Raquel Welch - No Plastic Surgery?

Raquel Welch was recently on the Oprah show making some pretty amazing claims. She denied going under the plastic surgeon's knife and instead attributed her youthful appearance to Yoga, a perfect diet, and three hours of makeup in the morning.

What do you think? I think she's a liar.

My opinion:
Her forehead hardly moves, likely frozen by a good amount of Botox or Dysport. Her brows are nicely elevated, possibly from a browlift. She shows none of the excess skin and puffiness of a 69 year old woman. I believe she's also undergone an upper and lower blepharoplasty. Her cheeks and lips are full, likely from a filler like fat grafting. Her neckline is way too sharp for a person her age who hasn't had a facelift. Finally, her nose looks overly chiseled, likely from at least one reduction rhinoplasty. If her looks are solely due to Yoga, diet, and makeup, then I'm one of Tiger Woods' mistresses.

Photo / story credit: twominutenews.com

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

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Thank you and The End - APRIL FOOLS

I've been writing this blog for nearly four years now, and have had a blast doing it. I truly appreciate the thousands and thousands of readers who have left comments and regularly read my ramblings. Unfortunately, I've been threatened with a lawsuit from Carrot Top who took offense at my opinion on his appearance. For that reason (and others) I've decided to end my blog.

Starting today.

April 1st.

Gotcha :) (Yes, this was an April Fools Joke. You didn't think you'd get rid of me this easily, did you?)

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

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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Octomom's Lips - Another Reason to Avoid Permanent Lip Implants

This terrible photo is of the Octomom on her way to the taping of the View. As you can see, her upper lip looks very strange. In fact, it looks quite a bit like Lisa Rinna's upper lip. Did they do the same thing to their lips?

To me, this is a clear cut case of either silicone injections or permament implants to the lips. When they are injected on either side of the center part of the lip, they can create a look like this, otherwise known as a "whistle deformity." People with cleft lips can also develop a similar appearance.

I hope this is the last time we ever see this woman again, although she does attract attention... in a train wreck type of way.

Photo credit: socialite life

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

Human Lab - Facelift

The Rachael Ray Show has a very fun and interesting segment airing Friday, Feb 26th called Human Lab: Facelift. In this segment three viewers will test three different products which claim to create a natural facelift. See how these products change (or don't change) their appearance! And check out my expert commentary!

For a teaser streaming online, click here.

Thank you to the Rachael Ray Show for inviting me to be their expert for this segment.

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

Awake Tummy Tuck? Scary...

Should you consider having your tummy tuck awake? According to an article by The Plastic Surgery Channel a physician in San Antonio, TX is advertising an awake tummy tuck. No general anesthesia is used, just a light sedation and local anesthetics. In fact, you can make conversation with the doctor while she's cutting open your abdomen! The article mentions that she's not a real plastic surgeon, but trained in Family and Emergency Medicine. Scary!

I perform an average of one tummy tuck a week, and I wouldn't wish an awake tummy tuck on my worst enemy. While local anesthetics can work for smaller procedures, to perform a complete tummy tuck under local anesthetics is crazy. General anesthesia is meant to save people from experiencing the excruciating pain of having your body cut open.

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

Jane Fonda Admits to Plastic Surgery

Ten years after saying she would not have plastic surgery, Jane Fonda has given in to the aging process and gone under a plastic surgeon's knife. In her blog she admits:

I just had some ‘work’ done on my chin and neck and had the bags taken away from under my eyes so I decided it would be good to get a new hair cut so people will think it’s my new hair.” He thought that was so funny he actually toasted me for doing what he said he’d never heard anyone do before: admit they’d had work done. I was planning on blogging about it anyway so who cares? I’m writing a book about aging so I couldn’t very well NOT talk about it.

It’s been 2 weeks. I was in front of the camera all day yesterday and was photographed at Eve Ensler’s luncheon 9 days after the procedure so, obviously, it went well. I swore in 2000 I’d never have anything done again but this year 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. I’m still a little swollen but not much and what pleases me is that I won’t looked pulled or weird…or tired all the time. And my crows feet are still alive and well. I wish I’d been brave enough to not do anything but, instead, I chose to be a somewhat more glamorous grandma.

