Ashley Judd Denies Plastic Surgery, Cites Steroids for Her Puffy Face

Over the past couple of days, Ashley Judd’s photos were circulating the Internet over speculations that the actress had undergone plastic surgery or dermal fillers because of her unusually puffy cheeks. 

Rumors of the actress’ plastic surgery started after she appeared on a Canadian talk show to promote her new show Missing.  However, her representative immediately released a statement saying the star has been “battling an ongoing, serious sinus infection and flu,” requiring her to take heavy doses of medication, including steroids.

Steroids may lead to swelling, apparently making Judd’s cheeks “puffier” than usual.

On Wednesday, the actress tweeted “Thanks to all asking how I’ve been feeling, still very sick (flu + viral infection in sinuses = wicked) but staying positive & having fun.”

Meanwhile, RadarOnline.com was the first to write about Judd’s unusual appearance which was allegedly caused by too much dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm.  However, many doctors came to her rescue saying that steroids and bouts of sinus infection can trigger swelling especially in the face.

And with three weeks of having sinus infection and “two rounds of drugs,” it is not uncommon to have some swelling in the cheeks.

Many people are also not convinced by rumors of celebrity plastic surgery because the actress has apparently gained some weight—something which may also lead to “chubby cheeks.”

Perhaps the rumors of plastic surgery was based on assumption that Judd has joined the bandwagon of celebrities with “pillow face,” which is a term used by doctors describing over-plump faces due to excessive use of dermal fillers like Restylane and Sculptra, leading to a very unnatural appearance.

Because of having a pillow face, celebrities like Madonna, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Pamela Anderson, and Courtney Love were once dubbed as “cheeky girls,” which is some kind of derision.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery As a Career Boost?

Over the past couple of years, plastic surgeons have noticed an increasing number of workers turning to cosmetic procedures such as facelift, breast augmentation, and liposuction to enhance their appearance.  Sociology professor Anthony Elliott from Flinders University said the trend is pushed by “acute job insecurity.”

Western culture puts too much emphasis on youthful beauty compared with other societies, which is why facelift surgery, Botox injection, and dermal fillers are particularly popular in the US.  And with the aging baby boomers, it is not surprising that facial rejuvenations will continue their popularity in the next couple of years.

Elliot, who has conducted his research for five years, said that many companies today are grooming their staff to boost productivity and sales, while many older workers feel the tight job competition with younger people.

Meanwhile, his research is not the only one that proves the impact of physical attractiveness—or the lack of it.  According to book Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined, the advantages of being attractive are countless; for instance, attractive bosses are perceived more credible and trustworthy by their subordinates.

However, what is more alarming is that people are not aware that they subconsciously prefer attractive individuals than plain-looking ones.  In fact, it would be hard to find someone who will admit to the fact that our brains are hardwired to appreciate beautiful faces.

And perhaps to repress the subconscious preference over good looks, some states have passed personal discrimination law that prohibits employers from discriminating workers based on appearance.

What is more surprising is that physical appearance has more impact on a man’s employment than women, well that is according to one study.  But whether this may be accurate or not, surveys have suggested that more male patients are seeking plastic surgery over the past few years; in fact, facelift surgery for men increased by 14 percent in 2010.

By contrast, women’s appearance has more impact on the dating market, according to one study.

Going back to Elliot, he said that many workers aged 50 may start to “feel old, or at least they are presented as pretty old by their competitors” and are persuaded to have cosmetic surgery that would “give their appearance a makeover as a way to ensure their next contract job.”

Because of the importance of physical attractiveness, some experts have even suggested that it is almost as valuable as education and professional skills.

Top 5 Extreme Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery in general can provide the best outcome as long as two important factors are present: board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience, and good candidate for the procedure.

Take note that an “ideal candidate” does not simply refer to someone who is healthy and has no healing problem.  Another important thing is that the patient has realistic goals and expectations, and is considered to be emotionally and psychologically stable.

