Cosmetic Surgery's Natural Evolution

LOS ANGELES – Americans watch shows such as "Extreme Makeover" and "Dr. 90210" to gawk at plastic surgery done from head to toe.

The pop culture exposure has brought more acceptance of cosmetic surgery, but also created fear of drastic results.

A group of prominent plastic surgeons gathered in January to discuss the latest trends in cosmetic surgery and anti-aging at a media briefing sponsored by The Professional Image, a Newport Beach marketing firm.

While what patients want hasn't changed - face-lifts, breast implants, liposuction - techniques are becoming less invasive and more natural looking, the doctors said.

"They want to look elegant and nice, they don't want to look extreme," said Dr. Corey Maas, a professor at UC San Francisco. "We're trying to make you look better, not like you had plastic surgery."

Laser vein treatment: About 80 million Americans have varicose veins and about half of them seek treatment for cosmetic reasons only, said Dr. Greg Chernoff of Newport Beach. In the past, patients had to undergo surgery to have the veins cut out. Now he uses the CoolTouch CTEV in the office under local anesthesia. He said patients experience less swelling, scarring and bruising. The procedure costs about $2,500 to $4,000 per leg.

Dental face-lift: Wrinkles and sags aren't the only signs of aging, said Dr. Sam Muslin, a Santa Monica dentist. Worn-down teeth cause the face to collapse. Teeth no longer fill out the face and lips appear tucked, which can create a grumpy look. So Muslin corrects bites and extends teeth with porcelain. The effect lengthens the face and results in perfect, gleaming teeth. Average cost: $30,000.

3-D Botox: Botox, the anti-wrinkle drug, can also be injected to sculpt the face, said Dr. John Vartanian of Glendale. In addition to smoothing fine lines, Botox can be applied to elevate the eyebrows or create more of an arch. When combined with a filler, it can elevate droops on the corner of the mouth. Botox can also make Asian eyes appear rounder and soften a square jaw. After Vartanian stitches a wound, he injects Botox to keep muscles in place for better healing. Botox is made by Irvine-based Allergan.

Removing skin cancer: As more young women develop skin cancer, particularly on the face, traditional surgical removal can leave unsightly scars, said Dr. Andrew Kaufman of Thousand Oaks. He uses Mohs micrographic surgery, during which the doctor works as surgeon, pathologist and reconstructionist. Kaufman cuts out skin, examines it under a microscope and repeats until all the cancer is removed. That way, he says, he doesn't have to sacrifice any healthy tissue and can make the smallest possible wound. He said surgery's cure rate is the highest at 97-99 percent.

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