Trading Frequent Flier Miles for Plastic Surgery?

Strange story out of Finland: Apparently Finland's biggest airline, Finair, is offering plastic surgery as a way to redeem frequent flier miles. Some details from kansas.com:

It takes 1.32 million points to buy a lower blepharoplasty and 3.18 million points to buy a breast augmentation. That would equal 120 round-trip, business class flights from New York to Helsinki.

So start saving points!


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

Can You Get Angelina Jolie Lips with JolieLips Lip Plumper?

There is a new lip plumper on the market, and it doesn't require injections or surgery... but does it work? JolieLips is a device that utilizes suction to attempt to suck your lips bigger. Melissa Dahl of MSNBC has a fun review of the product here.

The lips swell very easily. That's why when a guy gets socked in the kisser he gets a fat lip, not a fat chin. Because the lips are so sensitive, even a mild treatment like this one can create enough trauma to swell the lips temporarily. I suppose you could do the same thing by slapping yourself in the mouth or performing a high school-type makeout session.

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

Sammy Sosa - Getting Lighter and Lighter

By now you may have seen photos of Sammy Sosa with his altered skin color. The photos above are taken 6 months apart, with the first photo being the most recent. What is he doing to his skin?

According to a source he has been doing a "rejuvenation process" on his skin and was "surprised" it came out so light. It appears that he has had one (or both) of two things: he has been using skin lighteners like hydroquinone and/or he has undergone aggressive chemical peels or laser treatments. Both the lightener creams and peels/lasers can create changes in the melanin of the skin resulting in a lighter color. In caucasians this is usually modest, however in people with darker skin (like Sammy) it can be pretty startling. With time his skin may recover some of the lost color. However, if he has had a major invasive treatment, it may not.

He looks ghostly.

Photo credit: In Your Face blog

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

Nicole Kidman Busts Out at CMA's

Nicole Kidman has created quite a stir about the plastic surgery she appears to exhibit at her recent CMAs appearance. No, it's not a Botox brow or a trout pout. Nicole's breast implants, meet the public. Public, meet Nicole's breast implants. In my opinion, it appears that she has had a recent breast augmentation. Her breasts are overly round, have a space between them, and appear too high. This can be the look of newly postoperative breast implants. At least their size is tasteful. I would have recommended that she keep these puppies under wraps for a few more weeks to allow the swelling to go down.

I think she's a great actress, plastic surgery or not.

Photos: Huffington Post

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

Amy Winehouse - From Drugs to Plastic Surgery?

There are reports that Amy Winehouse has switched from a drug addiction to a... plastic surgery addiction? This website claims that she has had a breast augmentation to increase her size up to a 32D, and now has had her lips plumped up.



What's worse: a drug addiction or a plastic surgery addiction? I would say drug addiction, since you can't get arrested for having too much plastic surgery.


Story/photo credit: http://newsblaze.com/story/20091108125947reye.nb/topstory.html

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

Nicole Kidman's Lips

Awful Plastic Surgery has a couple photos of Nicole Kidman which beg the question: Does she have an implant in her upper lip? It looks like that may be the case.

I've never been a fan of lip implants. In general, they tend to look stiff and unnatural. I tend to prefer Juvederm or Fat to enhance lips, but each one has its limitations. If an implant comes along that doesn't look unnatural and stiff, then I'd consider it.

For another photo of Nicole's lips, click here.

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

Alec Baldwin: "I Intend" To Have Plastic Surgery

Alec Baldwin is quoted in this week's Entertainment Weekly on the possibility he may have plastic surgery:

"I have a great ass, if I may say so," the It's Complicated actor, 51, tells Entertainment Weekly in its annual holiday movie preview issue. "That's a part of my body that needs no surgical enhancement or rearranging."
Still, Baldwin, who turned to an "ass double" when he had to to show off his derriere in the new comedy, out Christmas Day, says he wouldn't rule out getting cosmetic enhancements.
"I'm not saying I wouldn't do something! I intend to do something," he says. "I probably will. Let's put it this way: I wouldn't rule it out because... You don't think I wake up every day and wish I looked like this and this and this? But I can't let that bother me."

