Thursday, July 31, 2008

Boob With Bad Boobs Launches Blog


By some odd twist of fate, The Hills star, Audrina Patridge got listed on a site called Good Plastic Surgery. The site praises the stars mammoth mammary mistakes, saying "Audrina Patridge's breasts are enhanced. I would have never guessed. Judging from this photo, she has saline implants over the muscle."

I hope the site, presumably the sister site to Awful Plastic Surgery, was being facetious. Her breast implants are perhaps the worst size, shape, and placement for a 24-year-old woman (who looks like she's about 36) ever. Firstly, as frequent readers of SFP know, a dead giveaway for breast implants is a totally round shape; Magellan could circumnavigate Audrina's new boobs. Secondly, I'm not an expert on breasts - being that the last time I felt one was on a dare several years ago - but I'm pretty sure they shouldn't be pointing in opposite directions. God, in ten years, Audrina's gonna have to move a breast to scratch a knee (standing up, no less).

As the title suggests, the boob has launched a blog. Her no-doubt Noble-Prize-worthy effort so far includes her summer mix list, some stupid tips on "keeping thin" (she seems to have missed the tip about the finger in the back of her throat), and pictures of her closet (we'd like to see HER hanging from a rack). Maybe she can start a blog network with Karl Rove about useless, trite and self-serving crap nobody wants to read.

For more photos of Audrina's oddly-shapped breast implants, you can checkout Zimbio. Be warned, while the photos do have placement over the nips, they're still graphic.

NOTE: If you click the links to Good Plastic Surgery or Awful Plastic Surgery above and get the message that the link "may harm your computer", don't freak-out - this happens anytime the sites are linked to from another place, even Google (happens to me all the time). If you type in the address (which you can easily see is the same as the address I use for the link) in your browser, it will take you to the sites with no problem. This is, most likely, a problem caused by something they use to track where their traffic comes from.

Possibly Related Posts:

Paris Hilton To Public: I'm Not Just A Bad Role Model, I'm Also A Bad Actress

I'm Sorry Ms. Jackson, I Am For Real - You Boob Looks Like It's About To Secede From Your Chest And Start Its Own Rhythm Nation

Posh's Breasts Are Too Big For Her Frame

Arizona Plastic Surgeon Suggests The More Natural Approach To Breast Enhancement

Is Saline Safe?

Totally Linktastic Plastic

Quote Of The NOW:

"To love one's self is to begin a lifelong romance." - An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde (an 'ideal husband', he was not)

Observation Of The NOW:

The Millionaire And His "Wife" -


Somehow, I missed it, but it's hip to be square for gays and... ehem... alleged gays. Pictured above, Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick and largely useless material brother, Chris Ciccone, do their best Thurston Howell III impressions.

Links Of The NOW:

"I'm not gay," says Ed Westwick - Gossip has it that he's dipping his southwick into Chace Crawford - as he prances around holding candy in his lavender pants (I shit you not, lavender pants) and lavender and pink striped shirt. Ed, if you're going to spend so much time in the closet, we expect you to dress better. To be fair, this is actually a costume for Ed's Gossip Girl character, Chuck Bass, that just so happens to make Ed look like a big ass. (INF DAILY)

Rossie O'Donnell should take over for Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab - she's the 'Queen of Quit'. She's adding blogging to the list of things she won't do again - that is, until another temporary opportunity comes along. (Jossip)

If the shoe fits, it probably wasn't designed by Paris Hilton. (Webster's Is My Bitch)

With all the sitting and doing nothing (and the heavy [street] medication), maybe Paula Abdul is afraid she'll fall asleep - you know, for the hundredth time - on Idol. So, instead, she may have her own professional cheerleading competition. People being tossed around with the looming possibility of Paula getting struck in the freakishly over-sized thing she calls a head? We can't miss this! (Popcrunch)

Who knew there were so many literary groupies? Authors get STDs while on book tours. I would like to take this opportunity to announce my upcoming book tour - sponsored proudly by Troyjan (misspelling to avoid lawsuit) prophylactics. (Gawker)

How did we miss this one? Apparently, Christian Slater is still getting us all moist with one raised eyebrow. Unfortunately, you'll have to check the back of his head to find said brow. (Ayyyy!)

Miley Cyrus isn't going to 'kiss a girl' for attention... So young, so hopeful; give it a few years and the Cyrus-desperation will kick in. (Lainey Gossip)

Taking metrosexual a step too far: no doubt my celeb lookalike Pete Wentz and wannabe rocker, Jared Leto, will be duking it out in five years to discover which one is responsible for this god-awful trend, a la the trucker hat controversy of 2008. (AgentBedHead and WIMB)

Rant Of The NOW:

So, you have some choices when it comes to bicycle safety: you check your tire pressure, you make sure your frame's not bent, you wear plenty of sunscreen and drink tons of water as you crank the wheels of fitness. Why is it then that, instead of learning standard bicycle safety hand signals, do many of you simply choose to point and gesture rapidly?

It makes me want to run you over just to prove the point.

Kathy Griffin Says, 'Suck It' To Plastic Surgery... Again


I'm sorry Kathy, I love you, but make up your mind already! I swear to God, you change your opinion more times than an upstate New York WASP loses her virginity.

After almost dying from complications due to liposuction, the 47-year-old comedienne swore off plastic surgery and warned others away as well. Later, she had a change of heart (and face) and ended-up on Oprah, telling O that she basically just had to find the right doctors and that she was now happy with her decision.

Well, this little red-headed, Irish merry-go-round has come full circle and Kathy is once again bashing cosmetic surgery.

The D-list star tells Fitness magazine in their September issue, "I’ve been off the junk, as I call it, for five years. I’ve had face lift, eye job and all that stuff five years ago. It didn’t get me happier or didn’t make me look particularly younger."

First off, I don't know, I think you look a lot better after some well-thought and terrifically performed cosmetic alteration, Kathy. Certainly, despite your protest, you wouldn't have that bangin' body without liposuction. And your face was elongated before and wouldn't have aged well, sweetie. Not to mention, it may just be coincidence, but you didn't really have a big career before the surgery. Before, you were on the D-list and now your the queen bee of D-lebrity.

Oh, Kathy... Kathy, Kathy, Kathy... Come have a seat by me, dear. I know you love trends, but this rollercoster ride must stop. Look, it just makes me sick to think of how many people say, I thought plastic surgery would make me happy, or I want plastic surgery to look younger. Oh, and of course, they all proclaim no one told them that all of those rationales are the wrong reasons to undertake cosmetic surgery. I've said it time-and-again, plastic surgery will not give you self-esteem, it won't make you any younger, it can't reanimate a dead career, and if you choose your surgeon or the procedure you wish to have lightly, then you may end-up a zombifyed, tattered husk of person for the rest of your life. But you know what? People only hear what they want to hear, dear.

