Reversing Plastic Surgery Effects - Is it Possible?

Kylie Jenner won the approval of her fans in the past week after she revealed to the world that she decided to have the filler removed from her lips.

Why did she do it?

The social media superstar, who has not even turned 21 years old yet, told the public she had the lip filler procedure reversed only after one of her Instagram followers pointed out that a new photo she posted resembled “the old Kylie”.  

Kylie’s Response

She addressed the issue with a simple, and to the point comment, where she stated “I got rid of all my filler.” Her fans flooded her feed with comments such as her appearance was “much prettier” and “cuter” without the use of fillers. Her post about the lack of fillers in her lips went viral and started a conversation about the merits of natural beauty.

Are “Kardashian Kurves” out of Style?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), a growing number of women are turning away from the “pumped up” look that is often favored by the members of the extended Kardashian family.

The ASPS says the overall number of surgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States has gone down by 6\\% since the year 2000.

Many doctors say the trend of moving away from “bigger is better” has been inspired by the desire to have a more athletic appearance. Fillers and implants can often make a person look more matronly and even like she has gained weight. On the other hand, a slimmer and healthier look makes a person appear to be fitter and in better shape. In addition, patients are now trying to achieve results that are “more real” and natural in appearance.

How to Remove Cosmetic Enhancements

Here are the methods to reverse certain cosmetic procedures:

• Lip/Cheek Fillers – Fillers like Juvederm and Restylane last anywhere from three months to two years. However, patients who want to remove the fillers can receive injections of hyaluronidase which is an enzyme that breaks down the filler volume in the treated area. The removal of the filler does not always produce an even look and patients might see some asymmetry in the results. In addition, there might be some excess wrinkles and skin if a lot of filler is removed at one time. There are other fillers, such as Radiesse and Sculptra, that cannot be removed but they will eventually fade on their own
• Cheek Implants – Cheek implants can be removed more easily than fillers because the doctor is able to make an incision that allows him, or her, to remove the implant. Patients should be aware that cysts can form in the spots where the implants are removed and there is always a chance of infection after the removal is performed.
• Breast Implants – Since implants only last around 10-15 years, they will need to be replaced at some point in the future. There are some women who decide to have them removed altogether due to health or aesthetic reasons. It should be noted that the process of removing an implant is often harder than placing the implant in the correct position. Due to the removal of the implant, the breasts can often look uneven following the surgery. This uneven appearance can lead to a new set of implants being placed or a breast lift being performed on the patient.
• Butt Implants – Since the patient needs to be face down during buttock implant surgery, the procedure is actually considered to be more challenging than the removal of breast implants. The surgeon does go through the same incision that the implant was inserted into on the body of the patient. Depending on the size of the implant that was first placed by the surgeon, there might be a saggy appearance or some drooping in the buttocks following the removal process. Some doctors recommend a more involved procedure called a capsulectomy where the surgeon removes the hard area that may have formed around the implant. This procedure is often advised thanks to its ability to prevent problems such as cysts. Patients should consult with a board-certified surgeon to determine the best procedure to achieve the desired results.

MA