All of the Baldwin brothers (except maybe Billy, whom I haven't see in a long time) are looking pretty rough over the past few years.

I've never forgotten how he called his daughter a "thoughtless little pig" several years ago. I have a little daughter myself and can't imagine how someone could say that. I think Alec Baldwin is a hairy, obnoxious jerk... He does make some good movies and TV though.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Evolence is Dead? Plastic Surgeon is Murdered?

A couple big things in the world of plastic surgery:

1. Johnson and Johnson has discontinued its wrinkle filler Evolence. According to an article from Real Self.com the collagen product has been taken off the market and is up for sale. I have never used Evolence although have been invited to become an "Evolence Star." Because the results weren't impressive and I saw no advantage of this product over Restylane or Juvederm, I never bothered to get trained in it. I do know some great plastic surgeons who are big supporters of Evolence, so I'm sure they're disappointed. Maybe it will rise from the ashes like Artefill.

2. It appears that a prominent Tulane plastic surgeon has been stabbed to death and his home set on fire. In a horribly tragic story, reconstructive plastic surgeon Dr. Ralph Newsome, Jr. was knifed to death and then had his French Quarter home set on fire. He was a very accomplished surgeon who mainly treated trauma victims and cancer patients. Was it one of his patients who murdered him? It's possible. I actually know some plastic surgeons who pack heat in case a disgruntled patient decides to attack them. It's truly a scary world out there.

For more on Dr. Newsome, click here.

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

Cosmetic Surgery on a Budget: From AOL.com

Here is a link to an interesting article from AOL.com concerning cosmetic surgery on a budget. They name 6 procedures that are more affordable than ever:
1. Spider vein laser treatment
2. Micro-hair grafting
3. Facial spot removal
4. Earlobe lift
5. Zerona fat removal
6. Latisse eyelash thickener

Check out the article here.

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

Courtney Love Quits Plastic Surgery...Because of Jocelyn Wildenstein?

Courtney Love has apparently sworn off plastic surgery after seeing "The Lion Woman" Jocelyn Wildenstein up close. According to Zimbio.com:

Love ran into the 63-year-old socialite recently and was shocked at the way Wildenstein looked after $4 million worth of cosmetic procedures. Jocelyn is rumored to have had everything from a face lift and lip implants to cheek, chin and breast implants. Courtney said, "I could do with another boob lift, but no way. I don't want to end up looking like her. She looked freaky."

I sometimes see patients who've had grossly overdone facial plastic surgery for consultation. Most people would be surprised at how many of these patients don't want corrective surgery, but are there to get more changes made. These are the ones who can 'scare' off new patients in the waiting room. Can you imagine walking into your plastic surgeon's office and seeing Jocelyn Wildenstein waiting to be seen too? Would you turn around and leave?

photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Maria Shriver - Botox Brow?

I've seen Maria Shriver on TV quite a bit lately, and am always surprised by how her looks have changed over the last 10+ years. To me, she exhibits the classic Botox Brow: A shiny forehead that doesn't move combined with overly arched eyebrows creating a sinister look. The most obvious sign of overdone Botox (or Dysport) is when a person's forehead and eyebrows just don't move, no matter what their expression.



Her face has gotten so gaunt, too. A little facial fat grafting would do wonders for her.



Photo credit: prphotos.com


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

Trend or TORTURE?

The Fox News Channel aired an interesting video on three fashion trends and how they can actually cause health problems. These include:
1. Wearing High Heels
2. Carrying Heavy Bags
3. Wearing Heavy Earrings
If you watch closely you may notice an appearance by my evil twin, Dr. David Youn.
Click here for the video.


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

Wall Street Plastic Surgery

I was asked by Cityfile.com to assess the plastic surgery 'needs' of several of Wall Street's most influential players. Although I don't have the foggiest notion who any of these people are, I'm sure each one of them is worth a heck of a lot more than I am. They may have more power than me, more money than me, and a bigger house than me, but I do have one thing that can trump all of them... I'm much younger than they are.