It's alright, Kathy. I still think you're fabulous. And, I think you made the right decisions as far as plastic surgery goes. I also think you're right for having a stopping point - a point I've pushed in this blog over and over: you have to know when to say enough is enough.

Possibly Related Posts:

Koena Mitra Admits To Failed Nose Job, But Nothing Else

Is Meryl Streep's Anti-Surgery Stance Hypocritical?


5 Things You Can Do To Avoid Plastic Surgery Blunders

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Loose Is Out In Fashion And Faces, Proves Tonight's 'Project Runway'


So, we've already talked trash about oompa loompa, Blayne Walsh (P.S. - Blayne, honey, orange and purple don't match... lose the hoodie), but now it's time to take on one of the judges. Well, a guest judge, anyway.

Tonight's Project Runway led perfectly into Shear Genius and its plastic surgery parade (New and Improved With Kate Jackson). The guest judge on Runway tonight was none other than, comedienne Sandra Bernhardt. What she knows about fashion, other than the contents of Madonna's cone-shaped bra, I have no idea, but she should have stuck around for tonight's Shear - she might have learned something from Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson who both look fantastic, just entering their 60's and they look as if they've chosen their cosmetic procedures wisely. Then again, she'd probably shun them to pin back her cheeks with Kim Vo, so...

Poor Sandra probably had a few choice four-letter words for her plastic surgeon after she saw her that her eyes have begun to creep toward her ears. But hey, now she has 180 degree vision, so that's a plus.

Possibly Related Posts:

Did Project Runway Cast An Oompa Loompa For Season 5?

Shear Genius Cast May Be Fans Of Other Sharp Implements

Madonna's Brother Confirms Her Face Lift

Is Madame Secretly The Inspiration For Madonna?

Surgeons Still Warning Of The Dangers Of Lipodissolve


There are millions of overweight people around the globe today, with expanding waistlines from the UK to Italy to Russia. Besides diet and exercise, the only way to get rid of those unwanted pounds has been invasive liposuction... until now, according to the makers of Lipodissolve - an injectable fat dissolver new to the market.

It's not the idea of an injectable fat dissolver that doctors are concerned about, but the substances that make-up this possibly toxic cocktail and their lack of FDA approval. Lipodissolve is primarly made of two medications, phosphatidylcholine and a detergent, deoxycholate. Deoxycholate is a powerful detergent that is often used by cardiac surgeons to dissolve blood clots. It may be the most disturbing ingredient of Lipodissolve, as it can dissolve any other tissue as well: blood vessle tissue, fat, muscle and even bone.

That's not the only concern. A Lipodissolve study in Brazil found that the break down of large amounts of fat which must be flushed from the body's endocrine system can lead to liver failure. Another concern is the 80% to 90% rate at which patients experience lumps and nodules under the skin. Often, these can lead to large, permanent scars.

There are many other, minimally invasive procedures in development which may be able to melt fat without liposuction, or the dangers of Lipodissolve, like the Titan laser. Some of them involve lasers that can also tighten the skin while ridding you of fat and cellulite. Tumescent liposuction is still much safer, as it has been performed successfully for over two decades. For less pain and swelling with guaranteed results, SFP suggests examining SmartLipo and VASER-assisted liposuction.

Possibly Related Posts:

Fat Dissolving Injections Dangerous And Possibly Ineffective, Say Cosmetic Surgeons


Sculpting A New You - The Race Is On To Develop Minimally Invasive Procedures With Big Cosmetic Results

Your Abs In Hi-Def: VASER Liposuction

SmartLipo MPX™:Bringing Sexy Back In Record Time With Less Pain And Swelling Than Traditional Liposuction

Bridal Party Botox Bashes And Boobies For Your Bridesmaides


Agonizing over a gift for your bridal party? How about a nice necklace, or bracelet, maybe a ring? Too impermanent? I know! What about a cosmetic procedure?

According to the New York Times, the latest theory in bridesmaid gifts is cosmetic procedures before the special day. For one 35 year-old entrepreneur, Kacey Knauer, a trip to a cosmetic dermatology spa was just what the bridal party ordered. Knauer treated them all to a full array of treatments, including: Fraxel laser treatments for age spots, chemical peels, and Botox and other dermal fillers.

“Giving them something for themselves — as opposed to something that they’ll never wear again — is more meaningful,” Knauer explains her rationale.

Some bridal guests, however, are not willing to go to such extremes for the special day. In a scene reminiscent to WE Television's hit show, Bridezillas, a bride asked Becky Lee (39) and other bridesmaids to get breast implants to better fill-out their no doubt god-awful dresses. Lee, a Manhattan photographer, declined the unreasonable request and opted for a push-up bra instead.

We’re all Asian and didn’t have a whole lot of cleavage, and she found a doctor in L.A. who was willing to do four for the price of two,” said Ms. Lee.

Cosmetic alteration specialists report record-breaking numbers from this current wedding trend. Dr. Fardad Forouzanpour reports his business has increased 40% since he began offering 'Bridal Beauty Buffets' in 2006. Owner of a mobile medical spa, Marie Scalogna-Watkinson, similarly reports anywhere from five to seven calls a month from brides requesting treatments for their bridesmaids. She says that such group procedures were nearly unheard of a few years ago.

So what do you think? Are bridal beauty augmentation parties a great idea, or an appalling new trend?

Possibly Related Posts:

Plastic Surgery, A to Z

Injectables Manufacturers May Have Encountered A Wrinkle They Cannot Fill


Minimally Invasive Procedures With Big Cosmetic Benefits

Dr. Death Goes On The Run


French anesthetist, Dr. Michel Maure (pronounced mort in French, which - fittingly - means death) was convicted in France of mutilating over 96 people in his unlicensed clinic where he claimed to be "one of the great aesthetic surgeons of the world". It's a rather ironic statement, as Maure was not a surgeon by training and not even qualified to surgically remove a mole.

Maure's was accused of bumbling his way through breast augmentation, face lifts, liposuction and rhinoplasty. He was charged with aggravated fraud and involuntary wounding (not sure how they managed the "involuntary" part, as he received money for his botched operations and clearly had no idea what he was doing), but he's since disappeared from the coast of Spain on his 18-meter yacht after failing to make bail before the completion of the sentencing.
A breast augmentation patient of the doctor's testified, "The operation was a total failure. Not only was it painful, he sowed me up raw and I saw bits of flesh on the table which were meant to correspond to my left breast. Doctors I've seen since then have told me the damage was so important it could not be repaired."
A European arrest warrant was issued last Friday for the 59 year-old quack, who fled with his wife and their two young children, as well as his teenage daughter from a previous relationship.

