoted in the article, along with little old me.

One big thing that should be added to this article: Stem cells. The future of both medicine and plastic surgery.

Check out the article here.

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

Three Stars At 35... How Do They Look?

AOL's Styleline recently included my comments in an article about how three stars look at age 35. Who do you think is aging most gracefully? Kate? Fergie? Eva? See my comments, and the comments of a personal trainer and an image expert here.

Personally, I think Eva looks the best, no question. Her skin is pristine, and she shows almost no typical aging signs that most people exhibit in their third decade of life (crow's feet, facial volume loss, sun damage). It's probably because she hasn't birthed eight children, married a tool like Jon Gosselin, experimented with Meth, or peed her pants on stage.

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

Mackenzie Phillips - $50K of injectables and laser treatments

Mackenzie Phillips has recently admitted to undergoing $50,000 of facial fillers, Botox, laser treatments, hair extensions, and dental work. As you can see by the photos, she does look better and not too plastic. But, does she look $50,000 better?

Although I believe Botox is a very good bang for the buck, she may have been better off spending at least some of that $50,000 on actual surgery IF she was looking for a more dramatic result. A nice lower facelift would look great on her, and cost anywhere between $7000-10,000. However, for those people who don't want surgery, then this is about what you can get: A nice, but temporary improvement.

Story/photo credit: huffingtonpost.com

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

Cynosure Smart Lipo

I went to a fascinating preceptorship/educational course on Cynosure Smart Lipo today, taught by my former residency program director Dr. Steven Ringler. There were 20 other plastic surgeons in attendance from all parts of Southeastern Michigan. Dr. Ringler performed laser-assisted liposuction with the Smart Lipo MPX machine on two patients, and it went very well.

The hottest thing in liposuction surgery right now is laser liposuction. It seems every laser company is coming out with their own laser liposuction machine. The big question is: Are there real benefits of laser liposuction over traditional tumescent liposuction? Proponents will claim that laser liposuction results in less downtime and more skin retraction (tightening). Is that really true? Also, is it safe?

With the recent publicized laser liposuction disaster by an ER doc just a few miles from me, I've been very focused on the safety of laser liposuction. The threat of burns from the laser should be foremost in every plastic surgeon's mind. One thing that I'm really impressed with is the safety mechanism that Cynosure has built into its newest Smart Lipo devices. It would be extremely difficult to burn patients with this machine, and the disaster I mentioned above was with laser liposuction by a different company's device.

One thing is for sure: laser liposuction is hot right now, and will be around for at least the foreseeable future.


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

10 Stars Under 40 Who've Had Way Too Much Plastic Surgery

The Frisky has a post on 10 stars under 40 who've had way too much plastic surgery. #1 is, you guessed it, that annoying frozen faced Heidi Montag. She really does look pretty freaky. I don't agree with everyone on the list, such as Megan Fox (gorgeous!) or Ashlee Simpson (does anyone think she looked better before her nose job?).

Is there anyone you would add to the list?

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

Do You Want to Be on TV?

A national television program has asked me to help them locate someone who may fit any of the following criteria:
- Have you had plastic surgery to look like a particular celebrity?
- Have you had botched buttock implant surgery?
- Have you had botched chin or cheek implant surgery?

- Have you had too much plastic surgery and are interested in a make-Under?

If you fit any of the above criteria and would like to appear on national TV to tell your story, feel free to email me at miplasticsurgeon@yahoo.com.


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

VH1 News Presents: Plastic Surgery Obsession

Premiering this Sunday, March 21st at 10pm ET/PT on VH1 is a new one hour special called Plastic Surgery Obsession. From their website:

VH1 NEWS provides an in-depth look at the new "face" of plastic surgery - featuring fresh interviews with doctors, celebs and pop culture experts.
Some highlights:
Cutting Edge: What are the some of the ever evolving industry's newest procedures and secrets?
Younger Faces: The increase in teen plastic surgery: How young is too young?
The Dark Side: Body Dismorphia, depression, and sometimes even death are just a few of the horrifying dangers involved in looking "amazing."
Plastic Surgery Disasters: Some of Tinseltown's most infamous cosmetic surgery calamities

The VH1 crew was kind enough to include me as one of their doctors (or should I be categorized as a pop culture expert... or both?). Should be a fun show! Set your DVRs!
For more information, click here.

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

Julie Bowen - Breast Implants?

Has Modern Family's Julie Bowen had a breast augmentation? By the look of this photo, it appears definitely possible. I remember once reading a magazine article that mentioned her as one of the relatively few Hollywood starlets with smallish breasts. They don't look so small here. If she has implants, they do fit her body well and are not excessively large.

I really like Julie Bowen. I thought she was amazing in Ed. In fact, Ed is probably my favorite show of all time. I was really bummed out when that fine show went off the air a few years ago. There just aren't many funny, feel-good shows like that still around. I miss Ed. I hate hate hate detective dramas!

My favorite TV shows of all time:
1. Ed
2. Seinfeld
3. Lost
4. Survivor
5. The Rachael Ray Show and Dr. 90210 (for obvious reasons)

To view streaming video of a local NBC segment I did on 3D breast augmentation imaging, click here.

Photo credit: hollywoodtuna.com

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

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Dr. Richard Hainer - Rochester, Michigan Plastic Surgeon

Every so often I post on a plastic surgeon whom I know and can vouch for. In the past, I've posted on such surgeons as Dr. Terry Higgins and Dr. Steven Svehlak, both great friends of mine and fantastic plastic surgeons. Dr. Richard Hainer is also a part of that group.

