Jennifer Aniston - More Plastic Surgery?

TheBosh.com has a recent post on Jennifer Aniston's possible plastic surgery. According to a plastic surgeon, in addition to a rhinoplasty, he believes:

"It looks like she may have had some filler in her upper lip. It's subtle, but it benefits her face," he says. "Her brows look elevated, which means she may have had some Botox in her forehead."

I can see how this photo could resemble a person with Botox and subtle lip filler like Restylane. She, obviously, has denied anything but a functional septoplasty. Whatever she's had, she looks great.

Photo credit: TheBosh.com

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

Patricia Heaton - Belly Button-less?

Several websites are posting photos of Patricia Heaton in a bikini and claiming she has no belly button after having a tummy tuck. Is this true? And if so, why?

It's hard to tell from these photos if her umbilicus (belly button) was removed during her tummy tuck. If it was, this is actually not that uncommon, as many patients who have a tummy tuck have a hernia of their belly button as well. Some surgeons will repair the hernia at the time of the tummy tuck surgery. When this occurs, there is a risk that the belly button will lose its blood supply and die. Some surgeons will pre-empt this process by actually removing the belly button at the time of the surgery, with plans to remake a new one later. I tend to repair it at the time of surgery or have it done after the tummy tuck has completely healed.

To view a Fox News segment I did on a woman who had a tummy tuck and belly button hernia fixed, click here.

To view my other post on Patricia Heaton's Mommy Makeover, click here.

Photo link: vizuble

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

How things change...

Here is a great ad from the 1970's which shows just how much things change. "Young looking skin tomorrow??!!" Today we believe that damage from the sun's rays are the leading cause of premature aging, possibly followed by the effects of smoking. Hereditary influences have a large part, too.

Thanks to a great site, Cosmetic Makeovers, for the image.

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

MSNBC Celeb Slideshow and Top 7 Tips

MSNBC asked me to comment on the various before-and-after photos of 21 Top Celebrities. They've turned it into a slideshow, which has gotten over 2 million visitors in one day (now if only my blog could do that!). Click here for the slideshow.

They also asked me for my Top 7 Tips for Turning Back the Clock Without Looking Bizarre. Here they are:
1. Don't Freeze Your Forehead
2. Avoid the Trout Pout
3. Don't Turn Back the Clock Too Far.
4. Be an Individual
5. Don't Wait til it's Too Late
6. Remember that Less is More
7. Pick Your Doctor Wisely.

For more information on my Top 7 Tips, click here.

Thank you to msnbc, Linda Dahlstrom, and Julia Sommerfeld for including me in their story (and for paying me!).

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

Sally Field - Plastic Surgery?

Has Sally Field had plastic surgery? Make Me Heal.com thinks so. Click here to see their thoughts on her possible plastic surgery. Click the image to see it enlarged to decide for yourself!

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

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10 Cosmetic Procedures to Avoid - From ABC News

ABC News has an article announcing "10 Cosmetic Procedures to Avoid." Here are the ten, followed by whether I agree with ABC News to avoid them.

1. Mesotherapy and Lipodissolve - Avoid. See posts here
2. Cosmetic Foot Surgery - No Comment
3. Permanent Filler Injections - Avoid. See post here.
4. Injection for Breast Augmentation - Avoid. See post here.
5. Cosmetic Leg Lengthening Surgery - Avoid!
6. Buttock Implants - I like using fat instead to augment the buttocks, but don't have a lot of experience with the buttock implants themselves.
7. Permanent Makeup - No Comment
8. Extreme Facial Procedures - I am not sure what they mean by this. CO2 laser resurfacing is still common, and although I do not do this procedure due to its prolonged recovery, is still considered mainstream.
9. Augmentation Mastopexy (Breast Lift with Implants) - I do this procedure quite often, but am always very aware of the high complexity of this surgery. In the right hands and with the right patient counseling, it can be a very effective and safe surgery.
10. Any Procedure by Untrained Hands - I cannot agree more. There are too many fake plastic surgeons out there victimizing unsuspecting patients. Check out this link about how to find a (real) plastic surgeon.

Thanks for reading.

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

Andrew Lloyd Webber - Plastic Surgery?

In honor of Andrew Lloyd Webber's upcoming appearance on American Idol, I thought I'd address the question: Why does he look so odd?

Take a look at the older photo and compare it to the more recent photo. Three things come to mind:
1) He appears to have had an upper blepharoplasty, where the excess skin of his upper eyelids was removed. They look much more open now. This may have been combined with a browlift as well.
2) He has a weak chin, combined with a heavy neck.
3) A person can look unusual if one part of his or her face is rejuvenated and younger-looking, while the rest of the face continues to look older. In my opinion, this is the main reason why he looks somewhat strange.

How would I improve how he looks? I would recommend a lower facelift and possible chin augmentation in order to match the rest of his face with his rejuvenated eyelids. If the facelift is performed tastefully, I believe he would actually look more natural and less strange after the surgery than he does today.