(Source: UK Times Online)

Possible Related Posts:

Are Bigger Breast The Answer To Wrinkles? Two German Doctors Think So


5 Things You Can Do To Avoid Plastic Surgery Blunders

10 Questions You Should Ask Before Opting For Plastic Surgery

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Linktastic Plastic

The following links lead to interesting and entertaining stories not mentioned on Super-Fantastic Plastic - the majority don't involve cosmetic surgery; therefore, they're too off-subject for inclusion in this blog, but that doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable.

Anecdote of the week:

Legendary writer, poet and Algonquin Round Table member Dorothy Parker was once asked to a high-society party in New York by women who knew nothing of her contempt for high-society trophy wives.

The women all gathered in the parlor to play a game called Can-You-Give-Me-A-Sentence in which the players are given a word and challenged to use that word in a sentence. When it was Parker's turn, she was given the word horticulture.

Without missing a beat, she replied, "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think."

Links of the now:

These would be really cool to wear - right up until the point where you have to untie your shoes to take a dump. (Monolo for the Men)

'Men on a Mission' calendar creator excommunicated, partially for the calendar, but mostly because he knows that gay men are the only ones buy it. (Salt Lake Tribune)

John Mayer
's latest move to prove he's just as big a douche as Kevin Federline. (Pink Is The New Blog)

Ironically, the Gossip is Chace doesn't run from Ed. (Jossip)

Viewers of Food Network's The Next Food Network Star (all six of them), are outraged that fembot Lisa didn't win. (Pink Sheep of the Family)

There's nothing pineapples can't do, including helping bruises heal! (The Derm Blog)

From the look on her face in the primary picture, Jennifer Garner is trying to figure out what the hell her daughter just gave her. (Just Jared)

My weekly, non-cosmetic surgery related rant:

Can I just ask, what's the deal with people misusing the word 'relevant'? Relevant to what? Pop culture, soda pop, Pop Rocks? WHAT?

How the hell is hair relevant to anything? Can your hair be irrelevant to your ass? I don't understand.

For that matter, would people please stop trying to be relevant and just focus on producing the best product possible? No, no, no... everyone has to go around saying, 'Ooooh, look at me! I'm relevant."

Just stop it!

Possible Chin Implant Has Heidi Looking Horsey


Has Heidi Montag had a chin implant? She's finally admitted to rhinoplasty and breast implants, but has she recently had a chin implant? Her jutting jaw seems to scream affirmatively, yes.

There are rumors that she has recently had her ears pinned back, which could also account for her prominent chin. Talk also seem to point to the possibility that her jockey... er... boyfriend, Spencer the Pratt, pushed her into the world of cosmetic alteration - not a good idea! Remember, Heidi: they call it self-esteem for a reason.

Rumor is that horse-whisperer Pratt may have, or is going to have calf implants to fix what Heidi calls his "chicken legs". Nice couple, huh? Now can anyone tell me why these two twits are famous?

(Link Source: Webster's Is My Bitch and Wicked Youth)

Possibly Related Posts:

Plastic Surgery, A to Z


Is Madame Secretly The Inspiration For Madonna?

5 Things You Can Do To Avoid Plastic Surgery Blunders

The Nose Knows (Part Tre): Alice Cooper Banned From Nose Job


Rock god, Alice Cooper, says he won't go under the knife.

The 60 year-old star reports he's afraid of surgery and has an image to maintain:

"I'll never go under the knife. I'm needle-phobic so plastic surgery is not for me. I'm not trying to look like Brad Pitt. Alice Cooper needs to look like Alice Cooper."

You know, he's 100% right. Could you imagine if Alice Cooper had a nose job and ended-up looking like Jennifer Gray? Jennifer Gray In Chains - doesn't really work, does it? Or worse, he could end-up like Soleil Moon Frye; he'd be hot and still no one would know - or care - who he is.

Cooper says he once contemplated a nose job, but was banned by his wife.

"I threatened to get my nose fixed once and my wife screamed, 'You must never do that! That nose has a lot of history!'"

She's really right, you know? Who knows where that nose has been?

(Link Source: Showbiz Spy)

Possibly Related Posts:

Koena Mitra: Bollywood Plastic Surgery No-No

Koena Mitra Admits To Nose Job, But Nothing Else

The Nose Knows (Part Duex) - A Plastic Surgery Game

Monday, July 28, 2008

Perhaps The Stupidest Tattoo Possible: Eyeball Tattooing

Be warned: this video is graphic.



He who controls the drugs, controls the flow of REALLY bad ideas.

It's not exactly new - the procedure's been done since around the turn of the century to correct certain forms of blindness. It's basically sticking a syringe full of tattoo ink mixed with antibiotic eyewash into one's eye and pumping the whites full of said ink.

This gentleman, calling himself Pauly Unstoppable (Highly Unstable, more like it), decided to be the first to have the procedure performed for completely aesthetic purposes - he wanted to look more like a jackass, from what I gather. The tattoo artist - NOT a qualified ophthalmologist - performed over 40 "strikes" (needle pricks) to fill the white part of Pauly's eyes with blue ink.

The procedure is completely irreversible and there's a high likelihood of it causing permanent blindness. There's also a 100% chance that you'll never get a respectable job after such a procedure and will, instead, continue to smoke massive amounts of pot in your parent's basement for the rest of you life.

This leads me to an important question: how intoxicated must one be before this seems like a good idea. Remind me never to get drunk near a tattoo parlor that offers this "procedure."

Possibly Related Posts:

In Pursuit Of Beauty: Human History Of Body Alteration

Is Facial Exercise A Scam?


Some of us are afraid to go under the knife to look young and fresh-faced. Some of us don't have the money for a face-firming medical procedure and for some, it's a combination of the two.

For years, people have been preaching the alleged benefits of so-called facial exercise to get rid of eye bags, wrinkles, and frown lines while tightening sagging skin. You may be familiar with photos of men and women looking highly constipated, practicing the "exercises" from different popular systems.

The young man on the left claims to have been doing facial exercises for close to ten years and is happy with "the result". He was featured in a facial exercise book for men written by the reigning queen of facial exercise herself, Carol Maggio.

SFP is not convinced, however, that this young man (his name appears to be Mateo) has not had cosmetic surgery to reap the results he claims to have garnered from facial exercise alone. It looks to me like he has almost certainly had a brow lift and a chin implant. He's also lost weight, though he claims to have gained. In addition, it looks like he's had double blepharoplasty to remove the hooding over his eyes and the bags beneath.

So, is facial exercise able to tighten and tone skin, erase wrinkles and widen your eyes? The majority of dermatologist and plastic surgeons say no. Part of the cause of sagging skin is collagen loss, which is caused by general aging and advanced by environmental conditions like UV exposure, smoke, and pollution damage. According to dermatologists, there's no way facial exercise can prompt collagen renewal - you need a peel (chemical or laser) to do that. And those lines and wrinkles around the forehead, nose and mouth? Well, it was movement that caused those in the first place! More movement, even through "exercise", is bound to bring about deeper lines and perhaps even more fine lines and wrinkles than you had to begin with.

