The Beauty Standard with Dr. Roy Kim

This Week's Beauty Standard - The Natural Revolution - July 28, 2025 - What You Missed in Plastic Surgery

• Dr. Roy Kim

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🔥 This Week's Beauty Standard: What You Missed in Plastic Surgery (July 28, 2025)


Dr. Roy Kim breaks down the WILDEST week in cosmetic surgery! From Savannah Chrisley's honest liposuction reveal to the shocking $150K penis filler boom among finance bros, plus why 38% of Gen Z thinks plastic surgery is "less attractive" while booking baby Botox in record numbers.

✨ What's covered: 

• The "natural revolution" changing everything 

• Baby Botox: Prevention vs. correction 

• Fat grafting's major comeback 

• Male enhancement industry explosion 

• Gen Z's contradictory cosmetic choices 

• New Motiva implant technology 

• Celebrity transparency breaking stigmas


Whether you're considering subtle enhancements or just fascinated by industry trends, this episode delivers the real talk you won't hear anywhere else. Dr. Kim keeps it professional, honest, and surprisingly entertaining.

#PlasticSurgery #BabyBotox #GenZ #CosmeticSurgery #BeautyTrends #SavannahChrisley #NaturalResults #Botox #PodcastLife


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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!

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Good morning, beautiful people. Dr Roy Kim here with your weekly dose of what's really happening in plastic surgery. Picture this you're on that Monday morning, zoom, call camera on and you catch yourself wondering if everyone else looks more refreshed than you do. Well, you're not alone. This week has been absolutely wild in our world, from celebrities getting real about their procedures to some shocking trends that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about cosmetic enhancement. Let's jump right into the numbers that caught my attention this week. Savannah Chrisley just revealed she got liposuction after gaining 40 pounds in three months due to endometriosis medication. That's real talk about medical necessity versus vanity. Penis filler procedures now account for over 40% of revenue at some high-end clinics, with finance bros dropping up to $150,000 in three months. And here's the kicker 38% of Gen Z actually finds cosmetic surgery less attractive. Yet they're booking baby Botox appointments in record numbers. The contradictions are fascinating, dot date. You know what We've officially entered what I call the post-Instagram face era. They're booking baby Botox appointments in record numbers. The contradictions are fascinating, dot day. You know what We've officially entered what I call the post-Instagram face era.

Speaker 1:

The pendulum has swung hard and patients are walking into consultations saying something I've been waiting years to hear I want to look like myself just better. Leading facial plastic surgeons across the country are reporting the same thing. The overfilled look is officially out. And this isn't just happening in facial procedures. Breast surgery has completely transformed. Patients are asking what's the smallest implant that'll give them the result they want? We're seeing a massive shift toward over-the-muscle placement thanks to advances in gummy bear implants. Even breast reconstruction patients with minimal tissue are getting beautiful results this way. But here's what's really interesting this natural trend is being driven by an unexpected force GLP-1 medications as faces slim down from ozempic and similar drugs. There's zero tolerance for excessive filler. Patients want structure back, not puff. I'm seeing more facelift consultations specifically to undo previous overfilling.

Speaker 1:

Savannah Chrisley's revelation this week was a masterclass in honest communication. She gained 40 pounds in three months due to endometriosis medication, had a campaign shoot coming up and made a practical decision. I can't show up looking the way that I look. She said To me it didn't fit the brand. This is the kind of honesty that's reshaping our industry. She's not apologizing for getting liposuction. She's explaining the medical context and professional necessity. Six weeks post-surgery she felt like a whole different human being. That's the real impact we can have when surgery is done for the right reasons. What struck me most was her initial fear of judgment. She kept quiet about the procedure because of the judgment that goes along with it. But here's the thing when celebrities normalize these conversations, it helps everyone make more informed decisions.

