During her pregnancy, Nicole was frequently seen going to the gym, which would help her body return to its old shape more quickly after giving birth. As a result, most of the weight seems to have melted off in the last couple of weeks, without Nicole having resorted to a quickie solution like liposuction or tummy tuck which some other famous mothers have done to get rid of the pounds quickly.

Make Me Heal had previously examined the rumor that Nicole had a breast augmentation to make her small bust stand out more. (See Make Me Heal’s story on Nicole’s Breast Augmentation). For now, the breast implant rumor remains unconfirmed. She has also had a nose job to give her nose a more refined shape (See Make Me Heal’s story on Nicole Kidman’s nose job) and is a notorious fan of Botox (See Make Me Heal’s story on Nicole Kidman’s Botox injections). Although the rumor mill had it that she gave up the needle for the duration of the pregnancy, we expect that she will start again as soon as she finishes breast feeding, if not sooner (breast-feeding also expedites weight loss after pregnancy for many women).

If Nicole finds that she has any extra pockets of fat that won’t go away with exercise, she may want to consider laser-assisted liposuction procedures like SmartLipo, CoolLipo, or Liposonix. She may also consider the controversial Lipodissolve procedure, in which chemicals are injected to melt away fat, or Mesotherapy, similar to Lipodissolve, which uses small needles and amino acids, medications, and holistic compounds to dissolve fat. Thermage, which is often used on the face, can also be used to help tighten loose skin on the body.

Nicole looks great for just having had a baby and we applaud her weight-loss efforts, although it looks like the weight has already gone.

Read the complete celebrity plastic surgery profile of Nicole Kidman on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Melanie will turn 51 next month and has already undergone admitted collagen injections in her lips. What she has not admitted is having the rumored breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), repeated lip augmentation and Botox injections, and a possible forehead lift and facelift that give her the odd appearance she currently sports (See Make Me Heal’s story on Melanie Griffith’s plastic surgery).

Her husband, actor Antonio Banderas, has blamed Hollywood’s cruelty on women as they age for his wife’s recent lack of movie roles. But Make Me Heal suspects that it is Melanie’s trout pout and pulled face that is turning off casting directors.

Melanie Griffith’s forehead appeared tight without a trace of a wrinkle, and the rest of her face no signs of aging - no crows’ feet around the eyes, no under eye bags, and no laugh lines. Her lips are so blown up that it looks like it is an effort to close her lips.

Instead of looking younger, Melanie’s plastic surgery makes her look older as it draws attention to the surgery and not to her natural beauty.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Melanie Griffith on Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Pic Source: Daily Mail

Momlogic is rumored to be the next wave of plastic surgery TV shows.

Momlogic will focus on Moms and their plastic surgery addictions as well as other unusual maternal situations, like dealing with divorce or hoarding.

Sounds to Make Me Heal like it’s already been done with The Real Housewives series, but who are we to trash talk trash TV? After all, it’s the most entertaining programming there is.

Source: Cosmetic Surgery Today

The perfect breast augmentation begins by choosing the right plastic surgeon. I think by now everyone understands board certification and some of the fake boards that are out so I will not dwell on these issues, but talk about more specifics as I have seen in my experience.

I believe that the perfect result is a surgeon’s combination of talent and experience. There is no question of some surgeons’ ability to make asymmetric breasts look beautiful while others falter. Much of this is as a result of experience while seeing every type of breast that there is. There is no question that my skill improved with my experience. This translates into few insights for the patient. It is hard to find a talented young surgeon, so go for the proven one with the necessary experience to get the job done. Unless you are in the major market, it is unlikely you will find a surgeon who does 500 breast augmentation surgeries annually like I do. So what number is considered good? I would say at least 150 breast augmentation procedures annually is sufficient. This means that the surgeon is doing about 3 breast augmentation procedures on a weekly basis. Make sure to see plenty of pictures of their results. There should be good consistency there. Be wary of surgeons who will only have a few pictures to show you. You should be able to look at books that include hundreds of patients.

The next factor to consider is the site of surgery and the anesthesia provider. There are four options for setting. I would suggest either a private, accredited surgical center which is my preference or an outpatient ambulatory surgery facility. The other two options are a non-accredited private facility or hospital. I would avoid the former because there is no quality control standards and the latter because hospitals are dirty environments with infection risk being unacceptable for my standards.