For more on Wall Streeters and plastic surgery, click here for the Cityfile.com article.

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

Lindsay Lohan - Aging and Plastic Surgery Through the Years

Aol.com has an interesting post on Lindsay Lohan. They asked me to discuss why she looks like she's aging prematurely. Can it be drugs, booze, plastic surgery, or all-of-the-above? Check out their article here.

photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Stephanie Pratt - Trout Pout

Is this the same person? Surprisingly this is Stephanie Pratt before and after she apparently had her lips plumped up with a filler like Juvederm. While a little filler looks nice, too much filler can be a mess. I can't blame her, though. Being the sister of that tool Spencer Pratt can cause even the most stable person to go off the deep end.

At least her lips will settle down within a few months and her trout pout will turn into more of a flounder face...

Photo credit: The Hollywood Gossip.com

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

Schwarzenegger Signs Donda West Plastic Surgery Law

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Donda West plastic surgery law this week. This law requires anyone getting plastic surgery to have medical clearance prior to undergoing the procedure. The law is named after Kanye West's mom, who died after having plastic surgery by a non-board certified plastic surgeon. Some believe that she should never have undergone the surgery in the first place due to pre-existing heart problems.

"Sometimes patients may think they are well enough for cosmetic surgery, but in reality are not," said Assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter, one of the leading sponsors of the bill. "This bill will potentially save lives."

Patient safety should be the most important thing in the minds of all plastic surgeons. That's why the American Society of Plastic Surgeons enacted numerous requirements and initiatives revolving around their "Culture of Safety." All patients should remember to only choose a board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and have your surgery performed in an accredited center.

For more posts on Donda West, click here.
Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Garry Shandling - Plastic Surgery? Botox?

Comedian Garry Shandling made a recent appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. He looks nothing like the Garry Shandling I remember. The photo on the left is the recent one, the one on the right from over 6 months ago. If you take a look at the video on Popeater here, you can see that his forehead is frozen. It doesn't move. I think he's had a bit too much Botox, and maybe some filler like Restylane into the facial wrinkles. Also, when did he gain so much weight? I wonder if he is on medical steroids for some reason?

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

Chris Rock on Roman Polanski

This is a hilarious segment from the Jay Leno Show where Chris Rock tears into Roman Polanski. I don't understand how anyone can stand up for this guy. He drugs and rapes a 13 year old girl, pleads guilty, then flees the country to avoid his punishment? Time does not make the crime any less heinous. They should toss him in jail until he serves the sentence he deserved in the first place.

Chris Rock is the best. He just may be the funniest comic today. Jay Leno seems like a nice guy but his delivery is terrible.

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

Tara Reid To Bear It All In Playboy?

Seriously?? According to X17online.com, actress and botched plastic surgery victim Tara Reid has posed for a Playboy pictorial, coming out in the near future. You may remember that a couple years ago Tara admitted to undergoing botched liposuction and breast lift surgery at the hands of an unreputable surgeon. Her breast scars were revealed when she suffered a wardrobe malfunction while on the red carpet at a P Diddy party. She subsequently underwent corrective plastic surgery by my good friend, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Steve Svehlak (back in the day we were both proteges of Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, also of Beverly Hills).

It will be interesting to see how much Playboy airbrushes her photos. Will they airbrush any of the remaining scars from her original botched surgery? You may remember that ex-talk show host and Wilson Phillips star Carnie Wilson had a nude pictorial in Playboy after undergoing gastric bypass surgery. They airbrushed her scars away, so I would bet that Tara's will be too.

For my previous posts on Tara, click here and here.

photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Is Fat the Newest Rage in Plastic Surgery?

Meet Meghan, a patient of mine who recently underwent liposuction and fat grafting to her buttocks. She's a great example of how using fat is the newest rage in plastic surgery. Check out the article from the Detroit News here.

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

Earlobe Lifts The Latest Beauty Craze??