Speaker 1:

Speaking of informed decisions, let's talk about baby Botox. This isn't new, despite what social media might tell you. We've been using smaller doses and superficial injections for years. The difference now is the demographic and the Botox. This isn't new, despite what social media might tell you. We've been using smaller doses and superficial injections for years. The difference now is the demographic and the marketing. Experienced injectors have been saying this for years. Using smaller doses, you're creating a lesser, more natural-looking effect. This is nothing new to any experienced injector.

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It's called tailoring your techniques to achieve specific results. The technique involves injecting very small, diluted amounts into the superficial layers of skin rather than deep into muscle. Instead of directly reducing wrinkles, you're preventing dynamic wrinkles from forming. Industry experts call it using lesser units of botulinum toxin for prevention. The best areas for baby Botox crow's feet, frown lines and preventing brow drooping. But here's what most people don't realize. It can also give skin an airbrushed appearance, minimize pores and control oil production. Some practitioners even use it for mild skin laxity in areas like the jawline and neck. Results typically last about 12 weeks and the superficial injection technique means you're targeting where oil builds up and facial flushing happens, not just muscle movement.

Speaker 1:

Here's something that's flying under the radar but revolutionizing our field. Fat is having its moment. Leading surgeons across the country are saying the same thing. Despite all the off-the-shelf filler options, fat is still superior in many ways. It's your own tissue, so there's no risk of rejection or migration. It's permanent and costs less in the long run. But what's exciting in 2025 is how far we've come with fat as a regenerative tool. We can now process fat for microneedling or extract the patient's own growth factors. Think of it as getting the benefits of exosomes only using your own biology instead of someone else's. Many surgeons are seeing patients who previously relied on fillers now opting for fat transfers and biostimulators. We're enhancing jaw lines, chins and cheeks with longer-lasting results that look more natural. There's even emerging technology with regenerative injectables like aloe clay made from cadaver fat, offering new options for patients who don't have adequate donor sites.

Speaker 1:

Now let's address the elephant in the room, or should I say the procedure that's literally reshaping men's anatomy. Penis filler has exploded into mainstream acceptance and the numbers are staggering. High-end clinics in major metropolitan areas are reporting dramatic increases in male enhancement procedures. One Manhattan clinic is doing three penis fillers a day, accounting for over 40% of their $3 million revenue. They're typical clients, professional men in their 30s, 40s and 50s, particularly finance and real estate executives, who want to be the biggest guy in the room. The procedures range from girth enhancement using hyaluronic acid fillers to show talks using Botox to relax muscles and retain more blood when flaccid. Some clients are spending $150,000 in three months, building up results every six months. But here's where it gets. Concerning Clinics are seeing more clients coming in for revisions of botched penis filler.

Speaker 1:

The complications can include donut-shaped deformities at the base when filler migrates or unpredictable results when the injection is done while flaxed. The more extreme option is the implant formerly known as Pneuma. It's a silicone prosthetic placed under pineal skin as a 270-degree wrap. The company claims one two inches of girth increase, though length gains are unpredictable. The surgery takes about an hour, but complications can be severe. A 2023 investigation found patients experiencing stabbing pains during sex, numbness and what were described as disgusting fluid-filled pus bubbles. These aren't isolated incidents. They're documented patterns requiring reconstructive surgery. Here's where things get really interesting.

Speaker 1:

The same generation that's driving baby Botox demand is also rejecting traditional cosmetic surgery. 38% of Gen Z finds cosmetic surgery makes people less attractive, yet they're booking preventive treatments in record numbers. Aesthetic specialists who work with younger patients explain this perfectly. Gen Z believes in proactive aging as opposed to anti-aging. They've grown up where social media is everywhere, so there's pressure to constantly look great. They want less curated interactions, so, rather than using fake filters, they have treatments, so they don't need them. The data supports this. Botox in patients 19 and younger increased 9% between 2022 and 2023. Gen Z saw a 45% increase in forehead lifts and a 9% increase in labiaplasties. They represented 37% of all rhinoplasties and 25% of cheek implants. But here's the twist they're asking for stylized noses inspired by surgeons in Turkey and the Middle East Plastic surgeons nationwide report. Now I'm seeing requests for more stylized noses a concave bridge and refined tip that photographs well. Social media has really influenced these preferences.

