The Beauty Standard with Dr. Roy Kim
"The Beauty Standard with Dr. Roy Kim" is your ultimate guide to exploring the world of beauty, aesthetics, and both non-invasive and invasive procedures. Join renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Roy Kim as he shares his expertise, delves into the latest advancements, and engages in insightful discussions with industry experts, bringing you a wealth of knowledge to enhance your confidence and empower your aesthetic journey.
The Beauty Standard with Dr. Roy Kim
Why Millennials Are Trading Temporary Fixes for Permanent Solutions
What happens when the "temporary" solution isn't so temporary after all? We're witnessing a remarkable shift in cosmetic trends as twenty and thirty-somethings increasingly opt for surgical facelifts—traditionally considered procedures for those over 50. The catalyst? Often it's complications or disappointments with dermal fillers that were supposed to dissolve away cleanly.
Through the experiences of celebrities like Courtney Cox and Blac Chyna alongside everyday influencers, we uncover the complicated reality of "reversible" treatments. UK beauty influencer Ashley Stobart's journey is particularly eye-opening—from extensive fillers starting at age 18 to a shocking nine-and-a-half-hour facelift at just 34, where surgeons discovered significant amounts of filler material still present despite dissolution attempts. Her story challenges the common understanding that these substances reliably fade away over time.
Medical experts are now acknowledging that hyaluronic acid fillers may persist longer than previously thought, with potential long-term effects not yet fully understood. This revelation, coupled with the rising number of younger facelift patients reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, signals a significant shift in how we approach facial aesthetics. Ryan Joey's experience adds a male perspective to this trend, moving from fillers at 26 to surgical procedures by 25 after realizing temporary treatments couldn't provide the fundamental changes he sought.
The recurring message from those who've traveled this path? Do your homework. Understand all potential outcomes before committing to procedures of any kind. Whether you're considering fillers or surgery, recognize that today's beauty decisions may have consequences far beyond what's currently marketed or understood. Follow us for more eye-opening conversations that challenge conventional thinking about beauty standards and cosmetic interventions.
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Join us next week as we explore another fascinating topic in the world of beauty, and remember: your body, your choice, your standard!
Welcome to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Deep Dive. Today we're looking at something really quite unexpected happening with cosmetic procedures.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's this trend of younger people we're talking 20s, 30s even who are going for surgical facelifts, and often it's after they've had dermal fillers, maybe had issues or just decided to reverse them.
Speaker 2:It really flips the script, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because you always think facelifts that's for people over 50, sort of the traditional view.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and we've been digging into an ABC News report for this. It features beauty influencers, medical experts trying to figure out. You know why is this happening.
Speaker 2:So that's our mission today basically Understand the why, hear the stories, get the expert take on what it all means.
Speaker 1:Okay, so let's start with this. This move away from fillers. What's actually pushing people in that direction?
Speaker 2:Well, the ABC report highlights some big names, which probably helps shift perception. You've got celebrities like Courtney Cox, Lala Kent.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I saw that.
Speaker 2:They've been really open about getting their fillers dissolved, saying they want to stop using them.
Speaker 1:Courtney Cox. I think she said something like she felt she'd messed up a lot with them and was kind of relieved they weren't permanent. Yeah like she just didn't like the look anymore and Lala Kent wasn't her reason. More about seeing photos and reading comments like reconsidering how it looked over time.
Speaker 2:Exactly Seeing herself differently and how others saw her.
Speaker 1:Then there's Blac Chyna. Her story is interesting too. She reversed stuff at 34.
Speaker 2:Uh-huh After losing weight, right yeah.
Speaker 1:And she noticed the filler like started to really protrude out once her face got slimmer.
Speaker 2:Ah, okay, so the proportions changed. Right, what looked okay before suddenly became really obvious. Makes sense. And she used that phrase, didn't she, about cutting ties with it like it was part of moving on to a new chapter.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a definite shift.
Speaker 2:But the story that really unpacks this whole thing, I think, is Ashley Stobart. She's a beauty influencer in the UK.
Speaker 1:Right, she started really young 18.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 18. Legal minimum there.
Speaker 1:And she didn't just get lip filler, it was everywhere Lips, cheeks, jaw, chin, nose, the works.
Speaker 2:She called it a quick fix, you know easy way to change things.
Speaker 1:And Dr Darian Sutton. He's the ABC News medical correspondent. He explained what's usually in them hyaluronic acid that gel stuff, that's volume. But Ashley mentioned having multiple layers of treatment. So it wasn't just one-off things, it built up over years.
Speaker 2:Exactly Layer upon layer.
Speaker 1:Which leads to her pregnancy story right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's where it gets complicated. She stopped getting treatments while pregnant.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And realized the filler hadn't actually dissolved like she thought it would, she felt quote bigger and puffier than ever.
Speaker 1:Wow. So it was still there affecting her look even without fresh injections totally, which understandably led her to get it reversed dissolved, but that wasn't the end of it, was it?
Speaker 2:no, that's the kicker. After dissolving it, she ended up with sagging skin not what you expect. Definitely not, and the solution she chose a full facelift at 34.
Speaker 1:34. That's young for that kind of surgery.
Speaker 2:Super young, yeah. And the surgery itself was intense nine and a half hours.
Speaker 1:Nine and a half hours Wow.
Speaker 2:And get this. The surgeon found quote a lot of hyaluronic acid. Still there, remnants of the fillers, even after she tried to get them dissolved before.
Speaker 1:So dissolving doesn't always fully get rid of it. That really goes against the common idea that it just fades away.
