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As the office of several busy board certified plastic surgeons, the doctors and staff of We Know Beauty  have seen just about everything when it came to beauty trends. Every now and then we see something unfamiliar. Just not very often.

So, earlier today we stumbled over a blog post on the site Bustle that got us thinking about that. While some of the post's "7 Insane Beauty Trends" were eye-catching, there was nothing really truly startling there.

After all, when haven't there been some pretty strange beauty trends -- and pretty odd beauties -- making their mark in the world of popular culture? Right now, all-around superstar Lady Gaga is probably the best known example of far out looks that are deemed beautiful. However, a look back in time will show that the woman who brought us "Poker Face" is only the latest manifestation of a long-running trend.

Indeed, some of the women who have been considered at the forefront of beauty might make modern viewers wonder if they were looking at the "before" in a plastic surgery before and after picture. Actress and comedian Mae West, for example, electrified and scandalized the early cinema while being almost matronly to modern eyes -- it was her approach to sexuality, remarkably frank for the early 1930s, that made her such a sensation. Classic era stars like Joan Crawford and Bette Davis had a famously odd and even unearthly aura to them, especially as they matured from ingenues into grande dames.

Moreover, the wacky styles of the 1960s, as exemplified by some of the era's most adventuresome models and designers and movies like "Blow-Up," make some of the things going on now seem pretty tame. Even having said that, though, we know that both the best plastic surgeons -- and even some of the also rans -- are going to be surprised by whatever comes up next in the world of beauty and fashion.

In Japan, Some Seek Palm Plastic Surgery to Change their Fates

As the best plastic surgeons you'll find anywhere on the globe, at We Know Beauty, we're always seeking out new cosmetic surgery stories and trends. One of the more eccentric plastic surgery trends of recent days comes from  Japan - a nation that seems to regularly surprise us Americans with its cultural differences and tastes.

A recent trend relies on the ancient art of palm reading, known as palmistry - essentially the believe that you can tell a person's future based on the lines on their palms. News.com.au reports that an increase in patients asking for operations to extend or add lines that, according to palm reading lore, historically associated with luck or marriage.

The palm line surgeries generally cost around $1100 and are performed with an electric scalpel, and involve apparently require a significant degree of precision. "If you try to create a palm line with a laser, it heals, and it won't leave a clear mark," says Takaaki Matsuoka, a plastic surgeon at Shonan Beauty Clinic's Shinjuku branch in Tokyo. "You have to use the electric scalpel and make a shaky incision on purpose, because palm lines are never completely straight."

The surgery has proven popular with both men and women. It usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes, including anywhere between 5 and 10 lines on the palm, and takes approximately a month to heal.
While the top plastic surgeons at We Know Beauty are certainly interested in the new plastic surgery trends, we don't want to offer too much commentary on this particular story - after all, we are not experts in Japanese culture, even though we're undoubtedly expert cosmetic surgeons!

For an appointment with our exceptional board certified plastic surgeons, contact We Know Beauty today!

What Do Ben Savage and Lady Gaga Have in Common?

Ben Savage, from Boy Meets World and its upcoming follow-up Girl Meets World, may have never been mentioned in the same sentence as Lady Gaga before, so we may be the first. What is bringing these two stars together this week? Well, they've both been in the tabloids recently with many speculating that they've had nose jobs. The plastic surgery before and after pictures are definitely convincing, but there's never any way to be sure when it comes to celebs and the work they may or may not have done.

The board certified plastic surgeons here at We Know Beauty hesitate to use our expertise to speculate. The body can go through many unexpected transformations as we age, metabolisms can fluctuate, and non-cosmetic procedures can create changes in the way we look. We also don't want to contribute to the culture that tears down celebrities for their decisions. We Know Beauty's main concern is helping people look their best in the safest and most artistic way possible.

All that being said, if Mr. Savage or Ms. Gaga would like a nose job, they should keep We Know Beauty in mind. We offer truly comfortable amenities for those who want the best in plastic surgery. Our doctors are experts in their field; we can even navigate the tricky field of revision rhinoplasty for those who have gotten a nose job and aren't satisfied with the look or function of their nose. Call us for a complimentary consultation at 800-832-0510 or schedule an appointment online.

Your Health Demands that You Don't Settle for Less When It Comes to Plastic Surgery

A great thing about the rising prominence of plastic surgery is that procedures are becoming safer and safer as doctors, like the best plastic surgeons of We Know Beauty, perfect and innovate in the field. However, the drawback is that many people think they can trust non-certified doctors or doctors abroad who provide inadequate, rushed, and sometimes harmful plastic surgery. While many associate a cosmetic procedure with something frivolous, we know that that's not the case. This is your body and your health, so we truly urge anybody reading this to treat any procedure (even injectables) to go about it in the safest way possible.

We Know Beauty has plenty of recommendations for people interested in plastic surgery, but here are 3 that will guarantee that your surgery is the safest as possible:

1. Make sure your doctor is certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgery. The ASPS certification means that doctors are held to a high standard of training, expertise, and ethics. The board certified plastic surgeons at We Know Beauty make sure that our patients are making the most healthful decisions possible and their skill and experience means that results are safer and better than from non-certified physicians
2. Take the time to heal properly. One of the biggest problems with getting surgery overseas is the fact that recipients don't stay long enough to heal and don't demand the proper follow-up check-ins from their surgeons. We Know Beauty closely monitors the post-op time period to make sure that there are no complications stemming from a cosmetic procedure. We often help put our patients in hotels or spas that cater to post-plastic surgery healing with nurses on staff to guarantee the ultimate in recovery.
3. Use your doctor as a resource. Rushed plastic surgery from non-certified doctors abroad and in the states set a bad tone, which causes patients to fail to communicate. This can lead to problems like improper healing, miscommunication about realistic expectations, and more. On the other hand, the top plastic surgeons of We Know Beauty establish a strong relationship with their patients. Any questions, before or after the procedure, will be answered thoroughly and honestly. This way, there are no surprises, leading to better results.