A recent article in Momlogic.com focuses on earlobe lifts as the latest beauty craze. According to the article people are now paying upwards of $2000 to have their earlobes lifted and reshaped. Is this true?

I often perform earlobe repairs, ranging from fixing a torn earlobe to removing the extra skin from earlobes stretched by those God-awful stretching rings. While people are usually really happy with the results, the procedures always leave scars. And...I don't charge anywhere near $2000 for it.

Women, what would you think if you woke up looking at this guy every morning? Yikes!

photo credit

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

Coed Magazine's Top 10 Celebs Whose Breasts Are Just Too Big

Coed Magazine has a fun post about their Top 10 Celebs Whose Boobs Are Just Too Big. A couple are obvious (Pam Anderson and Dolly Parton), a couple I've never heard of (Serena Kozakura, Chantelle Houghton), and the last one is a doozy. 10,000 cc?!??! That's 30 of my average size implants, all in one breast. Crazy!

Click here for Coed Mag's post.

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

Florida Woman Brain Dead After Carboxytherapy or Liposuction

There have been several news reports about a woman, Rohie Kah, who is currently lying brain dead in a Florida hospital after undergoing treatments at a local medspa. Apparently she underwent liposuction or carboxytherapy treatments by a physician, Dr. Omar Brito, who is actually an occupational medicine physician. The actual cause of her brain death has not been released.

What is carboxytherapy? This is a fringe-type procedure that is only performed by a handful of physicians in the United States. Carbon dioxide is injected under the skin in an attempt to increase blood flow to the area and maybe even disrupt fat cells. I know of no scientific studies that have validated its safety or efficacy. This is not a procedure that I would recommend at this time, and I would bet 95% of plastic surgeons have not even heard of it.

What's an occupational medicine physician doing performing cosmetic treatments anyway? Just as I, a board-certified plastic surgeon, have no place performing brain surgery, this doctor (and so many others like him) has no place performing plastic surgery.

For more on this tragic story, click here and here.

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

Gary Busey - What a Mess...

How would you like to meet Gary Busey in a dark alley? Make Me Heal has a nice post giving many plastic surgeons' opinions on his possible plastic surgery, dental veneers, and brain injury. Take a look at it here.

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

Pete Burns Wins Settlement in Plastic Surgery Lawsuit

Former 1980's Dead or Alive singer Pete Burns has won a settlement for botched lip surgery, according to The Plastic Surgery Channel. He won the equivalent of about $900,000 from a doctor who injected a product, Outline Original, known to create bad side effects. Eventually Burns was left so disfigured that he could only drink through a straw and became a recluse, even contemplating suicide. Burns has said that he needed to undergo 100 additional operations to fix the problem.

I've never heard of Outline Original, and because of the high risk of side effects am choosy with what I inject into the lips (only fat, Restylane, Juvederm, and Prevelle). Hopefully the money Burns won in the settlement will help him get "right round."

Photo credit: awful plastic surgery

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

Does the Zerona Fat Removal Laser Really Work?

You may have seen my segment on the Rachael Ray Show Friday where I discussed the new Zerona laser. Does it really work to reduce inches without pain, downtime, needles, or surgery? The answer is yes.

In my experience, the majority of patients who have Zerona treatments achieve inch loss. The studies appear to show an average of 3-4 inches after 2 weeks of 40 minute treatments every-other-day. This is consistent with what I've seen in my office when measuring four areas: hips, waist, and each thigh. So yes, it does work when the protocol is followed. It is the only machine that I know of that can do this.

That being said, there are people who do not get 3-4 inches of loss. For this reason I've instituted a policy where the patient receives a $1000 credit towards the procedure of their choice if they do not achieve at least 3 inches of total loss from the four areas. Why not refund the whole fee? The company that makes the machine leases it on a "per use" basis. That means that every time I use the machine I pay them a fee which I cannot get refunded.

So overall, the Zerona appears to be a safe, effective way to reduce inches without pain or downtime. It's not a valid substitute for liposuction, though, since the results are not nearly as dramatic as surgery. As time goes on, I expect that we'll find ways to improve the technology and protocols to get even more impressive results. Until then, it's not a bad deal at all!