Does facial exercise work? Dermatologists and plastic surgeons reply with a resounding 'no'. It's more likely that someone will slap you on the back while your making that ridiculous face and you'll be stuck like that forever.

Possibly Related Posts:

Top 5 Bogus Cosmetic Gadgets

Fat-Dissolving Injections Possible Dangerous And Ineffective, Some Docs Say

Is Saline Safe?

The Nose Knows (Part Duex)


Older SFP readers may remember the scene in Adams Family Values when Wednesday Adams is sitting with the other girls (all blonde and perky, except for her, of course) and the audience catches the tail-end of Wednesday's story that sends the other girls hiding in terror: "and when they woke up, all of their old noses had grown back!"

Well, it's game time! Can you guess the celebrity that used to be attached to the nose pictured above? I'm calling this game, 'The Schnoz Bunch'. All of these noses are the old noses from celebrities that have allegedly had nose jobs - and, of course, Alice takes the center square.

Answers are posted as the first comment on this page - don't look before you guess, cheaters!

Have fun!

Possibly Related Posts:

Alice Cooper Banned From Nose Job

Koena Mitra Admits To Nose Job, But Nothing Else

Plastic Surgery, A to Z

Is Madame Secretly The Inspiration For Madonna?


You know, I love Madge - I really, really do. I'm gay; it's in my genes. That's why I'm worried about her. Won't somebody please make Madonna eat?

Photos of a gaunt Madonna looking malnourished surfaced recently as she left the New York City Kabbalah Center. This is something that can happen with a lot of facial plastic surgery and implants: rapid and extreme weight loss tends to look horrible when you've had a face lift (or two) and/or facial implants (like cheek implants). This is part of the reason I'm generally against facial implants. I think a surgeon can work wonders by simply recontouring the face through liposculpture.

Get well soon, Madge!

Possibly Related Posts:

Madonna's Brother Says She's Had A Face Lift

'Lifting' Not For Men, Says Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Plastic Surgery, A to Z

Plastic Surgery, A to Z


The Harley Medical Group, the largest plastic surgery group in the UK, has released an "A to Z" list of popular procedures and tips for making the most of cosmetic procedures, as reported by the UK's Daily Record.

I'm posting it here in its entirety, but I'll have to warn you in advance that you must forgive the errors. Apparently the people that invented the English language are having a bit of trouble with its sequence.

COSMETIC surgery is booming, despite the credit crunch, with procedures constantly being updated as well as new treatments added to the list.

It can be hard to keep up with advances in medicine so The Harley Medical Group have devised an A to Z of procedures to take pain out of plastic surgery.

A IS FOR AESTHERA PPX

Aesthera PPx is a highly effective and safe procedure treating a wide range of skin conditions from acne to sun spots and from facial thread veins and freckles to hair removal. This vacuum and light based treatment is compatible with all skin types and it takes a few minutes to perform. The treatment is virtually pain free and can be performed quicker than any other available treatment. Effects last for several months.

B IS FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION

Breast Augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery conducted at The Harley Medical Group, making up 32% of all procedures undertaken in 2007 across the group's 19 clinics. During the procedure an incision is made in the crease of the underside of the breast and the implant is inserted into a pocket created by the surgeon. The result is fuller and more evenly shaped breasts. The treatment takes about an hour to perform and a general anaesthetic is administered.

D IS FOR DETOX

In order to achieve the best results from a cosmetic procedure, it is advisable to prepare the body thoroughly before surgery. Exercise is recommended and nutrients with healing properties are included in the post surgery diet to aid recovery.

E IS FOR EYE BAG REMOVAL

Eye Bag Removal, or blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure which reshapes the upper and lower eyelids. The upper and lower lids may be operated on together or separately. To correct lower eye bags, a fine incision is made just below the eyelash line and the excess fat and skin is removed. Upper eyelids are corrected by the removal of a strip of skin in the natural crease of the eyelid.

F IS FOR FACE LIFT

At The Harley Medical Group, 91per cent of all face lift surgery is performed on women. The patient will be given a general anesthetic. The surgeon will make asurgical cut around the hairline, past the front of the ears. Cuts may also be made under the chin if the patient wants to lift a sagging jawline. The skin is then carefully separated from the underlying facial muscles. Excess fat is removed and the muscles tightened. The skin is lifted, pulled back and excess removed. The skin is then stitched back to the line where the cut was initially made. All scars are hidden behind the patient's ears or in the hairline. Effects last between seven and 10 years.

G IS FOR GYNAECCOMASTIA

Acommon procedure in men it involves the removal of excess fat in the chest via a small incision around the lower half of the nipple area. Liposuction is then carried out to flatten the chest. Gynaeccomastia can have any one or more of the following causes such as body-building drugs, liver or kidney diseases, cancer and obesity.

H IS HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR COSMETIC SURGERY PROVIDER

When considering cosmetic surgery, you should have a list of questions when going in for an initial consultation. Don't ever be shy of asking personal questions, such as what qualifications surgeons have? How long since their training or how many procedures they've performed?

I IS FOR IMPLANTS

Implants are used for breast augmentation, chin lift and face lift cosmetic procedures. To increase the size of breasts, implants are surgically inserted behind the natural breast tissue. Silicone implants are more widely used as they give a more natural shape and feel than saline implants.

J IS FOR JAW LINE

Chin implants help achieve a stronger angular profile. A chin lift procedure involves an implant being positioned beneath the skin through an incision made from the mouth or below the chin. Administered under general anesthetic by a cosmetic surgeon, they help give better proportioned and more balanced features.

L IS FOR LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction is the removal of excess fatty tissue used to reshape the abdomen, thighs, arms, chin, buttocks and breasts. It is the second most popular procedure after Breast Augumentation and Reduction at The HarleyMedical Group making up 12 per cent of all cosmetic surgery procedures. In initial consultation, patients undertaking a Liposuction procedure will have their BMI (body mass index) assessed by a nurse. There are physiological limits as to the quantity of fat that can be removed at any one time. Overweight people do not benefit from this procedure and are not appropriate candidates.

M IS FOR MEDICAL MICRODERMABRASION

Microdermabrasion is a gentle non-surgical treatment which helps balance skin problems like acne, sun damaged skin, superficial age spots or wrinkles. This treatment refreshes the top layer of the skin by exfoliating it and improving facial tone and texture. A great party preparation as there is no recovery time.

