Self-Centered Aesthetics™

Embracing Artistry

By Inga Hansen

Photography by Cory Sorensen

Plastic surgeon Randal Haworth, MD, is taking the next step in his career with the launch of a stylish, comprehensive aesthetic care facility.

Randal Haworth, MD, made a name for himself in aesthetics in the early 2000s when he joined Fox television’s reality show, “The Swan.” On the program, he was part of a team of plastic surgeons, stylists and makeup artists who dramatically transformed participants’ appearances, Earlier this year, he transformed his own Beverly Hills, California-based practice when he moved to a new, custom-designed facility that incorporates a full range of aesthetic services—from facials and nutritional services to fillers, lasers and surgical procedures.

Dr. Haworth’s design philosophy for the new Haworth Institute was nature meets high-tech.

“It’s a beautiful place, and all our services are under one roof—the surgical center, my clinic and our new noninvasive center, Self Centered Aesthetics,” says Dr. Haworth. “Patients always asked us, ‘What else can you do?’ ‘How do I maintain this?’ It just doesn’t make sense nowadays not to offer the full-range of aesthetic treatments.”

In addition to laser treatments and injectables performed by Dr. Haworth and his R.N., celebrity esthetician John Tew performs signature facials and naturopathic doctor Matea Polisoto, who goes by “Dr. Matea,” offers IV therapy and nutrition counseling. “Like John, she has a very big following in Beverly Hills and beyond,” says Dr. Haworth. “She is involved with IV therapy, which helps augment the pre- and postoperative surgical experience, and optimizes healing.

“The people working with me are just as important as the surgeon—it’s all about having a team,” he says.

The Frustrated Artist

Born in Los Angeles and educated in England, Dr. Haworth has a somewhat unusual background for a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. “My dad was English and spent World War Il in London selling bootleg whiskey during the Blitzkrieg. My mother and her family lived in Holland during the German occupation,” he says.

Following the war, both of his parents immigrated to the United States seeking opportunities, of which there were few in post-war Europe. “They met, and I was born in Los Angeles. But my dad always wanted me to be in England eventually,” says Dr. Haworth.

When he was 9 years old, he and his parents drove to Central America and boarded a cargo ship to England. During his school years in London, Dr. Haworth became enamored with the arts. “l always drew—and I was very good at a young age. In University I joined band. I was really into the arts, and that’s what I wanted to pursue,” he says. “But my parents, being war babies, wanted a doctor in the family and I was their only child.”

During a road trip prior to his final year at the university, he shared his goals with his parents. “We were in a VW bus and they said, ‘We’ll disown you if you become an artist. Make your decision’—it was really bizarre,” he says. His mind flashed back to a BBC interview of Kurt Wagner, MD, he had seen when he was 13. “l said, ‘Then I’ll be a plastic surgeon,’ having no idea what was involved in that.”

He came back to the U.S. and enrolled in medical school at the University of Southern California. Following graduation, he completed a five-year general surgery residency at Cornell Medical Center in New York. Dr. Haworth made his way back to the West coast for his plastic surgery residency at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“After my residency, I had no money so I was anxious to go into practice. I thought, well then I have to goto Beverly Hills because that’s where successful plastic surgeons go,” he says.

Another surgeon offered to rent him a space in his clinic’s kitchen, which was housed in one of the most desirable medical buildings in Beverly Hills. “He had a little pocket door in front of the kitchen so I stayed in there,” says Dr. Haworth. “During my clinic days, I would take his diplomas off the walls in the two little exam rooms and put mine up, and that’s how it started.

“l look back fondly on those days now, but it was horrible at the time. If I had two surgeries in a month, it was a great month.

Finding His Niche

During his UCLA residency, Dr. Haworth won a plastic surgery research prize for his lip surgeries, which provided a unique niche with which to build his practice, More than 20 years later, he has patients from all over the world who travel to the Haworth Institute for their lip surgeries.

“You can be the best doctor in the world, but if you don’t have marketing, no one will know about you,” he says. “So I leveraged that award and started getting known for lips, even though my favorite surgeries are noses, mid- facelifts and what I call hyperaesthetic surgeries where we change everything. The lips are what I was known for, and now I get jazzed by that because there’s really no competi- tion in the world for these surgeries.”

