Pam Anderson - No to Botox but Yes to Juvederm?

Here is a photograph of Pam Anderson during a recent press tour in Australia to promote her new reality show on E!. As you can see, there is no sign of any Botox in her forehead, but her lips look pretty plump, possibly due to Juvederm injections. The cupid's bow of her upper lip looks obliterated, which can happen when a good amount of injectable filler is placed there. This is one of the few photos that I've seen where Pam looks all of her 41 years. Maybe the jet lag hasn't been kind. I always look (and feel) like hell after a long plane flight.

Juvederm lasts around 6-12 months, and I find it works very well in the lips when injected conservatively.

Photo credit: dlisted.com

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

Has Jennifer Aniston Had Her Lips Plumped?

Photos of Jennifer Aniston have recently surfaced, showing a possible lip augmentation. If she's had it done, it is a subtle job, possibly with Restylane. Some may argue that her lips look the same, but if you compare the 'then' to the 'now,' you can see that the lip proportions have changed. In the 'then' photo, her upper lip is slightly smaller than her lower lip. In the 'now' photo, the upper lip is actually larger than the lower lip.

I have stated many times on this blog that the natural lip proportions (with some exceptions) have the lower lip 1.5 times the size of the upper lip. Quite often plastic surgeons become overzealous in augmenting the upper lip, making it appear larger than the lower lip. This creates the all-too-common 'trout pout.' Whether Jennifer Aniston has had her lips done or not, I'm sure John Mayer would agree that her "Body is a Wonderland."

Photo credit: Daily Mail

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

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The Top 10 Worst Female Celeb Body Parts?

CelebSlam has named their Top 10 Worst Female Celeb Body Parts. Here they are:

10. Jennifer Love Hewitt's Hips
9. Jennifer Garner's Toes
8. Paris Hilton's Wonky Eye
7. Jennifer Lopez's Buttocks
6. Tori Spelling's Breasts
5. Sarah Jessica Parker's Hands
4. Mischa Barton's Thighs
3. Jenna Jameson's Lips
2. Tara Reid's Stomach
1. Amy Winehouse's...Pick Something

I would definitely disagree with a number of their choices, especially Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jennifer Lopez. I wonder what a list of the Top 10 Worst Male Celeb Body Parts would include? Maybe Kenny Rogers' eyelids, Fred Thompson's neck, Mickey Rourke's cheeks, and Brad Pitt's face? ;)
To see photos of the 'offending' body parts from Celeb Slam, click here for their post.

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

Christina Applegate Breast Cancer and Reconstruction

As you may know by now, Christina Applegate has undergone a double mastectomy for possible breast cancer. She has the BRCA1 gene, which is a marker for high breast cancer risk. Ms. Applegate elected to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy, essentially removing all her breast tissue in order to prevent a potentially deadly cancer from appearing. In an interview, she stated that the next eight months would be spent undergoing breast reconstruction surgery.

What reconstructive surgery may she be having? It sounds to me that she is probably going to undergo breast reconstruction using breast implants. This process can take several surgeries. Most commonly, temporary breast implant expanders are placed at the time of the mastectomy. These implants are gradually filled over several months to expand the remaining skin and muscle. When they are the desired size, then another surgery is performed where the expander implants are replaced with permanent breast implants. Usually a few months later the nipples are recreated during a third surgery. The final step is often tattooing of the nipples and areola, in order to get the darker color of the real thing.

I wish her the best in her recovery and future treatments. I thought she was great in Married with Children.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

California Senate Approves "Donda West Law"

The California Senate has approved, by a margin of 37-1 the Donda West law, named after Kanye West's late mother. This law makes it mandatory for anyone undergoing a cosmetic surgery to have a history and physical performed prior to surgery.

