Why do celebrities look so scary after plastic surgery?

Not a day goes by that I don't discuss this exact question with one of my patients. This is truly a paradox as LA celebrities have plenty of money, time and proximity to a huge number of plastic surgeons. It is difficult to explain why some have achieved such unnatural and "scary" looking results. I think that this speaks to the need to seek highly experienced facial plastic surgeons who consistently create natural looking results. Rather than seeking out the local "plastic surgeon to the stars" results should be the key. If your surgeon is not known for a SoCal "scary" aesthetic, they are not likely to create that result for you. There are many highly trained and skilled plastic surgeons in any mid-size to large city. The key is to seek out a surgeon who you trust and that creates natural results.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for the great question, which is probably one of the most commonly asked by prospective patients.  Although the topic has been well covered so far, the root cause is partially the responsibility of the Surgeon(s) involved, and partially that of the celebrity patient.  The Surgeon: The "natural appearance" as a goal  was not as highly valued in the past as it is today.  Many end results were more stylistic and less realistic. Lastly,  "celebrity surgeon" should be viewed more as a  status related to marketing and connections than ability.  This is not to say that some celebrity surgeons aren't very talented.  The Celebrity: A certain percentage of plastic surgery patients have a condition known as body dysmorphic disorder and celebrities live in a world where appearance and image are overwhelming.  If this altered self perception is acted upon, results such as the ones you have shown are inevitable.  If individuals have enough power, influence, and money, they are very likely to get what they think they want, regardless of the merits of that desire.  Most well performed facial plastic surgery shares one common element:  it doesn't look like plastic surgery.  It's best to see a well qualified surgeon in your area, view the before and afters, discuss your expectations, and raise your concerns.

A well executed facelift gives a predictably good result. You have seen many walking around who remain anonymous because they chose a good surgeon. Bad plastic surgery advertises itself.

Great question!  Techniques of face and eyelid lifting vary greatly from surgeon to surgeon! The “stretched” or “windblown” look generally results from overly aggressive surgery. The techniques I perform are specifically designed to give patients a more natural and un-operated appearance.  In the case of doctors performing surgery on celebrities, I think that they may feel pressured to exceed the celebrity's expectations -- this is not a great idea when it comes to surgery on the face!  More certainly is not better when it comes to facial cosmetic surgery. 

I think the answer to this question is that some celebrities wont accept no as an answer. They are used to getting exactly what they wish, even if that means going to another surgeon. Most scary surgery is the result of multiple cumulative procedures by different surgeons, all who have met 'the face' at various stages. Whilst the change with each surgery may be small, the cumulative effect can be devastating. This is why I like to follow up my patients for a long time not only to ensure they remain happy but also as the surgeon who recorded their 'baseline', I know when incremental changes are a step too far from the original face.

Money does not equal brains and the fact that celebrities have a lot of money doesn't mean they choose the best plastic surgeon or that their idea of beauty and what they ask for is the best.  Don't let Hollywood horror stories scare you.  Do your research and find a surgeon who's before and after pictures you like.

Dear Meagan,    It is interesting and sad observation on your part.  There are many more celebrities and movie stars who qualify for your observation. When you select a plastic surgeon you have to conduct a thorough due diligence and the following  steps will increase the liklihood of happy outcome : 1. Consult only with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center for your safety. 2. Meet the doctor personaly and pay attention to his and his staff bed side manners and  how do they answer your questions. Ask for follow up policy. It is important that you feel at ease with the surgeon and his staff. 3. Most importantly, while in the office, check the before and after pictures to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive. Not too many patients feel comfortable with their pictures on the internet, so you can see more of them in the office ( obviously with patient's permission ). 4. Word of mouth from patients who had surgery thenselvs , is the best form of information about the surgeon. That can be obtained from friends or family member or get permission to talk to the surgeon's patients. 5. Check 'realself' reviews for positive patients experience which provides important information on the surgeon.             Best of luck,                                Dr Widder

Thank you for your question. I generally tell my patients that if something is good more of it doesn't generally mean even better.Plastic surgery is a balance between making the patient happy but not overdoing. Two little change and a patient may not feel that they got what they were looking for, too much change and they can look different or overdone.Be sure that you're clear with your goals with your plastic surgeon. You should be able to find someone who is listening and will strive to achieve a natural result. As a general rule we can always do more, but it is hard to turn back what has been overdone.While some actors and actresses certainly look over done I suspect there are a large number of people in the acting profession who have had good work so that you can't really tell.Best wishes to you.

Hello Meaghanmeaghan,Thanks for your question.  I am as puzzled as you are about celebrity plastic surgery.  You are correct that they have the money for the best surgeons.  In my opinion, the problem is two-fold.  First, you have aging screen stars who were known for their beauty in their youth, but as they got older, the parts started drying up.  They try to capture that look again.  Because it is an art form, facial aesthetics is something that most of us will spend our entire careers mastering.  Every face is unique but standard procedures produce standard results.  Faces age in all dimensions, but most quick fixes focus on a small detail like the size of the upper lip.  The end result of these small procedures is a suboptimal outcome.  The second problem comes from the medical professionals themselves.  The lure of fame and fortune makes it hard for most of them to say no to the demanding celebrity.  If they say no they risk losing the client, who will get what they want no matter what!  I would love to read a paper on the psychology of the celebrity as I think they have special needs for attention and may even have issues with self-esteem that are not apparent on the surface.  I perform a tremendous amount of facial plastic surgery and I have never made a patient who remotely looks anything like a celebrity.  I take every face individually and carefully come up with the perfect plan for rejuvenation.  As the Hippocratic Oath states, "First do no harm..."Good luck,Dr. Shah

Plastic surgery can be done to provide a natural looking rejuvenation of the face without looking scary.  I would say that there are many more celebrities that have had good plastic surgery results than those with bad results, but you don't usually notice the ones with good results.  Unfortunately, the ones with bad results get all the press.  The cause of these bad results could be due to the surgeon, the patient, or both.  If you are considering a facelift, be sure to find a surgeon that you feel comfortable with and be sure to express your desire to have natural looking results.