It sounds like she had a facelift and a lower blepharoplasty. From the looks of the photos on her blog I'd have to say her surgeon did a very nice job. She looks youthful, but not pulled or tight. The right wrinkles are gone, leaving ones that should remain. She deserves kudos for admitting she's had plastic surgery and, unlike some dishonest celebs, not attributing it to just sunblock, good diet, and moisturizers.

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

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Angelina Jolie - Strange Wrinkles, Plastic Surgery, or Gills?

We normal people would like to think that Angelina Jolie has SOME type of flaw like the rest of us. Well, it appears that she does. No, she doesn't have big feet, cankles, or even the dreaded Man Hands. It appears, from this photo from Us Magazine, that Angelina has... weird lines on her neck! Are they from plastic surgery, abnormal anatomy, or remnants of our evolutionary amphibian ancestors?

This is a tough one. The only plastic surgery that I believe could create wrinkles like this is a mini-facelift, which I really doubt she's had. There are no muscle bands in that part of the neck that go in that direction. Therefore, I would have to argue that she probably has some type of abnormal anatomy there. Not as interesting as accusing her of a facelift, but the truth is the truth. At least she has some type of flaw, not matter how minor. One of my flaws is that I have a bit of a gummy smile.

Did any of you catch me on the CBS Early Show this morning?

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

Hayden Panettiere - Breast Implants?

I was recently asked by the National Enquirer to look at some photos of Heroes star Hayden Panettiere. Does she have new breast implants? I think so! Her breasts do appear to have gone from an A to a C. She has also changed her hair color, from blond to dark red. Is the hair color change an attempt to draw attention away from her breasts? Maybe!

I really like her. I've been a loyal fan of Heroes since it began airing (I was a comic geek in middle school). This season, however, stunk. I had no interest in any of the characters, yet somehow I kept watching it. Too bad Lost is in its last season. There's going to be a huge, gaping hole in June.

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

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Madonna - Chin Implant?

Madonna's recent appearance in Brazil has sparked rumors she may have had a recent chin augmentation. As you can see by the photo her chin does look a bit prominent, and maybe even swollen from recent surgery. Why would she have this procedure done? I never thought her chin was small in the first place!

Chin implants are placed via small incisions either inside the mouth (my preferred technique) or under the chin. When inserted through the mouth there is no visible scar afterwards. I often see people who come in asking for a rhinoplasty to reduce the size of their nose when the real problem is a tiny chin. A small chin can actually make the nose look bigger than it really is. Just a quick lesson on facial harmony...

Photo credit: stuff.co.nz

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

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My latest Rachael Ray Segment Streaming Online

The Rachael Ray Show website has uploaded streaming video of a portion of my latest appearance, entitled "Secrets Your Plastic Surgeon Doesn't Want You To Know." In case you missed it, you can find the end of the segment here.

Thank you to Rachael Ray and everyone at the show for all your hospitality.

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

FDA Clears Laser to Treat Stretch Marks

The FDA has recently cleared a fractional laser for treating stretch marks. In clinical studies the Lux1540 produced an average of 51-75% reduction in stretch marks. This is the first fractional laser that I know of which has been cleared to treat stretch marks.

I find it extremely rare to see stretch marks after breast augmentation such as in Kate Beckinsale's photo here. In the past five years I think I've seen maybe three of my patients who've developed stretch marks after breast implants. Surprisingly, all three patients did not have large implants placed. All the implants were around 350cc. In these situations we've utilized a pulse-dye laser with pretty good results. It usually takes several treatments though. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely erase stretch marks without actually cutting them out (and trading them for a scar).

Link to story source: http://www.americanhealthandbeauty.com/articles/?article=2557

Photo source: celebritysmackblog.com

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

Dr. Youn on the Rachael Ray Show Wednesday, Feb 10th!

For all of you who are snowed in tomorrow I will be a featured guest on the Rachael Ray Show Wednesday, Feb 10th. I'm revealing the "Secrets Your Plastic Surgeon Doesn't Want You to Know." Should be a lot of fun!

Check out the teaser on their website here.

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

Shelby Township, Michigan Laser Liposuction Disaster

This is a photo of a patient who underwent laser liposuction by an ER physician just down the street from me. This is from a sad but very interesting article by the Macomb Daily which exposes what happened to this poor woman at a Shelby Township, Michigan med spa. Check out the article here.