However, some people seem to go overboard when it comes to their physical appearance that they made it to the list of top five extreme plastic surgery:

5. Sheyla Hershey

Because no plastic surgeon in the US would want to operate on Hershey, she went to Brazil to further inflate her breast implants to achieve an astonishing 38KKK bust size.  And after eight breast surgeries, now she has the largest augmented breasts in the world.

Just recently, Hershey has been in a car accident and was arrested for driving under the influence.  When her vehicle hit a tree, she said the airbag did not deploy so her breasts ended up cushioning the impact and saving her life.

4. Amanda Lepore

Arguably the world’s most recognizable transsexual, the New York-based model and actress has gone multiple cosmetic procedures including breast augmentations.  There are also some reports that she received silicone injection into her buttocks, hips, lips, and forehead—despite the fact that such procedure has already been banned by the US FDA (the agency only allows silicone implants).

And with countless of plastic surgeries, she now looks like a caricature of herself—if there’s such a thing.

3. Hang Mioku

The Korean woman made headlines when she injected her face with cooking oil after running out of silicone.  And because of her unhealthy obsession with cosmetic procedures, even plastic surgeons no longer came near her.

But when a local media broadcast her swollen face, the public took pity on her and raised funds for plastic surgery.  However, doctors could not make her appearance normal after 20 years of abusing injections, lifts, and surgeries.

2. Michael Jackson

As the King of Pop became more famous, his obsession with plastic surgery worsened that his once luscious, chocolate-colored skin turned impossibly pale white while his nose became too pointy and “structurally unstable” that his doctor has been reported to decline another operation.

1.  Jocelyn Wildenstein

In an attempt to prevent her late husband from philandering and leaving her, Jocelyn is said to undergo countless of plastic surgeries to look like a cat, which was the favorite animal of her spouse.

But despite the drastic transformation, Jocelyn’s husband left her with another woman.

According to reports, Jocelyn had fat grafting, lip injections, brow lift, and facelift that gave her the feline look.

Madonna’s Plastic Surgery and Her New Look

Madonna has shocked many fans after her appearance in Super Bowl gig showing her face looking more natural.  Some experts said the celebrity—who earned notoriety with her puffy appearance—is probably using less dermal fillers these days.

Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili said the singer has probably changed her cosmetic regimen.  Over the past couple of years, she was branded as “pillow face” because of overuse of facial fillers.

“I think that she has now realized that too much of a good thing is bad.  Facial dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane can do great wonders because they can soften or even remove wrinkles, and also correct the gaunt appearance common among aging individuals.  However, over-injection can lead to the puffy or what we call pillow face,” Smaili said.

Previous photos of the singer also shed light to her cosmetic regimen.  Aside from too much fillers, sometimes the singer also seemed to have too much Botox injection to the point that she looked “stone face.”

With her recent appearance, Smaili thinks the singer has received just the right amount of facial dermal fillers which are important to correct her gaunt face (probably because of her low body fat and also due to natural aging). 

Showbiz bloggers believe that Madonna previously had multiple cosmetic procedures—both surgical and non-invasive in nature—including brow lift and facelift, laser skin treatment, injectable fillers, and Botox injection.  However, the 53-year-old star neither confirmed nor denied having cosmetic any procedure.

Despite the fact that cosmetic procedures in the US have skyrocketed over the past couple of years, many celebrities still remain mum even if the result looks somewhat obvious.  According to data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about 13.1 million aesthetic procedures (both surgical and minimally invasive treatments) were performed in 2010.

“Perhaps celebrities like Madonna remain silent about having cosmetic procedures because they want their fans to think that their beauty is somewhat natural.  Much like winning in a gene lottery,” Smaili said.

Saline Vs Silcone By Dr. Tarick Smaili

Did Bruce Jenner Undergo Another Plastic Surgery?

Bruce Jenner is in the limelight again.  Not because of his stepdaughters and their notorious escapades but because of his plastic surgery rumors.  Just recently, the “Keeping up with the Kardashians” star has been accused of having another plastic surgery after he appeared in public with a noticeable scar on his cheek.

