Every month, we strive to bring you a balanced mix of breaking news (for instance, what Priyanka Chopra revealed about her botched nose surgery) and advice you can always use, like how to know whether Ozempic or bariatric surgery is the better option for weight loss. Invariably though, there’s an intriguing headline or viral post that doesn’t make its own stand-alone story yet is still worthy of a share.
Which brings us here, to the latest installment of This Month in Aesthetics, an ICYMI recap of industry-molding moments that we’d be remiss not to acknowledge—from exciting new FDA approvals to the celebrity who is swearing off plastic surgery after a bad facelift experience.
Martha Stewart lands Sports Illustrated cover at 81; denies having any plastic surgery
Martha Stewart just became the oldest person to be featured in Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue, but you’d never know she’s 81 years old by looking at the photos. In an interview with Variety, Stewart claims she’s “had absolutely no plastic surgery whatsoever,” and credits green juice, vitamins, sunscreen, and “very good skin doctors” with her health and appearance. “Every now and then, there are certain fillers that I can do for a little line here or there, but I hate Botox. It’s a weird thing for me. I really and truly don’t do a lot,” she insists.
Skinvive by Juvéderm receives FDA approval to become first and only hyaluronic acid microdroplet injectable in U.S.
Skinvive by Juvéderm, a hyaluronic acid intradermal microdroplet injectable from Allergan Aesthetics, was approved by the FDA, making it the first and only product of its kind in the United States. The injectable, which is safe for all skin types and ages (21 and older), promises to improve skin texture and quality of the cheeks for up to six months by adding hydration subcutaneously. Skinvive’s approval comes as demand for hyaluronic acid microdroplet injections—or “skin boosters,” as they’re sometimes called—is on the rise, with many American patients traveling to Europe to receive similar injectables, like Profhilo, which has been available there for eight years. Skinvive is anticipated to be broadly available within the next six months.
Sharon Osbourne is done with plastic surgery after facelift gone wrong
In an interview with The Sun, Sharon Osbourne shared the details of her second facelift, revealing that the experience put her off further plastic surgery. She said the procedure, which she had in late 2021, left her in severe pain and looking like a “cyclops”—though it was unclear whether she had undergone a full facelift or just a lower or upper facelift. Osbourne, who has always been candid about the cosmetic work she’s had done, noted that she’s happy with her results, now that her face has “settled,” but said the experience scared her away from doing any more.
Kylie Jenner says she regrets getting fillers
After years of speculation from fans, Kylie Jenner famously admitted to getting lip filler in 2015, noting that the added volume made her feel more confident about a “big insecurity.” Eight years later, however, the reality TV star seems to regret the decision. In a new trailer for season three of The Kardashians, Jenner is seen telling a friend, “I wish I never touched anything to begin with.” Her filler remorse appears to have been influenced by her 5-year-old daughter, Stormi, who Jenner says she hopes will not follow in her footsteps when it comes to cosmetic procedures. “All of us just need to have a bigger conversation about the beauty standards that we’re setting,” she tells her sisters in another scene.
Sculptra receives FDA approval for cheek wrinkles
Sculptra, the longer-lasting filler used on nasolabial folds, was approved by the FDA for the treatment of cheek wrinkles. The poly-L-lactic acid filler has been approved for the correction of facial wrinkles and folds, like nasolabial folds, chin wrinkles, and marionette lines, since 2009, but this new approval will expand its uses to address other signs of aging, including wrinkles, fine lines, and volume loss. Sculptra is different from most fillers, which are hyaluronic acid–based, in that it’s made with a biocompatible synthetic polymer that stimulates production of natural collagen and elastin. Its new approval for the treatment of cheek wrinkles gives patients and providers another option when selecting the best filler for their unique needs.
New findings on breast implant illness shed light on symptoms and validate patient complaints
Breast implant illness (BII) has been a growing cause of concern in the plastic surgery world for the last decade or so—yet little clinical or scientific evidence has been available on the matter, often leaving patients experiencing symptoms of BII and their doctors guessing. A new study funded by the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, however, highlights the little-known illness and its symptoms. The study found that participants with self-described BII had many more, and more severe, symptoms than women with implants who didn’t have symptoms they attribute to their implants and patients undergoing cosmetic mastopexy who had never had breast implants—and that symptoms decreased dramatically when implants were removed. It also concluded that an “en bloc” implant removal technique, whereby the implant and scar tissue are removed as one without opening the capsule, is not necessary to alleviate BII symptoms. While the study fails to identify any one cause of BII, it does offer a new sense of hope and validation to patients experiencing BII-related symptoms, making clear that these symptoms should not be ignored.
Woman charged with manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license in Kim Kardashian look-alike death
A woman has been charged in connection to the April death of Christina Ashten Gourkani, an OnlyFans model and Kim Kardashian look-alike. Gourkani died from cardiac arrest while undergoing illegal cosmetic injections to enlarge her butt. Vivian Gomez, the woman who gave Gourkani the injections, was arrested soon after and charged with involuntary manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license. Though it remains unclear what was in the injections Gomez administered, similar illegal injections often contain silicone or other foreign substances, which can migrate within the body and cause infection. These substances can also contaminate the bloodstream, blocking blood vessels and leading to necrosis. Tragedies like this underscore why it’s so crucial to make sure your doctor is a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist.
Lionel Richie attributes his youthful looks to sex, not plastic surgery
There’s no denying that Lionel Richie looks good. In fact, at 73 years old, he looks pretty much the same as he did decades earlier. But in recent years, his youthful appearance has been the subject of continued speculation, with many fans wondering whether the singer has undergone plastic surgery. In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, however, Richie says he owes his seeming agelessness to sleep, sweat, and sex alone. “[Plastic surgery] locks you in for that year [while you recover], and after that, you can’t go naturally.… You try to go back and reset, and you can’t,” he said. “That sh*t goes wrong!” Instead, Richie explains, he’s all about “water, sleep, and sweat,” adding that sex will also work, since it’s good for the heart.