From the article:

The 46-year-old Clinton Township woman said the amalgamation of damaged skin tissue that stretches from her waist to the top of her ribcage resulted from a liposuction-gone-bad performed by Dr. C------ M-- at A---- Medical Spa in Shelby Township.

According to his Web site, M--, a D.O., is certified by the American Board of Phlebology (physicians specializing in venous disease), American Board of Osteopathic Emergency Medicine, American Society of Cosmetic Breast Surgery and American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. In court documents, he says he is also certified in "tumescent liposuction" and "contour thread lift."

I am not a member of any of these groups.

The Macomb Daily also published an article on how independent surgery centers are not regulated by the state. Check it out here.

To view my guide on selecting a plastic surgeon, click here.

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

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Jenni J-WOWW of Jersey Shore and Plastic Surgery

Jenni J-WOWW from the cast of MTV's Jersey Shore has come forward admitting she's had a breast augmentation. In an interview with Life and Style magazine she admitted to getting breast implants at the age of 21, and is really happy with them. Apparently her costar Snooki is thinking of getting her breasts lifted.

Jenni's breasts look pretty good in this photo. They appear to fit her body well and are not overdone. Her surgeon did a nice job. But what kind of name is J-WOWW??

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

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Does the Brava Breast Enhancement Device Work?

The Brava system is a nonsurgical breast enlargement device that claims to increase the size of your breasts 1/2 to 2 cups after 10 weeks of use. The wearer is supposed to use the device for a minimum of 10 hours a day and avoid missing even one day's worth of treatment. There has been some support for the effectiveness of this device in scientific studies. It works on the principle of tissue expansion, similar to what we use when reconstructing breast cancer patients, except instead of using an implant inside the breast it uses a vacuum applied to outside of the breasts.

The Rachael Ray Show (my favorite syndicated talk show :) ) has a segment tomorrow called Human Lab : Bigger Breasts. In the episode they will follow the experience of a viewer who tried the Brava system. Check it out if you get a chance! (No, I'm not on this episode) Click here for a link.

As an aside, I once had a patient come to see me after using the Brava and having disappointing results. She ended up giving me her Brava system after her breast implant surgery.

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

Juvederm XC - Less Painful Injectable Filler?

Allergan has just received FDA approval for Juvederm XC, the newest hyaluronic acid injectable filler formulated with lidocaine for greater comfort. In their study they found that 93% of the patients treated with Juvederm XC had less pain than when treated with the non-lidocaine formulation of Juvederm.

That sounds good to me. I'm very fond of using hyaluronic acid fillers due to their versatility and longevity. The only knock on them has been that they are somewhat uncomfortable to have injected. I hope that the new Juvederm XC will make the experience of injectable fillers much more pleasant.

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

New Revelations About John Edwards and..Plastic Surgery?

New details are emerging about former politician John Edwards. In addition to cheating on his cancer-stricken wife, a new book alleges that he used donor money to fund hiding his lies about the child he spawned with former mistress Rielle Hunter. Of note, I was actually asked by the National Enquirer to look at photos of her baby right after the story broke, whom they suspected could be Edwards'. I declined the invitation at the time. Looks like they were right on target with that one!


An insider recently remarked to Gawker:

In his book, Young writes that Edwards switched from Diet Coke to "caseloads" of Sprite and Sunkist after shelling out for plastic surgery and "new teeth" that were susceptible to stains.
Edwards' other drink of choice was cheap white wine -- over ice -- which his minions would keep at the ready in a cooler in Edwards' car.
"He's so nouveau riche," the snitch said. "He's totally a guy with no taste who suddenly came into a lot of money."



I never liked John Edwards. He always reeked of opportunist to me. I wonder what plastic surgery he had?

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

The Decade's Top 10 Plastic Surgery Stories

Plastic Surgery News, the official newsletter of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, has released their Top 10 Plastic Surgery Stories of the Decade. Here they are:
1. Face Transplantation Becomes a Reality
2. Silicone Implants Return
3. Plastic Surgery and Reality TV
4. Botox Launches Minimally Invasive Trend
5. The Next Generation of Soft Tissue Fillers Arrive
6. High Profile Deaths Raise Patient Safety Awareness
7. Plastic Surgery Goes to Washington
8. Post-Bariatric Boom
9. Increase in Office-Based Surgery
10. Medical Tourism

In general I would agree with all of these. The field of plastic surgery has changed immensely in the past 10 years. I look forward to seeing how plastic surgery will be different in 2020!

