NY Daily News: Instant Anti-aging Beauty Tape Still Keeps Bags and Droops at Bay

Did you catch Dr. Walden's commentary in the NY Daily News about instant anti-aging beauty tape that still keeps bags and droops at bay? Be sure to check it out at www.NYDailyNews.com!

HollywoodLife.com: Did Pamela Anderson Reduce Her Breast Size?

It seems bigger may not always better when it comes to Pamela Anderson, who has industry insiders wondering if she had undergone a breast reduction.

Be sure to check out www.HollywoodLife.com to hear what Dr. Walden had to say on the matter!

VH1 Special: Lindsay Lohan Dermal Fillers

Check out this VH1 special about Lindsay Lohan and her dermal fillers:

VH1 Special: Plastic Surgery Fatalities

Check out this VH1 special about Plastic Surgery Fatalities:

A Nose By Any Other Name.....

Dr. Walden was recently quoted on celebrity news site HollywoodLife.com, discussing the many possible plastic surgery procedures of Kim Kardashian. Now Ms. Kim is no stranger to our blog....we have discussed her famous curves in many of our posts. The article brings up a topic that has crossed my mind numerous times in the last months....Kim's face seems to be changing daily. When you look at pictures from editorial shoots as well as paparazzi it is amazing how different her face looks from year to year. Our own Dr. Walden had this to say of her ever changing face:

�It appears that Kim has undergone a rhinoplasty, or a nose job, to make her nose look straighter and the tip more narrow and refined,� NYC-based surgeon Dr. Jennifer Walden tells HollywoodLife.com. �She also looks as if she may have had Botox to her forehead to help it appear smooth, and fillers like Restalyne or Juvederm to the nasolabial folds (laugh lines) and possibly even the lips � although I think genetics has dictated her full lips for the most part!� she added.

It states in the article that they think she is starting to look "plastic".....I don't necessarily feel that way at this point. That being said she is such a BEAUTIFUL young woman that I would hate to see her end up in Heidi Montag land. I think she looks amazing and if she has gone under the knife she should stop while she is ahead. It would be a shame to do anything else to such a natural beauty. So, keep it up Kim we think you look wonderful as you are!

The New Feminism: Is Looking Good All that Bad?

In the above video, watch Dr. Jennifer Walden being interviewed by Neil Cavuto on Fox News. Dr. Walden discusses the proposed cosmetic surgery tax on working class women in the Senate Bill that is currently being debated.

An insightful article, Bo-Tax Backlash, was written this week in the New York Times by Judith Warner. Excerpts from it are below, as she describes a �newer� version of feminism that actually supports women trying to stay looking good. The reason being is that our society basically devalues aging of women in particular, and staying looking healthy and competitive can equate to more longevity and sustainability in the workplace for women which can lead to a better and more fulfilled quality of life for themselves and their children. Interestingly, we learn that the feminist icon Gloria Steinem herself has had a blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift. More power to her.