As an aside, I think he is an extremely talented composer and have enjoyed many of his works. I brought my mom to see Cats, and have even seen Starlight Express by myself in London (while being the only person in the entire front row - talk about embarassing). Don't ask why...

Photo credit: starpulse.com, prphotos.com

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

My Beautiful Mommy Book

A new children's book to be released on Mother's Day is causing quite a stir around the country. My Beautiful Mommy is a book written by a plastic surgeon and aimed at 4-7 year old girls. It depicts a girl experiencing her mom go through a rhinoplasty and tummy tuck. Its aim is to educate children as to what is happening when their mommy goes to a plastic surgery consultation and subsequently undergoes the above surgeries. The program Happening Now interviewed me and psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow about our thoughts on this book.

Here's my take: With the vast amount of plastic surgery being performed today, it's unfortunately inevitable that some children will be exposed to their mom (or dad) having work done. Because of that, I do think that some tool to help parents explain what's happening is a beneficial thing. I do not agree with how this book portrays plastic surgery, however, because it stylizes and glamorizes plastic surgery and makes it somewhat 'sexy' to have it done. The doctor looks like the cartoon Superman and the mommy looks like a supermodel who always wears belly shirts. IF we need to expose our children to plastic surgery, we should do so in a more medical, reconstructive, and restorative way. Instead of "Mommy is having plastic surgery to be prettier," it should be "Mommy is going to the doctor to treat the loose skin on her tummy to make it like it used to be."

Maybe I should write a book called My Mommy is Beautiful With or Without Plastic Surgery.

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

Jenna Jameson's Lips are Huge

One of my favorite celebrity blogs, Celebrity Smack, has a number of new photos of Jenna Jameson at the premiere of the new movie, Zombie Strippers. She's been looking pretty rough for around a year now. Jenna's gotten overly skinny, had her breast implants removed or downsized (not necessarily a bad thing), and has her lips overly plumped. Her lips really look unnatural. If you are interested in seeing Zombie Strippers, it opens Friday.

I don't think my pregnant wife would be happy with me watching it...

Link: Celebrity Smack blog

For my previous posts on Jenna, click here.

Thanks for reading.

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

Lipodissolve: Too Good To Be True?

Good Morning America and 20/20 have recently broadcast investigations of Lipodissolve. Click here for their online story: 'Lunchtime Lipo' Draws Concern From Doctors. There is also a link to a streaming video of the GMA segment, where some patients are interviewed who developed disastrous results.

A few points:
1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. If you have a doctor perform a cosmetic procedure who is not a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, be very wary.
3. I don't perform Lipodissolve, but I am interested in learning how it may be done safely. If it is performed on patients, then patients must be informed first about potential risks, potential for little or no benefit, and that the injections are not FDA-approved for that purpose.
4. Stay away from fake plastic surgeons.
5. If you absolutely must lose fat in a nontraditional way, then click here.


For my other posts on mesotherapy and lipodissolve, click here.

Thanks for reading.

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

Hillary Duff's Veneers

It's a quiet time for celebrity plastic surgery news, so I thought I'd comment on some cosmetic work of the past.
In August 2005, Hillary Duff had veneers placed on her teeth after chipping them on a microphone. Her dentist was a bit overzealous, however, causing her to undergo quite a bit of scrutiny for her new, overly-long teeth. She subsequently had them shortened and has looked great ever since. Good thing, since those extra-long teeth were "So Yesterday."

Photo credit: Life and Style magazine

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

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Plastic Surgery Recession?

Slate.com has an interesting article about plastic surgery and the current possible recession the country is undergoing. I can't say that I agree with everything written in this article, but I did find it a very interesting read.

The location where I practice (the metro Detroit area) is undergoing a definite recession. Jobs are being lost (many from the auto industry), people are fleeing the state to move elsewhere, and the real estate market is in the toilet. While the population here is shrinking, there appear to be no shortage of real and fake plastic surgeons still entering this market. Many have also turned to hyping their takes on procedures as something special (even if there is no scientific data to support this) as a way to lure patients in the door. Plasticized.com has what they consider to be an example of this from a plastic surgeon in my area.

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

Quick Links

Some quick links if you are interested...

1. The OC Register polls dermatologists and plastic surgeons on their thoughts regarding Priscilla Presley. One of them actually stated, “I would recommend that she looks fabulous now and that she does not need to have any more work done.” Huh?? What's he smoking? Click here.

2. Juliette Binoche sees "fear" in the faces of women who have Botox. I had 'fear' in my eyes when a "Dan in Real Life" DVD (which she starred in) showed up via Netflix, but it was actually a nice little movie. Click here.

3. Dr. Rob Oliver comments on Accolate and Singulair for breast implant capsular contractures. I've been using this for years, with some benefit. We don't have a lot else to try for patients with capsular contracture short of surgery. Click here.

4. The Evolution of Emilio Estevez, on Awful Plastic Surgery. This Young Gun is no longer Billy the Kid, but more Billy the middle-aged man. Click here.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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

Whitney Houston - Breast Implants?