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

Dr. Youn on the Rachael Ray Show Friday Sept 25th!

Set your TiVo's folks, I'm making my return to the Rachael Ray Show tomorrow (Friday Sept 25th). I'll talk about four of the newest plastic surgery "breakthroughs." It's at the beginning of the show, so don't tune in too late! Also, you can learn the secret of her Sloppy Dawgs!

Link to a teaser for my episode: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/view/839/

Link to local showtimes: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show-info/showtimes/

Thank you to everyone at the Rachael Ray Show for their hospitality!

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

Jessica Lange - What Has Happened to Her Face?

Why did Jessica Lange look so strange at the Emmys? Could it be too much plastic surgery?

Here is a list of what I think she's done: Browlift, Upper and lower blepharoplasty, Canthopexy, Facelift, Cheek Implants, and Botox. She look a whole lot better if she would lay off the Botox a bit. Although Botox is a fantastic treatment to smooth wrinkles, too much can be a bad thing.

I like how Jaclyn Smith is aging.

For a previous post on Jessica Lange and plastic surgery, click here.

photo credit: prphotos.com

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

FDA Issues a Warning Letter Regarding Latisse

The FDA has issued a warning letter to Allergan, makers of Latisse, claiming that the company has omitted certain risks of the popular eyelash lengthening medication in their advertising. Specifically, the FDA focuses on possible complications including iris pigmentation, hair growth outside the desired area, bacterial eye infection, and allergic reactions. You can find the actual FDA letter to Allergan here. An MSNBC.com article about it is here.

We've been using Latisse in my office since it arrived on the shelves several months ago and have not seen any complications yet. So far it appears to be both well-tolerated and effective. The vast majority of patients we've treated have been very happy.

As far as the complications above, allergic reactions can result from anything applied to the skin, from Latisse to moisturizer to soap. Bacterial eye infections can occur when anything not completely sterile touches the eye, most commonly contact lenses. Iris pigmentation is a complication associated with the other form of bimatoprost (Lumigan) when it is applied directly to the eye. To my knowledge it has not been found when applied to the upper eyelids.

But, as with anything in life, you must take a slight risk to achieve the nice benefit.

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

Megan Fox - Plastic Surgery?

It seems that everywhere I turn I see photos of Megan Fox. Her new movie, Jennifer's Body, is coming out soon, so the media blitz is in full gear. She is undoubtedly a classic Hollywood beauty, but has she had plastic surgery to help her look the way she does?

There are two surgeries that people have focused on: Rhinoplasty and Breast Augmentation. If I would have to guess, I'd say that she's benefited from both. Check out my previous post with photos of her possible rhinoplasty here. I have heard rumors of who her plastic surgeon is, and I know this surgeon very well. Wish I could reveal it! (unfortunately not me)

While Megan Fox does look great, she has not impressed me in her interviews. She comes across as a bit arrogant. She seems to know how attractive she is, and even though she has only acted in big-budget robot movies, she fancies herself some type of thespian. A bit of humility would make her even more attractive.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Sly Stallone - Open Browlift?

Interesting photos on Dlisted.com show what appears to be open browlift scars on Sylvester Stallone. In this close-up picture you can see the scar extending along the hairline, very consistent with what you might find with an open hairline browlift. Plus, his eyebrows are over-arched in the photos, a possible consequence of Botox (or Dysport).

I haven't performed an open browlift in over five years. Although many fantastic surgeons use this procedure, I have never seen a hairline browlift scar I liked. For this reason, I perform almost exclusively the Endotine Endoscopic Browlift. Scars are much shorter with less risk of numbness and chronic pain. The results may be less permanent and predictable than with an open browlift, however.

Sly better watch out. He's starting to resemble Burt Reynolds...

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

Plastic Surgery for Cankles?