"The health care reform bill currently being debated in the Senate contains a provision known as the Bo-Tax � so called because it would levy a 5 percent tax on cosmetic surgery procedures. This would be in order to tax those who indulge in medically unnecessary procedures in order to pay for medical necessities for everyone else. The government is ill-equipped to be the ones to determine what surgical procedures are necessary or not for patients whom they don�t even know, and this would be a huge administrative burden to place on physicians, their staff, and government officials. See the article below:
This sounded like a refreshingly good idea to me, until I read that Terry O�Neill, the president of the National Organization for Women, is against it.
�Now they are going to put a tax on middle-aged women in a society that devalues them for being middle-aged?� she complained to The Times.
Could this possibly be the voice of NOW, the country�s premier women�s rights group?, I wondered. Could this be the same feminist movement that in 1968 filled a �Freedom Trash Can� outside the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City with bras, girdles and false eyelashes to protest the �ludicrous �beauty� standards we ourselves are conditioned to take seriously,� as Robin Morgan, an organizer of the protest, put it at the time?
Yes, standing up for the rights of middle-aged women to have access to cosmetic enhancement is part of the work of contemporary feminism, O�Neill told me this week. It�s the sorry consequence of a number of sorrier truths: The economy is terrible. Middle-aged women, many of whom reduced their working hours, limiting their earning power and ambition, when they had kids or, later, found themselves having to care for their parents, are in a particularly vulnerable spot these days, as they�re increasingly called upon to supplement or take over the lion�s share of family money-making. And any number of studies have shown that people with better (read: younger) looks have a better chance of getting a good job. Particularly women.
�I am 57 years old. I really sympathize with women who are out of the job market, wondering, will anyone even take me seriously?� O�Neill explained. �The women�s movement is not overly concerned with the more superficial aspect of clothing or beauty or fashion trends. The more important question is whether we are participating fully in the lives of our communities. And middle-aged women really aren�t. I know a lot of women whose earning power stalled out or kicked down as they entered into their 50s, unlike their male counterparts�, whose really went up.�
And now a lot of men are out of work. Which means that, in this economy, getting the old face and belly looking tighter may, for many middle-aged women, be as crucial as having an eye-catching r�sum�.
�I�ve met women who�ve had to lie their ages down as much as 20 years to get or keep jobs as everything from waitresses to high-level consultants,� Gloria Steinem, who herself had cosmetic eye surgery some decades ago, told me this week. �They gave up pensions and benefits because they couldn�t produce documents, and employers colluded because they saved money.�
How disfiguring it can be when reality bites.
We are constantly hearing about the different phases, themes, lives and deaths of feminism. First wave, second wave, �victim,� �raunch,� etc.
�Looks are the new feminism, an activism of aesthetics,� Alex Kuczynski wrote in the introduction to her 2006 book on America�s obsession with cosmetic surgery, �Beauty Junkies.� At first glance, this seems ridiculous. And yet it says something true enough about the way many younger women understand feminism at a time when organized, real-world activism has hit wall after wall of political impossibility. Sneaker ads teach that feminism is all about taking control � of your figure.
This is what happens when equal pay stalls, abortion rights wither, and attempts to improve child care and workplace flexibility die on the legislative vine year after year. Women�s empowerment becomes a matter of a tight face and a flat belly. You control what you can control. And so many middle-aged women feel particularly out of control now, as indeed they are, in these life plan-wrecking economic times.
�Bag-lady syndrome,� the fear many women have that their financial security will disappear in a heartbeat, leading them to live out their remaining years on the streets, is shockingly pervasive. In 2006, before the current economic crisis hit, 90 percent of women surveyed by a Minnesota life insurance company said they felt financially insecure; 46 percent of those women overall said they had a �tremendous fear of becoming a bag lady,� including 48 percent of those with an annual income of more than $100,000. These days, more women than men � following a recession in which the men, overwhelmingly, lost the jobs � report being significantly stressed about money.
The inner bag lady, wrinkle-faced and unkempt, is no joke. She�s the worst-case scenario future. And while it�s easy to point to her as an irrational creation of women�s overly self-doubting imaginations (how else to explain the fact that wealthy, successful women like Katie Couric, Lily Tomlin and Steinem herself have all admitted to carrying around the fear � long after it was even remotely rational � of finding themselves one day, in old age, out on the streets?), she points to something very real: women�s economic status in this country is not what it should be. Middle-aged women with families shouldn�t be so scared.
I wonder if we haven�t entered into a period of what should be called �adjustment� feminism. The women�s movement is having to adjust to the realities of life in our culture, where many of its basic goals � including the very basic liberation of women from their pop culture status as a �mindless-boob-girlie symbol,� to borrow a phrase again from Robin Morgan � have stalled or are even backsliding. This week, for example, not only brought a public statement by the head of NOW acknowledging that the fight to have women valued for their inner beauty is essentially a wash; it also found NOW in the very bizarre position of urging senators to preserve the dictates of the Hyde Amendment, which for over 30 years has guaranteed that Medicaid funds would not be used to pay for most abortions for poor women. The House of Representatives� recently-passed the Stupak amendment, which effectively prohibits both private health insurance plans participating in the future-envisioned insurance �exchange� and whatever public option may come into being, from offering abortion coverage to any woman, and the Stupak-like proposals currently circulating in the Senate are so much worse, after all. Hyde suddenly seems bearable.
Or maybe we should talk about having entered into the middle age of feminism � a moment when stock is taken, dreams are deferred and real life is faced in all its ugliness. Because to do otherwise is no longer youthfully idealistic, just foolhardy. Because you�ve got to hold onto what you�ve got, consolidate your gains and avoid potentially disastrous future losses.
With so much male unemployment, so much underemployment, so many people �lucky� to have jobs with reduced hours and benefits, women need good work options like never before. We need flexibility with security, options that will let us build wealth while taking sufficient care of our families.
Barring this, I guess we�ll go for eye lifts and Botox. "
(Source of article: Judith Warner of the New York Times)

