No disrespect meant to a superstar that has passed on, but Michael Jackson gave plastic surgery a bad name and a bad face to go with it. His money and mania took a handsome face and turned it into a Halloween mask. He had so many surgeries that real damage was done to his nose, eyes and lips, but he is not an example of the wonderful effects you can get from plastic surgery. In fact, plastic surgeons are acutely aware that rejuvenation of one’s body or face is accomplished by far less surgical intervention than you might imagine.
I tend to turn down 1 out of 8 patients who come to me for plastic surgery. It’s about understanding what will really help and if someone has realistic expectations. It is actually harder (and takes longer) to turn someone down than to schedule a surgery.
Plastic surgery fanatics like Michael Jackson are anomalies. Most people seek out surgery to repair distinct flaws like overly large noses, weak or receding chins, sagging upper eyelids that impair vision or skin that begins to puddle or wrinkle in the jowls or neck area. Surgical intervention is often needed to fix unsightly flaws and desired even if all you want to do is look better but not necessarily different or decades younger.
Facial rejuvenation can even be accomplished without invasive surgical procedures today, and looking good, healthy, refreshed and happy does not carry with it a single negative connotation. On the contrary, erasing frown lines, lifting eyelids, sculpting chins and reshaping noses can give you an appearance that honors and enhances your own natural good looks without anyone realizing exactly why you look so rested, youthful and attractive. Ethical plastic surgeons will only make subtle and/or necessary changes to your face or body. A plastic surgeon may reshape a large or wide nose to a size more suitable for your face, but should never replace it with an upturned, button nose.
A chin implant can add symmetry to your face but won’t give you a Jay Leno jaw; a brow lift will make you look rested and beautiful, not unnaturally bug-eyed. The miracle of today’s plastic surgery is that small alterations can make huge differences in how you look to yourself and others. You’ll look like you, only better! There’s no stigma in that!
