Celebs and their plastic surgery

Articles about Plastic Surgery News

Angelina Jolie – Prophylactic Mastectomy with Reconstruction Using Breast Implants

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

So you have probably all heard by now that Angelina Jolie was diagnosed with the BRCA1 gene and has undergone a double mastectomy with reconstruction.  The actress and director wrote a very poignant, well-written op-ed for the New York Times. Here is a segment of it:

On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work.

But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.

My own process began on Feb. 2 with a procedure known as a “nipple delay,” which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area. This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple.

Two weeks later I had the major surgery, where the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place. The operation can take eight hours. You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science-fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life.

Nine weeks later, the final surgery is completed with the reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful.

I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.

Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.

I applaud Angelina for coming forward and revealing her diagnosis and treatment.  Hopefully this helps to inform people not only about the potential diagnosis and treatment options for breast cancer, but also inform women about their reconstructive options.  Studies show that women who undergo immediate reconstruction after mastectomy benefit psychologically a great deal.

To read the rest of Angelina Jolie’s op-ed piece, click HERE.

If you’ve ever wondered how plastic surgeons reconstruct a woman’s breast after mastectomy, there is a very well-written article in CNN.com HERE.  I’m quoted in the article, which also describes how Angelina’s reconstruction was likely performed.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

 

Police: Plastic Surgeon Tortured Ex-Girlfriend Over Facebook Posting

Saturday, May 11th, 2013

WSVN-TV –

Crazy story about a plastic surgeon in Florida. Why does it seem that so many of the bizarre plastic surgery stories come out of Florida?

 

Is Your Sunscreen Poisoning You?

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

There is an interesting article (and accompanying television segment) from plastic surgeon and fellow ASAPS member, Dr. Arthur Perry, on the possible long-term side effects of chemical sunscreens.  From his article on www.doctoroz.com:

There are 17 individual sunscreen ingredients that are FDA approved: 15 of these are clear chemicals that absorb UV light and two are made of minerals that reflect UV light. Of these 15, nine are known endocrine disruptors. To be effective, chemical sunscreens need to be rubbed into their skin 20 minutes before sun exposure. They do a pretty good job at blocking UV light, but they actually get used up as the sun shines on them. In fact, some sunscreens lose as much as 90% of their effectiveness in just an hour, so they need to be reapplied often. This is not the case with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the two mineral, or physical, sunscreens. These two work very differently – they sit on the surface of the skin and physically block UV light.

Chemical sunscreens don’t sit on the surface of the skin – they soak into it and quickly find their way into the bloodstream. They scatter all over the body without being detoxified by the liver and can be detected in blood, urine, and breast milk for up to two days after a single application. That would be just fine if they were uniformly safe – but they’re not.

As I mentioned, nine of the 15 chemical sunscreens are considered endocrine disruptors. Those are chemicals that interfere with the normal function of hormones. The hormones most commonly disturbed are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid. Endocrine disruptors, like some ingredients in chemical sunscreens, can cause abnormal development of fetuses and growing children. They cause early puberty and premature breast development in girls, and small and undescended testicles in boys. They cause low sperm counts and infertility. Endocrine disruptors that act like estrogen can contribute to the development of breast and ovarian cancers in women, and other endocrine disruptors may increase the chance of prostate cancer in men.

Pretty scary stuff, isn’t it?  To be completely transparent, Dr. Perry does have his own line of skin care products, which include the sunscreen Zinc Oxide.  However, I’ve met Dr. Perry, read some of his books, and am in a committee with him for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).  He’s a solid guy and a very well-respected, board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.  To learn about his line of skin care products, go to www.drperrys.com.

To read the rest of his article, click HERE.

 

 

Arm Lifts Grow In Popularity – From USA Today

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

From today’s USA Today:

“Arm lifts” have become one of the fastest-growing varieties of plastic surgery, a new study shows.

More than 15,000 women underwent an arm lift in 2012, an increase of more than 4,000% since 2000, according to a report out Monday from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The popularity of the procedures isn’t driven by a desire to look as good as Michelle Obama does in a sleeveless sheath.

Instead, the surgeries are growing because more people are losing massive amounts of weight, usually through obesity surgery, says David Reath, a plastic surgeon in Knoxville, Tenn., and chairman of the public education committee for the plastic surgeon society.