Can We Skip a Mammogram??

This blog entry is a bit different from my usual blog fare here, but I think it is important to side step the fun stuff occasionally to stay informed about topics that can be life saving!! We just left the month of October which is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but we as women should make every month Breast Cancer Awareness month and continue to stay informed 365 days a year!

The New York Times ran an interesting article last week in regards to ongoing data of the benefits of mammograms. For years physicians have been telling their patients that once you turn 40 you should be getting yearly mammograms to screen for breast cancer. That timetable is pretty standard unless you have a family history for breast cancer or are a carrier of the BRCA gene, in which they might even suggest mammograms every 6 months. Now, there are physicians that are going on record to state that this may not be as necessary as once thought. Dr. Laura Esserman, a breast surgeon from the University of California, San Francisco, has written an article on this ongoing debate in The Journal of the American Medical Association. In the article she discusses the issue of "who is helped and who is not" by such frequent mammography. Dr. Esserman says that women over 70 can stop being screened, due to the fact that in this particular age bracket tumors caused by breast cancer tend to be very slow growing and in most cases are not likely to be the cause of death. On the other hand woman in the age group of 50-70 there is good evidence that screening can reduce the risk of death from breast cancer by 20 percent to 30 percent. So this all sounds good right? Well, here is the gray area....what about the woman from 40-50? This is the group where the heat of the debate begins. Many feel that woman in this "gray area" are being "over treated" and "over diagnosed", by being exposed to excess radiation and unnecessary biopsies. She feels that the evidence benefiting screening women in that age bracket is lacking. Some physicians who agree with Dr. Esserman feel this can lead to a larger margin of false diagnosis and just additional stress on the patient.

Dr. Walden was on Fox News this weekend discussing this important topic, and I thought there were some great points made. First of all is know yourself! In other words, if you are in your 40's and you are post menopausal and on hormones, or if you have extremely dense breasts it is probably wise to make sure you are screened regularly. As always, Dr. Walden suggests that you follow the  current recommendations of the American Cancer Society (yearly mammography one you hit age 40) and your personal physician first and foremost. BUT, it is always important to keep an ear to the ground and pay attention to the ongoing research on this topic. Anything that is going to keep us ladies ahead of this terrible disease is a step in the right direction, and I really believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! So, until we find the cure for breast cancer let's always keep ourselves "in the know". Take a look at the Fox interview featuring Dr. Walden below.

Have a great Monday!!!

Plastic Surgery Textbook Goes Online!

With over 10 million people in the United States having had cosmetic procedures in 2008 (an 11.8 billion dollar industry), cosmetic surgery is a booming business in a struggling economy (Statistics source: ASAPS). What better time is there to learn about a fascinating field that often captures the attention of mainstream America and the media alike? Click on the above video to see the news story on the Plastic Surgery Channel.