But much to the disappointment of celebrity bloggers and showbiz reporters, Jenner’s scar is not caused by facelift or any cosmetic procedure.  The former Olympian had surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his face, according to a report published in Us Weekly.

The magazine cited an unnamed source although Jenner had not yet confirmed if his scar is really from a cancer surgery.

Perhaps those people who jumped into a conclusion that Jenner’s scar is from plastic surgery cannot be blamed as the reality tv star had admitted to have some nips and tucks in the past—a mini facelift when he was 35 years old and then followed by rhinoplasty or “nose job.”

Because the result of Jenner’s mini facelift was not as natural as it should be, he has been criticized for his “wind-swept” look and squinty eyes—clear manifestations of bad plastic surgery. 

In an effort to “correct” the not-so-natural result of Jenner’s initial facelift, his wife and stepdaughters convinced him to get a revision plastic surgery several years ago.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, a cosmetic surgeon who did not treat Jenner, said that facelift is not only about removing the sagging skin and wrinkles.

“For me, the most important thing aside from making the face more youthful is also maintaining the natural shape of the eyes and face.  No one would like to have squinty eyes or a face that looks like it was blown by a strong wind.  With this in mind, I am very carefully when it comes to removing the sagging skin although I prefer going deeper into the facial muscle so the result will last 10 to 15 years,” Smaili said.

To avoid botched results, Smaili advised patients to carefully choose their plastic surgeons and make sure that they have been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Smaili added that patients considering facelift surgery should make sure that their doctors have expertise in facial rejuvenation.

“People should remember that not because their doctors provide them great breast augmentation result does not necessarily mean that they are also good in facelift.  First and foremost, two procedures are very different from each other,” Smaili said.

Dr Smaili Google Plus profile

Mother Gives 7-Year-Old Daughter Plastic Surgery Voucher

It is quite appalling that a mother gave her 7-year-old daughter a £7,000-voucher for liposuction last Christmas.  According to recent reports, Sarah Burge, UK’s Human Barbie, has given her child this “unusual” gift instead of toys, clothes, and things her age will likely appreciate.

Just previously, Burge said that she gave her daughter a £6,000-voucher for breast augmentation as a present for her birthday.

First and foremost, plastic surgery should never be imposed by parents to their children unless these are purely done for reconstructive purposes—and apparently, liposuction and breast augmentation are not. 

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said that cosmetic surgery should only be conducted on patients who are physically and emotionally mature, adding that “such procedures should never be brought up by parents to their children, especially those who are not bothered by their appearance.”

“The desire to have cosmetic surgery should only come from the patients themselves, not from anyone else.  Even your parent, husband, wife, or friend should not dictate what you have to do with your appearance,” Smaili said.

However, Burge claimed that she just want to “invest in her daughter’s future” and even compared the plastic surgery vouchers to something like “an investment for education.”

Burge, who has been reported to spend nearly $1 million for cosmetic plastic surgery, disproves accusation that she is a bad mother and defends her stance by saying that “good looks is important and there should be no stigma for anyone wanting to be beautiful.”

But despite her claims, Smaili believes Burge’s presents to her daughter can send a bad message to her young mind.

“Any ethical, self-respecting cosmetic surgeon would not recommend such thing.  First and foremost, board-certified plastic surgeons like me would not perform procedures if there is really no flaw or if the patients are too young to understand the ramifications of such procedures,” he said.

Last year, Burge gave her daughter a breast augmentation voucher and claimed that it has always been a request of her child.  (In the UK, the legal age for this procedure is 16, while in the US the Food and Drug Administration requires a patient to be at least 18 if she will choose saline implants, or 22 if she wants to have silicone implants.)

Meanwhile, perhaps Burge has to realize that the best gift she can give her daughter is letting her develop physically and emotionally at an appropriate rate for her age.

New Breakthroughs in Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery has really come a long way; in fact, some experts suggest that sooner or later, we will no longer need to use synthetic devices such as buttock and breast implants to enhance our figure, or soft tissue fillers such as collagen to make us look younger than our real age.