About 200,000 Americans a year undergo some kind of weight-loss procedure, such as gastric bypass, says Jack Fisher, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, from Nashville.

While surgery can help people lose weight and fat, it doesn’t decrease the amount of skin, Reath says. People who lose 100 pounds or more can be left with a lot of extra skin.

“Once skin is stretched out, it becomes like a broken rubber band,” Fisher says. “Even when you lose weight, the skin doesn’t go back to its normal shape.”

The number of cosmetic surgeries increased by 3% last year, to nearly 1.7 million,  according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. When non-surgical options such as botox injections are included, Americans had more than 10 million cosmetic procedures last year.

Arm lifts aren’t for everyone.

The surgeries can cost $5,000 or more out-of-pocket, Fisher says. And they leave patients with a scar that stretches from their elbow to their armpit.

The problem with the arm lift (aka brachioplasty) is that it leaves a long scar that extends from elbow to armpit.  The scar is visible when you wave at someone and lift your arm up.  For this reason, it’s usually reserved for people with a lot of excess skin, such as massive weight loss patients.  It’s typically combined with liposuction for an optimal result.

For the rest of the USA Today article, click HERE.

 

The Plastic Surgery Diet By Dr. Robert Tornambe

Friday, April 26th, 2013

We are what we eat.  And that refers to how we look.  Dr. Robert Tornambe, a board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently published an article on the Huffington Post called “the Plastic Surgery Diet.”  These are his recommendations on what to eat in order to maintain youthful, healthy skin.  Here are his 10 easy steps to a healthy but delicious diet.

1) Eliminate unhealthy fat intake. Avoid margarine, deep fried foods and foods with trans-fat and saturated fat.

2) Increase your intake of monounsaturated oils. Use extra virgin olive oil, walnut, canola or flaxseed oils.

3) Eliminate the unhealthy “white” carbs. Avoid refined flours, sugars, white rice and foods high on glycemic index.

4) Eat plenty of whole grains. Brown rice and bulgur wheat.

5) Avoid refined and processed foods.

6) Include plenty of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants.  Blueberries, strawberries and dark leafy greens like spinach and kale.

7) Hold the salt and spice it up.  Use more anti-inflammatory herbs and spices for seasoning. Curry, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, garlic and onions are all anti-inflammatory.

8) Eat lean protein sources like chicken. Reduce red meat and avoid full fat dairy products.

9) Eat fish high in omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, arctic char, sardines, anchovies, black cod, mackerel and even oysters are excellent sources.

10) Drink red wine in moderation. One or two glasses daily

I like it.  It’s similar to dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu’s Feed Your Face diet, which also focuses on avoiding foods with a high glycemic index.  To read the rest of Dr. Tornambe’s article “The Plastic Surgery Diet,” click HERE.

 

The Newest In Aesthetic Plastic Surgery At The ASAPS Annual Meeting In New York City

Friday, April 19th, 2013

I just returned from the annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the premiere society for cosmetic plastic surgeons.  It took place at the Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, and was attended by the top aesthetic surgeons in the United States.  This is THE meeting where the hottest new treatments are introduced, scrutinized, and demo’d, and plastic surgeons describe the newest ways to perform surgeries with less downtime and better results.  Here are some highlights:

1. I was privileged to be invited to be on the Media Relations committee for ASAPS, along with several other very prominent plastic surgeons.  Although our committee is small, it’s a virtual who’s who in famous ‘media’ plastic surgeons today, including Dr. Andrew Ordon from “The Doctors,” Dr. Brent Moelleken from “Extreme Makeover” and “Plastic Wives,” Dr. Arthur Perry who co-authored the “Me” books with Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Dr. Steve Teitelbaum, chair of the committee and frequent television commentator.  I look forward to working with these great doctors to exert a positive influence on today’s media.

2. “Hot Topics” is my favorite session at the annual meeting, as this five hour course reveals the most newsworthy items in our field.  Some highlights included Exparel (a new medication that might make pain pumps obsolete), the Lifestyle Lift, Nonsurgical Fat Reduction, and the award for the worst, overhyped gimmick of all (the fad of thread lifts).

3. Two of the most talked-about subjects in plastic surgery are the new FDA-approved Natrelle 410 breast implants (aka the gummy bear implants) and use of Strattice for treating breast implant capsular contracture.  My old friend and colleague, Dr. Brad Bengtson, revealed his experience using Strattice to treat recurrent capsular contractures, with impressive results.  If only the Strattice wasn’t so expensive!

