Cindy Margolis - Plastic Surgery?

The former "Most Downloaded Woman in the World" Cindy Margolis is making news lately with her July 2008 pictorial in Playboy magazine. The divorced mother of three is now 42 years old and looks fabulous. I do believe she's had a bit of help, though.

When looking at this photo, she appears to be making a rather stern look. Her brow doesn't furrow, however, and this lack of wrinkles is a likely sign of a good Botox job. Her lips may also be modestly enhanced with a filler, like Restylane. I also think she may have had some enhancement of her cheeks, possibly with Sculptra or fat grafting injections. Her skin is flawless, and has been probably helped out by chemical peels and medical strength skin care products. Finally, she appears to have had a breast augmentation. Overall, I think her work is well-done. She does resemble Shannon Tweed a little bit, so I wonder if they share the same plastic surgeon...

I've not seen her Playboy spread since I do not read the magazine. If I did, however, I'd read it for the articles.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Lift Magic

Ever wonder what you may look like with a browlift, or a cheek lift, or a lip augmentation? A new website called Lift Magic allows you to upload your photo and then see what simulated facial plastic surgery would cause you to look like. I have a similar morphing program that I use for my patients, and the results can be pretty realistic is done correctly. It can also be a nice party game...



For Lift Magic, click here.

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

Cynthia Nixon Denies Plastic Surgery Rumors

Cynthia Nixon has denied recent reports that she's had a breast augmentation. According to The Post Chronicle:

U.S. actress and breast cancer survivor Cynthia Nixon is denying a published report that she recently underwent breast augmentation surgery.
Although the New York Post reported that the Sex and the City star had cosmetic surgery at a Manhattan hospital on the quietest day of the week, Nixon told the New York Daily News the story is totally false and she simply went to the hospital for a three-monthly checkup.

If her denial is indeed true, how can someone mistake a monthly checkup with having a breast augmentation???

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Dr. A List Will See You Now

There is a great article written by Natasha Singer in the New York Times on the state of plastic surgery in the current economy. The article focuses on how plastic surgery big ticket items, such as facelifts and tummy tucks, have been affected by the recent downturn in the economy. While the demand for less invasive (and less expensive) treatments like Botox and Restylane grows, the amount of actual surgery performed has increased at a snail's pace according to statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Part of this may be due to people having less disposable income. This has resulted in declines in the waiting lists for even the most prominent plastic surgeons. Two plastic surgeons featured on TV, Dr. Anthony Griffin and Dr. Linda Li, have undergone decreases in their wait times for consultations to 3 months and 1 month respectively.

I think part of the downturn in business for plastic surgeons is also due to the emergence of non-plastic surgeons performing plastic surgery, often at bargain-basement prices. I do find, however, that some of these fake plastic surgeons funnel patients my way, as their victims often need to find a reputable surgeon to fix their botched surgery...

Click here for the New York Times article.
Click here for my recent post on the Plastic Surgery Recession

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

Leg Lengthening Surgery : Urban Legend? Not Really...

There's a fascinating article on Men.Style.Com (Details Magazine) focusing on Leg Lengthening surgery. This is a surgery where the bones of the legs are sawed in half and then gradually allowed to spread apart as new bone grows between the two broken halves. It's called the Ilizarov technique, and has been used for healing fractures for years. It's only recently making news as a technique for making a person taller. The article describes the experiences of several men who have undergone the procedure, some with good, yet others with disastrous results. It's usually performed in other countries such as China and Germany and costs anywhere between $10,000 (cut your legs in half and then chain you to a bed) to $200,000 (they do the same but give you a sandwich too).

Obviously I do not advocate this procedure. Although bone lengthening surgeries are done quite commonly in plastic surgery to treat facial deformities, these are strictly in reconstructive terms. In one syndrome, called hemifacial microsomia, the affected person has one half of their jaw which is underdeveloped. Lengthening can be done of the bone to improve the appearance and function of their jaw. Unfortunately, bone lengthening is a tedious process which can result in a major complication like osteomyelitis (infection of the bone).

