Truth in Cosmetic Surgery has Moved.....

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Most of our comments on older posts will not be moving to the new blog location as they were hosted externally on Haloscan. Comments will not be approved here following the move, so this site will basically stand as an archive of the blog from 2005- early 2009. All the posts are moving with or without comments.

Christie Brinkley: Good Genes or Good Docs?

TMZ/pics

TMZ asks "Good Genes or Good Docs?"

The answer is most likely both. She really looks good for 55. Then again she started with good material.


and on the secondary question: "Why in the world would four men divorce her?!"

It takes more than looks to keep a marriage.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Jenna Jameson - Post Baby Belly Or Tummy Tuck?

Stylist

Jenna Jameson, porn star extraordinaire, gave birth to twin boys a mere 4 weeks ago.

On Friday, she posted this post-baby bikini photo of herself on her MySpace page.

From one image, I would not yet hazard a guess. I would wait to do anything (until further post-partum) if I were her surgeon, but plenty of other surgeons are not as conservative. I do think I get better results by waiting. Then again she was kinda on the thin side before she had her pregnancy wasn't she? Do you think she is looking good from sit ups or had surgery to get there?



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Kelly Bensimon / Breast Implant Contracture Story

The Dirty/pics

This is Kelly Bensimon from The Real Housewives of New York… AKA worst cougar refund gap EVER. Her +2’s obviously hate each other and are making a break for it!

These implanted breasts look like 10 - 20 year old "over the muscle" silicone types that are begging for a redo. Get those capsules removed please and remove and/or replace the implants. It hurts me looking at them. (They can be painful when they get this bad.)



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD



Related:


Dr D's "What Do I Do With These Old Breast Implants?"

Not My Thigh Lift Patient - Check Your Surgeon Before Surgery.

IReport

This lady apparently had a thigh lift and brachioplasty from an uncertified doctor after massive weight loss. While I'll admit that these operations can be challenging, his results are not so great. He closed with staples and placed drains in very visible places. His incisions are placed in not-so-great positions too. You really need to check out your surgeon at least a bit before you let him (or her) operate.






Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD




Related:


Dr D's "Basic Online Surgeon Check"

No plastic surgery for Lisa Snowdon

Google

Lisa Snowdon has revealed she can't imagine going under the knife.

The Britain's Next Top Model host said she would rather grow old naturally than resort to cosmetic enhancements, reports the Daily Express.

"There are days when I think I should get a few fillers or Botox but then I see someone who's had it done and realize we should all grow old gracefully," she said.

Interesting statement: "Can't imagine" does not mean "didn't" or "wouldn't." It is good for some quick and dirty PR though.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Links & Comments

Christina Applegate at Gossip Girls - Getting over breast cancer and now trying for lung cancer? Stop with the cancer sticks please.

"Experts" at QualityHealth - Now they want to tax your "sweet drinks." Tell them they can kiss my sweet.......


Bikini Calculus at Google Video - I was not-so-bad at math in school, but girls were always more interesting. Now I help them for the approaching bikini season....the Lord's Work? lol.

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Top 10 Bad Hollywood Boob Jobs - Really?

CelebSlam

CelebSlam posts their picks for the top ten bad Hollywood Boob Jobs and some of them don't look all that bad really. Of course I see some pretty bad boobies for a living. Some one's gotta do it and I went to school for quite a while. :)

Take into account that many women come to consultation asking to look like Audrina Patridge. Tara Reid's bust has improved quite a bit since her redo. Pamela Anderson's implants have been a frequent topic at this blog. She is a great example of the "All Implant Breast" and its consequences.

The key with breast implant surgery is and always has been what the patient sees as wrong with her breasts and what she would like to do about it. Most women want volume, often more volume than the average woman without implants wants or would find attractive. The distortion seen with increased volume beyond a point may make other people cringe, but some patients actually want that. Re-operation particularly multiple times with increasing implant size can lead to a very fake appearance.

Staying moderate on the volume leads to better long term results meaning less surgery. Capsular Contracture (especially with silicone gel implants) can lead to hardening of the breasts and the desire to re-operate fix things however. This is probably what happened with Victoria Beckham a year or so ago.