4. I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Dr. John Trupiano, an old friend who is now a practicing plastic surgeon in Fargo, North Dakota.  We had a nice dinner together and then watched “Oz: The Great and Powerful.”  If you’re in Fargo, he’s a great guy to see.

I’m looking forward to the next ASAPS meeting next year, scheduled to take place in San Fran!

For more about ASAPS, or to find an ASAPS doctor in your area, visit www.surgery.org.

 

The Silk’N Face FX on “The Ricki Lake Show”

Monday, April 15th, 2013

I was recently asked to demonstrate a novel, take-home device for tightening the skin of the face for “the Ricki Lake Show.” This is a one-of-a-kind device, and although not the same as the laser treatments in the office, can be a nice way to rejuvenate your skin at home.

 

Suffering From Tattoo Regret?

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013

I recently wrote an article for CNN.com about tattoos that has gotten a lot of views and comments (over 2000 of them!)  If you haven’t read it yet, here is the first part:

A few years ago I interviewed a handyman to do some work on my house. I noticed a teardrop tattoo at the top of his left cheek.  Prior to hiring him, I searched online for what this design signified. My mouth dropped when I found out.

A teardrop tattoo can mean he murdered someone.

So I hired someone else.

Plastic surgeons and dermatologists are seeing more and more people who want their tattoos removed, often because they worry that the
tattoos could cause problems with employment.   According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the number of people undergoing laser tattoo removal increased 43% from 2011 to 2012.   This is consistent with a recent survey from the United Kingdom which found that nearly one-third of people suffer from tattoo regret.

Several years ago elaborate designs on the lower back became all the tattoo rage, until someone began calling them “tramp stamps.”  Now I suspect that thousands of women (and maybe even a few unfortunate men) regret getting them.  Other tattoo fads which have come and gone
include the barbed wire around men’s arms and the Chinese letters which may, or may not, mean what you think they do.

And it’s not just the common folk who regret their tattoos.  Several celebrities have taken steps to have their tattoos removed.  Johnny Depp committed the most common tattoo faux paux: he inked then-girlfriend Winona Ryder’s name on his shoulder.  A short time later they broke up, prompting Depp to morph “Winona Forever” into “Wino Forever.”  Megan Fox recently underwent laser treatments to remove the massive Marilyn Monroe tattoo on her arm.  And some celebs have even embarrassingly misspelled their tattoos.  Actress Hayden Panettiere misspelled the Italian phrase “Vivere senza rimpianti,” adding an extra “i” where it didn’t belong.

To read the rest of the article, click HERE to go to CNN.com

 

Cosmetic Surgeon Charged With Homicide In Liposuction Death

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

Startling story from the New York Daily News:

A cosmetic surgeon was charged Thursday with causing a former model’s death by  liposuction.

Oleg Davie, 51, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent  homicide charges for operating on Isel Pineda in May of last year — even though  she’d previously had a heart transplant and was on anti-rejection  medication.

Pineda, 51, who was described by ex-husband Jeffrey Mayer as a “beautiful,  stunning” person, suffered from heart disease and underwent heart transplant  surgery in 2004. The procedure was performed by TV’S famed Dr. Mehmet Oz.

But before heading off on a planned vacation last year, Pineda felt unhappy  with her appearance and decided she wanted to have liposuction done on her  thighs. Davie agreed to perform the procedure, even though her cardiologist  noted she had “no discernible body fat” when he examined her earlier that year,  said Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes.

Pineda collapsed in Davies’ office after the outpatient procedure, and was  rushed to Coney Island Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from a heart  attack just hours after the procedure.

“Doctors are well aware of the fact that they are discouraged from  performing liposuction and similar procedures on patients with heart disease,”  said Hynes, noting that Davie didn’t even bother to reach out to Pineda’s  cardiologist. “It is shameful that a medical professional would disregard his  patient’s safety, putting her in serious danger.”

Davie, who faces up to 34 years in prison if convicted, was released on a  $175,000 bail. He declined comment after his arraignment. He surrendered his  medical license after the incident last year.

