Nip This Tuck That

Here’s Today’s Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Tip:

The day after the Academy Awards with all the gorgeous and handsome celebrities on the red carpet it’s natural for our thoughts to turn towards our own self improvement through plastic and cosmetic surgery treatments and surgical procedures.

If you are looking to make yourself more attractive, be sure that you understand what facial features are the most important from an aesthetic point of view. According to my new book that defines and identifies beauty, there are three top facial features in a beautiful or handsome face. The Cheeks, Eye Area and the Lips.

Of these three features, the Cheeks are the most aesthetically important and should be considered in all cases of facial rejuvenation, where the goal is to look naturally youthful, as well as younger faces where the goal is a more beautiful face. This should be the main focus of any plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures, treatments or surgery. From Botox, Restylane, Perlane, Radiesse, Cheek Implants, Face Lifts, Eyelid Surgery or Lip Enhancement/Augmentation.

Face Lift techniques that overlook shaping the cheeks to a naturally, youthful shape miss the mark, in my opinion, as they leave the face over-pulled, windswept or otherwise unnatural in appearance. I have found in over 20 years of performing Face Lifts, that tightening and removing just the right amount from the face combined with shaping of the cheeks either with fillers like Perlane and Radiesse or with Cheek Implants gives the face a youthful, natural beauty that is otherwise not achievable. This was my inspiration for creating our “Palmer Celebrity Face Lift”.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Some of the World’s Best Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons will be interviewed in an upcoming magazine article…I’m honored to be included and will share the link when it becomes available. My interview is this afternoon and I’ll mention the all important aesthetic aspect of plastic and cosmetic surgery here in Beverly Hills and the rest of the world.
Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

The Palmer “Celebrity Lift” is a minimum incision Face Lift that’s combined with aesthetic shaping of the face. This 90 minute, minimum invasive, procedure has the SMAS lifting of the much more invasive, older types of Face Lifts but can be performed with or without anesthesia. The recovery time is measured in hours…not days, weeks or months because the procedure is less invasive. In fact, most patients travel back home to Asia, Europe or across the US in as little as 3 days following the Face Lift procedure.

The Celebrity Face Lift is often combined with a reduction of the fatty tissue within the nasolabial fold (NLF) the accumulation of which occurs with facial aging. Further facial refinements are accomplished by improving the cheek’s volume and shape. Male cheeks are made to be more angular, while women’s cheeks are converted to a softer, more rounded shape in the front of the face. The shape of the chin and jawline may also be addressed. Facial shaping can be accomplished using Fillers like Radiesse or Perlane and/or with Cheek and/or Chin Implants. The Lips can be made fuller using Restylane, Juvederm or my favorite lip implant (Alloderm Sheets). Botox can be used to soften lines of the forehead, Crow’s Feet or around the mouth for the finishing touches.

The result is a face that appears youthful, more attractive and the opposite of the dreaded over pulled, wind swept appearance.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Yoanna House from Next Top Model denies face plastic and cosmetic surgery but admits to Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants.

did she nip and tuck?

Photo Credits: Simmons, Countess/Getty Full article:

The photo in the black dress reportedly from 2004 compared to the one where she’s in the red dress shows an increased bust from the admitted Breast Augmentation and Breast Implants. Her face looks about the same but seems aged a bit, which of course is normal after children and 6 years time. The only question I have is the right side of her face appears to have less jowling (seen in 2004) than 6 years later…hmmm. This may indicate some type of facelift procedure, but only she knows for certain.

What’s her “Face Number”? In 2004 photo, her Palmer Code Face Number is 97 and in the 2010 photo it’s a 90 out of 100 possible points…her “Number” went down 7 points since 2004 no matter what she’s done.
Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Copycat Plastic Surgery

photo credit: Pizzello/AP, ITN News via YouTube
There’s an article about a lady in China that broke up with her boyfriend…ok, so far that’s a sad story.

But now this lady has decided that she’ll have plastic surgery to look like Jessica Alba in order to win him back…now, that’s a bit odd and in fact against all advice by experienced plastic and cosmetic surgeons, myself included, that tell such prospective patients this may be the wrong reason to change your appearance with plastic surgery. While plastic and cosmetic surgery can make you more attractive which often comes with an increased self confidence, it’s unlikely to keep your love, your spouse or drastically alter your life.