N IS FOR NOSE JOB OR RHINOPLASTY

Rhinoplasty is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure performed amongst men. Patients undergo a nose job for one or more of the following reasons: to reduce the size of the nose, to change the shape of the tip or bridge or to narrow the span of the nostrils, change the angle between the nose and the upper lip or help relieve breathing problems. At the initial consultation, the surgeon evaluates the structure of their nose and face, and discusses the options available to them. Factors that can influence the procedure include the structure of the nasal bones and cartilage, facial shape, thickness of the skin, the patient's age and expectations.

O IS FOR OTOPLASTY

Otoplasty or ear reshaping is one of the most established cosmetic procedures on the market. It involves removing skin and reshaping cartilage from behind ears. The ears are stitched into the new position with the incision marks concealed in the natural crease behind the ear. This is administered under general anaesthetic.

P IS FOR PREPARATION

Patients will undergo an intensive consultation with the counsellor before being referred to a doctor. They research and plan for cosmetic surgery two to three years before procedure.

Q IS FOR QUALIFIED NURSE COUNSELLOR

All non-surgical procedures are administered by specially qualified nurses (Botox is an exception that is administered by adoctor at all times).

R IS FOR RESHAPE AND TIGHTENING OF THE FEMALE GENITALIA

Age and childbirth can cause the labia and surrounding area to change in shape, size and tone, causing unhappiness and discomfort for women. Women who have along or unequal Labia minora length can have this adjusted through surgery. Some patients wish for a more youthful looking vagina - achieved by reshaping the inner or outer Labia. Vaginal tightening is a procedure performed to enhance sexual pleasure for the patient. Treatment is performed under general anaesthetic and recovery takes one and two weeks.

S IS FOR SCLEROTHERAPY

Sclerotherapy, also known as thread vein removal, is a treatment administered mostly to the face and legs. To remove thread veins a very fine needle injects a solution into the vein which causes it to perish and, over a course of treatments, vanish completely. A session takes around an hour to complete and a course of between one and three is recommended (dependent on the number of veins to be treated).

U IS FOR UNDERSTANDING

It is essential that every patient has a full understanding about the treatment before they undergo any surgical cosmetic procedures.

V IS FOR VISIA

Visia is a free procedure which takes photographs of the face and then microscopically examines key areas of the skin. The photographs highlight pore size, spots, lines and pigmentation. The Skin Analysis Computer gives a score for each key factor relating to the skin's condition and appearance taking into consideration the age of the patient and lifestyle. This is a non-invasive procedure and takes 10 minutes to perform. It enables the nurse to see which non-surgical treatments would be most effective.

W IS FOR WATER

It is essential to keep the body rehydrated before, throughout and after surgery. As part of a pre and post surgery diet and exercise plan patients should have a glass of room temperature water flavoured with half alemon at the start of the day to cleanse the liver and flush kidneys of toxins followed by two litres of water sipped throughout the day.

X IS FOR X-RAYS

An X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation and was first generated in 1891 by Fernando Sanford a professor of physics at Stanford University. An X-ray is required before cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty and chin lifts to give the surgeon a map of bone structure.

Y IS FOR YOUTHFUL

Maintaining youthful looking skin is one of the main reasons why patients undergo cosmetic treatments. The age for treatment is becoming less and less, reducing from the average age of 45. According to Botox specialist Dr Julian Northcoat, at The Harley Medical Group, many women seek Botox treatments for preventative measures. As a Botox treatment doesn't permit deep frowns from being formed, lines across the forehead and between eyes are prevented.

Z is for Zits

Non-surgical solutions, Aesthera PPx and Medical Mirco dermabrasion, can help to treat acne to leave skin look radiant and clear.

C IS FOR CONSULTATION

Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, patients should make sure they receive a consultation. The nurse counsellor will explain each stage of the procedure from the consultation with the surgeon through to the post-operative, follow-up and recovery period. The nurse will answer any questions and concerns that a patient may have and ensure their decision has been properly considered.

K IS FOR KERATIN

Keratin is the dominant protein in the skin, hair and nails and this contributes to the rigidity of the skin. The level of keratin in the skin decreases with age which is the cause of wrinkles. There are a number of procedures available that can help.

T IS FOR TUMMY TUCK

A popular procedure for patients who have lost a lot of weight, or after pregnancy, and find abdominal muscles are weak and the area is loose. Muscles can be tightened and excess skin removed, leaving a firm flatter abdomen. Excess skin and fatty tissue are removed through an incision across the abdomen, usually from hip to hip (along the bikini line).

For more information visit www.harleymedical.co.uk

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Koena Mitra Admits To Her Failed Nose Job, But Nothing Else


Celebrities, whether in Hollywood or Bollywood, don't always make the best decisions - just ask Shia LaBusted as he's careening through your house at 90 miles per hour. Point is, fame and fortune are not necessarily the equivalent of good cognitive reasoning skills. Celebrities have lapses in judgment all the time.

Such appears to be the case with Bollywood starlet and model, Koena Mitra. She finally opened-up to The Times of India about her nose job and its later correction, telling them:

"It was just nose correction that I did around a year ago. But, now when I look back, what a gamble that was! Accidents can happen. And it had to happen to me! Soon after the surgery, my friends started saying I looked better before. I was heartbroken. I, too, didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. It was depressing."

She continues to say, "My cheeks looked swollen. Since I was bony, it was very obvious. That’s when people concluded I had done a face job. But I was not ready to talk."

Look, Koena, you can't have it both ways. People won't feel sympathy for someone who's still withholding the truth. So, maybe you didn't have a face lift - though it's pretty obvious that your facial bone structure has changed and your brow is more severe either due to Botox or a brow lift. Still, you've obviously, at one point or another, had your lips enhanced and you cannot deny those no-doubt hard-as-rock, softball shaped implants. You've since had your nose repaired and good for you, by the way, but come on...

"I wish people learn from my mistake. Plastic surgery is the worst kept secret of our industry, of any industry... Bollywood, Hollywood. But it’s a huge gamble," she says.

She later adds, "Yes, [plastic surgery has] been done successfully before. But it’s also scary, ask me!"

Uh huh... You know, it's not so much what she's saying I have a problem with. She's right! Plastic surgery can and does go wrong everyday. Besides her dishonesty about her other procedures, I just get the feeling that she's not taking full responsibility for her mistakes. She chose the surgeon that performed all of her cosmetic work. She chose to go under the knife. Now, she's only revealing a bit of the truth and lying about what she thinks the public will believe? Take a page from Catherine Aird on this one Koena, "if you can't be a good example, you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning."

Possibly Related Posts:

Koena Mitra: Bollywood Plastic Surgery No-No

Plastic Surgery Scandal In Bollywood

The Nose Knows (Part Deux) - A Plastic Surgery Game

Cosmetic Surgery Suggestions: Uhmmm... Is A Full Body Transplant Possible Yet?