In addition, I caution all my patients to be very wary of having a medical procedure performed in another country, since their training and certification processes are different that in the States, and if you were to develop a complication you might be in a big heap of a mess (both medically and financially). If you really want to be taller, learn from Tom Cruise and wear some platform shoes...at least when you're out with your much taller wife.

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

Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon - Plastic Surgery??

Much is often made about the alleged plastic surgery procedures of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. But who would have thought that both Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis may have had plastic surgery? According to PageSix:

Apparently, soon after the movie's release, they both paid a visit to Roosevelt Hospital on 10th Avenue for minor surgeries. "Cynthia had a breast augmentation and soon after, Kristin had the varicose veins on her legs removed," said an insider. "They both made sure they did it on the quietest day of the week."

I don't consider having varicose veins removed as a plastic surgery, but it can be construed as cosmetic by some. I haven't had a chance to see the SATC movie, but I think my wife is jonesing to add it to my Netflix queue as soon as it is released.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

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Noninvasive Liposuction in the U.S.???? Not yet...

In plastic surgery news, Medicis, the company which produces Restylane and Perlane, has just announced that it is acquiring Liposonix, a Seattle-based company which specializes in nonsurgical fat removal. Liposonix is a pioneer in focused ultrasound technology as a noninvasive way to reduce fat. It's being used in Europe, but is not available in the U.S. They are hoping that their machine will achieve FDA approval by 2011, if not sooner.

What's the big deal? Well, we are always looking for ways to reduce fat without surgery(or exercise!). External ultrasound has been used in the past, but to my knowledge has never been proven to actually permanently reduce fat. It was a hot topic at one time, but has cooled over the past several years. With technology improving, however, it is possible that the Liposonix machine may produce results superior to the disappointing results of the past. In my office we utilize external ultrasound for cellulite reduction via the Dermosonic technique, but it is not proven to permanently remove fat cells. Yesterday our local Fox affiliate aired a segment on cellulite reduction where I described the cause of cellulite and how cellulite reduction works. Click here for streaming video of it.

Liposonix is a far cry from mesotherapy or Lipodissolve, however, which is by no means non-invasive. I saw a patient recently who had several treatments of Lipodissolve to the fat and loose skin of her tummy. To be honest, the fat did appear to have been significantly reduced. However, she was left with a bunch of leftover loose, hanging skin. She emphasized to me that the treatments were excruciatingly painful and cost several thousand dollars.

I am very interested in the possibilities of fat reduction with Liposonix. No matter what people may falsely advertise however, I know of no proven way to permanently remove fat here in the U.S. except via liposuction.... so far.

For the Medicis press release, click here.

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

Celebrity Nose Jobs - Are We Seeing the Same Nose Over and Over Again?

A post from the popular Cityrag blog mentions that celebrities' noses are all looking the same. Not surprising, given that it is rumored that the same Beverly Hills rhinoplasty surgeon has worked on Cameron Diaz, Ashlee Simpson, and Jennifer Aniston. Many plastic surgeons who specialize in rhinoplasty have their own signature "look". This signature look comes from a combination of performing the surgery the same way every time with certain personal aesthetic preferences. For example, some surgeons believe a more pinched nasal tip looks good. Therefore, they will be more likely to place stitches into the cartilage to create this look and not finish the surgery until the pinched look is created.

That's not my style, as I tend to believe the "less surgery is often more" rule for rhinoplasty. I wouldn't want anyone to say, "Look! It's a Dr. Youn nose!"

By the way, I think that the surgeon who has performed the work of the celebrities above has done a nice job.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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

TV Made Me Do It - Have Plastic Surgery

TV Made Me Do It is a national cable series on the Canadian TVTropolis channel. It explores how television influences people to do certain things, like propose marraige, come out of the closet, and yes, have plastic surgery. Their most recent episode, entitled Beautiful, followed a patient of mine as she underwent a tummy tuck. The video clip above is a small snippet from this episode. TV Made Me Do It can be seen every Wednesday at 7:30am and 7 pm.