By the way, I would add #11: Dr. Youn's popular Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery blog debuts. ;)

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

Is Heidi Montag a Hero?

I was watching the news last night and there was a report that stated that Heidi Montag's plastic surgeon called her a 'hero.' Now, I haven't read the context that this was taken from, but I would like to give the benefit of a doubt to her surgeon that he doesn't seriously consider her an actual hero. From what I know of her situation, I would consider her a confused young woman who has psychological problems stemming from self-image and self-esteem issues.

My opinion:
Volunteers in Haiti: Heroes
Troops in Afghanistan: Heroes
Sully: Hero
Man Who Heckled CarrotTop at Latest Performance: Hero
Heidi Montag: Not a Hero

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

What Octomom's Belly Button Should Look Like

With as many babies as she's had, Octomom's belly button should look more like this. Instead it is a vertical slit.

I think she's such a liar.

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

Octomom Had A Tummy Tuck (I'm Pretty Sure)

So now Octomom is on the cover of Star Magazine claiming her flat stomach is not the result of a tummy tuck. I think that's a load of hooey. This is the same person who claimed she did not have her lips plumped up.

So what's the telltale sign of her tummy tuck?
Look at her belly button. It's a vertical slit. While we can't see the long scar associated with a tummy tuck (see my website page here for a diagram), the belly button looks like her surgeon either created it herself or inset it as a vertical slit. In my opinion, this is a telltale sign of a tummy tuck.

It's nearly impossible for her tummy to flatten like it has without plastic surgery. There should be a considerable amount of extra skin, and the belly button usually resembles a ^, not a .

Octomom, your nose is growing!

If you live in the Metro Detroit area, I will be calling in to Fox 2 News tomorrow morning at 8:30am to discuss the Octomom and Heidi Montag.

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

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Dr. Youn on the Fox News Channel Tomorrow to Discuss Heidi Montag's Plastic Surgery

For those of you who are interested, I will be on America's Newsroom on the Fox News Channel at 10:30 am EST tomorrow (Thursday) morning to discuss Heidi Montag's recent plastic surgery. I'll be joined by noted psychologist Dr. Keith Ablow.

See you then!

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

Cytori Gets FDA Approval For PureGraft System

Cytori Therapeutics, one of the world leaders in stem cell technology, has recently received FDA approval for its PureGraft system. Now, this is not a stem cell harvesting machine, but instead is a device that makes fat grafting more efficient. According to released information, PureGraft helps to prepare fat for reinjection within about 15 minutes. It's scheduled to be formally launched at the May meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Washington, D.C.

Does this mean actual stem cell transplantation for cosmetic purposes is close to reality in the U.S.?

I doubt it. 'Sigh'

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

Cher at the Golden Globes

It's been a while since I've seen Cher on TV, so when she initially appeared on stage last night at the Golden Globes I thought, "Oh, she looks the same as usual." Then she spoke. Her face doesn't move! Is that the price for looking the same as she did ten years ago? An immobile face?

Maybe she should lay off the neurotoxin for a while.

Photo credit: x17online.com

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

iPhone Apps That Remove Wrinkles, Cellulite, and Even Grow Hair?

Now I've heard of everything! There is a company that is selling iPhone Apps that claim to erase wrinkles, smooth cellulite, reduce puffy eyes, and even grow hair! Here is the company's explanation of how using their iPhone app can erase wrinkles:

The wrinkle eraser uses green color and the Jade gemstone to increase collagen and elastin. Green is the color of nature. It is related to love and self-love and includes the ability to give and take love unconditionally. It has a calming effect that especially builds collagen, elastin, and protein therefore helping with wrinkles and fine lines.

What a crock! I know of no evidence that putting a certain color light on your skin can do anything at all. If this was truly the case, I'd sleep with a green light over my face.

For their website, click here.
Thanks to Cosmetic Makeovers for the information.

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

Heidi Montag - Plastic Surgery Addiction

The media is currently buzzing about People Magazine's newest issue with Heidi Montag. In the issue she admits to being "obsessed" with plastic surgery and recently undergoing ten procedures during one operative setting in November. What the heck is going on here?