With the promise of stem cell technology, facelift may someday just involve injection.  According to some findings, stem cells can turn into other types of cells, which in turn makes them ideal for repairing damaged skin tissues and correcting wrinkles and other facial aging.

And not only that, stem cell—which can be grafted in fatty tissues—is also seen as a possible replacement for breast augmentation via silicone or saline implants.  Imagine, by simply injecting this type of cell we can increase our bust size without having to undergo the knife.  In addition, the same process can also be applied to enhance our derriere and achieve the much-coveted hourglass figure.

The potential of stem cell technology seems to be boundless, except that conservatives do not like the idea of something that would help countless of people.  Some of them even compared this to cloning, citing morality issues, which in the first place are open to different interpretations.

Aside from cosmetic plastic surgeries, stem cells are also a promising breakthrough especially for post-cancer patients who will undergo mastectomy, an invasive procedure that partially or completely removes the breasts.  To date, breast reconstruction is conducted via implant surgery or tissue-based method.

The problem with tissue-based breast reconstruction is that the donor site (back, abdomen, or buttocks) will likely experience some level of muscle weakness.  On the other hand, breast implant surgery—while it results to less scarring and faster recovery—may not be able to address deformities if there is a little amount of tissue and skin to work with.

The good thing about stem cells is that they can be found in fatty tissues, which are quite abundant.  While these cells can also be extracted from bone marrow and embryo, the process is significantly more complicated and risky.

Fatty tissues can be extracted by simply conducting liposuction in which the plastic surgeons use a cannula, a hollowed steel tube attached to a vacuum pump.  The instrument is carefully inserted in 1- to 2-inch round incisions made in the skin.

Once the fats are collected, the stem cells are collected and are carefully reintroduced to the body.

23% of US Adults Consider Plastic Surgery If Money Is Not an Is Issue

It seems like more and more Americans are considering going under the knife if only money is not an issue.  According to a recent study released by CouponCabin.com, about 23 percent of adults said they would like to have cosmetic procedure if the costs were lower.

The study, which involved 2,500 respondents, revealed that women are still more eager to have some nip and tucks than men; however, it does not mean that male patients are quite rare in cosmetic plastic surgery.  In fact, they accounted for about 10 percent of all cosmetic surgeries in the US.

According to the finding, 28 percent of female respondents said they would consider cosmetic surgery, while 18 percent men favored the procedure.  Meanwhile, the study was conducted between January 5 and 9 on US adults aged 18 years and older.

In addition, 9 percent of women aged between 18 and 44 said they have used online coupon to enjoy discounts on cosmetic procedures such as Botox injection, laser skin resurfacing, and other non-invasive treatments.  On the other hand, about 22 percent of respondents who have not used “daily deal” said they would consider using it.

About 31 percent of women between 18 and 44 years old said they would consider online coupon to enjoy discounts of cosmetic procedures compared to 23 percent of men in the same age bracket.

While non-invasive procedures are usually offered by online companies that promote discounts vouchers, surgical treatments such as breast augmentation and face lift are quite rare.  However, it did not stop Groupon from offering up to 50 percent discounts on aesthetic surgeries.

But in November 2011, the popular online company has been accused of being irresponsible as it seemed to pressure consumers to buy vouchers for a limited time period.  According to Advertising Standards Authority, the practice clearly violated a provision by the British Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) prohibiting cosmetic doctors from offering “date-linked” incentives.

While people have different views on plastic surgery, it is important to remember that the procedure is a serious decision to make; in fact, any ethical doctor would require a lengthy consultation to determine if a patient is qualified or not to receive a certain procedure.

A qualified patient should be physically healthy, emotionally mature, and well-rounded individual who can understand the ramifications of plastic surgery, including not just the benefits but also the potential risks.  It is also important that he or she has realistic goals and expectations with a certain procedure.

List of Best Celebrity Plastic Surgery (Females)

Gone are the days when we say that “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”  With the growing popularity of cosmetic surgeries, it is now appropriate to say that beauty is in the hands of plastic surgeons.

