Another World Leader Goes Under the Knife

Putin in a photo taken earlier this year

Putin wearing make-up recently

Not too long ago I blogged about North Korea's Kim Jong-Un's possible plastic surgery procedure. Rumors are now circulating that Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, may have undergone a facelift or other procedure when he was seen sporting a swollen face, black eye and tons of make-up to cover it up. Who knows? Perhaps it was the result of a judo match gone wrong.

Vampire Facelift

Yes, you read that right! Vampires are incredibly hot right now, and everyone wants a piece of the popularity it seems. ABC News is reporting there is a new product on the market called Selphyl that actually extracts the blood from your own body and is injected into wrinkles on the face and body. This product is being marketed in the same category as soft dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane. They claim that the results are comparable to fillers and can last up to 15 months. In addition to great results the price range is in the ballpark of $1,100 to $1,500 per injection.

At first I wasn't too sure if I understood what this product was....I mean they are just taking blood and injecting it into wrinkled skin....um, isn't that just going to look like a bruise? Obviously, the science surrounding this new product is a little more complex than that. Selphyl is prepared by drawing a patient's blood, separating the platelets from the red blood cells, blending the platelets with a fibrin mixture and injecting it to the area a patient wants to augment. It takes a few weeks to see the final results, so injectors are being told to overfill the area by 20% so the patient will have an idea what the final results will look like....the result "in the chair" will be a little larger than the end result. The mass appeal will be injecting a "natural" substance already found in the body.

Of course with any new product there are some concerns. Because you are extracting your own blood to create a small amount of product, this is not a good option for someone who needs to volumize areas over a full face....there simply isn't enough product generated. Also, blood can cause an "itchy" after after-effect and can also cause burning or discoloration to the skin. Selphyl is FDA-approved.

Although, we do not carry this product here in our office we do have a full menu of injectable options!! Give us a call and we can set you up for a consultation with Alix, PA-C. 212-288-9009.

Plastic Surgery Obsession on VH1

Be sure and watch VH1's new special, Plastic Surgery Obsession, which will begin airing tonight at 10pm EST!  This was a fun special to participate in... I enjoyed working with theVH1 team as they raised some insightful and timely questions on Hollywood's incessant quest for beauty.  Click here to get airtimes and read the following episode summary on the VH1 website:

Plastic surgery. Everyone's doing it-and talking openly about it, too.

Gone are the days when face lifts and boob jobs were procedures available only to the rich and famous. Now, getting a little "nip and tuck" is increasingly becoming the norm, and today's stars have gone front and center with their remade bodies.

VH1 NEWS investigates how Hollywood's plastic surgery infatuation has transformed careers and fueled new cutting-edge surgical procedures.

But it's not just relegated to Tinsel-town; in today's Plastic Surgery Nation there are Botox parties, plastic surgeons offering "pick your famous face" menus, and children's books explaining to kids why "mommy looks different". Just ask the soccer mom who's showing off her body to anyone who cares to see.

VH1 NEWS provides an in-depth look at the new "face" of plastic surgery - featuring fresh interviews with doctors, celebs and pop culture experts.

Some more highlights:

Cutting Edge: What are the some of the ever evolving industry's newest procedures and secrets?
Younger Faces: The increase in teen plastic surgery: How young is too young?
The Dark Side: Body Dysmorphia, depression, and sometimes even death are just a few of the horrifying dangers involved in looking "amazing."
Plastic Surgery Disasters: Some of Tinseltown's most infamous cosmetic surgery calamities

Classic Beauties With a Modern Twist

These days, it seems as though people cannot get enough of celebrities! Though the paparazzi madness has recently reached great heights, celebrity worship is really nothing new. Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch are celebrity icons of a past era, but still remain to look fabulous today.

Sophia Loren was born in 1934 in Italy, but quickly became an international sex symbol. These days, it appears as though Ms. Loren may have undergone a rhytidectomy, or face lift, as her hairline is set further back than when she was younger.

Even if you are too young to truly recall Raquel Welch in her prime, most remember her posing in a loin cloth in 1966's One Million B.C. Today at the age of 68, she continues to look as gorgeous as ever! She may also have undergone a facelift to keep her face looking youthful.

Both Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch may have had injectables like Botox or Juvederm to try to remedy wrinkles and fine lines.

No matter what these celebs may have, they continue to look fabulous. Though it has been years since either one of them posed in loin cloth, they will always be remembered as celebrity icons.

Kathy Hilton knows how to keep a secret

Wife of Rick Hilton, partial heir to the Hilton hotel chain, and mother of famous daughters Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton, Kathy has had her fair share in the spotlight. This 49 year old hottie for a mommy looks great for her age but could it be all natural? Nothing wrong there, most women her age would die to look as good as she does!

Her face is smooth and lacking wrinkles indicating she could have had Botox injections as well as dermal fillers to fill in the creases. Who knows, she may have even had a face lift or blepharoplasty as well to give her the well-rested appearance that she has. Her appearance does not necessarily match her age and this could also just be due to good genes; Kudos to you Kathy!
This last photo was taken in the 90's and from the other more recent pictures taken of Kathy, a decade later, she seems to have a similar youthful appearance.

Happy early turkey day people!