He offers upper, lower and corner lip lifting procedures as well fat transfer and F.A.T.M.A. (fat transfer & mucosal advancement). “l do many types of lip lifts because it is shape before volume; there are many things that fillers alone cannot do,” he says.

Embracing and Investigating New Technologies

Despite the limitations of traditional filling techniques, Dr. Haworth has embraced dermal fillers as effective tools to perfect his patients’ lips. In some cases the new, less invasive procedures are even surpassing what he can achieve in the O.R.

“Our mouths get wider as we age and our lower teeth become visible,” he says. “People will often just fill the lower lip horizontally, which won’t help with these concerns.”

In his surgical center, he performs lower lip V-Y plasty procedures to narrow the mouth, lift the bottom lip and pout out the middle third of the lower lip. But, due to the minimal improvement, he recently became interested in the idea of using vertical filler injections to lift and shape the lower lip.

“About three months ago, I started injecting vertically into the lower lip. I place my long cannula or a long needle vertically from the bottom of the prejowl sulcus all the way to where I see the needle blanching on the vermillion on the back of the lower lip on the sides. Then I inject vertically as I pull the needle out,” he says. “l am seeing such dramatic elevation of not just the lower lip but the whole corner of the mouth—the marionette folds are dramatically reduced and the labiomental sulcus opens up.”

He is calling this the Caisson technique after Caisson beams in construction. “The patients are three months out now, and the results are far better than what we see with the lower V-Y plasty in hiding the lower teeth,” he says.

Dr. Haworth is investigating new ways to augment and lift lips using dermal fillers.

“l love doing surgery, but plastic surgery is in some ways a dying field,” he continues. “The future of plastic surgery lies in the lab, not the operating room. Eventually they are going to know how to stop senescence. In the meantime, the future of aesthetics is laying more and more in lasers and newer, better fillers, and I want to stay on the forefront of that.”

His biggest challenge is determining which new technologies and procedures live up to the hype—and resisting the urge to bring in every new device about which patients inquire. “Sixty to seventy percent of all new medical cosmetic technologies overpromise and under deliver,” he says. “First it’s a big ‘Wow!’ Then results are ‘operator-dependent,’ then it’s gathering dust, so I vet all these technologies and only offer the ones I believe are proven to work.

“What I want to offer my patients with the Haworth Institute and Self Centered Aesthetics is more than one-stop aesthetics, It’s the tools and knowledge to deliver the absolute best treatments for their individual concerns and lifestyles,” continues Dr. Haworth. “We have a turbocharged armamentarium of proven noninvasive treatments to carry on the philosophy that I espouse in my surgeries, which is really detailed aesthetic work.”