If there is a problem in the surgery, it is generally anesthesia-related, but it seems few patients asked me about who will be putting them to sleep. There are two options here. The first is a board-certified anesthesiologist and the next option is a CRNA or nurse anesthetist. I use Dr. Livschultz, a medical doctor who is a board-certified anesthesiologist. He has been working in my office for the last 2-1/2 years full time. This familiarity allows us to offer the safest experience for my patients. Most doctors, because of their inconsistency, book their anesthesia provider based on availability which puts you at the mercy of the anesthesiologist who is available on that day. This relationship fosters unfamiliarity and inconsistency. I have a very close relationship with my anesthesiologist where we are able to discuss any pitfalls and make adjustments. For example, we recently came up with a protocol of providing totally intravenous anesthesia or TIVA for first time patients thereby avoiding any risk of malignant hyperthermia. Using a nurse (CRNA) is also frequently used, but not in my practice. In this situation, the physician is overseeing the anesthesia and since I am not trained in this field, I do not believe I am qualified to do so. Be aware of this because it is a cost cutting maneuver; go for the physician anesthesiologist instead.

Now that you have picked your physician, it is time to decide on the type of implant, the incision, and the size. I am not going to talk too much about placement as implant should always be placed submuscularly and if you have chosen a competent surgeon I will assume that is their preferred placement. I am not aware of any experienced breast surgeon who would put the implants above the muscle or in a subglandular location. There are two types of implants available, saline or silicone. The shells in both are made of silicone. They only differ in that saline implants have a balance that they can be inflated once they are positioned. The shells are smooth or textured. Texturing is a process where smooth implants are given a rougher feel. The idea here is to decrease the risk of capsular contraction. The downside is that by making the shell thicker, it also raises the risk of rippling or wrinkling. I do not use textured implants unless there is a significant risk or history of contracture. In this situation, they are indispensable. The main difference is what the implants are filled with. One is filled with saline solution and the other with silicone gel. There are subcategories of each. They come in round or teardrop and the silicone also varies in level of cohesiveness. I prefer the round because they allow for better cleavage and more fullness superiority, but mainly because the teardrop implants tend to shift, which can create an unnatural appearance. I also prefer silicone as they feel much more like breast tissue and have much less wrinkling or rippling than do the saline counterparts. All silicone implants today are cohesive, meaning the silicone will maintain its shape even if there is a defect in the integrity of the shell. But there are now 2 levels of cohesiveness, namely Level 1 and Level 2. The Level 1 implants which are currently used in the United States are semi-liquid whereas level 2 (gummy bear) are semi-solid. The level 2 implants, which come in teardrop shape only are currently unavailable in the United States as the study is now over (there is a prominent plastic surgeon in the Los Angeles area who advertises that he is still using these implants which is not true, so do not be fooled). I have had the opportunity to work with some of these level 2 implants and have found them to be unsatisfactory for two reasons. The first is that they are too firm and also require a very large incision or scar to place as they are not malleable and cannot be bent to place requiring the opening to be almost as wide as the implant itself. This also limits access to the inframammary fold. I believe these implants may have a role for reconstruction in the future, but for aesthetic purposes, I prefer the level 1’s. I still see hesitance towards silicone implants due to safety issues or leak detention. But these concerns are unwarranted. Silicone implants were taken off from the market in 1991, not because they were found to be unsafe, but rather because the FDA deemed them to be inadequately studied. Since that time, there have been multiple studies which have unequivocally found them to be safe and without any links to autoimmune diseases. Simply, the women who developed these illnesses would have developed them whether they had implants or not. The other issue I regularly hear about is the risk of deflation and its treatment. Over the course of 7 years, the deflation rate for saline implants is 15% whereas for silicone it is only 2%; thus making silicone more durable. If there should be a leak, it is much easier to diagnose the saline implants as they simply go flat.

Silicone cannot be diagnosed by physical exam, but rather requires an MRI. The treatment for each is much different since the shape or volume of a silicone implant does not change, it is very easy to replace and could be done simply under local anesthesia. Saline implants are much more difficult to replace as the capsule begins to contract immediately after deflation. This is much harder and requires a general anesthetic with reconstruction of the pocket. I use Mentor implants, as I believe they are the best implant available in the market and currently they come with a lifetime warranty.

