Hollywood Strike - Not Striking Against Plastic Surgery

One of the main stories that has constantly been in the news this year has been the ongoing strike in Hollywod. Since May of this year, SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America have been on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The concerns behind the strikes are numerous including the desire for better pay and protection against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in movies and TV. While there is no end currently in sight for this dispute, this does not mean actors are not staying busy during the strike. They might not be able to officially act or write at the moment, but they can use their time away from the cameras to indulge in undergoing plastic surgery.

Hollywood Strike – Growth in Cosmetic Surgery?

It has been reported by entertainment insiders that the continuing strike is resulting in an increase in cosmetic surgery procedures among actors. In other words, celebrities of all status levels (from A-list stars to those whose names are not as familiar as their faces) are taking advantage of the halt in movie and television productions to make changes in their appearance. Instead of sitting at home bored and waiting for news updates about the strike, some Los Angeles cosmetic surgeons are reporting that they are working six and seven days each week in order to keep up with the demand from Hollywood stars. The opportunity to have a cosmetic procedure and recover out of the public eye is very appealing to stars who want to keep the news about any plastic surgery procedure away from their fans.  

One cosmetic surgeon from Beverly Hills told TMZ that celebrities are happy to have procedures right now when they will not miss work and can often recover without being noticed by fans or the press. This doctor told TMZ that he is treating both A-list and B-list actors who actually planned ahead when it comes to their procedure of choice.

For example, if the strike looked like it was going to be resolved quickly when it started, many actors were going to stick with skin tightening procedures such as Thermage and microneedling that do not require a long recovery time such as the time needed after an invasive surgical procedure. If the strike looked like it was going to last for a long time (which is the case since it has been going on since May), these actors would decide to have a more involved and invasive procedure such as a facelift which can take up to a month for proper recovery time.

The same can be said for breast augmentation surgery as the recovery time from this invasive surgical procedure can take six weeks (or more). The continuing strike has given celebrities time to consider their options and research doctors experienced in performing their desired procedure. Instead of having to rush into a treatment that could make some changes to the body while still allowing them to fulfill their work and promotional obligations, actors can have the exact procedure they desire that might not have been an option without the strike.

Hollywood Strike – Botox and Fillers are Still Popular

Even though actors are not able to work on movies and television shows at the moment, some of them are still making public appearances by being on the picket line at studios such as Universal and Warner Brothers. There is a chance they will be photographed or interviewed by news outlets while they are walking the picket line, so they need to look their best. For these occasions, they often turn to Botox and fillers to maintain a youthful look in front of the cameras and among their colleagues.

Botox is a cosmetic procedure that uses botulinum toxin to either reduce or eliminate the look of wrinkles on the face of the patient. Botox is able to block the signals that travel from the nerves to the targeted muscle. Because the signal is blocked, the injected muscle is not able to contract which means the skin will gain a smoother look while the wrinkles relax and start to reduce in appearance. Botox often targets lines that are caused by excessive frowning, lines on the forehead, and crow’s feet that can form around the eyes.

Fillers consist of a gel-like substance and they are injected under the skin to help restore volume that has been lost as a person ages. Fillers can also lessen the look of wrinkles and lines on the face and even improve the contour of the face. Other areas of the face that can be treated with fillers include the lips, cheeks, and chin of a person.

Both Botox and fillers do not provide permanent results so follow-up treatments will be needed to maintain the results.

Hollywood Strike – Not Nearing an End

As of the publication of this article, the strike continues without a clear end in sight. While this is not good news for fans of certain TV shows or those looking forward to a particular movie in the future, it is good news for cosmetic surgeons as they will likely continue to treat actors who want to be ready to return to work with a youthful and refreshed appearance.

- MA