Commonly placed breast implants do not repair chest wall deformities like Pectus_Excavatum, a congenital "dip" in the breast bone that affects many women usually in minor degrees. Some of the women on the list have a bit of this going on and I can't fault them for that.

The list at CelebSlam is probably not Hollywood's worst, but may include Hollywood's most noted Boob Jobs.


Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD


Related:

Paula Abdul and Pectus Excavatum

Pamela Anderson's Breasts Are Basically All Implant

Plastic Surgery to Get a New Job?

MSN

The bias toward better-looking people is cruel, but it is a fact of life. As jobs disappear, the Adonis is more likely to find work than a hag is.

According to Reuters, doctors are seeing increased interest in surgery among people "wanting to look younger and 'fresher' for the ever-competitive job market.”

This is nothing new. These patients are only occasional patients in the office however or they aren't admitting their motivation.


BTW - I love the keeping the plastic surgeons out of the breadline comment.


Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD



Related:

Dr D's "Is Cosmetic Surgery For Me?"

Linda Carter: Good Genes or Good Docs?

TMZ/pics

TMZ asks "Good Genes or Good Docs?"

The answer is as it is usually: both. She's had a full facelift (see the ripple beneath the chin, it is a "giveaway sign,") but really looks pretty good. Remember the "before" picture was thirty years ago. Nobody looks that good thirty years later without a little help.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Top Mistakes in Plastic Surgery

I was recently asked about the top mistakes people make when having plastic surgery.

The choice of surgeon is probably the #1 top mistake. As opposed to spending time checking out prospective surgeons, some patients get in a rush and fail to do so. So maybe being in a rush is the second mistake. ;) The training of the surgeon is important as well as board certification by the right board. The philosophy of the practice is also important however and this can be hard to assess.

As I have written before, there are many ways to check out a surgeon that you can do online. You should at least be able to get the credentials check done pretty easily.




Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD


Related:

Dr D's "Cosmetic Surgeon Versus Plastic Surgeon"

Generic Drug Bill In Congress

WSJ

A bill that would ban makers of brand-name pharmaceuticals from paying to stop cheaper, generic drugs from hitting the market has the support of key lawmakers ahead of a House subcommittee hearing on the matter set for Tuesday.

The bill is aimed at stopping payments lawmakers characterize as anticompetitive and costing consumers and the federal government billions of dollars a year by forcing people to continue to pay for higher-priced, brand-name drugs.

My friends, it is legal (for reasons I find unreasonable) for a drug company to pay a competitor to delay release of generic drugs that compete with their drugs. So drug company A can pay drug company B to not release a drug that would cut a person's medication costs by three to five times.

Physicians put up with far too much regulation and drug companies still reign in the cash...at least for now.


Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Which Karhashian will go under the Knife?

People

"Someone in the Kardashian family will soon have plastic surgery," Kim Kardashian told PEOPLE exclusively at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Saturday night.

I wonder which one it will be? Probably the one who doesn't look so hot already. As I recall two look OK and one is not so cute. Then again it could be a PR ruse. We'll see.




Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Kylie Minogue admits to Botox

Fit Celeb

This is not really a big deal as long as she doesn't go overboard. A little Botulinum toxin here and there is pretty benign. I do not recommend entire foreheads be done though as I believe it may promote eyebrow descent. This is controversial of course.

It is not whether or not a person entertains a little cosmetic work. It is a matter of degrees.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Links & Comments

Shauna Sand at Tyler Durden - The "blue ring" is a healed modified breast lift. They usually heal white, so I wonder if this is makeup or retouching. These lifts can't lift too much, but offer less scarring than full breast lifts. For what it is, it looks pretty good.

Kathy Griffin at TMZ - That body is looking very good for a 48 year old!

Kirstie Alley at Fox News - She wanted the market to close for an hour so she could shop and not be photographed. I wouldn't have photographed her.

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Somali Pirates, Pres Obama and The Barbary Wars

NyTimes

Our President may have read a little history it seems. This piece in the NY Times refers to the Barbary Pirate Wars of 200 years ago. The main issues of today's Pirate problem are similar and some good answers (below) come directly from the article (uncommon to say the least especially considering the source) :


Today's Issue #1

We can't use our military. They will kill the hostage.

Answer:

"Dr. Lambert explained how those brigands, like today’s Somalis, usually kept their hostages alive. It wasn’t out of any enlightened sense of humanity. It was simply good business."