Thank you to the fine folks at Proper Television for inviting me to participate on the show!

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

Who Doesn't Like Fake Breasts??? George Clooney?

According to the Celebrity Smack blog, George Clooney may have dumped his ex-girlfriend because of her fake breasts. According to the report:

George really didn’t want her to get the boob job. She asked George if she could do her recovery at his house and he agreed,” a source told In Touch Weekly.
As for the breakup, Larsen never saw it coming.
“They had a huge fight and he left the house. Sarah read in the media that they’d broken up and freaked out because George hadn’t told her anything. He had to explain himself because she’d found out with the rest of the world.”

Is George really picky when it comes to breast implants? I guess when you're him you're allowed to be picky! Most of us normal joes are usually happy with real OR fake.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Jimmy Buffett - Plastic Surgeon in Margaritaville

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. Normally I try to get a post up at least every other day, but after operating for eight hours yesterday, I rushed home, fed my kids dinner, and zipped off to the local Jimmy Buffett concert with my wife and in-laws. The show, as usual, was a blast.

I'm a big Jimmy Buffett fan, have all his albums, been to probably a dozen of his shows, and know most of his songs by heart. According to his autobiography, A Pirate Looks at Fifty, one of his best friends is actually a plastic surgeon in Boston (not me, unfortunately).

Anyways, has Jimmy had any work done?? I doubt it. As you can see by the photos above he's lost quite a bit of hair over the years and has gained quite a few wrinkles. At least he shaved off that God-awful 70's porn-stache. That's better than any plastic surgery I could give him!

Thanks for a great show, Jimmy!

Photo credit: prphotos.com


Thanks for reading.

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

Botox for Breast Augmentation?

Will its applications never end? Some doctors have found a new use for Botox: Breast Augmentation. According to nbc10.com, some plastic surgeons are injecting Botox into the muscles of the chest in an attempt to straighten a woman's posture and thereby enhance her bust line. Click here for the article.

I've never performed this procedure before, but I bet that the before-and-after photos are not very impressive. I would think that the doctor would need to use huge amounts of Botox to weaken the muscles of the chest, which are quite large. Time will tell on this one...

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

Dr. Youn to be a guest on WDVD "It's Your Community"

I've been asked to be a guest on Metro Detroit's 96.3 WDVD for It's Your Community with Vanessa Denha. We'll be talking about the latest controversial trends in plastic surgery, including lunchtime facelifts, mesotherapy, and even buttock implants. It airs tomorrow (Sunday) at 6 am-6:30 am. If you don't live in the area or are still asleep at 6 am, then check out their website for a streaming version of MP3 of the broadcast.

Link: It's Your Community

Thanks to Vanessa Denha for having me on the show.

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

Brigitte Nielsen to Have Plastic Surgery on TV?

MakeMeHeal.com is reporting that Sylvester Stallone and Flavor Flav ex Brigitte Nielsen is planning to have plastic surgery and have it filmed for German television.

According to Brigitte, she will receive “a complete renewal: facelift, eyelift, fat injections in my face, liposuction, a breast lift and I need new teeth... I know I am the first female celebrity in the world who has allowed herself to be filmed like that in an operating theater. I know I will be breaking a taboo. But I’m sure that it will provoke a new discussion. It’s time things change. I feel 30 and want to look that way again. The secrecy in Hollywood is annoying. You can see that the stars do not age naturally. It’s not right that the fans, the normal women, are lied to.”