Ho hum. Most plastic surgeons already do this. Instead of enacting unnecessary laws, why not limit plastic surgery to those who are actually trained at it? The California legislature has recently approved a bill allowing oral surgeons (DDS dentists) to perform all sorts of facial plastic surgery. How ridiculous! You wouldn't want me performing your root canal, so why have an oral surgeon do your facelift?

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

What is the Most Nipped and Tucked City?

Men's Health Magazine has recently released its list of the most nipped and tucked cities in the United States. Guess what's number one? San Francisco!

Do you think this may have to do with Senator Nancy Pelosi's influence? She does look mighty good for her age.

Here is the remainder of the top 10:
2: Honolulu
3: Sacramento
4: Miami
5: Tucson
6: San Diego
7: Richmond, VA
8: Washington, DC
9: Rochester, NY (not Rochester, MI)
10: Seattle

Other notables:
34: Grand Rapids, MI
48: Los Angeles, CA

Which are the least nipped and tucked?
Lincoln, NE
Fort Wayne, IN
Montgomery, AL
Toledo, OH
Madison, WI

I actually get quite a few patients who come from Toledo to have plastic surgery here in Metro Detroit...

For the full list from Men's Health, click here.




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

Do You Want to Be on TV?

Sorry for the lack of updates. It's been a whirlwind past couple days. Tuesday afternoon I flew to L.A. to film a television pilot, returning Wednesday evening. I've been in surgery all day today, so I just haven't had time to post anything!

Speaking of TV, I was contacted by the producer of a well-known television program that is looking for people who lighten their skin to look "better." The title of the segment is "Bleaching for Beauty" and they want to find people who believe they are more attractive after using skin lightening creams. If this applies to you, email your information to me at: miplasticsurgeon@yahoo.com. I will forward your information to the producer.

If you have an interesting plastic surgery-related story and would like to be featured on television, feel free to email me. I often get calls from producers who are looking for an interesting story to tell. Who knows, maybe you can get a free trip to New York out of it!

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

Update of the Acupuncture Facelift from the Beauty Brains

A fantastic site, The Beauty Brains, has a good post on the facts behind the Acupuncture Facelift. Their bottom line:



If you’re going to get a cosmetic procedure done, don’t waste money on acupuncture. Save up for a full blown face lift. At least that will be done by a reputable doctor and has been proven to work. And if surgery isn’t something you want to do, stick to the high quality facial products you can buy at your local drug store. They’re just as good as the department store products.



I would agree with just about everything they state in the article, except for one thing. I strongly believe that physician-prescribed skin care products, such as Obagi Nuderm, are much more effective and powerful in reversing aging than local drug store or department store products. Otherwise, like all their posts, I find the article extremely well-written. Check it out here.


Thanks for reading.

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

Lindsay Davenport Uses Juvederm and Botox

In an exclusive interview with Make Me Heal.com, new Juvederm spokesperson and professional tennis player Lindsay Davenport admits to having both Juvederm and Botox injections...and loving them:

No one should have to feel like their skin is aging faster than their body. Thanks to JUVÉDERM I just look my age. And my theory is, when I find something that works, I want to share it. That’s why I’m talking freely about my JUVÉDERM treatments....I love the results of Juvederm. I’ve also used Botox Cosmetic which has provided great results as well!

We perform Juvederm injections in my practice quite often. It injects very nicely, and some studies have shown longevity of the product for a year. Overall, my only complaint about Juvederm is that the syringe size is 0.8 cc, and not 1.0 cc like Restylane. There are so many other fillers on the market nowadays (including Perlane, Prevelle, Artifill, Radiesse, and several others) that it's easy for a patient to be confused about what to use. An easy recommendation for patients is that you can't go wrong starting out with Restylane or Juvederm, as these are the two 'workhorses' of filler products, in my opinion. Some of the other fillers are more 'niche' players (kind of like a doubles specialist in tennis).


Photo credit: prphotos.com (Photo taken before her Juvederm treatment)


Thanks for reading.

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

Fullness In, Tautness Out - Old News?