Speaker 1:

Let's talk about the tech that's genuinely changing outcomes. The Motiva breast implants, fda approved in in 2024, are creating serious buzz. These implants reduce capsular contracture risk, work well for over-muscle placement and mimic natural breast tissue better than previous generations. But the real game-changer is how we're approaching facelifts. Surgeons nationwide are using modifications to traditional deep plane techniques. The deepest plane approach dissects closer to the parotid gland, offering more room and safety while avoiding skin damage. It's working smarter, not harder. Leading plastic surgeons are combining deep plane facelifts for jaw and neck with SMS techniques in the cheek area. The goal isn't dramatic transformation. It's retaining essence while using advanced techniques.

Speaker 1:

The common thread through all these trends information, accessibility and social normalization. Patients are researching procedures extensively before consultations. They know about implant sizing, profiles and techniques. This creates better conversations between physician and patient, but it's also creating unrealistic expectations. Social media shows the highlights, not the six-week recovery or the 10% revision rate. The Boulevard software company just raised $80 million specifically to serve the medspa boom, processing $5 billion in payments this year.

Speaker 1:

When venture capital money flows this heavily into cosmetic procedures, you know the market dynamics are shifting. Here's what I want you to understand With increased demand comes increased risk. Not all providers are created equal. The penis filler boom has created a cottage industry of under-trained injectors. The Gen Z surge in procedures means younger patients making decisions without fully understanding long-term implications.

Speaker 1:

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons emphasizes patients should always see a board-certified plastic surgeon who's an expert in the field. Plastic surgery requires extensive training and experience to perform safely and effectively. This is especially crucial for newer procedures like extensive penis enhancement or extreme fat grafting. The learning curve for complications can be steep and revision surgery is often more complex than the original procedure.

Speaker 1:

Here are some frequently asked questions. Is baby Botox worth it for prevention? Absolutely, if done correctly, starting with smaller doses in your late 20s can prevent deeper lines from forming. Just ensure your injector understands facial anatomy. Next question is are the new Motiva implants really better? The technology is impressive Lower capsular contracture rates and better over-muscle placement but better depends on your specific anatomy and goals.

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Third question should I consider fat grafting over fillers For long-term results? Yes, fat grafting is permanent and uses your own tissue. However, it requires surgery and has variable take rates. And the fourth question is penis filler safe when done by experienced, board-certified providers using proper techniques? Yes, but the complication rate is higher than facial procedures due to anatomy and healing factors. And lastly, what's the biggest red flag in cosmetic procedures? Pressure to book immediately, unrealistic promises or providers who won't discuss risks and alternatives. Good surgery takes time to plan properly.

Speaker 1:

So here's my bottom line for this week. We're in the most exciting era of plastic surgery I've seen in 20 years. The technology is better, the techniques are more refined and patients are more informed. But with that comes responsibility, both for providers and patients. The natural look isn't just trendy, it's smart surgery. Whether you're considering baby Botox, fat grafting or more extensive procedures, focus on enhancement, not transformation, and please, please, choose board-certified surgeons who prioritize safety over social media metrics. Question for you as we move toward this natural era, what procedure would you consider for subtle enhancement rather than dramatic change? Think about it, research it and make informed decisions. Enhancement rather than dramatic change. Think about it, research it and make informed decisions. I'm Dr Roy Kim and this has been your Beauty Standard Weekly Update Stay beautiful, stay safe. Quick note this info comes from recent industry reports. I'm not anyone's doctor here, just sharing what's happening out there. Always chat with a board-certified surgeon for your own situation. Thank you for listening to the Beauty Standard with Dr Roy Kim. Make sure to follow for future topics and episodes.