There are several access points for implant placement including transaxillary, periareolar, inframammary fold, and transumbilical. All these access points are available for saline implants but limited to periareolar or inframammary fold for silicone. I prefer the periareolar approach because the scars tend to heal better and are less visible when wearing a bathing suit. It also allows direct access to the inferior insertion of the pectoralis major muscle, the proper release of which is crucial to perfect placement.

The last discussion is the size of the implant and the profile, low, medium, or high. When I determine the implant size I begin by talking about the patient’s desired cup. I need to stress that this is only a starting point of the discussion as I do not create a cup size, but rather a look. We decide this by looking at some of my postoperative pictures, as well as having the patient bring in pictures of looks they like and then trying on an implant. Trying on an implant is more useful in smaller breasted women and less so in women who have more breast tissue or are in need of a lift as well. When the patient likes the look of an implant on her chest, I add 50 cc to it and that is the volume I use in the submuscular location. There is no perfect way of picking the size, but this has worked well for me. As a bit of final advice, if you are between 2 sizes, go for the larger one and do not listen to your friend’s advice. They are not you, do not know what you want, nor do they necessarily have your best interest at heart. If there is ever a regret it is that patients did not go bigger. I rarely hear that they are too big.

I choose the profile depending on the patient’s desired size and chest width. The three profiles are moderate(low), moderate plus(medium), and high(high). I typically use the moderate plus because it gives the best combination of projection, which gives a more defined cleavage, and enough width of diameter to avoid cleavage separation. For my patients who have narrow chests or wish to have a large cup size I choose the high profile implant. I rarely use the low profile implant as the only indication is for models who wish to have a very small augmentation and need the greatest diameter width as possible to avoid cleavage separation.

The recovery period is less than a week. Most of my patients are able to drive on the fifth day and return to work after one week as long as no heavy lifting is required. I allow my patients to reach above their head as long as they are not stretching to reach a distant object. I allow aerobic workouts as long as they limit to lower body after 4 weeks and full gym workouts after 6 weeks. I do have patients perform massaging exercises to stretch the muscle in the medial location by squeezing the implants together. This also helps for settling which is usually a 4-month process and rarely can take longer. I also recommend that a moisturizer be used on the incision after 3 weeks of healing and on the breast itself immediately after surgery. Scars do not create moisture on their own and they need help.

Breast implant maintenance is a topic which seems to be misunderstood. The biggest misconception is that implants should be replaced every ten years. This is simply not true and came about based on the data that the old (prior to 1991) silicone implants had a significant leak rate after 10 years. By mistake this has been extrapolated to the current saline and silicone implants used today. The current silicone implants made by Mentor are warrantied for life and require replacement only if a defect should develop. This is the same case for saline implants which are currently warrantied for 10 years (extended warranty is available for purchase from Mentor). Simply put, if there is no problem precautionary replacement is not required.

The horizon shows a few things of promise. Stem cells may one day be used for breast surgery. Their potential seems limitless. I am just beginning to work with them and will see what applications develop.

There is no question that I have some very strong opinions on breast augmentation. These opinions have been formed over many years and many augmentations. I sincerely hope my ideas will be of help to anyone interested in this wonderful operation.

Ask Dr. Leonard M. Hochstein Questions & Get Answers

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Dr. Hochstein has his own message board on Make Me Heal where he answers facial plastic surgery questions live from patients.

About Dr. Hochstein:

Dr. Hochstein, or Dr. H as he is known as, began his medical career when he applied to medical school as a merit scholar high school senior. He was able to surpass the customary four years of college and go directly from high school into medical school. The first in a long list of exceptional achievements to be obtained during his academic and surgical training. He attended the accelerated program at the Louisiana State University Medical Center where he graduated as Valedictorian of his class. It was during his time in medical school that Dr. H worked closely with the Department of Surgery and had his first scientific paper published. He received his M.D. in 1990.

Learn More about Dr. Leonard Hochstein

Dr. Hochstein’s Website: http://www.lhochsteinmd.com

Famous for he amazing beach body in the 1979 movie “10,” Bo Derek looks remarkable for a woman who is an avid hunter and otherwise spends a lot of time in the sun. A recent photo of Bo reveals her smooth skin, with nary a freckle or other sign of sun damage in sight.