Although I found her annoying in The Surreal Life, it's refreshing to hear her talk this way. Hopefully everything goes well with her plastic surgery. By the way, the posted photo is a great example of someone with breast implants that are probably above-the-muscle.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

No Plastic Surgery for Selma Blair

I like Selma Blair. She grew up in the Metro Detroit area (which I now call home) and went to Kalamazoo College for a short time while I was there. She was nice to me, and had a very dry sense of humor. Here is what she told In Style magazine (from In Your Face Blog):

“I wanted to get Botox once to make me feel younger. But I don’t really have [enough wrinkles] to justify it yet. As for going under the knife, I can’t say I wouldn’t, but I haven’t thought too much about it,” she said.
Blair said she isn’t interested in breast implants. “I wore huge prosthetic boobs for a John Waters movie. They were glued on every day by a really handsome guy, but ripping them off every night was definitely outside my realm of comfort. After those bosoms, I didn’t mind being flat-chested anymore!” she said.

Hmm, she must have left out the part explaining how she went to college with a good-looking, cool, future big-time doctor!

Or how she also went to college with me.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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

Sarah Jessica Parker - Rhinoplasty?

Has Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker had a rhinoplasty? This one is not obvious. When comparing these photos, it does appear that the tip of her nose is a bit thinner, which could be the result of a subtle rhinoplasty.

If she did have a rhinoplasty, then her surgeon was very conservative, so as to not change her look too much. The worst thing that could happen to her would be what happened to Jennifer Grey, where the nose was altered so much that she was not recognizable as her old self. This has obviously not happened to Sarah Jessica Parker. I do think she is aging very gracefully, and actually looks better now than she did 15 or 20 years ago. Being married to Ferris Bueller may have its benefits!

In Style.com has a photo progression of SJP from 1984 (photo above) to the present. I don't see a huge difference in the photos with regards to the schnozz, but maybe a more subtle one from 2006-2007? Click here for link.

Photo credit: instyle.com, prphotos.com

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

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Did Gisele Bundchen Say Yes to Plastic Surgery?

Since posting Gisele Bundchen's comments that she will "no way" have plastic surgery, I've received a lot of emails from readers who believe she has said "yes" to plastic surgery in the past. According to goodplasticsurgery.com (the sister site to Awfulplasticsurgery.com), she may have had a well-done breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. The photos are pretty convincing, so I would bet that maybe Gisele meant she would say "no way" to more plastic surgery...

Links to goodplasticsurgery.com - breast augmentation and rhinoplasty.

Photo credit: prphotos.com



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

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Gisele Bundchen Says No to Plastic Surgery

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen went on the record regarding her thoughts about plastic surgery:

"No way (will I have surgery). Actually, I asked my mother the very same question and she said, 'It's taken me 58 years for me to look like this. You think I'm going to ruin it now?' She looks great, so I hope I will look the same."

It's easy to say that when her mother has passed on such great genes!

Photo credit: prphotos.com
Quote from hollyscoop.com

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

Jury Awards $20.5 million in Liposuction Lawsuit

On Friday a Philadelphia jury awarded $20.5 million to the family of an 18 year old who died following liposuction surgery. According to 6abc.com,

The liposuction was done on the teen's chin, abdomen and flanks. The family's civil suit charged that a blood vessel in Amy Fledderman's neck was severed during surgery, and that the plastic surgeon realized too late she was in trouble.
The doctor's office was not licensed by the state Department of Health, and his liposuction privileges at Main Line Health Hospitals had been restricted, the plaintiffs said.
The plastic surgeon, in court filings, said that Fledderman had a difficult time emerging from anesthesia. The nurse anesthetist said she died after developing a rare fat embolism.

I don't know any more about the details of this sad event from seven years ago. $20.5 million is an enormous amount of money. If the surgeon maxed out his malpractice insurance policy it will cover the first $1 million of it, leaving the remaining $19.5 million to come from everything else he (or the nurse) owns or will ever own (depending on state and national laws).

Was the doctor horribly negligent in caring for this young woman? I don't know. Was this just a freak event that could not have been prevented except for not performing the surgery? I don't know. If we are to have faith in the American courts, we must assume that the former is true, otherwise the doctor and nurse have had their lives destroyed for no fault of their own.