Self-Centered Aesthetics

Recently, I was honored to be featured on the cover of the highly popular regarded trade magazine of the noninvasive aesthetic industry, MedEsthetics. Here is the article. We at Self-Centered Aesthetics ™are super excited to be off to such a great, auspicious start. We are aiming to deliver the best, state of the art noninvasive treatment to all patients, under one roof with my philosophy of beauty. Embracing Artistry By Inga Hansen Photography by Cory Sorensen Plastic surgeon Randal Haworth, MD, is taking the next step in his career with the launch of a stylish, comprehensive aesthetic care facility. Randal Haworth, MD, made a name for himself in aesthetics in the early 2000s when he joined Fox television’s reality show, “The Swan.” On the program, he was part of a team of plastic surgeons, stylists and makeup artists who dramatically transformed participants’ appearances, Earlier this year, he transformed his own Beverly Hills, California-based practice when he moved to a new, custom-designed facility that incorporates a full range of aesthetic services—from facials and nutritional services to fillers, lasers and surgical procedures. Dr. Haworth’s design philosophy for the new Haworth Institute was nature meets high-tech. “It’s a beautiful place, and all our services are under one roof—the surgical center, my clinic and our new noninvasive center, Self Centered Aesthetics,” says Dr. Haworth. “Patients always asked us, ‘What else can you do?’ ‘How do I maintain this?’ It just doesn’t make sense nowadays not to offer the full-range of aesthetic treatments.” In addition to laser treatments and injectables performed by Dr. Haworth and his R.N., celebrity esthetician John Tew performs signature facials and naturopathic doctor Matea Polisoto, who goes by “Dr. Matea,” offers IV therapy and nutrition counseling. “Like John, she has a very big following in Beverly Hills and beyond,” says Dr. Haworth. “She is involved with IV therapy, which helps augment the pre- and postoperative surgical experience, and optimizes healing. “The people working with me are just as important as the surgeon—it’s all about having a team,” he says. The Frustrated Artist Born in Los Angeles and educated in England, Dr. Haworth has a somewhat unusual background for a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. “My dad was English and spent World War Il in London selling bootleg whiskey during the Blitzkrieg. My mother and her family lived in Holland during the German occupation,” he says. Following the war, both of his parents immigrated to the United States seeking opportunities, of which there were few in post-war Europe. “They met, and I was born in Los Angeles. But my dad always wanted me to be in England eventually,” says Dr. Haworth. When he was 9 years old, he and his parents drove to Central America and boarded a cargo ship to England. During his school years in London, Dr. Haworth became enamored with the arts. “l always drew—and I was very good at a young age. In University I joined band. I was really into the arts, and that’s what I wanted to pursue,” he says. “But my parents, being war babies, wanted a doctor in the family and I was their only child.” During a road trip prior to his final year at the university, he shared his goals with his parents. “We were in a VW bus and they said, ‘We’ll disown you if you become an artist. Make your decision’—it was really bizarre,” he says. His mind flashed back to a BBC interview of Kurt Wagner, MD, he had seen when he was 13. “l said, ‘Then I’ll be a plastic surgeon,’ having no idea what was involved in that.” He came back to the U.S. and enrolled in medical school at the University of Southern California. Following graduation, he completed a five-year general surgery residency at Cornell Medical Center in New York. Dr. Haworth made his way back to the West coast for his plastic surgery residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. “After my residency, I had no money so I was anxious to go into practice. I thought, well then I have to goto Beverly Hills because that’s where successful plastic surgeons go,” he says. Another surgeon offered to rent him a space in his clinic’s kitchen, which was housed in one of the most desirable medical buildings in Beverly Hills. “He had a little pocket door in front of the kitchen so I stayed in there,” says Dr. Haworth. “During my clinic days, I would take his diplomas off the walls in the two little exam rooms and put mine up, and that’s how it started. “l look back fondly on those days now, but it was horrible at the time. If I had two surgeries in a month, it was a great month,” he says. Finding His Niche During his UCLA residency, Dr. Haworth won a plastic surgery research prize for his lip surgeries, which provided a unique niche with which to build his practice, More than 20 years later, he has patients from all over the world who travel to the Haworth Institute for their lip surgeries. “You can be the best doctor in the world, but if you don’t have marketing, no one will know about you,” he says. “So I leveraged that award and started getting known for lips, even though my favorite surgeries are noses, mid- facelifts and what I call hyperaesthetic surgeries where we change everything. The lips are what I was known for, and now I get jazzed by that because there’s really no competi- tion in the world for these surgeries.” He offers upper, lower and corner lip lifting procedures as well fat transfer and F.A.T.M.A. (fat transfer & mucosal advancement). “l do many types of lip lifts because it is shape before volume; there are many things that fillers alone cannot do,” he says. Embracing and Investigating New TechnologiesDespite the limitations of traditional filling techniques, Dr. Haworth has embraced dermal fillers as effective tools to perfect his patients’ lips. In some cases the new, less invasive procedures are even surpassing what he can achieve in the O.R.”Our mouths get wider as we age and our lower teeth become visible,” he says. “People will often just fill the lower lip horizontally, which won’t help with these concerns.”In his surgical center, he performs lower lip V-Y plasty procedures to narrow the mouth, lift the bottom lip and pout out the middle third of the lower lip. But, due to the minimal improvement, he recently became interested in the idea of using vertical filler injections to lift and shape the lower lip.”About three months ago, I started injecting vertically into the lower lip. I place my long cannula or a long needle vertically from the bottom of the prejowl sulcus all the way to where I see the needle blanching on the vermillion on the back of the lower lip on the sides. Then I inject vertically as I pull the needle out,” he says. “l am seeing such dramatic elevation of not just the lower lip but the whole corner of the mouth—the marionette folds are dramatically reduced and the labiomental sulcus opens up.”He is calling this the Caisson technique after Caisson beams in construction. “The patients are three months out now, and the results are far better than what we see with the lower V-Y plasty in hiding the lower teeth,” he says.Dr. Haworth is investigating new ways to augment and lift lips using dermal fillers.”l love doing surgery, but plastic surgery is in some ways a dying field,” he continues. “The future of plastic surgery lies in the lab, not the operating room. Eventually they are going to know how to stop senescence. In the meantime, the future of aesthetics is laying more and more in lasers and newer, better fillers, and I want to stay on the forefront of that.”His biggest challenge is determining which new technologies and procedures live up to the hype—and resisting the urge to bring in every new device about which patients inquire. “Sixty to seventy percent of all new medical cosmetic technologies overpromise and under deliver,” he says. “First, it’s a big ‘Wow!’ Then results are ‘operator-dependent,’ then it’s gathering dust, so I vet all these technologies and only offer the ones I believe are proven to work.”What I want to offer my patients with the Haworth Institute and Self Centered Aesthetics is more than one-stop aesthetics, It’s the tools and knowledge to deliver the absolute best treatments for their individual concerns and lifestyles,” continues Dr. Haworth. “We have a turbocharged armamentarium of proven noninvasive treatments to carry on the philosophy that I espouse in my surgeries, which is really detailed aesthetic work.”