I've just gotten an e-mail this morning asking why I've removed Perez Hilton's site from my Blog Log. I wasn't going to make a big deal about it, but I do have reasons as to why I don't want to promote Hilton's site.

I made the decision to remove the blog from my list after viewing his post on the alleged stolen photos of Miley Cyrus. I feel that Perez Hilton's posting of these photos was unprofessional and unethical - he says that he would take them down if he found out they were real. (?) FTW? I mean, first off, the guy that sent them to him claims to be a hacker that hacked into Miley's e-mail, invading her privacy. Now, whether or not this is true, you have to take this man as the illegal and immoral person he claims to be. Come on now, Perez, surely you know it's illegal to buy merchandise you believe to be stolen - what's so different about a hacker stealing photos from a fifteen year-old girl?

That leads into my second point, actually: this is a fifteen year-old girl we're talking about here. Like it or not, adults in the media must have some responsibility for protecting this teenage girl from the vultures of the gossip world and, if need be, herself. And finally, she's fifteen and posed in VERY provocative images. They boarder on child pornography. Shame on you, Mario, for posting them in the first place.

I'd just like to say that I didn't start this site to call people ugly, or berate anyone's physical appearance. But some people are ugly on the inside and nothing they can do with a scalpel, or a needle, nor an implant can solve the deep pain they must feel in order to inflict such viciousness and spew such bile onto the rest of the world.

I added Perez's site to mine initially as I was finding my blogging voice. I'd never much followed his blog before, preferring to stick to the sunnier and funnier Pink Is The New Blog. After following Perez Hilton for a while, I realized that he was not witty or funny at all. The sum of his alleged wit amounts to childish taunting and name-calling. Has calling someone "a mess", or "desperate", or "fat" - as a side note, where does Perez get off calling people fat or desperate? - been funny since third grade? It all boils down to this: there's no sensation I can get out of reading PerezHilton.com that I couldn't get with a swift kick to the head (or genitals).

Perez Hilton, you're giving gay bloggers a bad name!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

In Pursuit of Beauty: Human History of Body Alteration


Is cosmetic surgical body alteration immoral? It's an interesting question and one that millions of people have been asking for a long time, but it may surprise you to learn that humans have been altering their bodies in the pursuit of beauty for centuries.

Not long ago, I ran across an article stating that plastic surgery came about in 1967 when a physician's assistant commented to the doctor that a blood pack felt like a breast. This was, indeed, the beginning for the idea of silicone breast augmentation (though not even the beginning of breast augmentation itself, as the Chinese have record of women having glass spheres implanted in their breasts more than 1,000 years ago), but not the beginning of cosmetic surgery. In fact, plastic surgery is nearly 4,000 years old and other body image alteration procedures with aesthetic purposes, like tattooing and scarification are even older.

The Ancient Origins of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery actually began in India in the 700s BCE. At this time, ancient Indian doctors, including the famed ancient surgeon Sushruta Samhita, were fairly regularly performing rhinoplasty (nose jobs) - it was a common punishment to have one's nose cut off in many ancient societies - and otoplasty (aesthetic ear surgery). These procedures were largely reconstructive and utilized skin grafts mostly taken from other areas of the face, like the forehead. A text authored by Sushruta illustrates the procedure of cutting away skin from the forehead and manipulating it downward to reconstruct a missing nose.

The ancient Romans also utilized skin grafts for cosmetic surgery by the 1st century BCE. The Roman's efforts were also largely reconstructive, with exception to the work of a brilliant ancient Greek surgeon operating in Roman named Galen. There are records of Galen performing purely aesthetic rhinoplasty on women and men of wealth who simply wanted a new shape to their nose.

The first American plastic surgeon was Dr. John Peter Mettauer. Mattauer performed the first cleft palate repair in 1827 with surgical instruments he created himself.

Skin grafting and rhinoplasty were performed by Italian and German doctors as far back as the 1300s and 1400s, but no elective surgeries were common until the late 1800's after the American Civil War when anesthetic was discovered. Previously, all surgeries were extremely painful. The surgeon would also be forced to deal with a patient that could move and kick; therefore, they could harm the outcome of their surgery and possibly harm the surgeon.

Cosmetic Body Alteration

The alteration of the human body for cosmetic purposes may be even older than plastic surgery. For eons, tribes of humans have been discing their lips, stretching their ear lobes, binding their feet, filing their teeth, and tattooing and scarring their skin all in the name of attaining their culture's aesthetic ideal.

It would take forever to cover all the tribes throughout history who have practiced body modification and the specifics of those alterations. Sufficed to say that the history of body alteration is long and extensive. It's only recently that the Western world has begun to re-embrace our human tribal heritage and stop, by-in-large, referring to body alteration as "body mutilation". Many in the West have even begun to re-adopt some of these tribal practices like body piercing, ear stretching, and branding.

Women in Bali have been filing their teeth to sharp points to attract husbands for generations. Similarly, women of the Kayan people of Myanmar stretch their necks with brass rings to elongate them and catch the eye of a suitor, as well as to attain their beauty ideal. Women in some areas of China practiced foot binding for a millennium, from the 10th century into the end of the late 20th century. Tribes in Africa practice ear stretching (as the woman pictured above) and lip-discing (also pictured above) - in fact, this woman is considered the most beautiful woman in her tribe. And, of course, tattooing has been an enduring human practice in both sexes and crossing into almost all cultures for ages.

Religion and Body Alteration

If tribes have been practicing body alteration and enhancement for thousands of years, why are people in the Western world still so averse to it? We may find some clues in the beginnings of this prejudice with two of the Western world's major religions: Judaism and Christianity.

Although many conservative Jews and Christians may not want to believe it, all of the world's religions have borrowed from previous belief structures, and the two above are no exception. The Jewish faith, much of which influences the Christian religion, may be responsible for passing on an Egyptian spiritual belief. Egyptians believed that life after death was no different than life before death - you had the same needs (food, water, money, etc) and even the same face. It was so important that the dead remember how they looked in life that they were mummified and placed in tombs with many images of their previous form. Although the Egyptians wore heavy make-up, wigs and jewelry, Egyptians were one of the first primitive peoples not to practice some form of extreme body modification.

Judaism may have borrowed this attachment to the physical form along with the idea that the spirit must look like the body after death, despite only vague explanations of the appearance of the non-physical form after death in Jewish and Christian texts. Both Jewish and Christian writings (and those shared between the two) allude to the "sacredness" of the human form and its derivation from the image of God himself, which may also contribute to the belief that body alteration is immoral.

As I have said in other posts on this blog before, it's my belief that - as everyone's mother once told them at one time or another - what's really important is on the inside and it cannot be modified with needles, blades, or knives. The way I see it, I am not my body. My body is merely the vehicle for my mind and spirit. Is plastic surgery immoral? In my opinion, plastic surgery is no more immoral than piercing your ears or wearing cosmetics.