Until the government enacts laws prohibiting doctors from performing procedures outside of their formal residency and fellowship training, these types of stories will continue to occur and people will continue to suffer at the hands of docs who’re masquerading as real plastic surgeons.  This doctor hasn’t been convicted yet, so the charges are still alleged, but horror stories are happening everywhere.  If you are thinking about plastic surgery, do your homework!

For my article on How To Choose A Plastic Surgeon, click here.

 

Post-Divorce Discounts For Plastic Surgery??

Monday, April 1st, 2013

The Doctor Oz Show recently aired a segment about plastic surgeons giving discounts for patients who have undergone a recent divorce.  According to a survey conducted by the program, 19% of plastic surgeons offer discounts to women going under the knife!  This trend is somewhat troubling to me, as a board-certified plastic surgeon.  I often see patients who come to see me for surgery after undergoing a divorce, but would never try to discount surgery in order to subtly coerce them into undergoing the procedure.  Sometimes these women (and occasionally men) are in vulnerable psychological states, and I strongly believe it’s wrong for a plastic surgeon to take advantage of that.

The show had an interesting discussion between two plastic surgeons and a psychologist that got a little heated at times.  I agreed with many of the points the psychologist made, but completely reject her statement that most plastic surgeons don’t turn down patients for surgery when they aren’t psychologically good candidates.  I turn down about one out of every 4-5 patients who come to see me, mostly because of unrealistic expectations or psychological issues.

You can catch snippets of the show on the Doctor Oz Show website links below:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/post-divorce-discounts-plastic-surgery-pt-1

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/post-divorce-discounts-plastic-surgery-pt-2

 

The 11 Most Overrated Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

Allure Magazine published a very interesting slideshow on the 11 most overrated cosmetic surgery procedures.  Some of these procedures I’ve introduced on various programs, others I’ve cautioned against.  At this time, I do not regularly perform any of these ‘overrated’ procedures.  Here they are:

1. Vampire Facelift - I don’t perform this.

2. Laser Liposuction - Some doctors believe it tightens skin.  Others don’t.  If there is some tightening involved, it is pretty modest.

3. Stem Cell Facelift - The future of facelifts… but not the present.

4. Sculptra and Artefill for the lips - Don’t do this!  Permanent lumps galore! Sculptra is great for the cheeks, though.

5. Silicone Cheek Implants - One doctor says it’s three surgeries: one to put them in, one to reposition them when they go out of place, and one to remove them altogether.

6. Ulthera – I’ve demo’d this on TV but don’t perform the procedure.

7. Fat Injections To The Breasts - I perform this procedure sparingly, only when absolutely indicated.

8. Brachioplasty – Great procedure for people with really droopy arms.  Scar is too long for mild to moderate droopiness.

9. Butt Implants - I prefer using fat for enhancing the buttocks.

10. Zerona Fat Melting Laser - I believe it works, but expectations are difficult to meet.  My patients lost an average of 3-4 inches when measuring four areas, and were still unhappy.  It’s not like real lipo.

11. Foot Lifts - I am SO not interested in operating on feet!

To see the Allure slideshow, with accompanying doctor comments, click HERE.

 

Teens Turn To Plastic Surgery: Experts Tackle The When And Why

Monday, March 25th, 2013

This is from an excellent recent article in the Deseret News:

LOS ANGELES — The baseball that hit Darlene in the face changed more than her appearance. It made her the butt of classmates’ jokes. More importantly, she had trouble breathing. By 16, she wanted it fixed. Tony was also 16 when he reached the same conclusion about his oversized jaw.

They are part of a small but significant trend: teenagers turning to plastic surgery to solve physical deformities, correct congenital defects, or make them look and thus feel better about themselves.

Becca is one of those teens. She asked for breast augmentation for graduation from a New York City high school. So is William, who worked summer jobs in Indianapolis to help pay for surgery to remove excessive male breast tissue.

Experts say plastic surgery can be necessary for teens in some situations, but they question many of the procedures and worry that plastic surgery won’t cure underlying problems.

Trending up or down?

The plastic surgery “trend” for teens depends on who counts and when. Researchers at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery call reported increases a media concoction. Their numbers show a slight drop from 10 years ago. But in 2005 the numbers dipped, so now comparisons to that year show an “increase.” They count about 209,000 procedures for all kids 18 and under.

To read the rest of the article, including my comments on when it’s right for a teen to have plastic surgery, click HERE.