Heidi is a 23 year old young woman who obviously has self-image problems. Because she has no real talent to keep her in the spotlight she appears to be using plastic surgery as a sad attempt to stay on the covers of magazines. While this may work for a week, the results of her surgery stay for life. Here's what I think about the ten procedures she's had done:

Revision nose job - unnecessary. It looked fine after the first one. This just creates more scar tissue which could cause problems down the line.
Chin reduction - Why? Her chin looked good before.
Mini brow lift - stupid. Her brows were not droopy.
Botox - unnecessary in a 23 year old. She had no real wrinkles before. Now she has a "Botox brow" and looks like Cruella De Vil.
Fat injections - Not needed. She is too young to need fat grafting to her face. Unless the person has an unusually flat face, I usually consider this in the 30's at the earliest.
Ear pinning - I'm unsure about this one. It's reasonable if she had ears that stuck out.
Liposuction - ridiculous - She's too thin to need lipo. She should talk to Tara Reid.
Buttock augmentation - dumb - Heidi had a very nice derriere before the surgery. She should leave well-enough alone. She risks it becoming lumpy and uneven.
Breast augmentation revision - Probably unnecessary. Unless she had a complication or wanted to downsize, there was probably no reason to do this.

Overall, a 23 year old woman should not be having this many surgeries. Most, if not all, of her surgeries appear unnecessary and could even potentially make her look worse, not better. Unless there is more to the story than there appears on the surface, I don't think all these operations were the right thing to do. Send the poor woman to a shrink instead.


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

Sharon Stone on Meryl Streep, Plastic Surgery, and "Unmade Bed(s)"

Sharon Stone has recently commented on Meryl Streep's lack of plastic surgery, calling her an 'unmade bed.'

According to Splash News:

The 51-year-old Basic Instinct star made the comment in reference to how good she looks without having plastic surgery.
She said: 'She looks like an unmade bed.'

Stone added that Streep 'looks true. It is a very good reason as an actor not to have surgery, but to do it in the old-fashioned way - to go to the gym and take care of your internal life'.

Asked if she has ever thought about plastic surgery herself, Stone said: 'I'm not saying I might not do a little something later. Not now.'

Not now? What about breast implants? What about some Botox between her eyebrows? I wouldn't want to be called an 'unmade bed.' That sounds wrinkly to me. I'd rather be a futon with throw pillows.

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

Check Out The Rachael Ray Show Wed Jan 13th!

Hi readers! I will be featured on a segment of the Rachael Ray Show Wed. Jan 13th. Rachael and I will be covering four ways that you can get your body Red Carpet Ready. Should be a lot of fun!

Check out the Rachael Ray Show website here for a sneak peak.

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

Dr. Youn on the CBS Early Show This Morning!

For those of you who caught it, I was given the privilege of being a guest on the CBS Saturday Early Show this morning. We talked about some of the latest trends in plastic surgery, including the Syneron eMatrix and Dysport injections. For a partial transcript, click here.

I had a nice time meeting Dr. Alan Baumann, hair restoration specialist from Florida. He was also on the show and is a very polished speaker. I've always said I'd rather stick pencils in my eyes than perform hair transplant surgery, but he seems to have a real passion for it. If you have interest in hair loss, click here for his very comprehensive blog. If you look real hard you may even find a picture of us with Dr. Jennifer Ashton from the Early Show.

I also briefly met former American Idol runner-up Katherine McPhee. She's an amazing singer and very sweet and pleasant off-camera. Even though she's changed her look, she definitely reminds me of when I saw her on American Idol.

I'd like to thank all of the staff at the Early Show for their hospitality. All of them, from the anchors to the producers were a real pleasure to work with.

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

My Celeb Plastic Surgery Slideshow on MSNBC.com

Sorry for the lack of recent updates. I've been busy with many projects such as this one: A comprehensive slideshow of celebrity plastic surgery before-and-afters for MSNBC.com. You can check it out (along with my comments) here.

Enjoy! And don't groan at my lame jokes!

Thanks to Linda Dahlstrom and MSNBC.com for the opportunity to write for you.

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

Casey Johnson

Yet another young celebrity who appears to have had plastic surgery has died. Following the tragic death of Brittany Murphy, heirress Casey Johnson has died. Details are still sketchy, but it appears that she suffered from Type I Diabetes. My thoughts go out to her friends and family.

photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Dr. Youn's Plastic Surgery Predictions for 2010 (Cont.)