Cosmetic surgeries are popular among celebrities whose job is to look more beautiful than the rest of us.  And because they have money to spare just to look good, it is not surprising that they can get the best surgeons in town who can correct their flaws and further improve their “natural” beauty.

Meanwhile, this is a list of celebrities who have had plastic surgery that allowed them to look ravishing.

1.     Scarlett Johansson

She started her acting career at an early age and has eventually become a “sex symbol” with her perky breasts, full lips, husky voice, and large hips.  But her beauty has been more emphasized after having a rhinoplastysurgery or “nose job” that refined her once bulbous nose.

2.     Jennifer Aniston

The big star of the “television screen” does not deny having two nose jobs which she claims to correct her deviated septum, a condition in which the tissue separating the two nostrils is misaligned, potentially causing breathing difficulties and frequent nosebleeds.  (However, not all people are convinced with her explanation for her surgeries.)

In 2010, Jennifer’s bust size has become larger that some people suspect to be the result of breast augmentation.  However, it may be possible that she has just found the right padded push-up bra.

3.     Katherine Heigl

The blonde beauty found fame with her role in Gray’s anatomy as a medical intern.  Aside from her great acting skills (winning the best supporting actress for drama series in 2007), her looks and sexy figure are perhaps the main reason for her success.  However, her natural beauty is believed to be further improved by breast implant surgery

Katherine’s breast augmentation is a perfect example of good plastic surgery because the size of her bust fits her frame very well, making it appear natural rather than “fake.”

4.     Ashlee Simpson

While the singer has always denied having a nose job in 2006, not all people are convinced because her once large “Roman-like” nose now appears slimmer, straighter, and more “feminine.” 

Ashlee’s nose has completely changed the way she looks—obviously in a good way.  For this reason, she has become the perfect example of a successful rhinoplasty surgery.

5.     Lady Gaga

The controversial singer, who has been known for her outrageous make-up and outfit with a matching attitude, is believed to have had nose job to slightly reduce the size of her nose.  The good thing about her rhinoplasty is that her surgeon did not go overboard and was able to maintain her somewhat original look.

6.     Megan Fox

The stunning young actress is believed to have had breast implant and nose surgeries that gave her the sultry look men are willing to die for.  In addition, some showbiz writers and bloggers say that she had lip fillers, Botox injection, and cheekaugmentation, although she has always denied having any “medical enhancements” to improve her looks.

Whether her beauty is real or a product of plastic surgery, Megan Fox looks more stunningly beautiful than the rest of us.

7. Halle Berry

During her younger years, Halle Berry has been known for her natural beauty and sultry look that she was turned down several times by producers because she was “too beautiful” for her role.

But as the years progress, the actress is becoming more stunning.  Some people believe that she had nose job and breast augmentation surgery.

The good thing about Halle’s nose job is that her surgeon was successful in maintaining her “ethnic beauty.”  This is the complete opposite of the late Michael Jackson’s plastic surgery that gave him a “Greek-like” nose that was too slim and pointy that it destroyed the facial harmony.

7.     Kate Beckinsale

The star who has been famous with her role as a sultry vampire in the movie “Underworld” has always been beautiful.  However, what makes her more stunning is the great results from her nose job and possible gum-reduction surgery, in addition to tooth veneers and eye brow waxing.

8.     Marissa Miller

The Sports Illustrated model is rumored to have had breastaugmentation and possibly breast lift surgery that provides the most natural result possible.  This is possible because her plastic surgeon made sure to use the right implant size that would perfectly fit her frame.

Aside from cosmetic breast surgery, Marissa is also believed to have had a nose job in the past that gave her a very “feminine” nose and almost-perfect nasal tip shape.

9.     Kate Hudson

While Kate Hudson was once quoted saying that she liked having a small chest because it allowed her to wear plunging neckline without worrying of slip-ups, she was rumored to have had breast augmentation in 2010.  But because her doctor used small implants, the result looks very natural with her small frame.

