What to Go See This Weekend at the Movies

This weekend brings one must-see movie, Funny People. The latest flick from Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up) takes a turn for the darker and dramatic. Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann star in the bittersweet dramedy about a famous comedian who is diagnosed with cancer. He's forced to reevaluate his world. He becomes the mentor to a young, amateur comedian, and, in turn, learns a lot about life.

Sculptra is FDA-approved for cosmetic use

I've been waiting for this for a couple years. The FDA has finally approved Sculptra for the correction of facial wrinkles. It will now go by the name Sculptra Aesthetic. Sculptra is the best injectable filler (poly-L-lactic acid) to return volume to the face. It has been approved for treatment of HIV-related facial wasting since 2004, but many plastic surgeons have used it off-label for general cosmetic use.

I have been using Sculptra for a couple years now, and have been very happy with the results. Second to fat grafting, I think it is the best way to add 3-dimensional volume to the face. Usually a minimum of three treatments is necessary, each approximately 6-8 weeks apart. The only drawback is the rate of granuloma (small inflammatory nodule) formation, which is definitely higher than other traditional fillers like Restylane and Juvederm, but still remains acceptably low if properly performed. I've been using it more and more, especially in the past several months. I think this product will be a hit.

For more information on Sculptra Aesthetic, click here.

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

Michael Jackson, Dr. Murray, and IV Propofol

More details continue to emerge in the tragic death of Michael Jackson. This from TMZ:

Two days after Jackson's death, Dr. Murray told LAPD detectives he administered Propofol to the singer hours before he died ....We're told Dr. Murray gave Jackson an IV drip of the powerful anesthesia. Police believe Dr. Murray simply wasn't paying attention when the singer's heart stopped beating. Authorities believe Dr. Murray may have actually fallen asleep during the time the drug was administered and may have awakened to find Jackson already dead from heart failure... It is considered reckless in the medical community for a doctor to administer an IV drip of Propofol without the patient being monitored by an EKG, which sounds an alarm when the patient's pulse drops too low. No EKG was found in the house.

If the above claims are true, then the actions by Dr. Murray are horribly reckless. I've commented earlier that Propofol is an extremely powerful sedative, used mainly to induce anesthesia in controlled settings like operating rooms. In these settings it is a very safe drug. To use this medication in a person's house without respiratory and cardiac monitoring, however, blows my mind. Sadly, it is appearing that his death could have been prevented.

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

Michael Jackson and a Possible Prosthetic Nose

This is an interesting plastic surgery-related story regarding the sad tale of Michael Jackson. It appears that during the later years of his life he may have worn a prosthetic nose. From the New York Post:

Michael Jackson wore a prosthetic nose, according a report -- and it was missing from his surgically mangled face as he lay in an LA morgue.
Left behind was a small, dark hole surrounded by bits of cartilage, Rolling Stone magazine said, citing witnesses who saw the King of Pop's body on the autopsy table.
Jackson, who was notoriously shy about his appearance, wore the prosthetic to mask the effects of decades of plastic surgery, according to the magazine.

It seems that the more we learn, the sadder the story gets. Hopefully his children can grow up with some semblance of normalcy. As long as someone keeps that creepy Joe Jackson away from them, I suppose they have a chance.

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

Mickey Rourke's Facelift Scars

I was browsing Dlisted.com and came across this high resolution photo of the side of Mickey Rourke's head. Click the photo to enlarge it. If you look closely you can see the scars that extend in front of his ears, around his earlobe, and then head back into the crease behind his ears. This is the typical location of facelift scars. Notice also that the cartilage of the front of his ear (the tragus) is flat-looking. This is one tell-tale sign of a facelift.

If you haven't rented The Wrestler yet, check it out. Fantastic performances by two very talented actors.

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

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Just thought you might need a chuckle...

Thanks to the Beauty Brains.

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

Jodi Lyn O'Keefe's Breakout Role

Anyone who regularly watched Prison Break the last two seasons might find it hard to believe that Jodi Lyn O’Keefe considers herself a mild-mannered pacifist.

“I’m really non-confrontational... I don’t even like to argue,” said O’Keefe, who played to perfection the ruthlessly homicidal operative Gretchen Morgan, aka Susan B. Anthony, on the nail-biting serial drama. The blue-eyed beauty regularly doled out punishment as if ice water coursed through her veins -- until Fox cancelled the series after four seasons of surprise and suspense.

It turns out, however, that Prison Break’s death sentence has gotten a very temporary stay of execution. Fans of Michael Scofield and his felonious cohorts will be treated to one last adventure in the form of a direct-to-DVD movie entitled Prison Break: The Final Break. And as fate would have it, the recently incarcerated Gretchen plays a major role in Scofield’s final caper, which, true to formula, involves yet another prison escape.