What I do know is that nothing will ever bring that 18 year old girl back, but massive awards like this can never be paid off during any doctor's lifetime. This is a tragic case for all involved.

What do you think about awards like this? I am interested in what my readers think about these multimillion dollar judgements against hospitals, doctors, and nurses. As a physician, I have my own beliefs, partly because the spectre of a lawsuit always hangs over the head of every doctor, no matter how hard he or she works to give his or her patients the absolute best and safest care. Some of the finest doctors I know, however, have been sued, many more than once.

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

Vanessa Williams Uses Botox!

Ugly Betty actress Vanessa Williams has admitted to using Botox. According to an article by Colin Stewart:

“I certainly do Botox, which I definitely think that almost every woman that I know has,” she told ABC interviewer Barbara Walters in today’s Oscar-night show. “And it’s a miracle drug, no cutting, nothing …“

Take a look at her forehead in the photo. It is smooth as a baby's bottom. That is one nice Botox result. Even two decades after she became Miss America, she is still absolutely stunning. Too bad, Rick Fox!

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Kim Kardashian - Breast Implants?

Does Kim Kardashian have breast implants? Take a look at some photos from MakeMeHeal.com. It does appear that her breasts have gotten unnaturally larger.

Does she have both breast and buttock implants?? Click here for my previous post on her possible buttock augmentation.

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

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

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World's Largest Breast Implants??

According to the blog Hollywood Rag, this woman is the Guinness world record holder for the world's largest breast implants. Apparently she has FFF size breasts. Obviously Guinness didn't see my previous post "The World's Largest Breasts and Silly String Implants."

The breast implant company I use, Mentor, makes implants up to 800 cc in size. The largest I've ever put in for cosmetic indications is about 650 cc. In breast reconstruction, 800 cc is not terribly unusual. Unfortunately, the larger the implants, the faster they will droop and the more complications they may have.

Some surgeons even stack one implant over another in the same breast to create massive breasts! I've never seen nor performed this surgery. There are rumors that this is what Pam Anderson has had...

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

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

Dr. Youn on the Montel Show Monday May 19th

I was a guest for the Montel show, airing this Monday, May 19th. The episode features one of my patients with BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) and during the episode I discuss her treatment (or lack of it) with Montel. Click here for details.

Thanks to Montel Williams and the producer Joelle for inviting me to the show!

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

Michael Jackson Video

This interesting video contains some photos of what appears to be Michael Jackson's actual vitiligo. It is made by an obvious Michael Jackson fan, and has some very eye-opening photos. Check it out if you have eight free minutes (the first 4 minutes are the most interesting). Thanks to AwfulPlasticSurgery.com for the link.

Kim Kardashian and Anti-Cellulite Treatments

Kim Kardashian was filmed undergoing anti-cellulite treatments on her E! Television reality show. Here is a link to the video on the great Celebrity Smack! blog.

The three most common cellulite treatments are Velasmooth (which Kim had), Dermosonic, and Endermologie. All of them employ a deep tissue massage with various other treatments. I am partial to Dermosonic, which I have in my office, although I think they all work. Dermosonic combines external ultrasound treatments with a deep tissue massage using mechanical rollers.

Unfortunately, I don't know of ANY permanent cellulite eradicator. Most treatments provide for the "temporary reduction of the appearance of cellulite." This means that the treatments must continue to a certain extent for the results to continue. But feel assured, even a glamorous young Hollywood star like Kim Kardashian has cellulite!

To view a video of an anti-cellulite treatment we did for local Fox 2 News, click here.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

John McCain and Melanoma

The New York Times has recently jumped on John McCain for his history of melanoma. Apparently, he's had a history of four melanomas removed. Melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer, and can metastasize to other organs and cause death. It is because of this that physicians recommend you to see your doctor if a mole displays one of the following signs: Assymetry, border irregularity, various colors, size greater than 6 mm, or changes in the mole.