 

The Present And Future Of Breast Enhancement

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

Here is my latest article in the Huffington Post:

The statistics are in.  2012 is officially the year of the silicone breast implant.

Every year the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) publishes annual cosmetic surgery statistics from the year before.  The numbers released on Tuesday, March 12th reveal that breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the United States.  In 2012, 0ver 330,000 women underwent this procedure.  Of these patients, 72% chose silicone gel breast implants and 28% selected saline-filled implants.  The number of women choosing silicone has skyrocketed since the FDA lifted the moratorium on these implants in November, 2006.

So what will 2013 bring?

This February the FDA approved the Allergan 410 form-stable, shaped breast implant for general cosmetic use.  This implant, also known as the “Gummy Bear Implant,” is considered by many plastic surgeons to be superior due to its firm composition.  It literally feels like a gummy bear.  Plastic surgeons and patients have been waiting over ten years for this implant to be approved.  I suspect that the number of women undergoing surgery with these implants will boom in 2013.

What else is on the horizon?

To read the rest of the article, visit Huffington Post HERE.

 

The Many Uses Of Botox

Friday, March 1st, 2013

There is an interesting article in The Body Odd on NBCNews.com regarding the many uses of Botox.  We all know about Botox for wrinkles, but did you know that Botox can be used to treat many other problems?  Botox has been used successfully to treat plantar fasciitis, migraines, overactive bladder, bulky calves, and even for weight loss!  And its indications are only growing.

To read the BodyOdd at NBCNews.com article, click HERE.

 

FDA Approves New Natrelle 410 “Gummy Bear” Breast Implant

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

This is a very big deal in the field of plastic surgery.  Today the FDA approved the Natrelle (Allergan) Style 410 “Gummy Bear” silicone breast implant.  This is a true “form-stable” implant, with silicone that literally feels like a gummy bear, hence the name.  Plastic surgeons have been predicting the FDA approval of these devices for over ten years, so it’s a long-awaited announcement.  From the FDA webpage:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the Natrelle 410 Highly
Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Gel Filled Breast Implant to increase
breast size (augmentation) in women at least 22 years old and to rebuild breast
tissue (reconstruction) in women of any age. Natrelle 410 implants are
manufactured by Allergan, Inc.

The FDA based its approval on seven years of data from 941 women. Most
complications and outcomes reflect those found in previous breast implant
studies including tightening of the area around the implant (capsular
contracture), re-operation, implant removal, an uneven appearance (asymmetry),
and infection.  In addition, investigators observed fissures (cracks) in the gel
of some Natrelle 410 implants.  This is a characteristic called gel fracture and
is unique to this implant.

“It’s important to remember that breast implants are not lifetime devices.
Women should fully understand the risks associated with breast implants before
considering augmentation or reconstruction surgery, and they should recognize
that long-term monitoring is essential,” said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., director of
the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

“The data we reviewed showed a reasonable assurance of safety and
effectiveness,” said Shuren. “We will be looking at the results from
post-approval studies that will focus on their long-term safety and
effectiveness.”

The silicone gel in the Natrelle 410 implant contains more cross-linking
compared to the silicone gel used in Allergan’s previously approved Natrelle
implant. This increased cross-linking results in a silicone gel that’s firmer.
Cross-linking refers to the bonds that link one silicone chain to another. The
clinical significance of this type of silicone gel is not known.

These implants are completely different from the silicone gel implants otherwise on the market.  They are much firmer and hold their shape, unlike the current silicone implants in use.  Time will tell just how popular these implants will get.  Some things to consider with the Natrelle Style 410 silicone gel implant:

1. The textured surface and teardrop shape mean that these implants are made to stay in place.  Unlike the smooth-walled silicone implants currently used by most plastic surgeons, these implants are not made to move.  For some, the fact that these implants stay in their position might be construed as looking and feeling less natural.

2. They are FIRM.

3. The incision necessary to insert these implants is much longer than a traditional incision, since these implants can not be squeezed into a smaller opening.

4. The plastic surgeon who inserts these implants must be very accurate in the creation of the breast pocket.  You DO NOT want some careless doctor ripping open a breast pocket and trying to stuff one of these in you.   Make sure to see a reputable plastic surgeon who’s a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and/or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

5. The gummy bear implants can’t be inserted through the belly button or the armpit.  They are too stiff.

6. These implants can be useful in reconstruction, revision breast surgery, and in people with really thin tissues and a risk of bottoming out.

