Hello, fabulous Beauty Chat readers! Along with being an editor/contributor to this wonderful site, I am also an editor and writer for iEnhance.com (another website in our network). Many of those who are considering cosmetic plastic surgery often look to personal accounts when researching their procedures, which is why we would love to hear from you. We are constantly looking for inspiring stories from real people just like you who have had an enhancement procedure – cosmetic plastic surgery, skin care treatment, or cosmetic dentistry procedure. Here are a couple of examples of some recent stories: Jana’s Story and Elease’s Story.

If you would like to share your experience with a procedure you underwent, please feel free to contact me!

In case you haven’t heard, “The Hills” star Heidi Montag underwent 10 cosmetic surgery procedures in one day back in November 2009.

This would be the second round of face and body enhancing surgeries she’s had in the last few years; she previously had a nose surgery performed and breast implants surgery.

In today’s world, it’s not something new to see a celebrity, or reality star, have a few nips here and tucks there. But when does it become an addiction and no longer a little tune-up?

Joan Rivers, Cher, Jocelyn Wildenstein, and Mickey Rourke are just some of the Hollywood stars who are known for their ever-changing looks. Now, the female half of “Speidi” seems to be the newest member of the plastic surgery addicts club.

And what exactly did Montag undergo? Well, here’s the laundry list of surgeries:

•    Botox injections
•    Mini brow lift
•    Nose surgery revision
•    Fat injections to cheeks and lips
•    Chin reduction
•    Liposuction to her neck
•    Ears pinned back
•    Buttocks augmentation
•    Liposuction to waist, thighs
•    Breast augmentation revision

The reality star and wannabe pop singer has been quoted saying that, “For the past three years, I’ve thought about what to have done…I’m beyond obsessed.” At only 23 years of age, Montag has had more procedures than an any of us can even think of! However, to be honest, her “new” look is attractive, but her “old” look was just as appealing and didn’t really need the work done. Had she done these procedures over an extended period of time there may not have been such a dramatic change. Whereas now, Mrs. Pratt is unrecognizable.

What do you all think? Did she succeed in achieving “the best me” with these surgeries?

Photo Credit: People and Examiner.com

Brazilian-native Dr. Robert Rey, the star of E! Entertainment’s Reality TV show “Dr. 90210,” is now reaching out to women overseas. This September, he launched his lingerie line, “Shapewear,” in Brazil – a post-operative, body slimming undergarment line that has already gained popularity in the states. Having partnered up with retailer Polishop.com.br, Dr. Rey’s collection of body shaping, sexy, elegant lingerie is… Continue reading on iEnhance.com.

Photo Credit: Dr. Robert Rey

The warm weather is here, bikinis have been on the racks for a few weeks now, and tanning salons are getting booked. Summer is approaching and we’re ready to rock the beach! Or at least almost ready to rock…we just need to lose those last five to 10 pounds. But we’ve all got so much going on that it’s become nearly impossible to hit the gym on a regular basis.

What are we to do? Aside from undergoing a cosmetic procedure – liposuction or tummy tuck surgery – there are many diets that we could try, including the “Five Bite Diet” that Dre and Jana are currently doing, but there are also other ways to lose the weight: diet pills. Or as some companies like to call them “dietary supplements.”

I’ll admit that in an attempt to drop a few pounds the easy way I did try a couple of different brands some years back. However, I failed to do as the bottle stated, which was to eat a sensible diet, exercise, and take the pills as supplements.

Many diets pills claim to help us lose weight quickly and easily, but they don’t bother to reveal all the negative side effects that they also bring along. Saying that we should consult with a physician prior to taking them is hardly enough warning that they may not be safe for us to use.

These supplements can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, anxiety or nervousness, heart problems, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attacks, and even death if not monitored correctly. Are the risks worth the possibility of losing a few pounds?

Living in Southern California requires a beach ready bod and I’m determined to get into shape. Instead of trying to cheat with diet pills, I’ve started eating healthier and I’m working on incorporating more activities…soon. In the last month, I’ve already dropped eight pounds!

What do you do to get in shape for the beach? I’d love to get some fun ideas!

