A New Mom

Dr. Body (Beverly Hills board-certified breast plastic surgeon Stuart Linder, M.D.) and Dr. Face (Beverly Hills board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon Robert Kotler, M.D.) frequently read about the tragedies of famous people when plastic surgery goes wrong.

An instructive moment is usually present for others. Here, Doctors Face and Body discuss what happened to Donda West, rocker Kanye West’s mom and to Tameka Foster, the then 38-year-old wife of R&B singer Usher. Between them, Doctors Face and Body have about a half century of experience working with anesthesia and anesthesiologists and wonder what the public has not heard about the cases.

Both surgeons have penned books about cosmetic plastic surgery and frequently appear on educational television programs like Discovery Channel, Dr. 90210, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and many others.

Look at some of Dr. Body’s breast revision before and after pictures.

Bring up some before and after pictures of nose job revisions done by Dr. Face.

Doctors Face and Body are members in good standing with:

• The American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery.
• American Board of Plastic Surgery
• The American Medical Association

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Dr. Body (Dr. Linder): Unfortunately, Donda West was just not healthy enough for plastic surgery. She had a heart condition she herself may not have known about and was certainly unknown to her surgeons.

Dr. Face (Dr. Kotler): Donda actually passed away at home after cosmetic plastic surgery, didn’t she?

Dr. Body: Yes, that’s why plastic surgeons want the patient to have somebody present after surgery — just in case something crops up and help must be summoned. That’s especially important for older people who already have some underlying health condition and may be taking prescription medications. For instance, experience in my practice has shown that too much risk is present in diabetics so I routinely must — in the patients’ own best interests — turn down patients with that condition. The disease causes too many complications with proper healing of the incisions.

Dr. Face: The other noteworthy thing about the Donda West case was that a California law came into existence that anybody having cosmetic surgery must first have a physical. Of course, responsible surgeons have always made sure that patients are healthy enough for surgery. We now tell patients that, depending on the age and health of the patient, they can consider recovery in a hospital, in a professional recovery center, at home with a nurse or just at home with a friend or relative.

Dr. Body: I think there were also some lessons to be learned in the Tameka Foster case. Tameka, the 38-year-old wife of R&B singer Usher, flew to Brazil for tummy tuck and liposuction while Usher stayed in the U.S. for his performances.

Dr. Face: When she was given anesthesia, she went into cardiac arrest. While doctors revived her, word flashed to America where Usher cancelled his concerts and immediately caught a plane for Brazil to be at his wife’s side. A top Beverly Hills neurologist was summoned and also flew to South America to tend to Tameka.

Dr. Body: Part of the problem was having surgery too soon after childbirth. Judging by Hollywood’s examples – with new mom celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Victoria Beckham, Britney Spears and Elizabeth Hurly – having rejuvenation surgery too quickly after childbirth seems to be a fad.

Dr. Face: According to news reports, Brazilian physicians stopped the tummy tuck procedure, massaged Tameka’s heart back to life, put her into a medically induced coma and then sent her to the intensive care ward of a hospital where she remained for 11 days.

Dr. Body: Well, the first misstep I see is leaving Beverly Hills – the world capital of plastic surgery – and going Brazil. Most plastic surgeons want a woman to wait three to six months after childbirth before having any rejuvenation surgery. The idea is to let her body return to normal from swelling and see where her normal contours are. It’s also possible she was turned down by a U.S. surgeon and decided to go abroad for surgery.

Dr. Face: We’ve already discussed how and why Hollywood celebrities and their plastic surgery often goes wrong — because they embrace the current trends and fads while failing to do their homework to choose the proper procedures and the most specialized surgeons.

Dr. Body: Celebrity moms are also having mommy makeovers – usually consisting of breast lift and tummy tuck — very soon and perhaps too soon after childbirth. It seems like the public sees a picture of the celebrity du jour with a newborn and then, a week later, she is suddenly trim, fit and shapely.

Dr. Face: Actually, a similar case happened some years ago when Olivia Goldsmith, author of “The First Wives Club” went into cardiac arrest in the operating room while being under general anesthesia for a chin tuck surgery. She stopped breathing and went into a coma within four minutes after anesthesia was given. She died eight days later while on life support. The investigation revealed Goldsmith died because the anesthetic medications she improperly received caused respiratory depression that was not recognized promptly. That lead to the coma.