When I arrived back to Michigan from L.A., Dr. Hainer was one of the only plastic surgeons who welcomed me to the area. Even with the competitive cosmetic surgery climate he took it upon himself to offer me whatever assistance he could provide. I have come to know him as a fine surgeon and a good friend. In fact, we often exchange information on the latest techniques in plastic surgery and how we can improve our surgical results. One surgery which he described to me is the Hybrid Breast Lift/Reduction, which combines traditional U.S. techniques with European techniques for a nicer breast shape. I've found that this technique has significantly improved my own breast lift results. Unlike myself, he also performs reconstructive breast surgery, labiaplasty, and hand surgery, all with an eye for detail and achieving optimal results. I don't vouch for a lot of surgeons, but Dr. Hainer is one I do vouch for. His office is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, just a handful of miles from mine.

For his website click here, for his blog click here.

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

Plastic Surgical Procedures Down 17% in 2009 Due to Recession

According to a survey released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, plastic surgery operations were down 17% last year due to the recession. Nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, like Botox, increased by 0.6%, with a total of 10 million surgical and nonsurgical procedures performed last year. For the third year in a row, breast augmentation was the most common plastic surgery performed, with over 300,000 pairs of breasts enhanced last year. Botox injections were the most common nonsurgical procedure, with over 2.5 million Botox treatments performed last year.

These numbers are not surprising to me. Last year was definitely a tough one on plastic surgeons' wallets (although no one should cry for us!!), as most plastic surgeons saw a considerable decline in their practice revenues. This was most apparent in areas like my part of the country, where the crashing U.S. auto industry sent shock waves through the region with hundreds of thousands of auto-related jobs lost. This year has begun much better than last, however, so I bet this downward trend will be reversed next year. I'm pleasantly surprised at how many people still want plastic surgery in this economy!

For more ASAPS stats, click here.




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

"Caulk" Butt Enhancements Hospitalize Six in New Jersey

According to an article on CBS News.com, six New Jersey women were recently hospitalized after receiving buttock injections with silicone used to caulk bathtubs. These treatments were apparently performed by "unlicensed providers."

Seriously?!?!?!?!

A tip for anyone considering injections into your buttocks: Do not allow anyone to inject anything except your own fat into your behind. Anything else is likely to either not work or cause some major problems (think of turning your buttocks into a big vat of cottage cheese). If you do have someone inject fat into your buttocks, make sure the surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Photo credit: CBS News

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

Sandra Bullock - Congrats!

I enjoyed watching the Oscars last night. Best Actress winner Sandra Bullock looked great. I thought her performance in The Blind Side was excellent. Great movie. Great acceptance speech too.

My brother was once an extra on one of her early movies While You Were Sleeping. He had the pleasure of briefly meeting her and said she was very friendly and down-to-earth. It's great to see such a nice person win.

I don't think Sandra's had any plastic surgery.

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

Instant Dimples - The Newest Fad Surgery?

There is an interesting article on MSNBC.com that focuses on a fringe plastic surgery procedure: dimple creation. Yes, there is a surgery to create dimples, and it works pretty well. Contrary to popular belief, it's not a new procedure, as plastic surgeons have been performing it for years. According to the article, the procedure costs between $2000-$5000. A quote from a doctor I know well:

Dr. Ellenbogen, who says he’s been performing dimple-plasties for 30 years, says it’s not a particularly common request.
“I get maybe four requests a year and three of the four I talk out if it because they’re doing it for the wrong reason,” he says.

The procedure basically entails making an incision through the inside of the cheek (in the mouth) and using a suture to connect the skin with a deep muscle in the cheek. This creates scar tissue which will cause the skin to indent when smiling, hence creating a dimple. I've had a few requests for this procedure over the years, but it really is pretty darn uncommon.

I was never really big into dimples until my daughter was born with one.

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

An Internal Bra for Breast Lifts?

Physicians overseas have begun using various types of internal bras to help with breast lift surgery. One of the most frustrating things about performing a breast lift is that no matter how high a surgeon may lift a breast, gravity always takes hold and eventually causes that breast to droop once again. Because the only thing that keeps a lifted breast from drooping is the quality of the skin and breast tissue, it's inevitable that every lifted breast will gradually sag with time, especially if implants are involved.

Knowing this, plastic surgeons in Europe and South Africa are working on implantable internal bras to help prevent breasts from sagging after breast lifts. The devices are similar to the mesh used to prevent hernias from recurring, and basically act as a hammock for the breast. These products do have some merit, in my opinion, but unfortunately it's going to be quite some time before we see them in the States.

For more information, check out the following article from the NY Daily News.

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

Dr. Youn on Fox 2 Detroit This Morning

I had the pleasure of doing The Doctor Is In segment on the local Detroit Fox affiliate this morning. It was a fun experience, and definitely different from all my other television segments. During the hour I spent in the studio I answered many email questions from viewers, stopping several times to do on-air interviews. I must admit that at times I wasn't sure whether to look at the camera or go back to answering email questions! Above is the long segment interview at the end of the program. Take a peek at the before-and-after of my patient and her unfortunate story...

Thanks to Deena Centofanti and everyone at Fox 2 Detroit for their hospitality.

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

Megan Fox - Nose Job?

Has Megan Fox had plastic surgery? We'd like to think that beauty like hers is so amazing that it must be at least somewhat artificial! The photos above are of Megan Fox today and from high school (courtesy of Gather.com). Some allege that she's had a nose job. I'd have to agree. Her nose appears to now be a bit thinner, likely from a very well-performed rhinoplasty.

One thing I realized during my time as a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon is that more actors and actresses than we realize have had a rhinoplasty. Julia Roberts? Michelle Pfeiffer? Ryan Seacrest? Yup. Think so.

Rhinoplasty or not, Megan Fox is stunning.

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

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