Pluck one gray hair, and two will grow in its place; moisturizer makes oily skin worse; you don’t need sunscreen if you have a dark complexion… These are just a few of the many beauty myths passed down over generations. And when it comes to plastic surgery and cosmetic treatments, doctors say they also hear the same misconceptions repeated over and over during patient consultations.
Ahead, RealSelf Verified doctors set the record straight on 10 of the most common myths around Botox, breast augmentation, and more.
Misconception #1: If you stop using Botox, your wrinkles will get worse
“Many people believe that if you start using Botox and then stop, you will end up looking more wrinkled than before. Botox doesn’t work this way. It will always improve wrinkles. Once people stop Botox, their wrinkles will naturally come back. And since they have aged since they started Botox, the wrinkles may look different from when they first started. But it’s not Botox’s fault.” —Dr. Norman Rowe, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City
Misconception #2: Nonsurgical rhinoplasty can change the size of your nose
“This is the most common misconception I hear. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is typically done in the office [and involves] placing filler and/or threads in the nose, to help camouflage a nasal hump and attempt to lift or narrow a tip. It can’t make the nose smaller. I use digital imaging to help these patients see the difference between the surgical and nonsurgical results.” —Dr. Anil Shah, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Chicago
Misconception #3: You shouldn’t have plastic surgery on your breasts or abdomen until you’re done having children
“Many female patients think they shouldn’t have these types of surgeries before they have children. That shouldn’t stop them! I believe everyone should get the surgery that they want when they want it, before or after having children. Women think that they’ll lose the effect of breast and/or abdominal surgery after children, but this is simply not true, thanks to the advancement of modern medicine and the highly skilled talent of board-certified plastic surgeons.” —Dr. Rowe
Misconception #4: Lip filler will give you duck lips
“I think a lot of injectors do fill lips too much and that’s why patients often assume filler in the lips will look fake or duck-like. You shouldn’t be able to spot good plastic surgery, but you can see bad plastic surgery from across the room. People see unnatural lips, think that’s how all filler will look, and decide they don’t want it. In reality, when done right, lip filler can offer a subtle enhancement that still looks natural, just a little more full and plump.” —Dr. John Paul Tutela, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Livingston, New Jersey
Misconception #5: Laser hair removal isn’t safe for dark skin types
“This may have been true many years ago—however, the latest generation of lasers is safe to use on dark skin, without a risk of scarring. On a related topic, I also hear that lasers are radiation and that treatments will cause cancer. This is simply not true. Lasers are a light source that won’t make you sick.” —Dr. Bruce Katz, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
Misconception #6: A breast lift will give you cleavage
“A breast lift will push up your breasts and give you cleavage—I hear this all the time. The reality is that it may or it may not, depending on how much of a lift you need. It’s important for patients to realize that breast lifts will never have the same effect as [that of] implants.” —Dr. Rowe
Misconception #7: Everyone’s results and healing process are the same
“Patients often look at the best examples of before and after results and expect that they will look exactly like a specific after. What they don’t understand is, everyone’s anatomy is different—just because one patient had an amazing result, that doesn’t mean every patient can have the same exact result. Everyone also has a different healing process. Many people don’t realize that it can take months to heal post-surgery and that it’s important to temper your expectations during this period. You need to allow time for your body to heal. You’re not going to recover from surgery in an hour.” —Dr. Shah
Misconception #8: Botox can treat any type of wrinkle
“A common misconception is that Botox can treat facial wrinkles that are not related to muscle movement, like around the cheeks and chin area. This isn’t true—you need fillers to treat these areas instead.” —Dr. Katz
Misconception #9: Cosmetic surgery will last a lifetime
“Another big misconception patients have is that facelifts, breast augmentations, and any other surgical procedure will last a lifetime. Everything ages. Cosmetic surgery only turns back the hands of time—it doesn’t stop them. Patients want to think surgery is a ‘one and done’ situation, but it’s not. Like with most things, it requires maintenance in order to maintain the results.” —Dr. Rowe
Misconception #10: I need liposuction to lose weight
“This is the most common misconception I hear. Liposuction is body contouring surgery —not weight loss surgery—and is best for patients who are within 10 to 15 pounds of their ideal body weight. It is targeted fat removal for stubborn fatty deposits that don’t go away, despite maintaining a proper diet and exercise regimen. Weight loss surgery is bariatric surgery, so if someone needs to lose weight, they should follow up with a bariatric surgeon. I think in this day and age, everyone is looking for a quick fix and lipo appears to be just that, but there’s no quick fix for weight loss.” —Dr. Farah Naz Khan, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, Texas
