Top Ten News In Plastic Surgery For 2014

News In Plastic Surgery

What a year 2014 has been for news in plastic surgery. As 2015 arrives, we’d like to review 10 interesting events that have occurred since the year began. From welcome advances to borderline outrageous, see if you can recall these memorable moments.

10. Plastic Surgery Barbie Game

The mobile game app, “Plastic Surgery for Barbara” debuts January 2014 on Apple iTunes and Google Play. The cartoon app is about an overweight character named Barbara that likes to eat burgers and chocolates. She now feels ugly, wants to lose weight but cannot.

The app is advertised as appropriate for children above the age of nine and up. In the game, players ‘help’ Barbara with plastic surgery by performing liposuction to lose fat to become slim and beautiful.

Originally called “Plastic Surgery & Plastic Doctor & Plastic Hospital Office for Barbie Version”, the game creates an uproar on social media. Backlash among parents, women, Mattel (makers of Barbie – they did not create the app), Apple iTunes and Google Play ensues where it is eventually removed.

09. Juvederm Voluma XC

In use outside the US since 2005, Juvederm Voluma XC finally debuts on the market after gaining FDA approval. The aesthetic treatment is used against the loss of volume on the areas of the midface.

Made with hyaluronic acid, the injectable filler is designed to restore the appearance of the cheek, cheekbone and chin areas. The treatment is also suited to help create definition of the jaw line.

Used in conjunction with facelift surgery or a liquid facelift, Juvederm Voluma XC can add dramatic support to restoring the facial contours of the skin that can last for up to 18 months.

08. Kim Novak and Donald Trump

Silver screen beauty Kim Novak who is best known for her 1958 film role, Vertigo creates a visible stir at the 2014 Academy Awards. Joined by actor Matthew McConaughey, the 81 year old actress immediately gets much of the attention that night with her dramatic appearance.

Comments almost immediately begin to spread via social media by the press and public. Much is insensitive. Donald Trump tweets, “Kim should sue her plastic surgeon”. Actor Nick Youssef tweeted, “Kim Novak was just safely transported back to the Hollywood Wax Museum”.

While at first pained (she did not come out of her house for a few weeks), Kim Novak bounces back stronger than ever and responds against her online bullies. Many rally in support and post comments inquiring about Donald Trump’s hair ‘rug’.

07. Plastic Surgery Selfies

Facial plastic surgeons report that selfies are helping to ignite one’s desire to have surgery. In an annual poll conducted by The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), doctors saw an increased rise in patients dissatisfied with their appearance as photos shared on the internet continues to skyrocket.

Triana Lavey, a talent manager in LA makes the news in plastic surgery. Lavey has reportedly spent around $12,000 on Rhinoplasty, chin implant, Botox injections and facial fat grafting to gain the perfect Instagram selfie.

In the AAFPRS survey, plastic surgeons report that more people younger than 30 are coming in for injectable treatments or cosmetic surgery as a way to put their best face forward.

06. 3D Printing Technology

A man involved in a tragic motorcycle accident almost dies in 2012. He survives, but has broken his cheek bones, eye sockets, upper jaw and skull. He is visibly disfigured. Two years later, the technology of 3D printing is applied for reconstructive plastic surgery to help restore the appearance of Stephen Power.

3D printing technology provided precision shaping of Power’s unique facial bone structure so that surgeons were able to aesthetically carry out the procedure. The operation’s dramatic success has opened the door to other applications in the field.

The development for custom mask impressions to benefit Rhinoplasty patients with 3D printing is now in use. Customizable implants for breast augmentation is being considered. The thought of facelift surgery advancing with three dimensional printing is also realistic.

05. Botched

Plastic surgery nightmares becomes dreams comes true on cable television with Botched. In the one hour premier episode, two highly respected and renown plastic surgeons pair up to try and help those that are suffering from botched surgeries.

Patients include; a young mom with failed breast surgery and in constant pain because of her “uniboob”, a comedian with “a face for radio” seeks to fix her nose and confidence when it was taken in a car accident as a teen and lastly a patient referred to as the “Human Doll” who has undergone the knife more than 100 times.

The show is an immediate cable TV hit among viewers (mostly women) 18-49 on E! and will return for a second season in early 2015.

04. Eartox

Ready to turn back time with another treatment after erasing your forehead wrinkles or crows feet? Eartox or Botox for your ears might be what you are looking for. While Botox is not really injected within the tissue of the ear, a filler like Restylane or Juvederm is.

While seemingly novel, Eartox makes the news in plastic surgery as the treatment has been reported to have been performed for several years for patients across the world. The treatment is now beginning to gain ground in popularity.

Eartox is meant to counteract the effects of diminishing skin within the earlobe like the back of one’s hands thinning with age. The plumping procedure adds volume to make one’s ears look younger to help sustain an overall youthful appearance.

03. Insta Breast

Considering breast augmentation, but not sure? Well, now you can “try before you buy” with saline injections known as Insta Breast. For up 24 hours, Insta Breast temporarily allows one’s breasts to be one and a half cup sizes bigger than normal.

Developed by plastic surgeon, Dr. Norman Rowe, Insta Breast or vacation breasts as he refers to them helps patients actually feel what it is like to bigger breasts.

The process takes about 20 minutes and runs between $2500 and $3500 or on average $125 an hour for 24 hours to take assess Insta Breast.

02. Renee Zellweger

A-List actress Renee Zellweger creates immediate buzz in late October 2014 when appearing at a red carpet event in Hollywood. Almost unrecognizable and stunningly different from her roles in Jerry Maguire and Bridget Jones’s Diary, some questioned as to who it really was.

The media immediately pounces on Zellweger by speculating she has had serious plastic surgery performed as no age lines were visible with seemingly tight pulled skin.

The Oscar-winning actress brilliantly responds, “I’m glad folks think I look different. I’m living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I’m thrilled that perhaps it shows.”

01. Skin Aging

A team of scientists have demonstrated this month in December that mice engineered with a missing enzyme and repeatedly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light developed less wrinkled skin and retained more collagen than in comparison mice having the enzyme. The discovery was the result of sheer luck.

Tests on mice were originally conducted by scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Providence Health Care to investigate atherosclerosis and heart attacks. They found that the mice retained youthful looking skin.

The findings are now key by the UBC to developing a treatment that helps to prevent the signs of visible aging like wrinkles, scarring and deterioration of the skin.

Honorable Mention

Where would 2014 be without news in plastic surgery without reference to the ever so present, Kim Kardashian? It seems there has not been a fortnight this year where Kim, ex father-in-law, Bruce Jenner and the rest of the clan have not been featured on the tabloids and the internet without tie-ins to plastic surgery.

In probably the most vivid moment this year of Kim is her magazine cover on Paper, where the phrase, ‘Break The Internet’ is coined. While they don’t actually break it, comments from plastic surgeons and Photoshop experts ‘crack’ the notion that such photos are even realistically possible.

2015 Predictions

So what will 2015 yield for news in plastic surgery? Some of the latest predicted by The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for this year are:

• Discoveries about growth factors harvested from stem cells will continue to propel fat transfer procedures
• The appearance of neck fat and double chins will be reduced a new fat-melting injection
• A new topical form of Botox will be introduced

While we may wish we could look into a magical crystal ball and see what news in plastic surgery in the near future, we’ll just have to stay tuned.

Happy New Year and Happy New You.