Some Beauty is More than Skin Deep

"Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone" wrote author and quipster par excellence Dorothy Parker way back when. While even the very best plastic surgeons sometimes have to cope with being perceived as shallow people in a shallow business, the fact of the matter is that some of what we do is about much more than vanity, and it's anything but ugly.

Just today, we were reminded of how often top plastic surgeons perform the kinds of surgery that most of us would consider far from elective, even though they might technically be cosmetic procedures. Don't get us wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with facelifts, breast augmentation, or any of the kinds of work we do that improve patient's confidence and, more often than you might think, their overall health and happiness.

Still, it warms our heart to read about outstanding board certified plastic surgeons, not to mention a number of nurses and anesthesiologists, who went to work on unpaid on a Saturday a week or so out in Florida in order to perform free cosmetic procedures on 11 needy children. As reported in yesterday's Miami Herald, the procedures at Baptist Children's Hospital included work on deformities in ears, cleft lips, and skin grafts -- the not so glamorous type of plastic surgery that you almost never read about in the celebrity gossip columns.

The important point is that that this kind of work goes on all the time with plastic surgeons. Helping poor children lead normal, healthy, and happy lives might not be as interesting as an actress's most recent procedure, but it really is beautiful -- the kind of beautiful that goes clean to the bone. 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/15/3453355/baptist-medical-staff-donate-free.html#storylink=cpy

Cosmetic Surgery Show in South Korea Brings Excitement and a Bit of Controversy

Here in the U.S., we are lucky to have some of the best plastic surgeons in the world, as well as a culture that has made substantial advances in embracing cosmetic surgery and the healthy self-esteem boost in can bring. Medical professionals like the board certified plastic surgeons at We Know Beauty have done a lot to open minds to the positive life changes that can be brought about by the surgery, and it appears our love affair with cosmetic surgery may be spreading across the globe.

Two years ago, a South Korean show made headlines for inviting women who were unhappy with their looks to undergo surgical procedures to alter their physical appearance and increase their self-esteem. While the show has drawn record ratings, it has also lead to controversy about the show's positive portrayal of plastic surgery.

We are encouraged though, to see the show's production team challenging accusations that the series encourages women to undergo dangerous cosmetic surgery. Park Hyun-woo, the show's producer says that the stress from being unattractive is a real issue for contestants. "Just speaking about their physical appearance issues seemed to make them feel better," says Park.

"It's easy to say the standards of beauty are unfair or wrong, but if you haven't been in their shoes and couldn't carry on a normal life because of your looks, you shouldn't judge," says Yang Jae-jin, psychiatrist in the show's production team.

Anxiety or displeasure over one's aesthetic features is increasingly common in South Korea, and we find it extremely gratifying to see a top plastic surgeon team assisting South Koreans in achieving their beauty goals. At We Know Beauty, we understand that aesthetic beauty is a gift that all should be able to enjoy in their lives, and we hope people continue to open their minds to the incredible opportunities it offers.

Leave Gary Cooper Alone!

If you are used to reading celebrity journalism, you no doubt are familiar with the type of story in which the topic is whether or not a given celebrity has had plastic surgery or not. Did he/she really have it? Was the work done well? Which of the world's best plastic surgeons performed it? Is the celebrity overdoing it? Did he or she really need it in the first place?

Lest anyone think any of this is even slightly new, we stumbled across an item recently that showed us, when it comes to journalism and celebrity's privacy, the more things change, the more they stay the same. We recently stumbled across a post by Los Angeles Times blogger Larry Harnisch. The subject: the front page picture and news story from the long defunct Los Angeles Mirror newspaper from May 1, 1958. The topic was, yes, a very big star's plastic surgery. In this case it was legendary movie star Gary Cooper, of such classics as "High Noon," "Sergeant York," and "Mr. Deeds Comes to Town," whose face had been worked on by one of Hollywood's top plastic surgeons. It was, perhaps, more shocking to some people as Cooper was a Hollywood "man's man" second only to John Wayne when it came to his public image, and it was hard to imagine Will Kane, Alvin York, or Longfellow Deeds having work performed. What the public didn't realize was that the real Gary Cooper was a bit more of a sophisticate than most of his characters.

We suppose curiosity about these matters is only human but, when it comes right down to it, is it really anyone's business? And does anyone really have a reason to criticize an actor for doing it in the first place? After all, the reason actors turn to the finest board certified plastic surgeons they can possibly find is not just that they'd like to look good (who wouldn't?). Looking good is  also part of their job, especially if they want to delay the inevitable shift from leading man to character actor.

In the case of Mr. Cooper -- "Coop" to his friends -- he had been (fictitiously) romancing the very young and even younger looking Audrey Hepburn the year before in Billy Wilder's "Love in the Afternoon" and the nearly 30 year age difference between the stars was a topic of some discussion. You can criticize the casting of a much older man in a movie romance with a 20-something actress, but can you really blame Gary Cooper for wanting to look as not-old as possible while doing so? Especially when his older pictures were constantly playing on television, reminding people how splendidly handsome he was in his youth when he was romancing more appropriately aged actresses"?

Yet people had strong opinions, voiced repeatedly, on this matter then, and they keep doing it now. We suppose it's kind of fun to have strong opinions on this, but we'll never understand the people who seem offended by the whole idea of cosmetic procedures and keep saying so, over and over and very loudly. Ultimately, is a plastic surgery really anyone's business other than the doctor and the (consenting adult) patient?