Dr. Body: Speaking of drugs, patients should disclose to their plastic surgeon all the drugs, vitamins, herbs and any other substance they routinely take. It doesn’t mean you cannot go ahead with your plastic surgery, it just means that we – the plastic surgeon and the anesthesiologist — must know what we are dealing with.

Dr.  Face: We do not know what medications Tameka may have been taking that might have caused the problem with the anesthesia. Likewise, we don’t know if she had been plagued by some medical condition such as high blood pressure which might have played a role.

Dr. Body: Plastic surgeons also want new moms to hold off on surgery for at least three months so the patient’s tissues return to more-or-less normal and because there could still be some inflammation of the stomach after childbirth.

Dr. Face: Any other reasons, doctor?

Dr. Body: For breast augmentations, we are very concerned that the woman is totally finished with lactation. While mother’s milk may be excellent for newborns, the milk may still contain some dangerous germs that can cause a terrible infection when dripped into an open surgical incision. I would also ask for a clearance from the woman’s obstetrician before going ahead with a breast augmentation or a breast lift.

Dr. Face: Reasons against leaving the United States for cosmetic plastic surgery are many, including language. Travelers often forget that they may not speak the language of the destination country. Thus, communication – never easy, even in one’s own tongue, when discussing complex medical issues with doctors – can try one’s patience. Plus, you need to know the local customs and where to go if you have a complication after surgery. All this is much easier in America.

Dr. Body (

But almost every performer wants to project an image of natural beauty and do not want to admit to cosmetic plastic surgery. So the procedures must be done in secret. While Dr. Face has performed hundreds of celebrity face lifts, Dr. Body has done an equal number of breast augmentations on top models.

Currently, word is out among photographers that Paris Hilton wants to correct a sagging eyelid that supposedly resulted from an eyelid lift some years ago. So the camera-carrying throng is especially active in Beverly Hills.

Both surgeons are book authors and frequently appear on educational television programs like Discovery Channel, Dr. 90210, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and many others.

Doctors Face and Body are members in good standing with:

• The American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery.
• American Board of Plastic Surgery
• The American Medical Association

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Dr. Face: Did you notice the swarms of photographers and paparazzi on the sidewalk outside my office?

Dr. Body: I could not miss them! The tabloid photographers are staking out the offices of the most likely plastic surgeons, hoping to catch a picture of some star going or coming. Now, there is a law in California reining in reckless paparazzi. (Read more about reckless photographers trying to get pictures of stars after plastic surgery and other activities.)

Dr. Face:  Many people don’t know it, but the tabloids have a literal army of tipsters who do well financially just letting the photographers know what celebrity is going to be where and when. That “army” includes waiters, waitresses, parking lot attendants and even clerks who may work next door to us.

Dr. Body: Sure, they all want to make stars’ cosmetic surgery public knowledge but health professionals are required by law, ethics and good business sense to make sure everything is done quietly. So how do you do it?

Dr. Face: I usually use several layers of concealment. Only a few of us in the office will know about an invented name we use for the celebrity’s paperwork. After that, we refer to him or her by that name because anybody may hear a casual mention of the star and then pass it on to the press. And, so far, knock on wood, our back entrance seems to work for celeb patients going home without being seen after surgery. Also, I know of some plastic surgeons who have separate waiting rooms for celebrities.

Dr. Body: I’ve found that weekends are a good time to perform plastic surgery on celebrities. I’ve also frequently arranged surgery at 4 a.m. while it’s still dark outside and before photographers and their many tipsters are awake, searching for the next big picture.

Dr. Face:  It can be kind of crushing at times when you may have struck up a nice relationship with a celebrity but then, when you run into each other away from the office, that person does not speak because his livelihood can depend on not knowing plastic surgeons.

Dr. Body: It was so much simpler back in Hollywood’s golden era; many celebrities before plastic surgery become so common used actual sticky tape to hold back sagging facial tissues for a short while.

