3 Things Even a Plastic Surgeon Can't Change

With all of the advancements in cosmetic procedures, it seems like at this point there’s nothing a doctor can’t change about your body. Alas, there are still certain things that patients want done that even the most skilled plastic surgeons can’t or won’t try to tackle.

1. Shoulder Width

Reducing the size of the shoulders is impossible “due to skeletal and muscular anatomy” says Dr. Steven Wallach. Dr. David Shafer concurs, suggesting, “You may want to look into augmenting other parts of your body if you feel they are out of proportion.”

On the other hand, Dr. Leif Rogers points out that people with collar bone fractures have a surgery that winds up reducing the shoulder width, but it “may result in some limited range of motion and a slight rounded look of the shoulders.” In other words, it’s not worth the risk for purely cosmetic reasons.

For more: Is There a Surgery to Reduce the Width of My Shoulders?
 

2. The Distance Between the Eyes

If you’re unhappy with the distance between your eyes (be it that they’re too close or too far apart), you’re out of luck.

Okay, so technically it is possible, but no reasonable doctor would perform a craniofacial for cosmetic reasons. The complicated procedure is generally reserved for rare cases of major facial injuries, significant birth defects, or tumor removals. “The eye sockets are cut with an oscillating saw and moved sideways where they are stabilized with plates and screws,” Dr. Peter Aldea explains.

“This is not a cosmetic surgery… but a tremendously complex undertaking that is performed to give someone a more human appearance,” adds Dr. Kenneth Steinsapir.

For more: Is It Possible to Surgically Change the Distance Between Adult Eyes? 
 

3. Penis Enlargement

A lot of people may try to convince you that a penis enlargement can be done, but plastic surgeons know better. “It is fraught with complications and distraught men,” says Dr. Aldea.

You can add an extra inch or so with an incision by the base of the penis to cut the penile suspensory ligament. However, “the downside is that, upon erection, the penis does not ‘rise’ but elongates while pointing at the floor,” notes Dr. Aldea.

While there have been numerous attempts to add girth to the penis, Dr. Chad Prather warns us that "As long as fillers have been around (from the early days of silicone), humans have attempted to inject them into their genitals -- usually with disastrous results...Yes.  It is theoretically possible to use [fillers] to add penis girth.  BUT YOU SHOULDN'T. You're asking for trouble. In fact, you're opening your front door and demanding that trouble come right into the house and stay for a while."

For more:

• Fat Injections in Penis Possible? 
• Does Penis Enlargement Surgery Work?
• Can You Use Sculptra to Increase Penis Girth?

Can you think of any other unchangeable features?  

Photo credits: Tom Prokop / Deposit Photos; Netfalls / Deposit Photos; Vsevolodas Boičenka / Deposit Photos