The Early Show on CBS had a segment this morning explaining the "new" trend in plastic surgery: Adding volume instead of just lifting. They explained that adding fullness to the cheeks is a key component of reversing aging and creating the most naturally youthful look possible.

Is this old news? When I did my aesthetic surgery fellowship with Dr. Richard Ellenbogen five years ago, the importance of volume enhancement in facial rejuvenation was the most important thing he taught me. We even published an article in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal about it, entitled the Volumetric Facelift. Click here for the article.

I strongly agree that adding fullness into a face is an extremely important part of reversing aging. I teach my patients that aging is a 3-Dimensional process. The best methods for volume addition are surgical facial fat grafting or nonsurgical Sculptra injections (not approved by the FDA for general cosmetic use). These are some of my favorite procedures to perform, as the results can be very natural and very powerful.

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

Madonna and Madamism?

Is Madonna turning into a Madame puppet-face? Cityrag.com has coined (or propagated) the term "Madamism," which is a process some stars undergo as they have too much plastic surgery. They begin to look more and more like Madame the puppet. Other stars who may be undergoing Madamism include Priscilla Presley, Faye Dunaway, Cher, and maybe even Lara Flynn Boyle.

Check out cityrag.com for more details.

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

Paris Hilton Denies Plastic Surgery

Paris Hilton is currently filming Repo! The Genetic Opera portraying a person addicted to plastic surgery. Naturally, she's been asked whether she's had some work done. Her response:

Well, I've never had any plastic surgery, so doing a character like that — it was a lot of fun to change because every scene I have a different nose, I have different eyes, different hair. We were using a lot of prosthetics, so every scene you can't really tell that it's me, so that was a lot of fun.

I enjoy movies, but something tells me I'm going to miss this one...

For my previous posts on Paris Hilton, click here.

Story source: mtv.com

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

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What's Happening to Madonna?

What's the story with Madonna's appearance? She seems to be getting thinner and thinner (check out her arms) yet her cheeks remain full and soft. Can this be due to plastic surgery?

I think it is. There are three ways to effectively add volume to the face. The first is facial fat grafting. This is one of my favorite plastic surgeries to perform because it is minimally invasive and can really return a nice, youthful softness to the face. The second way to add volume to the face is via solid implants. With the exception of a chin implant, I am not a fan of these types of facial implants. Some of them require screws to keep them in place. Due to their hard nature, they also do not achieve the softer look of facial fat grafting, or the third technique: Sculptra injections. I believe Madonna may have had Sculptra injections to her face over the last several years to retain volume and softness. Sculptra is FDA approved for HIV-related facial wasting, but is often used for general cosmetic reasons. I think it is a very effective way to enhance the face.

So why do I think Madonna has had Sculptra and not facial fat grafting? Since it appears the fat in the rest of her body has all but disappeared, I would expect the same to occur in her face. However, even with an extremely thin body, her cheeks remain full. Sculptra-enhanced cheeks should not deflate quite as much as fat-enhanced cheeks.

For more of my thoughts on Madonna's possible $100,000 worth of plastic surgery, check out last week's issue of In Touch Weekly.

Photo credit: IDontLikeYouInThatWay.com

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

The Acupuncture Facelift?? Now I've Heard Everything!

An interesting article in Yahoo News describes a facelift being performed by acupuncture. Practitioners claim that it stimulates collagen production, lifts sagging skin, and is as effective as Botox.

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

But seriously, I know very little about this, although my mother has been trained in acupuncture and acupressure. She's used it on me on more than one occasion with variable results. I do believe there is real validity to some of its benefits which cannot be explained by science. That being said, I've never seen actual results from Acupuncture Facelifts, and would be interested to see some before-and-after photos. In the meantime, I will stick with actually putting something into the needles I poke a person with. If any readers have anecdotal stories about this, feel free to share.

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

Is something wrong with Janice Dickinson?