Dr. Face: Many stars come in for facial fillers and Botox before special occasions like the Emmy awards or the Oscars. Then, there is only an office visit to worry about and no danger of being seen in public with facial bruising or dressings.

Dr. Body: And it’s not only performers who want cosmetic plastic surgery in secret. We also see producers, directors, TV news anchors and journalists who want a refreshed look – but strictly on the Q.T.

Dr. Face:  After plastic surgery — because of bruising, dressings and the other signs of a recent surgery — we also have special nurses. They escort famous face lift patients to an aftercare facility and stay with them for 24 hours, sometimes for several days.

Dr. Body: For the celebrity,  is there another trip involved back to your office for the morning after surgery check?

Dr. Face: Many times, it is easier for me to go to the aftercare facility to check on the patient rather than sending him or her out in public again.

Dr. Body: Is there anything in particular you tell your celebrity patients about keeping surgery private and quiet?

Dr. Face: I always tell them not to drive their own cars to my office.

Dr. Body: Why is that?

Dr. Face:  Because every paparazzo in Hollywood and Beverly Hills knows the stars’ license plate numbers by heart!

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View some of Dr. Body’s revision breast plastic surgeries.

Look at some of Dr. Face’s rhinoplasty before and after pictures.

The eminent Beverly Hills board-certified plastic surgeon Stuart Linder, M.D – the “Dr. Body” blogger—mentions his thoughts about plastic surgery and the media. Also weighing in is the  well known Robert Kotler, M.D., a top Beverly Hills board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon and former Dr. 90210 star. Dr. Kotler – who belongs to the American Medical Writers’ Association – blogs as “Dr. Face”.

Drs. Face and Body also belong to numerous professional organizations, including:

• The American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery.
• American Board of Plastic Surgery
• The American Medical Association

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Dr. Face (Dr. Kotler): Look outside your office, doctor. The sidewalk is swarming with photographers!

Dr. Body: (Dr. Linder): It’s a daily occurrence – paparazzi waiting and stalking any celebrities that might make an appearance near the offices of so many cosmetic plastic surgeons.

Dr. Face:  It’s no secret that Americans are obsessed with celebrity and fame. But unfortunately, the famous face lift – for good or bad – is not typical of the majority of people who have cosmetic plastic surgery.

Dr. Body:  That’s right, the average patient lives in a home with under a $50,000 annual income and holds an unremarkable job.

Dr. Face: Nonetheless, the typical picture the media puts before the public is a plastic surgery patient who is fabulously wealthy or, conversely, looks bizarre as per Michael Jackson or Priscilla Presley. Too many pictures pushed into the media are shots of celebrities with bad plastic surgery. (Read Drs. Body and Face previous blog about why so many celebrities have less-than-perfect plastic surgery.)

Dr. Body: That’s too bad because the vast majority of what the plastic surgery industry turns out is flattering facial and body rejuvenations for people who have realistic reasons. The fact is,  good, solid work does not call attention to itself.

Dr. Face:  Some of the plastic surgery television shows – Dr. 90210, Plastic Surgery Before and After and others- are educational as well as entertaining because they show the public realistic requests and realistic results. Some patients even discovered procedures – labiaplasty, for instance – that they did not know existed.

Dr. Body: That’s true, except some other programs like The Swan or Extreme Makeover took a six-month process – from initial consult to the final healing – and made it look like most procedures only require 20 minutes. Long story short: the high visibility of plastic surgery in the media has had a huge impact on the general population, despite endless, endless coverage of items like Heidi Montag which is basically a publicity stunt.

Dr. Face: What are your personal guidelines about giving interviews to the media?

Dr. Body: I want to have a teaching moment – explain a rejuvenation procedure of the body or who should – or should not – have plastic surgery. Or explain why revision surgery is necessary. Bottom line: I want the focus on the patient.

Dr. Face:  When do you not grant an interview?

Dr. Body: When media people suggest taking cameras into my home, following me on vacation – as in reality TV – or photographing my kids. I’m a working surgeon, not a personality.

Dr. Face: Teaching moments have also greatly increased due to the Internet and the  proliferation of  doctors’ websites. It’s easy now for a consumer to compare training, procedures, before and after plastic surgery pictures and, in many cases, even the cost of plastic surgery.

