Why, hello again.

Wow, has it been a while.  2010 disappeared in a hurry, leaving me grasping at the beginnings of 2011.  So let's give this another try.

A few plastic surgery-ish things in the news lately (although lately is probably being overly generous):

• Cosmetic foot surgery?  As a plastic surgeon, I'm all for making things look better, but really?
• Following up on the freaky contact lens craze, some other ways to "enhance" your eyes - some slightly more conventional things, like surgery, Restylane, and Latisse.
• A very matter-of-fact opinion on improving how you look and feel.  Contrary to what some of the plastic surgeons out there would have you believe, not everyone needs plastic surgery, and not everyone should.   I guess I'm just conservative for a plastic surgeon...
• Men admitting to wearing makeup (more here too, with a hunky shot of Don Draper to boot).   Finally.
• So I guess Latisse (and all the other products out there) aren't just for women anymore.  Eyelashes for everyone!
• One theory on why plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery were suddenly everywhere and everything.  To blame?  Reagonomics, of all things.
• Plastic surgeons aren't all just boobs and Botox; we get called to sew up all sorts of things.  I love Martha; I hope she's doing okay.

Regarding the FDA's recent breast implant news

The headlines sound alarming; anything with "breast implants" and "cancer" in the same line certainly catches my attention.  Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) may have a possible association with breast implants.

But if you read the FDA communication, you learn that although there is cause for heightened awareness regarding this unusual cancer, thankfully, it seems to be relatively rare.  ALCL has been formally reported in 34 of the approximately 5-10 million women worldwide who have had breast implants.

Relatively rare, of course, is meaningless, if it's you; thus the recommendations for monitoring your breast and implant health with self exams, mammograms, and MRI (if you have silicone gel-filled implants).

The Best of Silicon Valley

Go Duet! Thank you to everyone who nominated us for the "Best Plastic Surgeon in Silicon Valley 2010" - what an honor.

Vote for us here!

Bab(i)es, Botox, Brouhaha

Probably too young for Botox... Photo courtesy of Maggie Smith

We saw last month the first inkling of the young Glee star admitting to using Botox, now fleshed out into a broader story in this week's NY Times article. Does this represent the early days of a growing trend: cosmetic procedures and surgeries for teenagers becoming commonplace? I think it's interesting how casually some folks are reacting to the news, even comparing it to teens who wish for and receive rhinoplasty (and that's a whole other can of worms...).

And over here, the actress Teri Hatcher (of Lois and Clark and Desperate Housewives television fame) apparently tired of the criticism that she had too much Botox and plastic surgery, posted photos of herself grimacing delightfully in her bathroom mirror.

Botox: it's not for everyone.

News, news

Like I've admitted previously, I am entranced by news/stories/articles/books about beauty and its perception. This series of special pieces in Newsweek about that exactly makes for some fascinating reading.

It's not just the ugly Americans

A flurry of plastic surgery and beauty-related news from foreign lands lately:

Is Taiwan Asia's next one-stop plastic surgery shop? Who knew? I just visit for the food...

Indian students flock to plastic surgery to get ahead. I think this happens here in the US as well, but people tend not to be so frank about it (and we're not just talking about the citizens of Hollywood, either).

Vaseline skin-lightening app stirs debate. Now this isn't a new phenomenon in Asia; many East Asian women are quite fastidious about sun avoidance and a number of creams/lotions/potions/treatments promise to lighten or brighten are directly marketed at them. But the app seemed to take it one step too far.

Plastic surgery bits and pieces: roundup

Wow - just when I was starting to get worried that celebrities had given up on plastic surgery...

Experts: Lindsay Lohan Got Filler in Her Lips Before Jail. Not exactly a peer-reviewed journal, but fascinating nonetheless. Was it Restylane? Or Juvederm? The world holds its breath...

Teenage singer Charice gets Botox for 'Glee' debut. I admit, I really have no idea who this young Filipina is (am I showing my age?), but I hear that Glee is quite a popular show. I understand one wants to make a good impression, but why did this beautiful 18 year old think she needed Botox???

Vampire facelifts: Cosmetic surgery's crazy new trend. Ditto for the whole Twilight phenomenon. But the plastic surgeon's responses in this Salon interview are pretty entertaining.

Don't rule out plastic surgeons yet. That's right. No dinosaurs here.

And finally, I leave you with this heartwarming story that has nothing to do with plastic surgery (but yes, there is still some surgery involved).