JWoww of Jersey Shore Denies Having Plastic Surgery

Despite the growing number of plastic surgery patients in the US, many of them are still denying the procedure and claim that their beauty is on their genes—and not because of the skillful hands of their cosmetic surgeons. 

Jersey Shore’s JWoww, whose real name is Jennie Farley, has been rumored to have undergone “facial plastic surgery.”  However, the reality TV star is adamant that she is “all natural from the neck up and even said during an interview with Wendy Williams Show that she is willing to submit herself to facial recognition test.

While JWoww has previously admitted that she have had breast augmentation surgery, she denied rumors of her having cheek and chin implant surgery, collagen injection to augment her lips, and “nose job.”

JWoww said that losing 15 lbs. probably changed the way her face looks, and also the projection of her nose.  

Over the past couple of months, there have been rumors of JWoww’s alleged facial plastic surgery because of her seemingly tighter skin and plumper lips, which some showbiz writers claim to be the works of collagen injection or implants.

The rumors of her alleged plastic surgery started after the August 4 season premiere of Jersey Shore as fans noticed that her chin and nose look thinner while her cheeks are somewhat more prominent.

While the brunette beauty claims that she did not have any plastic surgery on her face, she was quoted saying that she is open to the idea of having “touch-ups” such as Botox injection in case that aging starts to manifest on her face. 

“May be I’ll get Botox by the time I’m 30”, she said during her TV appearance.

Meanwhile, JWoww is also open to the idea that she will have her breast augmentation redone after several years as saline and silicone breast implants, although they are now made of a thicker shell, are not designed to last a lifetime.  However, her main concern is that pregnancy might affect the appearance of her surgery.

“I’ll have my breast implants redone in a few years after I’ve had kids”, the reality TV star said.

Regardless if JWoww went under the surgical knife again or not (and the improvements were just caused by weight loss and great make-up skills), most TV commentators and showbiz bloggers think that she looks better nowadays compared than during the season one of Jersey Shore.

Plastic Surgery and Postoperative Depression

Plastic surgery,

whether performed for cosmetic or reconstructive reasons, involves recovery
period which may last for several days to months, depending on the treated
area, extensiveness of the incisions, and patient’s healing ability.
Because recovery after surgery involves pain and discomfort,
it is not uncommon for some patients to experience anxiety and slight
depression during the period. And for
those who will undergo any facial rejuvenation surgery, feeling blue is more
common because of the swelling and bruising in their face which may take
several days or weeks to subside.
Feeling low especially during the first few days of recovery
is quite normal. This may be caused by the
effects of anesthesia, postsurgical traumatic stress syndrome, certain
medications that may lead to constipation and grogginess, and limited physical
movements. Plus, the fact that walking
or standing up straight is usually associated with slight discomfort.
But as the days go by, most of the postoperative symptoms
such as swelling and bruising start to drastically subside that patients can
already visualize the final result of the surgery. However, some may experience residual
swelling that may even last for several months.
For example, the residual swelling after rhinoplasty or “nose job” can take nine
months to a year to subside; with this consideration, a patient who wants to
have a revision surgery because she is not satisfied with the result should
wait for a certain period of time or until the swelling is completely gone.
While slight depression is normal during recovery, a patient
should consult her doctor if it lasts more than usual, affects her relationship
with other people, and prevents her to function well at work or school.
Meanwhile, it is not uncommon for some previously obese
patients who underwent bariatric surgery and then body lift (to remove the hanging skin in the abdomen, thighs, upper
arms, and other sagging areas) to feel depressed as food has been their source
of comfort and even addiction at some point in their lives.
Because some body lift patients who were previously obese
may experience depression, many plastic
surgeons nowadays work closely with behaviorists and psychologists to help
their patients stick to a healthy lifestyle, which in turn will allow them to maintain
the result throughout their lives.
It is important to note that while touch-ups after body lift
are fairly common (5 to 15 percent), repeated procedures are generally not good
because of additional scarring and higher cost of surgery.