Speaker 2:It really does. And Dr Sutton, the expert from ABC News, he kind of backed this up. What did he say? He mentioned we're learning that these substances can be persistent, sticking around longer than people realize.
Speaker 1:So the long-term effects? Maybe we don't fully grasp them yet.
Speaker 2:Seems like it. He also warned about those super cheap filler deals you see online from med spas.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, what was the concern?
Speaker 2:He called it a red flag. Yeah, suggesting maybe less skilled people trying hard to get customers, which could mean higher risk of things going wrong. Definitely something to watch out for.
Speaker 1:Good point. Buyer, beware always.
Speaker 2:So Ashley's story is kind of a pathway Lots of filler, it sticks around. Reversal leads to sagging, which leads to surgery.
Speaker 1:And it sounds like she's not totally unique in this you mentioned the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they've seen an uptick in facelifts for people in their 40s, even younger, still mostly over 50s, but the younger group is growing.
Speaker 1:So it's not just isolated cases, it might be a broader shift.
Speaker 2:Seems that way. And then there's Ryan Joey's story. He started fillers almost 10 years ago. He was 26.
Speaker 1:Okay, also quite young. What got him started?
Speaker 2:Social media. Basically, he mentioned influencers like young Kylie Jenner getting lip fillers back then.
Speaker 1:Ah right, that was huge. Made it seem very normal, desirable, even Totally.
Speaker 2:And at first he liked it, you know, fixing little things he didn't like. But then he got to a point, maybe around 22, where he felt like his lips were all he saw when he smiled in pictures or videos.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, they became too dominant, took over his face in a way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's how he described it, not the original plan.
Speaker 1:And did he understand much about the fillers themselves back then?
Speaker 2:He admitted his understanding was pretty basic, just the idea that fillers aren't permanent. So he kept getting treatments without really knowing about different types of fillers or how they might interact over time. Maybe the info wasn't as out there then or just not emphasized.
Speaker 1:Yeah, highlights how important proper consultation and understanding really are. So what did he end up doing?
Speaker 2:Well, he decided to reverse course, got the fillers dissolved.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Then he had a rhinoplasty, a nose job, and then at 25, a brow and eye lift.
Speaker 1:Wow, 25 for a brow and eye lift. That's significant. So lifting the forehead skin and dealing with skin around the eyes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, quite a series of surgeries for someone his age.
Speaker 1:And did he face any pushback, being young and male seeking surgery?
Speaker 2:He did mention that he talked about feeling judged by some surgeons, how vulnerable it feels to say you're unhappy with your looks and then maybe face skepticism because you're younger.
Speaker 1:That's a really important point, even if the trend is shifting, maybe some traditional views linger.
Speaker 2:Definitely His view was that surgery offered a way to change his face fundamentally, something the med spa stuff couldn't do naturally or permanently.
Speaker 1:So addressing the underlying structure, not just adding volume temporarily.
Speaker 2:Right and he's actually very open about it all. On TikTok now.
Speaker 1:Oh really, what's he sharing?
Speaker 2:His recovery before and afters. He hopes it helps other people starting out, gives them some insight.
Speaker 1:That kind of transparency is pretty valuable, isn't it? Peer-to-peer experience sharing?
Speaker 2:Yeah, could really help manage expectations.
Speaker 1:But we do need to balance that with the medical warnings. Right, dr Sutton, on facelifts.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Crucial point. Dr Sutton really emphasized how complex the face is All those blood vessels, nerves, muscles.
Speaker 1:It's intricate territory.
Speaker 2:Very, and because of that he stressed, there's a high risk of complications, even disfigurement, if the surgeon isn't extremely skilled and experienced.
Speaker 1:So choosing your surgeon is paramount. It's major surgery, not like popping into a med spa.
Speaker 2:Cannot be stressed enough. Yeah, not a casual decision.
Speaker 1:So, thinking about all the stories, the expert views, what are the main things people should take away?
Speaker 2:Well, ashley Stobart's advice seems pretty fundamental. She said don't rush into anything unless you're 100% sure and you understand all of the pros and cons.
Speaker 1:Simple but powerful. Do your homework, basically Understand the risks and benefits short and long term.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and Ryan Joe has had an interesting take too. He said he's grateful for my experience, even the bad of it.
Speaker 1:How come?
Speaker 2:Because it made him learn more, led him to make better decisions about more permanent fixes later on.
Speaker 1:Ah, so even the negative parts were a learning curve towards finding what was right for him.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Viewing the whole journey, bumps and all as informative.
Speaker 1:Okay, that makes sense. So, wrapping up this deep dive, we've seen this definite trend emerging Younger people looking at surgery, like facelifts, often after trying fillers, and it seems driven by a mix of things aesthetics changing, maybe fillers not behaving as expected, or just wanting bigger, more lasting changes.
Speaker 2:Right, and the constant theme from the stories and the experts is just how vital it is to be informed, understand the procedures, the risks, the potential outcomes, whether it's filler or full-on surgery.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Informed consent is key.
Speaker 2:Thinking about all this.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It really makes you wonder, doesn't it? This whole cycle of trying things, reversing them, opting for something more permanent? What's it saying about beauty standards right now?
Speaker 1:And the role of social media in shaping those standards, pushing certain looks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and how we see ourselves at different ages. Are we chasing trends, are we seeking something deeper, and what does it mean long term for us as individuals and for the beauty industry as a whole?
Speaker 1:It's a lot to think about the permanence versus impermanence, the influence, the risks Definitely complex territory and something that's likely to keep evolving. Thank you for listening to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Make sure to follow for future topics and episodes.