I am not a Hollywood gossip. Up here in Palo Alto, I do actually have a day job and can’t concentrate on the who-has-done-what (or more likely who pretends not-to-have-done-anything) in Hollywood. But I had to write about Lisa Rinna because I am proud of her. Not only has she admitted publicly that she 1. did something and 2. what it was, she also talks about how she felt her lips started to define her. Yes yes, all press is good press. Yes yes, her decision to reduce her lips is all over the internet and now in my People magazine, so it has put her to the forefront. But she admitted to doing something to change her appearance. She talks about the psychologic effects of tinkering with things. She talks about regretting some of what she has done. She is educating the world on some pitfalls of cosmetic procedures. That takes guts in a world where most celebrities tell us they just “happened to be born with beautiful lifted bouncing breasts” or they lost the weight after babies by just “chasing their kids around and eating broiled fish.”
Take home points:
1. Research your treatments before you do them. She used collagen before the silicone was injected. At the time, collagen was the standard soft tissue filler. It was safe, well researched. She liked it, but it wore off, so she looked for something which was “permanent.”
2. Anything which sounds too good to be true usually is. Free silicone injections have been around since the 1980s, and they are NEVER a good idea (this is when silicone is injected in its liquid form, not in an implant). It was originally used for acne scarring. Eventually your body encapsulates the foreign object (silicone), causing scarring. This can lead to bumpiness and other issues. And then your body can try to reject it by “spitting” it out. These issues with silicone were well known before she injected it into her lip. I wonder if her doctor was board certified? Did they know the risks? Did they explain them?
3. Love yourself. I know many of you think how can a plastic surgeon write this? I am likely not a “typical” plastic surgeon. I talk a lot of people out of a lot of things. The best candidates for plastic surgery are those who have good self esteem. They tend to be tinkering subtly with things- to reverse changes from pregnancy, gravity, or aging. If you are going to an extreme, be wary–you may become known for a body part and not for you. Just as Lisa Rinna has downsized, Heidi Montag has declared in the news she regrets her large breasts “I’m desperate to go back to normal. ” – Heidi Montag to “Life& Style”
4. Pick your surgeon wisely. Good surgeons can help guide you to the best, safe decision. They can educate you on the risks. All plastic surgeons also have an aesthetic, what they consider “beautiful.” Make sure you and your doctor have the same vision.
I found a photo of Lisa Rinna before she had done anything… or at least the silicone. I think she was beautiful. I hope her story can influence some women to enjoy and appreciate what they have, and if they do tinker, do so subtly.