An interesting article from the Daily Mail describes some recent techniques in treating the "cankles:"

You can have Botox injections in the balls of your feet so you can wear high-heels for longer without pain; operations to shorten toes so they look dainty in Louboutins - and now you can have France's hottest export: cankle removal.
While most women are fortunate to have a narrowing where the lower calf and ankle meet, giving a shapely contour, some have little or no discernible difference in shape - which is known as cankles. Age and status is not a factor, and nor is whether you have long or short legs, are slim or overweight. Cankles are inherited, just as you may have inherited your mother's apple or pear body shape.

The article goes on to describe liposuction treatments for cankles, with and without laser-assistance. Traditionally this area has been a tough one to treat because of the risk of contour deformities and fluid collections. I have treated one set of cankles in five years, but was happy with the result.

It does appear that there is hope for all those who suffer from a case of the cankles!

Article link: dailymail

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

Hydrelle - New Hyaluronic Acid Filler with Lidocaine

Coapt Systems, makers of the Endotine device which I use for browlifts, has recently announced FDA approval for their hyaluronic acid filler Hydrelle. What makes Hydrelle significant is that it is one of the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid fillers that contains lidocaine, an anesthetic. Therefore, Hydrelle may be less painful to inject.

According to the company's press release:

Hydrelle represents an attractive value for patients seeking a safe and cost-effective filler option, since patients only require approximately 50% of typical injection volumes, thus requiring fewer syringes to fully correct facial wrinkles. Hydrelle also represents a significant opportunity for aesthetic professionals to expand their respective practices by offering patients an advanced, long-lasting dermal filler with an affordable price, particularly during volatile economic times.

It seems there is a new hyaluronic acid filler on the market every month. Currently in my practice we utilize Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra Plus, and Prevelle Silk. In the past I've also used Hylaform and Hylaform Plus. In my opinion, adding lidocaine to the injection isn't that big a deal. Prevelle Silk has lidocaine in it as well.

Overall, I've been very happy with the selection of fillers I utilize. My only complaint is the price. If a company can make a long-lasting (one year or so) filler at half the cost of current fillers then they'd have a huge fan in myself. I'm not a proponent of permanent fillers.

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

Dumb Advertising

I saw this ad on a post at Plasmetic.com and thought it was funny. What happens after the special runs out? Do you only get a unaboob?

There is also a bargain-basement cosmetic center in my area which is advertising "Buy one surgery, get one free" as well. But, according to the ad you need to be one of the first fifty or so people to call in order to qualify for the special promotion. Fortunately, the ad has been playing for months, so either there is no one calling or they've decided to extend it to any poor victim who calls.

By the way, the doctor in the above billboard advertises as a "board-certified surgeon." I wonder why he left out that he's a board-certified general surgeon and not a board-certified plastic surgeon?

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

Addicted to Beauty - My Thoughts

I had a little extra time over the holiday weekend to catch up with some programs on my TiVo. Addicted to Beauty is a reality program on Oxygen that follows the employees at Changes Plastic Surgery and Medspa in La Holla.

I've actually found the show to be quite entertaining. Although some of their employees wouldn't last a week in my office (Hello, Gary the drama queen!), it's fun to see how other people deal with such infighting and personality issues. I don't know how Dr. Gilbert Lee puts up with all of them. He seems like a level-headed guy. The only ones I would consider hiring are Natasha (the administrative assistant who is a knockout AND a hard-working team player) and Melanie (the no nonsense office manager).

This is a show that is worth checking out if you are into the plastic surgery and medspa world. Also be sure to catch Youth Knows No Pain, the plastic surgery-related documentary on HBO and its sister channels. You can see its schedule here.

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

Holly Madison on Her Plastic Surgery

The newest issue of Life and Style Weekly has a big article on Holly Madison and her plastic surgery. In the article she admits to undergoing a rhinoplasty and breast augmentation, both of which are pretty obvious when looking at her. There are a few surprising revelations, however. According to the New York Daily News:

Former Playboy model Holly Madison says that beneath her Barbie-doll measurements beats the heart of an insecure woman who used plastic surgery as a way to build her self-esteem.
And she blames ex-boyfriend Hugh Hefner for that lack of confidence.
"Living with Hef brought down my self-esteem a lot," Madison told Life & Style. "I was comparing myself to the other girls ... You have to look a certain way at the mansion."