Photo Credit: Sheep Chronicles

From The Surreal Life, to Strange Love and Celebrity Rehab, Brigitte Nielsen is certainly a VH1 Reality TV poster child. With almost every aspect of her “life” (who knows what is real?!) documented on the small screen, is it any surprise that she is now allowing cameras to film her while undergoing cosmetic surgery? And what’s more — on live television?

Nielson’s first installment of this German television program aired last night, and there are reportedly three more episodes. According to the self-proclaimed “Queen of all Media,” Perez Hilton, 2.5 million viewers watched as she underwent surgical alterations to enhance her appearance.

According to German site, Deutsche Welle, the first show featured Nielsen having liposuction performed on her hips, thighs, and love handles while she was fully awake. (While this may sound bizarre, you don’t have to be under general anesthesia for surgical procedures.) It is said that the actress, and former wife of Sylvester Stallone, will auction off her removed fat!

Face lift surgery and a breast reduction to shrink the size of her augmented breasts are scheduled to be the next cosmetic surgeries to air.

We all know that there are many celebrity cosmetic surgery patients. However, do you think that this form of Reality TV is too much? After all, Dr. 90210 is a hit.

Photo credit:  Deutsche Welle

(Angelina Jolie ~ before and after)

I think it’s pretty much safe to say yes, celebrities still heavily influence the growth and popularity of plastic surgery trends. In addition, Reality TV such as Dr. 90210 has played a major role in the public seeing firsthand the “reality” behind plastic surgery; and for many people, this has inspired them to go forward and undergo some sort of improvement.

(Paris Hilton ~ before and after)

(Paula Adbul ~ before and after)

Also editor of PlasticSurgery.com and iEnhance.com, I have spoken to several plastic surgeons throughout the country about their patients and the initial consultation sitting. Yes, interviewing doctors regarding various topics, from saline vs. silicone gel breast implants to butt enhancement surgery, has been part of busy job here. And during my phone interviews, I’ve learned just how common it is for a man or woman (more often it seems to be the female patients) to bring in pictures of the celebrity they wish to emulate – somehow. Whether it is Angelina Jolie’s lips, Jennifer Lopez’ butt, or Hale Berry’s breasts – these cosmetic and plastic surgeons have heard it all. Naturally, that gets me thinking about the trends and statistics in plastic surgery – both non-surgical and surgical procedures. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), here are some 2007 stats:

The most popular surgical procedures among men in 2007 were:

• Liposuction
• Eyelid surgery
• Nose surgery
• Breast reduction (to treat enlarged male breasts)
• Hair transplantation

The most popular surgical procedures among women in 2007 were:

• Breast augmentation
• Liposuction
• Eyelid surgery
• Abdominoplasty
• Breast reduction

(Fergie ~ before and after)

(Rihanna ~ before and after)

Oh, and did I mention that Americans spent just under $13.2 BILLION on cosmetic plastic surgery alone last year? While critics may deem Americans superficial, those of us who work very closely to this field tend to share the similar point of view, which is rooted in the philosophy behind Beauty Chat: “Look Good, Feel Good, and Speak On It!”

(Matt Dillon ~ before and after)

(Bruce Jenner ~ before and after)

It’s all a matter of taste, preference, and influence. That’s why I thought it would be fun to post some before and after plastic surgery photos of celebrities.

Now, I’ve got a question for you, which of your favorite stars has the most natural-looking plastic surgery results? I have my fave (Gwen Stefani), but I want to know yours too!

Photo Credit: We found them all on Google images

In today’s world, children are becoming more and more informed of “grown-up” things at a much earlier age. For example, my 6-year-old niece asked me if I had a cell phone because she wanted to add my number to her contact list. I don’t think I even had a cell phone until I was in college!

So you can imagine my surprise when I saw an article on a new children’s book about plastic surgery. My Beautiful Mommy (Big Tent Books) by Dr. Michael Salzhauer, a Florida plastic surgeon, is an illustrated book aimed at children ages 4 to 7. I remember reading “The Cat in the Hat” and “The Goldstein Bears” when I was six – not books on what my mom was going to change on her body.