The Drunken Stepfather blog (NSFW) showed this photo of Janice Dickinson with a crooked mouth. While this is most likely just the expression she was making, it also resembles the appearance of a person who suffered a nerve injury during a facelift or liposuction of the jawline. In these situations, the nerve that causes the lip to pull down can become damaged, creating a crooked smile or frown. In 99% of cases this spontaneously resolves, usually within a few months, but can be permanent in extremely rare cases. This type of nerve injury is one of the most dreaded complications of a facelift. (Knock on wood) I've never seen one that was permanent, and am always vigilant to do everything I can to avoid it.

Hopefully, for Janice's and her surgeon's sake she's just looking silly for the paparazzi...

Thanks to the CosmeticSurgeryTruth blog for the link.

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

Brigitte Nielsen Looks Better After Plastic Surgery

Brigitte Nielsen has re-emerged onto the scene after undergoing plastic surgery for a German reality television show. She underwent liposuction on her thighs, Botox, and a breast reduction. The 'after' photos show that the 44 year old ex-wife of Sly Stallone looks great. I wonder if she also underwent other facial plastic surgeries, such as a browlift, facelift, and eyelid lifts? It appears that way to me.

Why did a 44 year old age so prematurely in the first place? It's a possible combination of the California sun, smoking, drinking, and possibly a just plain unhealthy lifestyle.

As an aside, I am finding more and more that people who take really good care of themselves seem to heal from plastic surgery with considerably less swelling, less bruising, and even less discomfort than the average patient. I have a handful of patients in my practice who strictly avoid the Southeast Michigan diet of Coney dogs, deep dish pizza, and Better Made potato chips who have astounded me with their speedy recoveries from plastic surgery. For some reason, I doubt that Brigitte Nielsen would fit into that group. But maybe Flavor Flav...

Note: photo on the left is pre-surgery, right is post-surgery.
Photo and story credit: The Daily Mail

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

Jenny Lee- Plastic Surgery "Enthusiast"

After Jocelyn Wildenstein, model /actress Jenny Lee may be the person most well-known primarily for her plastic surgery. It's rumored that she's had over 30 plastic surgery procedures performed on her, and she is planning many more in the future. She really does look like a human Barbie doll. She has an interesting "About Me" page on her website, where she explains her thoughts on plastic surgery.

She does not reveal who her plastic surgeon is. No, it's not me. I wouldn't do this much work on someone, even if it paid for my house (and my car and my son's college education). Maybe it's my friend Dr. Steve Svehlak (just kidding Steve!).

photo credit: thejennylee.com , Maria Bernal Photography

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

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Getting Ready for Bathing Suit Season

There's not much new in the world of celebrity plastic surgery today, so I thought I'd give you some links to a series of TV segments I did for the local Fox 2 Detroit affiliate. We did a week of "Getting Ready for Bathing Suit Season" segments, focusing on minimally invasive ways to get your body ready for the beach. If you are bored and want to take up a few minutes, here you go:

Laser Hair Removal
Anti-Cellulite Treatments
Laser Spider Vein Treatments
Clay Peel for the Back (Back-ne)

Thanks to the crew at Fox 2 Detroit for including me in these segments!

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

Sarah Jessica Parker - What's the Big Deal?

For some reason, the removal of Sarah Jessica Parker's chin mole has actually made news. Apparently she showed up to Yankee stadium without a nevus on her chin and the media has made a big deal out of it.

Ho hum, I take moles off all the time. Usually insurance actually pays for it, although not very much. Moles are rarely cancerous. Check out my post on John McCain if you want to know how to spot a dangerous mole. However, if you have any concern about a mole, have your dermatologist or plastic surgeon take a peek at it.

This would be bigger news if it was Cindy Crawford's signature mole.

Photo credit: eonline.com

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

Aja Rock's Breasts - What's Going On Here?

Aja Rock is a famous New Zealand model and music artist. Here is a photo fo her with rocker Tommy Lee. What's going on with her breasts?

