Plastic Surgery, Injectables and the Art of Altering the Face

Many people often ask me about how I feel about plastic surgery, Botox, injectables and the various new ways available to turn back the clock and erase years off the skin. As someone who looks at faces every day for a living, I have mixed feelings about it all.

For years the traditional procedures, such as face lifts, eye lifts and brow lifts, were performed by plastic surgeons and were a popular option for looking younger. I believe when people have one procedure at a time instead of getting the full face lift it can look more natural. But you’re still cutting at the skin and going against what Mother Nature had in store for you, so those procedures can often be obvious.

When the injectables started hitting the scene ten years ago, I was excited because these would offer people an alternative to the more invasive face lifts with virtually no down time or risk of scarring and can give much improvement with natural-looking results. And the best part is that they are just so easy. And that’s where the problem lies…

A little injection here and there turns into a little bit everywhere and some people are just starting to look…off. And I’m seeing this more and more.

You know when you see a woman’s face and your head kind of tilts and you say to yourself, “Hmm…something just doesn’t look right about her?” You can’t pinpoint exactly what it is or what she had done, but something just looks strange?

I’m seeing this more and more and I know you are too. Watching the Golden Globes a few weeks back is a perfect example of that. The actresses are all starting to have the same tight, frozen look—and less like their natural, beautiful selves.

My belief is that with any cosmetic procedure, the goal is to be happier with what you see when you look in the mirror (because as women we are just so hard on ourselves), which in turn makes you feel better and increases your self esteem. As someone who used to work with cancer patients doing their makeup for them when they had no hair and were feeling awful, appearance DOES matter. I’ve also offered my skin care services to women who have been affected by domestic violence. When we look better, we feel better. I know this to be true. Read why beauty is truly more than skin deep.

But what I also believe is that no one notices your “imperfections” in your magnifying mirror like you see them. When I look at a woman, beauty is not just how their hair, face or skin looks, but how they carry themselves, the warm smile on their face, the bounce in their step—the inner glow that shines outward. It’s the big picture that people see, not the little things.

I believe that when it comes to cosmetic enhancements, less is more. So go easy because it’s just too easy to get carried away, and depending on the procedure, sometimes there is no going back.

I admire my client, Lisa Rinna who recognized that she was going too far (with the urging of her husband) and is now backing off of her cosmetic procedures and even recently had the silicone removed from her famous big lips.

She has publicly said, “What I learned is that I don’t really need it. You get older and insecure and you think you need it and you don’t. I learned less is more. Keep your skin good (Renée Rouleau’s products are awesome)!. But, I still like Botox. It’s great! It doesn’t change the shape of my face. When you change your face, you don’t look like yourself. Looking fresher is one thing. I look like a freak!”

So there you have it, those are my (and Lisa’s) thoughts. What are yours?

Read: Is Your Skin in Need of a Lift?

Read: Plastic Surgeon, Cosmetic Dermatologist or Esthetician: What is the Best Approach for Your Skin?

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