Would You Have Plastic Surgery To Look Like Someone Else?


Does everyone have a double?

In doing some research for our post about the rumors following Harman Baweja and his alleged cosmetic surgery pursuit to look like fellow Bollywood star, Hrithik Roshan, I read one article that mentioned - as if it were standard knowledge - that every person in the world has seven doubles. This sounds a bit like an urban myth (probably common in Indian culture) to me.

It does, however, raise a few interesting questions though...

1) Do you believe that you have a double somewhere on the planet?

With six billion people living on the Earth today, there are only so many genes to go around. Add that to the fact that mother nature likes to repeat herself where she was successful in the past and it only makes sense that someone, somewhere looks to be a near exact duplicate of you. This, of course, leads to other questions. For instance, what is your doppleganger 's life like compared to your own? Did they take a right turn where you took a left? It's mind-boggling.

2) Would you consider cosmetic surgery to look more like your double?

What if someone you already resemble - perhaps they are renowned for their good looks - is rich and famous? Would you consider changing your looks, via plastic surgery, to look more like them? If so, why?

I can't help but wonder, due to my resemblance to Fall Out Boy bassist, Pete Wentz, and my cosmetic alterations so far, if anyone will ever accuse me of using surgery to look more like Wentz. Of course, it's wouldn't be a fair accusation. I'd rather use cosmetic surgery to make myself match the ideal that I have in mind, rather than look younger, or like someone else. Still, it's not outside the range of possibilities.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Brigitte's Surgical Odyssey Results (Part 3)


Last night in London, Brigitte Nielsen (44) revealed the results of her recent reality retrofit via plastic surgery at the nightclub Dolce supporting their Fashion Police party.

Although Brigitte does look rejuvenated, especially her once wrinkled and sagging face, she's still a little dumpy if you ask this cosmetic surgery blogger. Why? Well, Brigitte has shown us some of the limits of liposuction. Liposuction, like diet alone, usually cannot change the shape of your body. Liposuction can remove unwanted fat, but if the muscle underneath that fat is untoned, then the shape of the patient will be unaffected. The skin will also remain loose, which is the case with Nielsen's thighs as they appear in the most recent photos.

The newest and best liposuction technology - Smartlipo and VASAR - have developed to tighten skin while they remove fat without the need for general anesthetic. They are designed with the toned in mind - they can operated in the layers of the fat very close to the skin and shrink-wrap the skin to existing muscle, but it works best if those muscles are tight and toned. Furthermore, most plastic surgeons suggest following-up liposuction with a renewed fitness program.

Read-up on Brigitte's plastic surgery odyssey in Part 1 and Part 2 of this story.

More photos and info from our friends at Celebrity VIP Lounge.

It Might Be Time For Jude Law To Visit A Hair Transplantation Surgeon


Pink Is The New Blog has just posted on Jude Law's beefed-up hairline for his spokesman gigs with Dior Homme Sport and Dunhill clothier. The ads feature Jude looking hawt, as always, but with a hairline from ten years ago - the photos don't match the reality, however, as Law has reached about a level 4 on the Norwood scale.

An airbrush artist claims that Law's hairline in the ads must have been airbrushed, but SFP is not convinced. It looks to me that, in at least one of the ads, a makeup artist has used an alopecia concealer like Toppik. Perhaps both the use of concealers and airbrushing could explain the lush crop of hair Jude sports in the photos as spokesman.

It may be time for Law to consider visiting a world-class hair transplantation surgeon, like the ones who are featured by the Hair Transplantation Network. Maybe he should sneak away to Canada to visit the popular and talented Doctors Hasson and Wong, or the amazing Dr. Rahal (check out and amazing transformation of one patient of Rahal's, "frontaltool" and see his video progression on YouTube.) Hair transplantation has come a long way since the plugs of the early days. You'd be amazed at what's possible. Expect to see a more in-depth post on the hair transplantation procedure later.

Possibly Related Posts:

Did Kevin James' Career Advance With His Hairline?

Fat To The Future: Is Fat The Future Of Cosmetic Surgery?

Latino Immigrants To Europe Want To Look Like Europeans


Spanish plastic surgeons are reporting a dramatic rise in Latino patients from Central and South America visiting their offices requesting to look more white, or European. Doctors report over 2,500 immigrants have opted for cosmetic surgery, like rhinoplasty.

"What they want is for people not to recognize them as foreigners and go unnoticed," says Dr. Jose Palacín

20 Minutos, a Spanish news program, reports that the majority of these immigrants are Ecuadorian and Columbian living in Madrid. As the capital of Spain, Madrid's modern image maybe not only luring Spanish-speaking immigrants to its bright lights, but also luring them to change their image.

While SFP doesn't encourage others to loose their ethnic identity through plastic surgery, we must remind everyone that these immigrants are adults making adult decisions. Since the news program didn't interview one of these European-idolizing Latinos, we really have no idea why they want to look white. Perhaps they just like the aesthetic (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all), or maybe it's something more sinister - perhaps discrimination is involved. This could be similar to the historic case of the Irish changing names to avoid English discrimination. SFP will keep you abreast of any other information.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Koena Mitra: Bollywood Plastic No-No


In continuation of our Bollywood-themed plastic surgery news day, I bring you Koena Mitra. Even if you haven't heard of her, from the photos (right is the before picture, left the after), you can tell she's basically purchased a new face. Koena has lost all of her outward ethnic identity and her left nostril is collapsing - obviously the result of a bad nose job. Her lips have also lost their natural shape due to cosmetic alteration.

Of course, as this blog mentions time and again, money and fame do not necessarily equal good decision making skills. Another often uttered piece of plastic surgery advice: plastic surgery, like cosmetics, is best when it is applied subtly - if you do it right, no one should be able to tell you've done anything. I'm sorry, but Koena has failed in that regard.

Possibly Related Posts:

Koena Mitra Admits To Nose Job, But Nothing Else

Plastic Surgery Scandal In Bollywood

The Nose Knows (Part Duex) - A Plastic Surgery Game

Plastic Surgery Scandal In Bollywood


Plastic surgery is a booming business worldwide and recently developing nations like China and India are breaking records as discretionary incomes rise and more of their population are able to afford cosmetic surgical enhancement.

One segment of India, known as Bollywood for its burgeoning Hindi film industry, is home to a portion of Indians that have no trouble affording plastic surgery. Perhaps this is why rumors of cosmetic enhancement for these stars are off the charts in direct proportions to the levels we saw only a few years ago in American Hollywood.

The most recent plastic surgery rumor involves an actor known as Harman Baweja (pictured above, right) allegedly having cosmetic surgery to look like another Bollywood bigshot, Hrithik Roshan (above left). Truly Baweja and Roshan do share similar features - if you search for images in Google, you'll find that many have mistaken one actor for the other. It's rumored that Baweja visited a cosmetic surgeon in India three years previous with a photo of Roshan requesting to look like the fellow actor.

