Elf Ears - The Newest Plastic Surgery Trend?

I read an interesting article today introducing one of the newest trends in plastic surgery: Creating Elf Ears. There is a Hungarian plastic surgeon practicing in New York City who created this procedure and even claims that it can "improve the experience of listening to music." Apparently there are "music faun clubs" which are dance clubs that only allow entrance to those with pointy ears.

This is a new one for me! By looking at the photos I can see how the procedure is done. It's a variation of the types of surgeries we do to reconstruct an ear after part of it is removed for cancer. Instead of making your ear look normal, however, it makes you look like Spock.

I'd rather my daughter get a tramp stamp than one of these!

Story and photo source

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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10 Telltale Signs of Plastic Surgery

CBSNews.com has an interesting slideshow of my 10 Secret Signs of Plastic Surgery. Some of these are obvious to those who read this blog regularly. I recently covered the topic on the Rachael Ray Show as well.

You can check out the slideshow here. After reading it, you will have many of the tools necessary to be a plastic surgery detective!

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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The Thong Lift?

There is an interesting article in the Daily Mail today announcing:

Bottoms up! The facelift is old hat, the tummy tuck's yesterday's news - the latest craze is the bum lift!

The article goes on to describe the Thong Lift, the name given by a Miami plastic surgeon for fat grafting to the buttocks (a.k.a. Brazilian Butt Lift). Here's more:

The difference between this is and other sorts of fat augmentation is that the surgeon injects fat between layers of muscle, so there is more blood supply to the fat and less of it dies.
The scars left by the incisions needed to inject the fat are hidden, says Mendieta, ‘in the grand canyon where the thong goes’, hence the name of the procedure.

"Grand Canyon?" That's a strange term to use!

I perform fat grafting to the buttocks, but am always concerned about being too aggressive with grafting it into the actual muscles, which have large blood vessels and nerves. This would make me more concerned about a major bleeding episode. The surgeon is definitely well-known for his gluteal work, however, and probably does a few more of these than I do.

Click here for the article.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Facial Filler Foul Ups Article on MSNBC.com

There is an alarming and interesting article on MSNBC.com regarding the growing incidence of complications with facial filler injections. Facial fillers (like Restylane, Juvederm, and Sculptra) are now the second most common plastic surgery procedure in the country. It's inevitable that as these procedures grow in popularity, the number of people having complications will also increase.

While this article is alarming, it's important for consumers to realize that the most popular injectables (hyaluronic acids like Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm, and Prevelle) have a near-antidote called Hyaluronidase if too much is injected. That's one big reason I prefer these injectables over Radiesse or Artefil. Even so, if you are considering having facial fillers injected, make sure you have it performed in the office of a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist.

For the MSNBC.com article, click here.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Kate Gosselin's Post-Tummy Tuck Belly

The website Poponthepop.com has posted this photo of Kate Gosselin in a bikini, and called it "terrifying" due to the loose skin on her tummy, even after a tummy tuck. What's the scoop here?

Tummy tucks are meant to remove excess, hanging skin (and the fat accompanying it) and tighten up the muscle layer underneath. Although Kate looks flat and tight when standing, it's not surprising that her skin looks this way when sitting. Everyone has some skin that folds over when sitting down. We must, otherwise we wouldn't be able to stand up straight. With Kate, however, that skin has been profoundly stretched out, so it's not going to look as smooth as the skin of a person who has not had children.

So poke fun at her for being an annoying fame junkie, but that tummy skin is completely normal.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Want to Heidi Yourself?

Want to see what you would look like after undergoing Heidi Montag's ten plastic surgeries? A Miami plastic surgeon has posted a website which allows you to do just that. It's called Heidi Yourself, and the page looks like a combination of an advertisement for The Hills and for his iPhone plastic surgery app. Check it out here.

Photo source

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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E! To Debut New Bridal Plastic Surgery Series "Bridalplasty"

E! has ordered episodes of a new program that mixes a wedding competition with extreme plastic surgery. Bridalplasty combines elements of a game show competition, dream wedding, and plastic surgery documentary. Read about it in the Hollywood Reporter:

Each week, a group of women competes head-to-head in such challenges as writing wedding vows and planning honeymoons. The winner receives the chance to choose a plastic surgery procedure from her "wish list." She's given the procedure immediately, and results are shown at the start of the following week's episode. One by one, the women are voted out by their competitors and, according to the show's description, "possibly walking away with nothing and losing [their] chance to be the perfect bride." The last bride standing will receive a "dream wedding," where she will reveal her new appearance to friends, family and the groom. "Viewers will witness his emotional and possibly shocked reaction as they stand at the altar and he lifts her veil to see her for the first time following her extreme plastic surgery," E! said.

The plastic surgeon from the Swan will be performing all the procedures, and the host of the show is Shanna Moakler.

No, I have nothing to do with this program, but I have heard from a few Hollywood producers that there are a few plastic surgery-related programs currently in the works. This one sounds quite similar to the Swan, which aired several years ago for one full season. I bet there will be a lot of people watching, especially since these brides have got to be absolutely crazy to be featured in a program like this!

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Kate Gosselin's Breasts: "These Breasts Are All Mine"

Kate Gosselin's appearance in a bikini has some questioning whether she has breast implants in addition to the tummy tuck she admitted to having. According to RadarOnline.com, Kate has responded to questions regarding breast implants with:

"These breasts are all mine."