It appears to me to be a capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is the result of excess scar developing around a breast implant, making the breast appear hard and round. If severe, the scar tissue can develop a separation from the normal tissue of the breast, which is what I think may be happening here.

Check out more of my comments in NZrealitytv.com.
For more on Aja Rock, click here.

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

Alex Rodriguez - Do All His Women Have Plastic Surgery?

Do all of pro baseball player A-Rod's women have plastic surgery? A recent article in Make Me Heal.com says so. Check it out here.

I was interviewed this week by In Touch Weekly magazine regarding Madonna's possible plastic surgery. Check it out in the upcoming issue.

Maybe A-Rod doesn't mind his women having some plastic parts? If that is the case, then maybe his next girlfriend will be Jocelyn Wildenstein!

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

Prevelle - Today for Tonight?

Mentor, a company best known for their outstanding breast implants, has recently released a new hyaluronic acid filler here in the United States. It's called Prevelle 'Silk,' and is the only hyaluronic acid filler available which also incorporates lidocaine (an anesthetic) into the product. The idea is that most patients who have it for enhancing the lips or filling in wrinkles do not need painful dental blocks to numb the area prior to injecting it. They also advertise that the product has little swelling and downtime, hence the slogan "Today for Tonight."

What's the drawback? Mainly the longevity of the product. Prevelle appears to last around 90 days or so, whereas the two most popular hyaluronic acid fillers (Restylane and Juvederm) can last 6 months or more. Prevelle is cheaper, however, and with the minimal discomfort associated with its injections, does seem to have a nice niche.

I would recommend it for people who want the following: Less reaction and swelling, less discomfort with injection, a cheaper price, and don't mind a shorter-lasting result.

To learn more about Prevelle, click here.

Thanks for reading.

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

Pharrell Williams and a New Way to Remove Tattoos?

According to Plasmetic.com, rapper and producer Pharrell Williams is planning on undergoing a new way to remove tattoos without scars. Here are some details:

a. This is an invasive procedure that requires skin grafting.
b. The patient has to give a sample of his skin.
c. This skin is then replicated in a laboratory.
d. Once this is done, the new skin is stitched over the tattooed one.
e. It does not leave any scars.
f. Once the skin is healed, new tattoos can be done on it.
g. This is a faster and less painful alternative.

Now, this sounds to me that they are planning to remove the old tattooed skin and replace it with a skin graft that was grown in a laboratory. The statement "It does not leave any scars" is the one I really question here. I have performed skin grafts many times before (such as on burn patients) but any skin graft patient will tell you there are scars involved. Just because the skin is grown in a laboratory doesn't mean that it won't create scars. Furthermore, one cannot place a skin graft over intact skin because it will just slough off if the underlying skin isn't removed first.

This whole thing sounds like a crock to me. Lasers are very effective with tattoo removal nowadays, just ask Angelina Jolie or Johnny Depp (remember when he changed Winona Forever to Wino Forever? Doh!).

We don't do laser tattoo removal at my office, by the way.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Anna Kournikova does not have breast implants

Here's a quote from tennis star Anna Kournikova, responding to the same lame questions all the reporters ask her:

“I’m not married, not pregnant, didn’t have a boob job, no Botox. What else?”




I'm not surprised. She's 27 and been blessed with great genes. While she is pretty attractive, I was always partial to Mary Joe Fernandez and Chris Evert. I guess this shows my age.

Quote credit: celebritysmackblog.com
Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

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Guess the Chest!

Ayyyy.com has a fun little "Guess the Celebrity Breasts" quiz. Can you name any of the celebrities whose chest is featured? I am embarrassed to say that I only got 4 right!
Doh!

Click here to go to Ayyyy.com for the answers!