The surgeon, Dr. Vijay Sharma, rather coyly dismisses any question of his involvement in an attempt to maintain patient confidentiality. Baweja doesn't see it that way, however, and is seeking to quash rumors by speaking out publicly that the rumors are false.

Although Dr. Sharma will not admit to performing an operation on Baweja, he slyly comments that people often request to look like "their heroes" and that he could perform the necessary facial contouring that would make Baweja and Roshan look alike with a procedure know as a Volumatrix face lift. This knifeless procedure involves removing fat from the cheeks and under the eyes with a needle-like device and making a round face appear more elliptical or oval.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

East Meets West In Problems Of Youth And Plastic Surgery


We all know the Chinese love plastic and we also know that some Chinese want to look beautiful and lucky, but do you know that plastic surgery is increasing in Chinese middle schoolers?

That’s right, children as young as thirteen – only a small percentage born with congenital deformities – are undergoing cosmetic alterations in China today. According to an interview with Dr. Chen Jianfei in China’s China Daily, the most popular procedures for Chinese teens and tweens are liposuction, double blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and breast enlargement. Many plastic surgeons report that these children seek plastic surgery in between school years and switching schools in hopes of gaining more confidence.

"We do not recommend cosmetic surgery to people under 16 years old," Dr. Wang Shusheng of Guangzhou Medical College plastic surgery center. Dr. Shusheng advices that the body will continue to change as the child grows older and that surgery can alter the effects of aging in sometimes unpredictable ways.

"Youngsters need to adjust their aesthetic concept," says Tu Minxia, an expert on youth issues.

Minxia believes that these teenagers, like teenagers in the West, are focused too much on physical issues than on inner attractive qualities, such as achievement and confidence in one’s own abilities.

GORE-TEX, Not Just For Winter Coats Anymore...


After an extensive 17 year study of over 500 patients in Canada, GORE-TEX implants for rhinoplasty (nose jobs) appear to be a safe, inexpensive and remarkably effective replacement for tissue grafts from other parts of the patient’s body.

"GORE-TEX should be strongly considered for major and minor corrections of the nasal wall and bridge in properly selected patients," Dr. Krzysztof Conrad of the University of Toronto advices.

The implants “showed remarkable stability and tissue tolerance.” Complications that necessitated implant removal occurred only in 1.9% of patients and included infection, swelling, or the implant moved or was dislodged.

"The unlimited supply and natural feel of the GORE-TEX implant outweigh the disadvantage of occasional complications, all of which can be treated successfully as long as they are not neglected," say the authors of the review.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Do You Feel Look Lucky? Well, do ya?


The cosmetic surgery market is booming in pre-consumerist China. But the Chinese may have more than beauty on their minds. Many woman in Asia are opting for surgery to look beautiful and lucky.

A woman in one surgical parlor recently confided in a reporter that she wished to have her cheek bones made less prominent. She expressed that her wish was not because she thought her cheeks were unattractive, but because they are thought in China to bring her husband misfortune.

Another woman wished to have the spots removed from around her eyes and mouth. The spots around her eyes, she stated, were bad luck as a fortuneteller told her they were "tear drops" and that they foretold of great suffering in her future. The spots at her mouth, which were also to be removed, were prophesied by the elders of her village to be the stains of her greed and a warning of her squandering her family's fortune.

Chinese seeking beauty and luck through plastic surgery are a small, but growing minority. Chinese plastic surgeons report that the trend is growing increasingly more popular with businessmen (seeking the boost of a little extra luck), women aged 20 to 35 (looking for husbands) and graduate students (trying to make their mark on the world).

Are Bigger Boobs The Answer To Aging? A Few German Plastic Surgeons Think So...


Ingrid Bruelling (33), of Kassel in Germany, went into surgery expecting to iron-out a few wrinkles. You can imagine her surprise when she awoke to find the doctors had inserted two silicone breast implants, increasing her from a C-cup to a D-cup.

Ingrid later sued the doctors. Their defense was that she shouldn't complain, because the best way to tighten her skin and remove wrinkles was to make her breasts bigger.

Word to the wise: be very careful when choosing your plastic surgeon(s). If you pick a couple of boobs, you might end-up... well... with a couple of (unwanted) boobs.

Is 'The King Of Queens' Adding Inches To His Waistline AND His Hairline?


Forty-three year-old comedian and star of The King of Queens, Kevin James has an interesting an intricately planned hairline with no hair in the temple areas. On camera, some have noticed a powdery look to his hair, leading many to believe he is suffering from hair loss and attempting to hide the evidence.

It's difficult to find a photo of Kevin without a hat on - a sure sign of a balding man. Some believe the portly comedian to wear a toupée, while others claim he's had a hair transplant. Still others say he utilizes both. It appears that Mr. James has had a hair transplant to the frontal third of his scalp, but it's rare to glimpse the top (or crown) of his head. It may then be that Kevin, like many other men, opted to fill in only the frontal portion of the scalp with his finite donor hair and leave the rest balding. He may then choose to wear a toupée, or other cosmetic concealers while filming and a hat around town to cover the bald spot.

What do you think? Did the chubby funny man's hairline start advancing with his career?

Monday, July 21, 2008

Can A Doctor Make You Sign Away Your Right To Talk About Your Surgery?


A New Zealand women's health group claims a doctor from a top Auckland private hospital made a woman sign a confidentiality agreement promising not to reveal his identity in exchange for waiving part of his fee.

A friend to the woman whose surgery was botched contacted Women's Health Action Trust for help at the end of last year. The woman's friend became concerned as she would not leave her house because her chest was seriously disfigured.

"She had weeping wounds - she was a complete mess. She ended up getting so disfigured, she wouldn't go out. It's the worst case we've come across," Jo Fitzpatrick of Women's Health Action Trust told the Sunday Star-Times.

The doctor attempted to repair the damage, but failed.

After receiving word of several botched cosmetic operations, New Zealand's Medical Council adopted new guidelines for training requirements surgeons must meet before performing certain operations (liposuction among them) last October. Two doctors did not comply with the new regulations last year and were forced to stop performing the procedures for which they were not qualified. Another doctor is under investigation after receiving a report of him performing cosmetic surgery.

Patient education is the primary concern of the kiwi government. Later this week, they're expected to release a brochure detailing the new requirements a cosmetic surgeon must meet, what a patient can expect and information about what they can do if something goes wrong.

Tristan de Chalain, an Auckland-based cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon and president of the Foundation for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery chided the council for being too lax.

"We have very little protection for the public here. There are still huge loopholes," says de Chalain.

Still, he praises the council for attempting to tighten standards.