Introducing Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, edited by Dr. Sherrell J. Aston, Dr. Douglas S. Steinbrech, and Dr. Jennifer Walden, the world�s first single volume comprehensive textbook on contemporary aesthetic plastic surgery. Published and released recently by the esteemed scientific publishing house Elsevier, this textbook brings to the table the masterful expertise needed to achieve breathtaking outcomes for every cosmetic surgery procedure, including the MACS lift, endoscopic mid- and lower face rejuvenation, lid/cheek blending along the tear trough, cohesive gel breast augmentation, lipoabdominoplasty, injectables such as Botox, Radiesse, Restylane, Sculptra, nonsurgical ultrasonic fat reduction, suture suspension threadlifts, and many more.
A �who�s who� of international authorities in plastic surgery explain their signature techniques, giving all the know-how today�s highly trained and skilled plastic surgeon needs to deliver the exceptional results that patients demand. Operative videos on DVD demonstrate these techniques being performed in real time and Expert Consult online access enables one to reference the text, download images, and watch the videos from any computer.
Key Features
� Coverage of hot topics includes MACS lift, endoscopic mid and lower face rejuvenation, lid/cheek blending along the tear trough, the newest rhinoplasty techniques, cohesive gel breast augmentation, fat grafting techniques, details of the latest injectables and fillers, and many other highly sought-after procedures.
� Operative videos - on DVD and online - let you see how leading experts perform more than 50 important techniques, including extended SMAS face lift, traditional inverted-T breast augmentation, and lipoabdominoplasty.
� Nearly 1600 full-color photographs and illustrations demonstrate what to look for and what results you will achieve.
� A consistent, extremely user-friendly organization guides you through history, evaluation, anatomy, technical steps, post-operative care, complications, and pearls and pitfalls for each procedure - giving you all the advice you need to make informed, effective decisions and avoid complications and disappointing results.
� Expert Consult online access allows you to reference the complete contents, perform rapid searches, download the images, and watch the operative videos from any computer.
This important textbook will be referenced for years to come, and updated as new technical information becomes available. Dr. Sherrell Aston, Dr. Doug Steinbrech, and Dr. Jennifer Walden are plastic surgeons in New York, New York specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery. For more information, visit us online at Amazon.com

Two for One-- Liposuction and Fat Transfer to the Breasts for Augmentation? An Interview with Dr. Jennifer Walden

Does it sound to good to be true to increase your breast size and slim down your tummy or thighs at the same time? On Wednesday morning, Gretchen Carlson and Steve Doocey on cable TV�s top rated morning news show, Fox and Friends, interviewed me on the newest procedure in breast enhancement by fat transfer from other areas of the body. Possible interference with mammography and breast cancer are discussed as well as the technique used for this method used to enhance the female breast. I am Dr. Jennifer Walden, and serve as the program director of the Dept of Plastic Surgery at Manhattan, Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, and performs breast augmentation, lift, and reduction surgery in New York.

For years, saline and silicone implants have served as the most effective method for breast augmentation, and many studies and FDA approval declare both saline and silicone implants to be safe. Breast augmentation has been the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in recent years.

The relatively uncommon fat transfer breast augmentation procedure has women everywhere buzzing about the �benefits� of this seemingly more natural breast enhancement option. Present clinical evidence does not conclude that fat grafting is safer or better than saline or silicone implants, but the idea of taking one�s own fat and repositioning it to augment the breasts is rapidly capturing the attention of medicine, consumers, and the media.

Breast enhancement using fat grafts (lipoaugmentation) rather than silicone or saline implants employs fat suctioned from the patient�s buttocks, thighs or other fatty areas. This type of breast surgery can be used to increase the size of the breast or to fill in defects or abnormalities in existing breasts, including enhancing the appearance after breast reconstruction and softening the look of existing implants. Fat injections of the breasts may offer patients augmentation with a natural look and feel and the benefit of body contouring through liposuction�without the requirement for incisions or implants.