"Plastic surgery made it easier for me to get things I wanted in my career," she said. "Without it, I wouldn't be where I am today. My nose photographed really big in front of my face. If I wanted to do anything in the entertainment industry, I needed to get it fixed."

I think she's a knockout. Not only is she blessed with good genes, but her plastic surgeon did a nice job as well. I never understood the interest in Kendra, though, whom I find to be quite annoying.

Some of my viewpoints of cellulite and its treatments are also highlighted in the magazine.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Demi Moore Responds to Articles Like the One Below

Apparently Demi Moore is not happy with people questioning her claim that she's not had any plastic surgery. Her quote in Marie Claire France magazine prompted many websites, such as this one, to question the truthfulness of her claims. This caused her to respond via Twitter:

“All this garbage that came out today about me is nothing more than an effort to diminish not just me but all women,” Demi Tweeted on Monday afternoon.
Demi advised other women to live their life free of body comparisons or criticisms. “Diminishing us by continually measuring women based on how we look. Or dont look. Creating comparisons instead of connections Say no 2 that!” she added.

The lady doth protest too much, methink.

Photo credit: prphotos.com
Story credit: Access Hollywood

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

Demi Moore Denies Having Plastic Surgery

In a recent interview, actress Demi Moore addressed rumors that she's had a ton of plastic surgery to look as good as she does. She denies everything.

"[The plastic surgery rumors are] completely false," Demi tells Marie Claire France. "I've never had it done. I don't like the idea of having an operation to hold up the aging process. The scalpel won't make you happy."

Hmmm.... Very interesting. Demi, I think your nose is growing... and it's not from a rhinoplasty.

It's funny that she would feel comfortable to admit using leeches to suck and "detoxify" her blood but would be all denials with plastic surgery. (Link)

Click here for my previous post on the rumors she's had $3 million of plastic surgery.

Story credit: examiner
Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Family Doctor or Plastic Surgeon?

Terrible story coming out of Las Vegas. A woman won a free breast augmentation by the doctor of a medspa, the Skin Body Institute. She had the surgery performed under local anesthesia, but then sufferred horrible complications. Some details from ABC 13:

- She was awake for the whole procedure, and was crying the entire time. The doctor reprimanded her for complaining during the painful procedure.
- Just weeks later the implant became infected and was exposed through the skin.
- She subsequently underwent 10 hours of surgery under local anesthetic to try to fix the problem.
- Two weeks later she presented to the ER with ruptured and exposed implants.
- The doctor had made ten centimeter incisions (mine are typically 3 cm for saline, 4 cm for silicone).
- The doctor's website had stated he was board-certified.
- He was not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but by the Family Practice board.
- Still, his website listed him as an associate member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Society of Liposuction Surgery, and the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.
-His license has been suspended.

This is another terrible incident where the patient didn't do her homework and was the victim of a phony plastic surgeon. This unfortunately happens more often than most people realize. Always choose a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. As you can see above, a doctor in a bunch of other societies isn't the same.

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

The Gretchen Project

Gretchen Rossi, a star of the Real Housewives of Orange County, has started what she calls the Gretchen Project. From her website:

The Gretchen Project hosted by Gretchen Rossi follows her through her pursuit of beauty. Gretchen will find the new, now and next in beauty from leading medical and beauty experts from around the world with the ultimate goal to pass along the pearls of wisdom to the modern day woman.

She starts this pursuit of beauty by going to the Five Continent Congress for Lasers and Aesthetic Medicine in Nice, France. Not a bad vacation destination, I must say. Although the only time I went there I was still a college student carrying a backpack, a Eurail pass, and about two hundred bucks in American Express travelers checks!

To view Gretchen explaining The Gretchen Project, click here.

p.s. I hear rumors that she might be using Syneron's new, innovative eMatrix device for skin tightening...

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