Although Bo denied having any plastic surgery in an interview with Larry King several years ago, “But I don’t know, it’s personal. It’s personal. I hope I don’t. I hope I’m– I admire women who don’t, so I hope I don’t. But at the same time, I can’t say no or think badly of anyone who does do it…” it seems the actress changed her mind because the following year, in 2003 a plastic surgeon noted signs of plastic surgery.

Plastic surgeon Alex Karadis told Britain’s Closer magazine that, “She looks great but there are a few signs that she may have had Botox. The crow’s feet around her eyes are very smooth - Botox paralyses the muscle so the skin relaxes and smooths out.

“Her skin’s very nice but it’s quite bright. It looks as if she may have had a chemical peel to get rid of sun damage.”

It seems like Bo, whose real name is Mary Cathleen Collins, is keeping up with her minor plastic surgery. Although she sports some lines around the eyes and her nasolabial folds look parenthetical, her cheeks are full as is her forehead, leading Make Me Heal to agree with Dr. Karadis that Bo uses dermal injections like Botox to some degree.

Often women around 50 also have an eyelift to decrease signs of aging around the eyes, but as Bo has wrinkles and loose skin, this is unlikely, unless she had the procedure some time ago and it is time for another. Many actresses also have a facelift to help tighten their entire face as well as the neck as it begins to sag. As Bo doesn’t have an usually tightly pulled neck, she may or may not have had this done, it may be the result of a mini necklift, which is less invasive than a full facelift. Bo’s forehead looks like it still has creases and her eyes aren’t in the middle of her forehead, so she most likely hasn’t had a facelift.

However, her skin is flawless and fresh-looking, so she may use dermal injections like Juvederm to keep her cheeks plump and use laser treatments like Active Fx and Fraxel to get rid of fine lines and sun damage.

Bo doesn’t admit to do anything special other than taking care of herself by eating right and exercising, she does look younger than one might think after spending what is likely considerable time in the sun, but she still is as sexy as ever.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Bo Derek on Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Pic Source: TMZ

The National Enquirer reports that a source tells them that since Jennifer began dating 30-year old singer John Mayer, she is spending roughly $20,000 a month on her appearance. $2,000 of that is on cellulite treatments such as Velashape that are performed by a plastic surgeon or at a spa.

The friend said, “Jen is doing whatever it takes to hold back time - short of plastic surgery. Jen is insecure about her legs, so she goes for anti-cellulite spa sculpting treatments twice a month. They cost $1,000 a session, but Jen swears that the sculpting keeps her skin supple and smooth. She calls the treatments ‘necessary tune-ups.”

Although many celebrities turn to anti-cellulite laser treatments, like VelaShape (See Make Me Heal’s story on the Kardashian sisters’ cellulite treatment), there are other ways to treat the appearance of cellulite, including the Wellbox, which is a device that can be conveniently used at home.

In the past, Jennifer has also had a few nose jobs, which she claims are non-cosmetic (See Make Me Heal’s story on Jennifer Aniston’s nose jobs) to correct a deviated septum. She has also been the subject of uncofirmed breast implant rumors as her chest seems to have filled out during her rise to fame (See Make Me Heal’s story on Jennifer Aniston’s breast augmentation).

Whatever Jennifer’s beauty regime, the cost seems to be worth it, as the former Mrs. Pitt looks better than ever.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Jennifer Aniston on Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Cybill Shepherd is best known for her television roles on Moonlighting and Cybill, but she rose to stardom playing a sex kitten in the film The Last Picture Show.

At 58, many women have moved beyond dermal injections like Botox to having much more invasive plastic surgery. Cybill says she hasn’t had any Botox yet, not out of fear of needles, like actress Eva Longoria has said (See Make Me Heal’s story on Eva Longoria), but because she fears the results.

When queried about trying to look as young as possible, Cybill tells writer Patricia Sheridan of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“It’s a big issue for me because I feel a responsibility that I should do something. I have fear of doing it. I will do things. I will be doing things. I haven’t yet. I just cringe at the thought of needles going in my face. I’m not afraid of shots, having almost died of pneumonia when I was 5 and again when I was 7. I had to get shots every day. I’m just afraid of what might happen to my face [laughs]. I have fear of what it’s going to look like afterward.”