Turns out there’s a plastic surgery clinic, in China, that’s offering to do the surgery for free so the surgeon(s) can show off their skills…now that’s just plain crazy in my opinion. Encouraging someone to have elective plastic surgery in an attempt to look like someone else…so they can win back the love of a lost boyfriend is, in my opinion, wrong ethically, morally and professionally. I say shame on them and I’d encourage the lady to seek emotional counseling and not the scalpel. Either way, her boyfriend is most likely not coming back.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

The best cheek implants for cheek augmentation whether here in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Paris, London or anywhere else around the world are the ones that make your cheeks closer to the aesthetic ideal cheeks for a man or a woman.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Donda West law took effect in California and requires medical clearance be obtained within 30 days of having plastic and cosmetic surgery. Read entire article here.

This was a tragic case and I’m all for anything that ensures patient safety. The real question here, is not just whether or not a patient is healthy enough to undergo plastic and cosmetic surgery but how much surgery is too much. This subject has come up again recently when it was rumored that a certain reality star had undergone quite a bit of plastic surgery all in one sitting. How much is to much surgery at one time? In my opinion a healthy, young (under 55) patient without a significant history of disease, having three hours of surgery seems reasonable and anything over 5 hours should be considered in two separate operation times and days. With a history of heart, kidney, liver or other significant disease, the patient may not be able to have any elective plastic and cosmetic surgery of any kind or may have severe time limits placed by their treating medical doctor.

I believe that it’s impossible to legislate common sense and that ultimately it remains up to each individual patient to select a plastic and cosmetic surgeon that has common sense about how much surgery should be done and what can be achieved. We, as plastic and cosmetic surgeons should not be afraid to turn patients away for any reason and just say NO.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Let’s take a break from our “Fantasy Hollywood Makeovers” to have a brief discussion on how you can find one of the world’s best (top) plastic and cosmetic surgeons.

First, is the realization that there is a difference between surgeons based on several factors:

1. The years experience in performing each specific plastic and cosmetic surgery treament and procedure like Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Perlane, Rhinoplasty, Face Lifts, Eyelid Surgery, Cheek Implants, Chin Implants, Lip Augmentation(enhancement), Breast Implants (Augmentation), Thigh Lifts, Buttock Lifts and Tummy Tucks. Each treatment and procedure is different and so are the skill sets associated with performing them.

2. The level of training received during Surgical residency and subsequent Fellowship training programs. Some of these surgical residencies are heavily weighted in non aesthetic plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures and while that may contribute to the overall training of the plastic and cosmetic surgeon these do not give the surgeon experience performing those particular plastic surgery procedures. In other words, you don’t obtain experience doing face Lift from performing back, hand or burn surgeries. This is not to knock anyone’s training but to explain to laypeople what, I believe, are the simple basic facts about surgical training. Fellowships are intense additional surgical training programs, some of which concentrate on plastic and cosmetic surgery. These vary from program to program individual participating surgeon as far as the actual number of plastic surgeries performed.

3. Aesthetic Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery is unique, in my opinion, because it’s a branch of medicine that deals exclusively with beauty and how to make people look more attractive. It is by definition what we do. Because of this, I believe that aesthetic plastic and cosmetic surgeons must possess astute aesthetic judgement in all aspects of their work…from the initial analysis of the patient through any planned treatment or surgery designed to improve that patient’s appearance. Sadly, this is not typically included in our surgical training and was up to each individual surgeon to possess or not. Learn the secrets in my new book “What’s Your Number…the palmer code.”

Here’s a Four Step Guide that may help you decide “How To Choose Your Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon.”

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
“What’s Your Number..the palmer code.”

Fantasy Makeover of Hollywood’s Biggest Stars.

Vanity Fair’s New Cover “New Hollywood” has ruffled some feathers for the lack of ethnic diversity. There are plenty of beautiful young starlets of hispanic, african american, asian and other ethnic backgrounds that could be included. But, in our fantasy world what would we do to make these starlets perfect?

New Hollywood

Photo Credit: Vanity Fair

Abbie Cornish:

1. Eyebrows are a bit low…perhaps a little Botox to raise them.
2. The nasal bridge is a bit wide and could be softened with a Rhinoplasty
3. The upper lip is a bit thin and could be filled out with Restylane or Juvederm.
“Face Number” now: 96 After Fantasy Makeover: a perfect 100

Kristen Stewart:

1. The cheeks are flat and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
2. Eyebrows are low and could be raised with Botox Injections or a Browlift.
3. The lips are a bit thin and could be plumped up using fillers like Restylane and Juvederm or a lip implant of Alloderm.
“Face Number” now: 83 After Fantasy Makeover: 95

Carey Mulligan:

1. The cheeks are flat with nasolabial folds and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
2. The nose is a bit wide and flat and could be refined with a Rhinoplasty.
3. The lips are a bit thin and could be plumped up using fillers like Restylane and Juvederm or a lip implant of Alloderm.
“Face Number” now: 80 After Fantasy Makeover: 94

Amanda Seyfried:

1. The eyebrows are low and could be raised using Botox Injections.
2. The cheeks are flat with nasolabial folds and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
“Face Number” now: 86 After Fantasy Makeover: 98.