Dr. Body: Another undesirable part of the media glare is the plastic surgery contest. Often sponsored by radio stations to find the woman in a given area who most needs a breast augmentation or a nose job, the contests are highly frowned upon because we never know if the winner is an appropriate person for surgery. He or she may not even want surgery.

Dr. Face: I think it’s important for consumers and potential patients to keep an a skeptical eye on plastic surgery programs seen in any medium. It’s like Mark Twain once said: “I don’t believe anything I hear and only half of what I see.” Then, when you visit a plastic surgery for an initial consultation, ask if what you saw or heard in any media about plastic surgery is meaningful or realistic.

Having served the cosmetic surgical needs of many hundreds of  top celebrities – often in total secret – both Beverly Hills board-certified plastic surgeon Stuart Linder, M.D. (who blogs as “Dr. Body”) and  Beverly Hills board-certified cosmetic facial surgeon Robert Kotler, M.D. (“Dr. Face”) tell why so many famous people have gone so terribly wrong with cosmetic plastic surgery when the very best is so close at hand.

Entire websites are devoted to Hollywood celebrities and film stars who come away with less-than-perfect plastic surgery. Yet, Hollywood and Beverly Hills—the world capital for plastic surgery — sit next to each other in Southern California. What’s more,  virtually all celebrities can afford the best of anything, rejuvenation surgery included. So what goes wrong?

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Dr. Face: (Dr. Kotler) The list of film stars and other celebrities with bad plastic surgery seems to grow each year. Recently, we’ve seen Priscilla Presley, Kenny Rogers, Meg Ryan, Bruce Jenner and others sporting features that are unnatural, artificial-looking and not at all complimentary to their cosmetic plastic surgeons.

Dr. Body. (Dr. Linder) Unfortunately, true. I know in plastic surgery of the body, the dead giveaway to either quick or untrained plastic surgery is when a breast augmentation patient turns up with breasts that look like two grape fruit halves or bowls stuck to her chest – along with a wide space between the breasts that in no way can be called “cleavage.”

Dr. Face: Cosmetic plastic surgeons of both the body and the face want a surgical rejuvenation to look natural. After healing, the person should look rested and refreshed – not someone who draws attention to him-or-herself due to huge fattened lips, surprised looking eye lifts, facial skin as tight as an overinflated balloon or the breasts you mention.

Dr. Body: Sure, the key to good cosmetic plastic surgery is that the patient looks very, very good but still, other people can’t quite put their fingers on what the change is. People usually guess at a new workout program, a vacation, losing weight or a new romance.

Dr. Face: Yet when he was alive, Michael Jackson turned up at the offices of many Beverly Hills plastic surgeons asking for yet more rhinoplasty, long after his nose was already overdone. I’ve known of many famous people who turn on all the charm to pressure a younger surgeon into yet another surgery – one which will do the celebrity no good or one the person should not have for reasons of health.

Dr. Body: So there are many times when the dedicated but thoughtful surgeon must say no. In my practice, I routinely say “no” to anybody with diabetes, celebrities included. Most cosmetic plastic surgeries of the body involve long scars which stand a good chance of separating before healing if the person has diabetes.  Or a terrible infection may set in.

Dr. Face: I’ve also noticed that many celebrities are very given to embracing the latest fad procedure or practitioner. Priscilla Presley (the first wife of singer Elvis Presley) was shown on the television program, Dancing With The Stars about a year ago; viewers could easily see her immense, out-of-proportion lip augmentation. A bogus doctor had gained his way into celebrity, A-list circles and was essentially injecting them with low grade industrial silicone – at a premium price. The “physician” in that case turned out not to be a doctor at all, was later convicted on several charges and deported.

The largest red warning flag of all?

The so-called  “doctor” was operating from his home! Legitimate cosmetic plastic surgeons work from well-staffed, well-equipped offices.

Dr. Body: Actually, many, many Hollywood celebrities have plastic surgery and have it in secret. In a later blog post, we’ll tell you how they do it. But, understandably, celebrities appearances often depend on whether they work or not. So they should be the ones to do the most homework and find the most skilled plastic surgeons possible.

We’ll also tell you how to do that in a post later  on!