Does Whitney Houston have breast implants? This photo from Ayyyy! is very suggestive of it. The two half-grapefruit look can often signify breast implants placed above the muscle in a person with very little breast tissue. In these patients the implant makes up nearly the entire breast and the round look of the implant is not blunted by the muscle covering it. For this reason, in really thin patients it is often best to put the implants partially under the pectoralis muscle.

Is Kevin Costner now the Boobyguard?

Photo credit: Ayyyy!

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

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

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Demi Moore Admits to Leech Therapy

On a recent appearance on David Letterman's Late Show, Demi Moore admitted to undergoing a turpentine bath and leech therapy in order to "thin" and "detoxify" her blood. It occurred at some woman's house in Austria. The leech was placed onto her belly button, where it latched and sucked blood until it was fully engorged and fell off.

Leeches??!! Yuck.

I find it completely amazing that celebrities are comfortable admitting to ridiculous 'treatments' like this, yet still can't admit they've had plastic surgery. It's more appropriate for a Hollywood star to admit they've had high pressure water shot up their rectum (the celebrity colonic) than a facelift. With the slow trickle of stars coming forth and admitting their plastic surgery, maybe things will eventually change.

For the video from the Late Show, click here to visit Cosmetic Makeovers.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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

Plastic Surgery Continued to Grow in 2007

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the most recognized plastic surgery society in the U.S., has recently released their 2007 statistics. Each year the ASPS conducts a survey of its member plastic surgeons (comprises over 90% of board-certified plastic surgeons) to determine trends and numbers of plastic surgeries performed. Here are some highlights:

1. There were almost 12 million cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in 2007, a 7 percent increase from 2006 and a 59% increase from 2000.
2. The top 5 cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were: (1) Breast augmentation (up 6%), (2) Liposuction (unchanged), (3) Rhinoplasty (down 7%), (4) Eyelid surgery (up 3%), and (5) Tummy tuck (up 1%).
3. There were nearly 10 million minimally-invasive procedures performed, up 10% from 2006.
4. The top 5 minimally invasive cosmetic procedures were: (1) Botox (up 13%), (2) Hyaluronic acid fillers (up 35%), (3) Chemical peel (down 4%), (4) Laser hair removal (up 2%), and (5) Microdermabrasion (up 10%).
5. The amount of facelifts performed in 2007 has actually risen by 14% over 2006.

Some of my thoughts on these trends:
1. Even with a slowing of the national economy, plastic surgery continues to be a hot market. While more and more people are being introduced to plastic surgery via minimally invasive procedures like Botox, the traditional surgical procedures remain more popular than ever.
2. Breast augmentation is the top plastic surgery for the second year in a row, no doubt aided by the return of the silicone gel implants in November 2006.
3. Hyaluronic acid fillers rose from the fifth most common minimally invasive procedure in 2006 to the second most common in 2007. Patients are beginning to see the longevity of these excellent fillers (much better than collagen) without the long-term risks of longer-acting fillers (like silicone - shudder). I predict these numbers will continue to grow as more and more companies get into this market.
4. The status of facelifts may be finally turning a corner. Patients may be finally figuring out that most of the overly-hyped lunchtime facelifts are just that: hype. These mini-thread-lunchstyle-facelifts don't compare to the results of a real, muscle-tightening facelift, no matter what the fancy, deceptive advertising might say. With more patients undergoing real facelifts by real board-certified plastic surgeons, it is possible that patients are learning that advertising is not always truthful.
5. Keep in mind that these numbers do not reflect plastic surgery procedures being performed by non-board-certified plastic surgeons, such as cosmetic surgeons (dentists, ER Docs, ENT's performing breast augmentation, and the like). I would unfortunately assume that the numbers of plastic surgery procedures being performed by improperly trained doctors continues to rise at an alarming rate.

For more on the ASPS 2007 statistics, click here.

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

Dolly Parton - Plastic Surgery on American Idol

Dolly Parton was featured on American Idol last night. I thought she looked good... for Dolly Parton. I think Dolly is somewhat like Pam Anderson, in that they look somewhat artificial, but somehow it works for them since they are larger than life stars. She has nary a wrinkle on her face, but somehow looks much better than Joan Rivers, who appears to have had a similar amount of work done. This may be because her plastic surgeons have focused on addition of volume to her face in addition to tightening of the skin. I thought she looked radiant. She's such a musical legend, a a sweet, cute woman. I wouldn't want my mom to look like her, but it sure works for Dolly!

The website Dollymania addresses her plastic surgery in this way:
She has freely admitted to a great deal of plastic surgery, including having anything sucked, tucked or lifted when it starts to sag. She has said she had her breasts "lifted," has had work done on her face, neck and rear end, regularly endures chemical facial peels and takes collagen injections to hide wrinkles. She has said that she is not ashamed of having plastic surgery because she wants to look her best for her fans and believes anyone who wants to have it done, has the money to pay for it, thinks it will improve their self-esteem and visits a licensed and qualified doctor for the procedure should go ahead and do it.

For my brief comments on Dolly Parton's plastic surgery, click here and here and here.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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