However, long-term safety and efficacy data as well as the effect of the procedure on breast cancer screening using mammography is still being evaluated in clinical studies. Concerns about fat grafting for breast enhancement include unpredictable or low survival rates of the transferred cells (which are frequently absorbed by the body), development of cysts, calcification and tissue scarring. Another major concern is long-term problems with breast cancer detection due to difficulties in telling the difference on mammograms between calcifications associated with breast cancer and calcifications associated with fat transfer.

This procedure does offer a modest opportunity for enhancement� specifically, about one cup size increase and the degree of enlargement will depend on the amount of spare fat that the patient has. But, numerous questions remain about this new technique: How much of the fat survives? Does the procedure have to be repeated? Are the breasts hard and uncomfortable for long periods after the procedure? And most importantly, what are the cancer implications of this technique? Research projects, funded by the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation (ASERF) of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are being conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of breast enhancement with fat.

In the meantime, plastic surgeons will continue to study the intricate details of the procedure for the safety of our patients� namely, the techniques of harvesting, preparation, and placement of the fat tissue, who should receive fat transfer, when it is appropriate, and whether it is safe for the long term. Results of clinical studies this far seem promising�so maybe going up a cup size with the benefit of a little liposuction elsewhere will be common practice at some point. Anyone reading this should be aware that this procedure is very technique dependent and to avoid complications it must to be done correctly by a properly trained, board-certified plastic surgeon. Methods for tissue harvest and tissue injection have been refined, as fat cells are carefully removed by a specialized liposuction procedure using numerous syringes and transferred to the breast via dozens of minutely small injections. This technique results in increased survival of the fat cells.

Autologous fat grafting is currently used for touching up reconstructed breasts which it is safe and effective for given that the breast tissue has already been removed and these patients are getting routine surveillance imaging. The procedure can also soften the appearance of existing implants and hide visible rippling which is particularly apparent in very thin women with a bony chest wall and little skin or fat with which to work. The amount of fat injected with these procedures is usually a lot less than that used in breast augmentation as well. So, the take home message here is the more long-term clinical trials involving multiple centers as well as radiologist and oncologists need to be done before a blanket endorsement of the procedure can be made. It also serves to mention that this would not be the method of choice for breast augmentation in women who have had or have a family history of breast cancer.

When is the Right Time to Get Botox?

Botox has become a household name as a cosmetic treatment to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face caused by facial muscle contraction. The on label use for Botox is for injection of the lines, or the "11", between the brows. Off label uses include for the fine lines emanating from the lateral corners of the eyes ("crow's feet"), and the furrows of the head caused by frontalis muscle contraction. Those are the transverse lines that you see when someone raises their brow or looks surprised. Also, Dysport is a competing product that is very similar to Botox and was recently approved by the FDA for use.

Lately there has been a lot of buzz about the average age of women (and men to a lesser extent) seeking Botox for the treatment of wrinkles. In the video below, I describe how and why younger women would seek Botox, when it would or would not be indicated, and what the difference is between soft tissue fillers (substances that are used to provide volume in deflated areas of the face) and Botox, a temporary and selective muscle paralytic. This video can be found on the Plastic Surgery Channel (based in Dallas, TX), an awesome source of information about cosmetic surgery procedures as well as a quality source of news on the topic of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

In the video, I explain that fine superficial lines that come from age, sun exposure, and smoking are best treated with resurfacing agents like chemical peels or laser...for young 'uns I would recommend a light peel like alpha-hydroxy acid or glycolic acid over one of the more aggressive peels like TCA or phenol (and prevention by staying out of the sun and not smoking). The thing to remember about chemical peels is that afterwards, redness and peeling can occur for up to two to three weeks, and sunblock and/or sun avoidance is an absolute must to avoid pigmentation problems as your face heals!