It seems that with the growing popularity of plastic surgery, and especially celebrity plastic surgery, has become less of a secret for many people. “Everybody Loves Raymond” star Patricia Heaton proudly announced her “Mommy Makeover” a few years back. Interestingly enough, My Beautiful Mommy is about a mother undergoing this very makeover.

In this book, a young girl accompanies her mother to the surgeon’s office to learn more about what’s going to change with Mommy. As we read on, we find out that Mommy is getting a tummy tuck, a nose job, and breast  augmentation. However, the final results of her breast enlargement surgery isn’t exactly mentioned in the text. This is because Dr. Salzhauer doesn’t think the “Mommy wants bigger boobs because…” is appropriate reasoning to give to a child. (As compared to a mother explaining to her child that she wants to get rid of extra fat on her stomach or the unsightly bump on her nose, the author thinks that discussing the personal reasons for wanting a “bigger boobs” could be more damaging to a young girl.) There are before and after photos of Mommy’s transformation, however, but I wonder if the child would even pick up on the change if it’s not discussed?

Some may see this book as a way to tell children, “You’re not pretty enough. Change your face and body, then you’ll be beautiful.” However, Dr. Salzhauer insists that it is only a means to explain to children what’s going on with Mommy when she gets certain plastic surgery procedures versus encouraging children to consider plastic surgery themselves.

Many women over 40 seek the assistance of a plastic surgeon to regain the slimmer, firmer body they had before having children. As they undergo these procedures, they will also have to face how their young children will perceive their experience. Dr. Salzhauer wrote this book for mothers to read with their children before their own surgeries. He says that he wrote this book in order for children to not be afraid when Mommy goes to the doctor, as many children think that one only goes to the doctor when they’re sick. If Mommy has a way to explain what will happen before, during and after the surgery, the child can be at ease that she isn’t sick; Mommy will just look different afterwards.

What are your thoughts on the launch of this book?

Hey Dr. 90210 lovers!

I want to keep you posted on the status of episode 15, the season finale. Unfortunately, I only caught parts of this show and want to see it in its entirety before giving you a full summary on iEnhance.com.

I am desperately waiting for a re-airing of the episode on E! Entertainment (and of course they aren’t airing it again for awhile: Sunday, Nov 18, 8 a.m. and Friday, Dec 14, 11 a.m.).

You can look for my recap soon. I’m so sorry about the delay! Until then, anyone have any thoughts or comments on the way the season ended? I did see the final minutes of the episode, and can I just say, definitely not the cliffhanger I expected!

~ Leeann

This week on Dr. 90210:

After an emotional last week that we shared with Dr. Robert Rey in Brazil, we return back to the booming Beverly Hills plastic surgery empire.

This episode is focused around Dr. David Matlock – the ladies man. Peeking into his world, we see that he loves his single life more than ever! Surrounded by beautiful women during his off hours, in addition to sculpting bodies into fabulous figures, Dr. Matlock seems to be at the top of his game both personally and professionally.

Episode 7 features two women who are looking for multiple procedures to enhance their appearances. If this is your first experience with Dr. 90210, you are in luck! This week’s show features a variety of procedures such as Dr. Matlock’s Wonder Woman Makeover ™, liposuction, vaginal rejuvenation, rhinoplasty, and even Brazilian butt augmentation.

Visit iEnhance.com for my detailed Dr. 90210 summary!

~ Leeann

Dr. 90210 season archive

Image Credit: iEnhance.com

This week on Dr. 90210:

From “muffin tops” to sweaty pits, a new set of enhancements are featured on this installment of Dr. 90210. The patients may poke fun at their imperfections, but these are serious conditions that require the help of specialized doctors.

Dr. Robert Rey helps a patient enlarge her breasts to a more desirable size with one of his most requested procedures, breast augmentation, Dr. Linda Li (who we see for the first time this season) removes excess fat and tightens the abdominal muscles of her client with tummy tuck surgery, and Dr. Will Kirby stops his friend’s excessive sweating with Botox ® injections.

Although this week may feature more common procedures than last, they are anything but mundane!

What about Dr. Rey and his father? Did Hayley stick to her promise?

Read my full recap of Dr. 90210’s fifth episode on iEnhance.com!

~ Leeann

Dr. 90210 season archive

Image Credit: iEnhance.com