The movie, comprised of two additional unaired episodes and released as of July 21, will answer any lingering questions surrounding what happened to the characters in the four years between the demise of the insidious “Company” and Michael’s tragic death, which left many grieving viewers angry or in flat-out denial.

Upon learning Michael’s fate, “I kinda had the same reaction as everybody else,” said O’Keefe. “So we think he’s dead, but he’s not really dead and now they’re going to explain how he’s not really dead.” Since the series finale aired this past May, fans have been peppering her with theories on the show’s controversial ending, even proposing that perhaps Michael faked his death for reasons yet to be explained.

While she wouldn’t reveal any plot secrets, O’Keefe understands why some people are inclined to believe that the finale was a fake-out. After all, she recalled, “I cut off Sara’s head and put in a box -- and all of a sudden, I didn’t,” referring to how Gretchen decapitated Michael’s love interest in season three, only to reveal in season four that it was all a ruse and she was very much alive.

Speaking of severed body parts, was there ever a better pairing of TV villains than when Gretchen reluctantly partnered up with vile, one-armed sex offender Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell? Together, these two baddies could do no right.
“He’s so good at being so bad,” said O’Keefe of Robert Knepper, who returns as T-Bag in the movie. “I was actually nervous for the first couple of scenes we worked together. I was thinking to myself, ‘Can I live up to how creepy he is?’”

Previously best known for playing Chuck Norris’ daughter on Nash Bridges, O’Keefe not only delivered more than her fair share of malevolence, but she also discovered that she was a lot tougher than she thought.

As it turns out, “I’m pretty good at fighting. I did a lot of the stunt work myself,” said O’Keefe, who once allowed herself to be waterboarded in a torture scene because she thought it would look less genuine if her stunt double stepped in. “Then I’m thinking, ‘This is not such a good idea,’ as they put the plastic wrap on my face,” she admitted. “That gave me nightmares for I can’t tell you how long.”

Despite the occasional nightmare, O’Keefe has been living a dream for the last two years. “The most memorable thing about this whole experience is learning that I can actually do this,” she said. “Because I had my doubts in the beginning.”

--Brad Barth

Bruce Jenner - Looking Better After Plastic Surgery

It's been reported here and elsewhere that Bruce Jenner has had a revision of his previous plastic surgery. According to OMG!:

"If you Google my name, the worst plastic surgeries of all time, or whatever it is... They've compared me to Michael Jackson," Bruce once said on an episode of his reality show "Keeping Up With The Kardashians."
Both Bruce and Michael were called out for going too far. After undergoing a nose job and partial face-lift in 1984, Bruce's post-plastic surgery face has been ridiculed and attacked in the media.

He does look better now. But why does he still look strange? There are two major things that don't quite look right, but are very difficult to change surgically:

First, there is virtually no excess skin of his upper eyelids. This looks odd in a man his age. Like George Clooney, there should be some extra skin up there. He doesn't look as bad as Kenny Rogers, though. Second, his nose is very thin, looking almost effeminate. This is very tough to change, and would require cartilage and maybe even bone grafts from his ribs to correct. There is another option, though. I once saw a doctor inject fat into the nose to correct a scoop, and it actually worked!

If you ever watch the Keeping Up with the Kardashians show, you'll find that while Bruce may be the most surgical-looking, he is also the most normal person in the family!

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

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Lifestyl- Lift Fined $300,000 For Posting False Internet Reviews

According to an article by ABC News, the Lifestyl- Lift Company has been fined $300,000 by the New York Attorney General for posting false reviews of their facelift procedures on message boards online. According to the article:

Cuomo's investigation revealed internal emails in which employees were encouraged by company executives to take spare time during the day to write the reviews and post to message boards. "Put your wig and skirt on and tell them about the great experience you had," read one.
In some cases, the employees also created entire websites that claimed to independently review the company's procedures in order to mislead consumers. Cuomo's case was based on New York and Federal statutes designed to protect consumers. His office claimed that astroturfing constituted "deceptive commercial practices, false advertising, and fraudulent and illegal conduct," according to the statement released Tuesday.

For more information, see ABC News and arstechnica.com.

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

David Beckham - Botox Brow?

Is David Beckham exhibiting the classic Botox brow? It looks like he has something in common with Nicole Kidman. Check out bettyconfidential.com to read my thoughts.

Photo source: bettyconfidential.com

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

Dr. Youn Presents Dysport on NBC TV

Here is a television segment that aired last night which features me talking about and performing Dysport injections on a patient of mine. As you will see, it injects much the same way as Botox. So far I've found patients to be very happy with it, especially since they can save a few bucks too.
Thanks to WDIV and Dr. Frank McGeorge.