Today's issue #2:

Shouldn't we try to negotiate for his release?

Answer:

"The United States tried to play nice with the Barbary pirates and even inked a few treaties. Eventually, though, Americans felt humiliated paying off a bunch of knife-sucking thugs in blousy pants. That’s what led to the Barbary Wars...."

"The Barbary pirates were finally brought to their knees by their encounters with the Americans, and by the French invasion of Algiers in 1830."

So we have played this game before and diplomacy failed with the Pirates. We eventually came to realize that the use of the military was the only way and we solved the problem. Any questions?

Just after I wrote this I read that Capt Phillips was freed by a raid and 3 of the 4 pirates were killed. Now it's about time!





Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Jan Adams Surrenders California Medical License

Extra Tv

Celebrity Jan Adams surrendered his California license this week while he is under investigation by the California Medical Board. It does not mean the story is over however. We will see what the investigation uncovers and what becomes of his license.

The stipulation surrendering his license is online at Extra Tv for those who may want to read it.




Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD



Related:

Kayne West's Mother Dead after Cosmetic Surgery

Top Searched Acne Treatments

AOL

Top Searched Acne Treatments on AOL Search:
1. Proactiv
2. Differin
3. Tazorac
4. Benzaclin
5. Retin-A
6. Phisoderm
7. Minocin
8. Vibramycin
9. Zenmed
10. Triaz

Well that just shows you that "Top Searched" doesn't mean best. Proactiv is good for bad acne in many patients, but my first advised treatment is usually a generic salicylic acid wash that you can get over the counter for a few bucks. For many people with mild to moderate acne, this works great. You just have to use it a few times a day.

Retin A works quite well too and it went generic recently. Low strength generic Retin A will run you 1/3 the $$$$$ and works very well even when used just a few times a week. Don't use it when you anticipate a good deal of sun exposure in the next day or two as it can make your skin sensitive to sunlight.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD



Related:

Dr D's "Basic Skin Care"

Plastic Surgeons: Healers or Salesmen?

Jezebel

A consumer group sent 3 women to 30 cosmetic surgery clinics, where doctors pitched the "hard sell": "You need a boob job. It will boost your chances of finding a man." Leakage, scarring? Not mentioned.

They obviously didn't send them to my practice. It just underscores the importance of identifying an ethical plastic surgeon. We may be a rare breed. I personally have never told a patient he or she needed a cosmetic procedure.

Many of us run combined practices as well: meaning we treat skin cancer and rebuild bodies damaged by breast cancer and trauma as well as perform cosmetic surgery. I'd say that pretty much makes me a "real doctor" too.


Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Jennifer Love Hewitt’s Butt Improved

Hollywood Tuna

I can’t believe these are pictures of Jennifer Love Hewitt in a pair of leggings. That’s not a big fat ass. That’s not the fat ass from those disgusting Jennifer Love Hewitt bikini pictures from a few years ago. It’s actually a pretty good looking ass

She is clothed here, but she does look a bunch better than before. Nice work Jen. It is probably not plastic surgery that did this. She hasn't had the time.


Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Extreme Makeover Contestant Bursts A Breast Implant

Daily Mail

Nicola, an air hostess from Bolton, Lancashire, had endured a total of 30 hours on a Los Angeles operating table, all paid for by Brand New You, an ‘extreme makeover’ show on channel Five.

A few weeks ago, Nicola was disturbed to find that one of the expensive implants had burst, leaving her left breast like a shrivelled balloon.

Breast implants do not last forever. They can burst and larger ones tend to do so sooner than smaller ones.

Now, worse still, the programme makers are refusing to pay towards corrective surgery.

Nicola, 35, claims that the American surgeon who carried out her breast augmentation in 2004 has already offered to put it right under a ten-year warranty.

I wonder if a UK surgeon is able to do the surgery under warranty. An interesting consequence of having surgery in a foreign country (to the patient).

‘When I do manage to get the money together, I have decided not to go back to the States to have the boob job. Next time I will stick to a surgeon in the UK just in case anything goes wrong again.’

That may be best.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Julia Roberts: Good Genes or Good Docs?

TMZ/pics

TMZ asks "Good Genes or Good Docs?"