I've always wondered why the left side of his face looked bloated and droopy. It appears that this was the area where the melanoma was removed. I once took off a big skin cancer off the side of the face in an older gentleman like him, and to close it up gave him a virtual facelift on one side. Too bad insurance didn't pay for me to lift the other side as well. At least he takes photographs good from one side! (Yes, this is a joke.)

Photo and story credit: nytimes.com

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

Play the Celebrity Plastic Surgery Concentration Game

If you are looking for a pleasant diversion, check out iVillage.com for a Celebrity Plastic Surgery Concentation Game 2. In this game you try to match before and after photos of celebrities and their plastic surgery. My time was 87 seconds. Can anyone beat that?

Click here for the game.

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

Lifestyl- Lift Lawsuit Dismissed

According to a news report from Wired, a Michigan judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought about by the Lifestyl- Lift company against infomercialscams.com. They alleged trademark violation by use of the trademarked name "Lifestyl- Lift." According to the article,

Many of the online complaints were from women who said they had a face-lift after seeing Lifestyle's infomercials. One woman claimed she lost hearing in one ear. Another said "every week my face proceeds to return to the way it was before the lift." Another said, "I feel ripped off."
The lawsuit was a bid to stifle free speech, according to Public Citizen, which defended the case.

I do not perform the Lifestyl- Lift.
Note: I am spelling it Lifestyl- Lift so that they don't sue me too.

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

Halle Berry - Breast Augmentation?

This photo of Halle Berry has been circulating around the internet and in magazines. Does it show a scar in her armpit from a breast augmentation?

It is definitely possible, however I usually place the scar in a wrinkle crease of the armpit which is perpendicular to the possible scar that we see here. It doesn't make much sense for her surgeon to place the scar in this direction because it would only make it more visible. It's possible that she doesn't have breast implants at all, and the scar is from something completely unrelated. No matter what it is from, one thing is certain. She looks fabulous.

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

photo credit: In Case You Didn't Know

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

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Botox Safety Article in Allure Magazine

Allure magazine has a very well-written article on the recent controversy regarding Botox safety. The media has recently focused on a study from Italy showing botulinum toxin being found in parts of the brain fluid in mice who had it injected near their whiskers. Allure's Joan Kron (a very well-respected journalist) has written "Botox on the Brain," addressing the recent controversy. I always find her articles well-written, well-researched, and very objective. Click here for the article.

She has also written on fat melting injections in the past. Click here for my post on this topic.

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

Jennifer Aniston - More Plastic Surgery?

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

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

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

Photo credit: TheBosh.com

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

Patricia Heaton - Belly Button-less?

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

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

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

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

Photo link: vizuble

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

How things change...

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

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

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

MSNBC Celeb Slideshow and Top 7 Tips

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

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

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

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

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

Sally Field - Plastic Surgery?

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

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

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10 Cosmetic Procedures to Avoid - From ABC News

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

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

Thanks for reading.

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

Andrew Lloyd Webber - Plastic Surgery?

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: starpulse.com, prphotos.com

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

My Beautiful Mommy Book

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

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

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

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

Jenna Jameson's Lips are Huge

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

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

Link: Celebrity Smack blog

For my previous posts on Jenna, click here.

Thanks for reading.

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

Lipodissolve: Too Good To Be True?

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

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


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

Thanks for reading.

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

Hillary Duff's Veneers

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

Photo credit: Life and Style magazine

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

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Plastic Surgery Recession?

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

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

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

Quick Links

Some quick links if you are interested...

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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

Whitney Houston - Breast Implants?

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

Is Kevin Costner now the Boobyguard?

Photo credit: Ayyyy!

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

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

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Demi Moore Admits to Leech Therapy

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

Leeches??!! Yuck.

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

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

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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

Plastic Surgery Continued to Grow in 2007

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

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

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

For more on the ASPS 2007 statistics, click here.

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

Dolly Parton - Plastic Surgery on American Idol

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

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

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

Photo credit: prphotos.com

Thanks for reading.

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