Cybill has always been beautiful and it’s a nice change to hear a Hollywood heroine make an honest statement about Botox, rather than deny a need for it like many actresses have recently.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of Cybill Shepherd on Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Paparazzi captured very soon to be 43-year old Jeremy’s wig getting prepped for shooting a scene on the upcoming season of Entourage, when it returns this fall. Over the years, Jeremy has worn a variety of hairpieces to mask his rapidly receding hairline, even appearing au naturel from time to time, letting the world in on his secret.

Unlike Brendan Fraser, Jeremy hasn’t yet turned to hairplugs, instead using hairpieces of varying shape to mask his baldness (See Make Me Heal’s story on Brendan Fraser’s hair loss).

Hair restoration exert Dr. Alan Bauman warns that relying on tape and glue to attach hairpieces can actually accelerate hair loss.

Jeremy’s method of dealing with hair loss is similar to the various hairpieces that John Travolta has worn over the years (See Make Me Heal’s story on John Travolta’s hairpieces).

Jeremy’s hair loss pattern starts at his forehead and recedes all the way to the middle of his head.

Some of his hairpieces are more successful than others and even if he decided to forgo the rugs altogether, we’d still watch his heinous shenanigans with the rest of the Entourage boys.

Pic Source: CityRag

43-year old Sarah Jessica recently appeared without the mole on her chin that has been with for most of her career. Although the style icon occasionally uses make-up to cover up the mole, it is usually more in evidence than it was in the recent photos. With rates of skin cancer on the rise, it would be understandable if Sarah Jessica decided to have the mole removed for health reasons, rather than aesthetics.

When questioned about the mole’s disappearance, Sarah Jessica reportedly responded, ‘Nothing has been removed.’ Although later a source close to the star confirmed that she had the mole removed in the past two weeks, according to the Daily Mail. Two weeks would be enough time for enough healing to occur that the residual scar could be easily covered with make-up.

However, if the mole was removed for cosmetic purposes, it may not have been the Sex & the City star’s first encounter with plastic surgery (See Make Me Heal’s story on Sarah Jessica Parker’s nose job).

When celebrities remove moles, the world often notices, for better or worse.

Crooner Enrique Iglesias drew a lot of attention when the 33-year old had the mole that was prominently displayed on his cheek removed. The mole was part of his trademark look until its removal for rumored aesthetic purposes in 2003.

Scottish actor, 37-year old Ewan MacGregor had a mole removed after spending time in the African sun. Unlike Enrique, and possibly SJP, Ewan had his moles checked out before having some of them removed. He explains, “I just went to have them checked. You have to be careful with moles if you’re pale-skinned and you spend time in the sun. So I went to see a specialist who thought they were better to be removed and indeed he was correct.”

What is possibly the most famous mole in the world, still prominently resides on Cindy Crawford’s upper lip. At 42, the former supermodel has admitted to having Botox injections, collagen and using skin creams to take care of her appearance. But the trademark mole that launched her career remains.

When it comes to moles and potential melanoma, it is better to be safe than sorry and get them removed, as in Ewan’s case. But when your moles don’t appear to be irregular and they helped your career, it doesn’t seem necessary to have them taken off either.

Read the complete plastic surgery profile of the following celebrities on Plasticopedia, the largest online celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Enrique Iglesias

Ewan MacGregor

Cindy Crawford

Leg lengthening is often done in other countries, with regulations that are different from those in the United States. The cost is often upwards of $100,000 and typically patients gain only 2-4 inches. To cut costs, and spend only $10,000, patients travel to all kinds of foreign countries and return with more problems than just being on the small side.

On his blog, Dr. Anthony Youn describes the exceedingly painful procedure, “This is a surgery where the bones of the legs are sawed in half and then gradually allowed to spread apart as new bone grows between the two broken halves. It’s called the Ilizarov technique, and has been used for healing fractures for years. It’s only recently making news as a technique for making a person taller.”

He also warns, “Unfortunately, bone lengthening is a tedious process which can result in a major complication like osteomyelitis (infection of the bone).”

Recovery time is significantly longer than other cosmetic procedures at 10 weeks, rather than 10 days. The surgery carries great risks, including deformity and infection. Still there are an estimated 4,000 men in the world that have elected to undergo the procedure.

Source: DETAILS