Take the Victoria Beckham Breast Test

The OC Register reports that Victoria Beckham has identified four distinct time periods in her life based on her breast size. They are: Pre-implants (pre-1999), First Implants (34 D -1999-2001), Largest Implants (34 DD -2001-May 2009), and Smaller Implants (34 B - May 2009 to present). They also present a slideshow quiz to see whether you can identify from which breast period the photo is from. You can find it here. Good luck! (I'm ashamed to say I got most, but not all, right)

Photo credit: AP / OC register

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

How to Banish Cellulite?

Every day we get people call my office inquiring about how to get rid of cellulite. SpaWeek.com has recently posted an article detailing some of my thoughts on cellulite treatments such as topical creams, pills, and laser treatments. You can find it here.

Bottom line: Cellulite affects over 90% of women, both younger and older, thinner and heavier. There is no permanent cure for cellulite (no, liposuction can only make it worse), although there are some treatments that can temporarily improve it. In my office we offer Dermosonic, an FDA approved treatment that combines external ultrasound with a deep tissue massage. It's a relaxing treatment that seems to work well to smooth out cellulite... for a while.

Click here to view a piece I did on the local Fox News affiliate on Dermosonic.

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

Rachel Weisz Wants Botox Banned for Actors

According to an interview with Harper's Bazaar magazine, actress Rachel Weisz wants a ban on Botox for actors. According to Entertainment Daily:

The Constant Gardener star said that she wanted the cosmetic treatment forbidden onscreen since it came under the way of altering an actor’s expression.
“It should be banned for actors, as steroids are for sportsmen. Acting is all about expression; why would you want to iron out a frown?” the Daily Express quoted her as telling Harper’s Bazaar magazine.

Well, that's all fine and dandy. It would be funny if they agreed to this for her next movie and suddenly all the other actors show up wrinkle-free anyways. They could just use Dysport instead.

Photo credit: prphotos.com

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

Aubrey Miles FHM 2009

Aubrey Miles is one hot momma!

Aubrey Miles posing for FHM July 2009 Issue with nothing to cover her gorgeous body except hand prints. Whose hand prints are they, that's a question Aubrey refused to reveal the answer. But to whomever those prints belong, he is a really lucky guy!

Here's Aubrey Miles FHM July 2009 Photo/picture.

FYI: Aubrey Miles has two kids already..

Model Arrested for Threatening Her Plastic Surgeon

According to Celebuzz, a French model has recently been arrested for threatening her plastic surgeon. According to the article:

Police revealed that in the calls, the Dutch-born catwalk strutter requested to have a procedure reversed and was "screaming and shouting about the operation and became extremely threatening." The rep added, "There were repeated calls to the female surgeon who was extremely scared. The suspect is being interviewed."

That is my nightmare. I think most plastic surgeons do their best to make their patients happy, but sometimes things don't work out the way we want them to, usually from poor healing or a miscommunication in expectations. I find that most patients are understanding if things don't turn out perfectly, as long as I do the best I can to make things as good as possible. Threatening behavior on the part of the patient is probably more common among those who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

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

Battle of the Bikini Beauties on Radar Online

Who looks better in bikinis, Models or Actresses? That was the question posed to me as one of a panel of judges for Radar Online's Battle of the Bikini Beauties. Some of the models and actresses evaluated include Jessica Alba, Bar Rafaeli, and Kate Hudson. Check it out here.

Thanks to Lynn Allison and Radar Online for asking me to be a judge!

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

Bea Alonzo in Two Piece Bikini

Have you seen Bea Alonzo in tow piece bikini? If not, this is your lucky day. It seems this young tv princess is now ready for a more mature, sexy role. Go Bea!

Bea Alonzo in Bikini Photo

Anne Curtis Is Such a Babe!

I am a big fan of Anne Curtis. This girl is just really so appealing. She's a face and a body. Really beautiful and sexy! I will add more photos of Anne Curtis in bikini soon.

Jamilla Obispo Looking Hot in JBET Poker (Photos)

Jamilla Obispo is still looking very sexy despite already being a mother.
She is one hot momma!

Michael Jackson, Propofol, and HIPAA

Not surprising, the rumors are swirling regarding Michael Jackson's death. A couple thoughts:

1. The medication that TMZ reported was found in his home, Propofol, is extremely dangerous indeed. I have never heard of it being used recreationally, but see it used every day when I perform plastic surgery. This powerful drug is given intravenously to induce a rapid unconscious state. It's fast acting but also cleared very quickly from the bloodstream. If it is given in a large quantity then the unconscious state can be so deep as to create respiratory arrest. This can eventually lead to a cardiac arrest. I believe the only people who should administer this drug are anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists.

2. I am surprised that the nurse who claims that Michael asked her to inject him with the medication is revealing this info to the press. I believe it's a violation of HIPAA privacy laws, similar to when a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills revealed through his publicist that he turned down Donda West for surgery due to heart disease.

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