And now, the final four of Dr. Youn's Plastic Surgery Predictions for 2010:

4. The Lunchtime "One Hour" Mini-Facelifts will Continue to Be Exposed For What They Are: Misleading Advertising by Poorly Trained Cosmetic Surgeons - 2009 saw one mini-facelift company fined by a state attorney general for posting false internet reviews. The numbers of real facelifts by real plastic surgeons continue to grow after a slight dip a few years ago. Will 2010 continue to reveal the truth behind mini-facelift centers? I hope so.

3. Nonsurgical Liposuction Will Remain the Holy Grail of Plastic Surgery - 2009 saw the emergence of Zerona, currently the only laser used in widespread fashion for nonsurgical inch loss. Even though it does appear to work, there are many other companies working on their own nonsurgical liposuction devices, including Cryolipolysis, External Ultrasound (Ultrashape and Liposonix), and others. I don't think we'll see these machines FDA-approved in 2010, but anticipation will continue to build for their possible emergence in 2011.

2. There Will Unfortunately Be More and More Plastic Surgery Disasters By Phony Plastic Surgeons - In 2009 we saw an increasing number of phony plastic surgeons losing their medical licenses, performing botched procedures, and even having their patients die from poor or improper care. There was an occupational medicine physician performing carboxytherapy on a patient who died (link), a family doc who made a 10 cm incision for a free promotional breast augmentation (link), and the ER doc whose patients died after he performed liposuction on them (link). What's next? A radiologist using his patients' liposuctioned fat to power his car? Oh, that's right. That's already happened (link).

1. After two years of mild decline, the number of people undergoing plastic surgery is going to significantly increase. 2008 saw the amount of plastic surgery performed decline, possibly for the first time ever. I expect that the amount of plastic surgery performed in 2009 will also follow this trend when the American Society of Plastic Surgeons releases their statistics later this year. With the Great Recession over, however, I believe that more and more people will have plastic surgery in 2010. After a two year dip, things may return to the levels they were back in 2007. It also helps that the Bo-Tax has been killed.

I predict that this positive plastic surgery trend will be present in all states except one: Michigan. Bummer.

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

Dr. Youn's Plastic Surgery Predictions for 2010

A few weeks ago I posted how I did with my plastic surgery predictions for 2009. So what do I think 2010 has in store for plastic surgery? Here's a rundown of my Top 8 Plastic Surgery Predictions for 2010:

8. After a couple years without a new, successful plastic surgery reality program, a new plastic surgery reality show arrives to take the place previously occupied by Dr. 90210 and Extreme Makeover. 2009 had the Oxygen show Addicted to Beauty, which had relatively few addicted to watching it, and Dr. 90210 recently had a special, called Extreme Dr. 90210. I believe in 2010 we may see an all new, original plastic surgery reality show that will get some good ratings and actually last more than one season!

7. New injectables will hit the market, but none will have the impact of Dysport, the only valid Botox competitor. 2009 saw the emergence of many new injectables, such as Hydrelle (yawn) and Dysport (huge). While we may see some more hyaluronic acid-based fillers, we will probably need to wait until 2011 for another 'game-changer' to hit the market. Could it be a new topical Botox-type cream? Possibly!

6. Will the Gummy Bear Breast Implants make it Big in 2010? I doubt it. I hear through the grapevine (sorry, can't reveal my sources) that we will not likely see Form Stable Silicone Gel (a.k.a. Gummy Bear) breast implants until late 2010 at the absolute earliest. We may see a reprise of the Thanksgiving 2006 FDA announcement, when the non-form stable silicone gel implants ban was lifted. Could the gummy bears be approved in Thanksgiving 2010? Maybe at the earliest...

5. A big name Hollywood star will admit to plastic surgery. 2009 saw mostly D-list and reality stars admitting to going under the plastic surgeon's knife (Bruce Jenner, many of the Real (annoying) Housewives, Kate Gosselin, etc.). Could this be the year that an A-lister admits to having plastic surgery? It's becoming more and more accepted in Hollywood to admit to Botox, but that's still a far cry from admitting to having a facelift or breast augmentation. Here's a list of people I'd like to see cop to having work done (can't fool me!): Sly Stallone, Suzanne Somers, Nicole Kidman, and Nadya "Octomom" Suleman. Actually, cancel that last one. I have no desire to ever see or hear from her again!

For numbers 4-1, stay tuned to my next post!

Happy New Year!

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