Rebecca Hall:

1. The eyebrows are low and could be raised using Botox Injections.
2. The cheeks are flat with nasolabial folds and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
“Face Number” now: 89 After Fantasy Makeover: 97.

Mia Wasikowska:

1. The cheeks are flat and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
2. Eyebrows are low and could be raised with Botox Injections or a Browlift.
3. The lips are a bit thin and could be plumped up using fillers like Restylane and Juvederm or a lip implant of Alloderm.
4. The nasal tip is wide and could be softened and refined with a Rhinoplasty.
“Face Number” now: 83 After Fantasy Makeover: 98.

Anna Kendrick:

1. The left cheeks is flat with nasolabial fold and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
2. Eyebrows are low and could be raised with Botox Injections or a Browlift.
3. The lips are thin and could be plumped up using fillers like Restylane and Juvederm or a lip implant of Alloderm.
4. The nose is long and wide with a wide tip and could be softened and refined with a Rhinoplasty.
“Face Number” now: 80 After Fantasy Makeover: 96.

Emma Stone:

1. The left cheek is flat with nasolabial fold and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
2. Eyebrows are low and could be raised with Botox Injections or a Browlift.
3. The lips are a bit thin and could be plumped up using fillers like Restylane and Juvederm or a lip implant of Alloderm.
4. The nasal tip is wide and could be softened and refined with a Rhinoplasty.
“Face Number” now: 85 After Fantasy Makeover: 98.

Evan Rachel Wood

1. The cheeks are flat and could be filled out using Cheek Implants or fillers like Radiesse or Perlane.
2. Eyebrows are low and could be raised with Botox Injections or a Browlift.
3. The lips are a bit thin and could be plumped up using fillers like Restylane and Juvederm or a lip implant of Alloderm.
4. The nasal tip is wide and could be softened and refined with a Rhinoplasty.

“Face Number” now: 91 After Fantasy Makeover: a perfect 100.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
What’s Your Number…the palmer code

***Disclaimer: This information is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not intended to imply the above mentioned person(s) has, had, or will ever have any type of plastic surgery treatment or procedure or any affiliation with Dr Francis Palmer.

Plastic Surgery from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and Hollywood has been in the international news lately and frankly, some have been questioning if enough is enough.
I have been writing for years that plastic and cosmetic surgery is all about the individual and can’t be clumped together in a global discussion without loosing all meaning. Take a closer look at plastic and cosmetic surgery treatments like Botox, Radiesse and Perlane or procedures like Face Lifts, Eyelid Surgery, Rhinoplasty, Cheek Implants, Chin Implants and Breast Implants just to name a few.

1. Each patient seeking any of these treatments or procedures is an individual with individual wants, needs and expectations.

2. Every patient will start from a different aesthetic point…“Number“…or you can think of it as a level of attractiveness that makes them unique.

3. Plastic and Cosmetic surgeons use different variations of treatments and surgical procedures to accomplish the desired aesthetic results and even when they would do things exactly alike (I believe this to be highly improbable if not close to impossible) their level of skill, training and experience will still vary and thus effect the ultimate outcome.

Given all these variables, I do not believe that you can look at any one celebrity or “pseudo-star” and judge plastic and cosmetic surgery as an industry or movement. Nothing more than a frank discussion of that particular patient, that particular outcome and that particular surgeon would be accurate. In my 20 years as a Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon I have seen wonderful results and I have turned many patients away for their unrealistic expectations or aesthetic requests. I feel that it is the ultimate duty of each and every patient to learn what is required for them to make an educated decision about their appearance and how to effectively improve it when and if they so desire. Do not let any plastic and cosmetic surgeon do a procedure or treatment on you that you do not understand and agree with the planned aesthetic goal. Not aesthetically astute? Learn more about “Your Number”.

Dr Francis Palmer
Beverly Hills Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
What’s Your Number…the palmer code book