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

Meryl Streep and Heidi Klum Not Fond of Plastic Surgery

Both Meryl Streep and Heidi Klum have recently gone on record as being anti-plastic surgery. According to thecelebritycafe.com:

“You'd be amazed how many men in the industry have gone down that road,” Meryl Streep observed. "I don't get it.” Streep revealed that true actors should realize that often more interesting roles come to the older set anyway. “The good thing about getting older is that when they do cast you it's often something interesting - you're no longer asked to be the beautiful leading lady,” she said. When actors aren’t hired just for their matinee looks they are given the chance to play roles that “examine all the idiosyncrasies people have.” Streep remained refreshingly free of believing in unattainable standards of youth and beauty. “I think you have to embrace getting older and celebrate life,” she advised.

According to tob.hollywood.com, Heidi Klum stated:

There’s something odd when you’re 35 or 40 and ironed to the max. You change with time, and it’s fine. Everywhere there are these stand-up cards saying, ‘Have a little silicone while you get your roots done.’ I want to be the opposite of that.

It's easy for them to say that. One is arguably one of the greatest actresses of all time, and the other is a supermodel. I say, to each their own!

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Quick links

I hope you have enjoyed your July 4th holiday weekend. I've had a great time with my wife and kids. Here are a few quick links for you to check out:

1. It looks like Australia has problems with phony plastic surgeons too. Click here.
2. Plastic Surgery Products magazine (of which I am on the Editorial Advisory Board) has a nice editorial about the current state of plastic surgery blogs. Click here.
3. For those of you unfamiliar with MTV's True Life television series, it is a documentary show which follows youths through various turning points in their lives. One recent episode featured two 20 year olds who had multiple plastic surgeries. According to the LA Times:

Yet when Rachael, her nose bandaged from the latest operation, softly said, "Hopefully I'll have the confidence to maybe complete the other goals in my life now, like being in Playboy and maybe finding a boyfriend," the show revealed the pathos lurking inside her synthetic nose-jobbed and implanted shell.

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

Who Has the Best Breasts in the Biz?

There is a great article on Colin Stewart's In Your Face blog which focuses on In Touch Weekly's Top 10 "Best Breasts" Poll. He analyzes each celebrity and whether or not they have breast implants. It's a nice read, and not just because he quotes me several times. Here's my opinion of whether each person in the top 10 have real or fake breasts.
1. Jessica Simpson - fake
2. Tyra Banks - real
3. Scarlett Johansson - real
4. Carmen Electra - fake
5. Lindsay Lohan - fake... I think.
6. Katherine Heigl - not sure
7. Audrina Patridge - who is she?
8. Jennifer Aniston - real
9. Megan Fox - tough call, but I think I know who may have done her rhinoplasty (good friend of mine)...
10. Beyonce Knowles - fake

For more in-depth analysis, click here for the article.

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

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Is it worth it to operate on celebrities?

There is an interesting post from the Scalpel or Sword blog regarding the dangers of operating on celebrities such as Tiger Woods:

When a 32 year old soon-to-be billionaire superstar seeks medical treatment, I doubt he has to get a referral from his PCP or approval from an HMO pencil-pusher. But as the John Ritter case revealed, when a rich celebrity suffers a disastrous medical outcome, the potential liability far exceeds any insurance coverage or assets of the treating physicians.

Sure, the Orthopedist will get to prominently display a signed picture in his office waiting room of Tiger shaking his hand, and he will likely benefit from the prestige of having such a high-profile patient. And I'm sure Tiger will pay his bill in full. But what is a reasonable fee for taking on the enormous liability risk of treating such a patient?

This is even more true when the surgery being performed on the celebrity is plastic surgery. The Donda West case is an excellent example of that. Sure, her surgeon may have gotten some kudos for doing a nice job had things gone well, but since the situation ended poorly, his practice has now been devastated. Obviously other factors are in play in that situation as well. That being said, would I operate on celebrities? Yes.

Story credit: scalpelorsword.blogspot.com by way of KevinMD.com

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

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.

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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

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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


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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...

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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.

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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

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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

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