So does she have breast implants? I think so. It is unusual for a woman to have given birth to eight children, undergone a tummy tuck, and slimmed down to a tiny size, yet still retain natural, perky, firm, round, and large breasts. Usually when the tummy droops, so do the breasts, although often to a lesser extent. My last quote to Radaronline.com:

Youn quipped that either way, Kate's 'no surgery' claim is accurate: "They are all hers because once she pays for them they are all hers. I've never taken back any patient's implants."

Story link: Radaronline.com

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

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Kim Kardashian Gets Botox! And Has A Bad Reaction Afterwards!

Kim Kardashian has allowed the E! cameras to follow her on an appointment to get Botox. While the procedure appears to go well, she unfortunately suffers from a reaction while at a restaurant afterwards. What could this be from?

There are many possibilities. She could be allergic to the Botox although this is very rare. In fact, my office treats at least 50 Botox or Dysport patients each month, and I've never seen an actual allergic reaction. It could also be due to bruising and swelling causing her discomfort. Finally, and the most likely, maybe she's just a drama queen.

To read a CBS News report on this subject (with my comments), click here.

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

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Dr. Youn on The Rachael Ray Show Tuesday, Sept. 14th!

Hey all! I will be returning to the Rachael Ray Show for a segment called "How To Spot Plastic Surgery," airing Tuesday, September 14th. Check out her website here for a teaser. For your local listings, click here.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Jane Fonda On Her Plastic Surgery

It's funny that Jane Fonda admitting to having had plastic surgery is suddenly news now, especially since I reported it on this blog 7 months ago (click here for that!). She is now going public with her plastic surgery. According to CBS News:

The 73-year-old actress revealed to Entertainment Tonight that she "recently had plastic surgery."
"It was a hard decision to make, and I decided if I'm going to do it, I'm going to tell the truth," Fonda said. "I'm writing a book about aging, so I can't write that book and not say I've had plastic surgery. And you know, I just decided it was for me -- I don't want to have bags under my eyes that make me look tired, and so forth and so on."

"I got tired of not looking like how I feel and I wanted a more refined chin line like I used to have so I changed my mind."

No one who is 73 looks as good as she does without the help of a scalpel. Yes, that includes you Raquel Welch and Joan Collins! Kudos to Jane's plastic surgeon.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Heidi Montag Tweets Plastic Surgery Advice

Our favorite plastic surgery disaster, Heidi Montag, has now taken to tweeting advice for people regarding plastic surgery. Here are three recent tweets, courtesy of USAToday.com, and my analysis (in italics):

"Warning: to anyone who is thinking about getting their ears pinned, I learned after the fact it is the most painful surgery a person can get" - Untrue. I've performed this surgery many times and pain is almost never an issue. A tummy tuck or breast augmentation is much more painful than an otoplasty (ear pinback).

"Giving my self a soft tissue breast massage. Ladies we have to keep those implants soft" - True. I have all my breast implant patients massage their breasts as a way to help keep the scar tissue and implants soft. Unfortunately, scientific studies don't support this helping, but most plastic surgeons recommend their patients do it anyway.

"I had a nightmare that I slept without my nose tape on thank God it wasn't true!" - Huh? THAT's a nightmare? Geez, my nightmares are more about driving off a cliff or finding myself in school without any pants on.

Story credit: USA Today

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

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Has Courtney Love Had a Stem Cell Facelift?

The Daily Mail is reporting that Courtney Love has undergone a stem cell facelift in the Manhattan office of a Facial Plastic Surgeon. Photos show that she certainly looks better than she has in a long time. But are her looks really due to a stem cell facelift?

Stem cell facelifts are definitely the future of facial plastic surgery. The idea behind the procedure is that stem cells are removed from liposuction fat and reinjected into the face. Because stem cells are extremely youthful cells which can transform into new cells in the location they are transplanted, they can theoretically create newer, younger looking skin. At this time, the machines to separate stem cells from fat are not currently FDA approved for cosmetic purposes. Therefore, the closest thing we have to a stem cell facelift in the United States is a 3-D Volumetric Facelift, a.k.a. a facelift with fat grafting. I, along with three other prominent plastic surgeons, introduced this procedure five years ago in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Since then, several plastic and cosmetic surgeons have introduced this procedure as their own.

To read my scientific paper on The Volumetric Facelift, click here.

Thanks for reading.

Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Dancing with the Stars or Dancing with the Plastic Surgery Patients?

Do the casting directors of the new season of Dancing with the Stars like people who've had plastic surgery? It appears so!

Three of the contestants have had obvious plastic surgery, including Florence Henderson (face work), Audrina Partridge (breast implants), and Jennifer Grey (rhinoplasty). I also wouldn't be surprised with David Hasselhoff, Margaret Cho, and Rick Fox have had a minor nip and tuck as well. Plus, host Brooke Burke was married to a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon for years!

For a plastic surgery-related slideshow on these DWTS contestants, click here to be taken to the In Your Face blog.

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Michigan-based Plastic Surgeon

Anthony Youn, M.D.

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Has Brad Pitt Undergone Radiesse Injections?

The National Enquirer is reporting that Brad Pitt has undergone filler injections as a way to look younger. According to Celebitchy:

The 46-year-old actor has been getting injections of the wrinkle filler Radiesse to make his face look younger and smoother, the Enquirer has learned. And it appears to be having the desired effect. Not only does Brad’s face look brighter and more radiant, Angelina has given her seal of approval.
“Brad hasn’t looked this good in years - and Angelina is definitely pleased about his makeover…”
For months, the actor hid behind a scraggly beard “because he was so self-conscious about how he was aging.”

I haven't seen photos of him, but a little Radiesse can definitely take off some years. I'd probably recommend a little Sculptra to fill in some of the gaunt areas of his face.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

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