The answer here is : good docs with surgery and some training. Don't smile so widely when you have a large mandible. Pretty eyes are prettier when you can see them. Her facial surgery likely includes midface lift, eyes and probably more.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Stevie Nicks & "The Botox Blame Game"

OC Register

Botox is becoming the new face of beauty and it’s unfortunate because it makes everybody look like Satan’s children. Everybody has pointed eyebrows. Everybody looks related. All the Desperate Housewives look like sisters. If you’re an unattractive girl who’s trying to be beautiful with Botox, forget it. If you are a beautiful girl who’s trying to be beautiful with Botox, you will look like you’re angry all the time. You’d have to tie me down to get me to do it again.

I hereby define the "Botox Blame Game," the typical celebrity dodge that Botox was solely responsible any look they do not like frequently including the look of healing plastic surgery. Early after plastic surgery things are swollen and distorted. Botox causes little swelling, but overuse can cause distortion. Stevie is almost 61.




Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Identity Theft and A Plastic Surgery Rip Off

Inquisitr

Police are seeking a woman they say used a false identity to get breast implants and liposuction, then skipped town.

Huntington Beach police said Monday that 30-year-old Yvonne Pampellone opened a line of credit in someone else's name in September 2008 and had the procedures worth more than $12,000 performed at the Pacific Center For Plastic Surgery.

Employees say she never returned for follow-up visits.

This happened to me to a lesser extent with a labiaplasty a few years ago except as far as I know my patient didn't falsify her identity. Now we have to check IDs and take other measures to secure payment.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Links & Comments

"Name That Celeb Belly Button" at City Rag - Why Not?

National Cleavage Day at MomLogic - Is this for real?

Celebrity Cellulite at MomLogic - Just for the record, Cellulite and cellulitis are not related. Cellulite is the bubbly fat and cellulitis is an infection.

Dr D @ BlogTalkRadio does This Post - It is rough and basic, but I do it for you. ;)

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Silicone Injections Deadly for Bronx Woman

WCBS TV

NEW YORK (CBS) ― A seemingly harmless cosmetic procedure turned deadly for a Bronx woman. She died one day after receiving silicone injections in her thighs, allegedly administered by someone without a medical license.

Silicone injections are scary. No reputable plastic surgeon offers them to my knowledge. Do not submit to them.

Pichardo was rushed to the hospital but died the next morning of what the medical examiner's officer said was a silicone pulmonary embolism, caused by so much silicone injected that it was clotting in her lungs.

This is unheard of with FDA-approved fillers. Silicone injections are not FDA-approved.


Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD



Related:

Dr D's "Can Just Anyone Do My Cosmetic Surgery?"

The Inquisitir Slams Nicki Cox

Inquisitr

Las Vegas actress Nikki Cox had men salivating at her beauty on screen for years, but plastic surgery hasn’t been kind to her. The change is dramatic, from a freaky lips to the saggy breasts, it’s hard to even consider that this is the same Cox from Las Vegas.

This isn't all plastic surgery folks. While she has probably had more than her fair share of plastic surgery, she is older now. Her lips are too large and face seems a bit on the tight side. On the breasts, plastic surgery does not defy gravity. She might benefit from a breast lift.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD



Related:

Dr D's Breast Lift Page

Butt Booster News Bust

Hotel room injections should scare the #%%$%%# out of you....really.




Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

MakeMeHeal Question: "Tameka Foster & More Surgery"

Amy GridHouse

Make Me Heal is doing a story on Tameka Foster who is rumored to want more plastic surgery despite her near death experience. Is this common for patients in her situation? How would you advise her?

It is very uncommon to have an arrest before surgery, so Ms Foster already represents an unusual situation. If a patient wanted surgery after such an experience, it would be important to assess what really happened the first time. Then tests would need to be performed to assess her risk in subsequent surgery. Are her heart and respiratory systems up to the task of anesthesia? If so, the surgery would be planned in such a way as to minimize this risk.



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD

Cindy Crawford looks Damn Good for 43.

Celeb Gossip Blog

Cindy Crawford looks pretty damn good for 43. She did a revealing photo shoot so we can see. Well PhotoShop notwithstanding of course. Was plastic surgery involved? Maybe a little. ;)



Best Regards,


John Di Saia MD