To read the FDA announcement about the Natrelle Style 410 “Gummy Bear” Implant approval, click HERE.

 

Breasts And Butts Out In 2012; Faces In.

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

From my latest article on CNN.com:

(CNN) — For the first time in six years, the number of people enhancing their breasts and plumping their buttocks is declining. The number of people lifting, injecting and lasering their faces is growing.

So who’s powering this sudden growth in facial plastic surgery? Baby boomers.

Every year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons releases its statistics about the number of plastic surgeries performed the year before. It’s an accurate snapshot of the state of plastic surgery in the United States.

2012 saw a record number of people undergoing cosmetic procedures, with more than 14.6 million procedures performed in total, an increase of 5% over the year before. The number of actual surgeries performed dropped 2%, but this was more than offset by a 6% rise in minimally invasive cosmetic treatments.

Breast augmentation remained the number one cosmetic surgery, a position it’s held since the FDA ended the silicone gel implant moratorium in 2006. However, in 2012, the number of women undergoing this procedure declined 7% from the year before, with just over 286,000 breast enhancements performed.

Buttocks augmentation was one of the fastest-growing procedures of the past decade, due in no small part to public fascination with the ample derrieres of celebs Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Kim Kardashian. The number of people undergoing buttock enhancement also declined in 2012, down 36% from the year before, to just under 3,800 procedures.

Our nation appears to be shifting its emphasis from the inflated busts and rounded behinds of Generation X and Y to the plumped cheeks and lifted necks of baby boomers. In other words, the Real Housewives are not only keeping up with the Kardashians, they’re surpassing them.

To read the rest of the article, click HERE to go to CNN.com.

 

Black Market Silicone Buttock Injections On “The Doctor Oz Show”

Friday, February 15th, 2013

I recently filmed a segment on the Dr. Oz Show where we discussed silicone buttock injections.  One of my patients from Michigan underwent injection of over 50 vials of industrial strength silicone by a non-licensed injector.  I join Dr. Oz, psychologist Dr. Mike Dow, and the patient Karmello to discuss the danger she is putting herself in.  It’s definitely an eye-opening show.  You can view it here: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-oz-investigates-strange-addictions-pt-3

 

Dying To Be Beautiful – Beauty Trends That Can Prove Lethal – On “Katie”

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

The “Katie” show recently aired an episode that focused on black market and botched plastic surgery. She interviewed a woman who lost both arms and both butt cheeks after illegal silicone injections into her buttocks, a son and daughter whose mother died at the hands of a family doc performing liposuction, and a woman who was permanently scarred by permanent filler injections under her eyes. Here are the two segments that featured yours truly. I discuss what happened to my patient and give pointers on how to avoid becoming a victim of doctors masquerading as plastic surgeons.

To view the rest of the episode, click HERE to go to the “Katie” site.

 

RealSelf.com Guide To Post-Surgical Scar Care

Tuesday, February 5th, 2013

I recently partnered with the prominent plastic surgery site RealSelf.com to tape a series of Google Hangout discussions on care for scars after plastic surgery. We tackled subjects like getting sunlight on your scars, silicone scar treatments, and laser treatments. Here is the video from one of the segments. For the rest of them, click HERE to check out the information on RealSelf.com

 

Ratings For “Plastic Wives” Are In

Saturday, February 2nd, 2013

Did you get a chance to catch “Plastic Wives” on TLC?  The show had a ton of publicity, with a segment on “Nightline” and “GMA,” among other programs.  It had a great spot, following the wildly popular “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.”

So how did it do in the ratings?

Drum roll please!

“Plastic Wives” had 0.806 million viewers, ranked #25 for the night on cable television.  “Honey Boo Boo” had 1.9 million viewers, so it shows quite a precipitous drop-off with the debut of the Beverly Hills plastic surgery-based one hour special.

I assume the TLC brass aren’t too happy with the numbers, which are a surprise, given how incredibly popular the similarly-themed ”Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” program is.  It looks like a second “Plastic Wives” show is pretty unlikely now.  It wasn’t my cup-of-tea anyways.  They lost me when the one woman brought out a specimen cup with her excised labia inside it.  Disgusting!

Ratings courtesy of The Futon Critic.