Gloria (Croatia) 2017

Dr. HAWORTH is interviewed by Gloria magazine about his life in being a top Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and catering to the aesthetic whims and desires of the rich and famous as well as his charity work. He has heard about Gloria magazine from his ex wife who was Serbian Actress Ana Alexander (Stojanovic).

Difference between Bad Surgery and Good with a Complication.

As trifling as it may seem to the layperson, aesthetic surgery is serious business. Apart from obvious cosmetic ramifications, the seriousness becomes understandable when one considers that the surgeon must first make a healthy patient temporarily unwell in order to make he or she look better in the end. It is for this very reason plastic surgeons have an added unique responsibility which surgeons of other specialties simply do not bear. Choosing to undergo elective surgery is a series of decisions made by both the surgeon and the patient. As with all aspects of medicine, nothing is absolute, it is about controlling probability.

In this day and age, patients increasingly view plastic surgery as nothing more than a haircut with a short recovery, let alone one with a complication. Even under the best of hands, a complication can arise for any number of reasons and if it does, acting as a team with your surgeon is crucial.  Whether following a facelift, rhinoplasty or any plastic surgery for that matter, almost all complications can be fixed in the end, even if multiple surgical revisions are needed.

It is normal for the layman to consider surgical results as either “good” or “bad”,  but those adjectives can be misleading and are certainly inadequate in revealing the true story behind the result.

“Good” surgery with a complication is not the same as “bad” surgery per se. In other words, complications do not all come from “bad” surgeons and indeed, “bad” surgeons may have  successfully completed an operation without encountering obvious complications. I think it fair to say most patients consider themselves as good people and if a complication happens to them, they will perceive themselves as victims of a bad surgery and by extension, a bad surgeon. So what is the difference between “bad” surgery and a “good” surgery with a complication?

Look at it this way… in any profession, there are the “good”, the “bad” and the “excellent”. For the sake of this discussion, let’s just oversimplify the comparison between “good” and the “bad”. Since plastic surgery is as much an art (or at least an artisanal craft) as it is a science, whereby results are measured both objectively and subjectively, it is not unreasonable to compare a plastic surgeon to any artist or craftsman, including sculptors, painters and woodworkers. Artists filter their talent and vision through years of experience to not only earn but continually solidify their reputation as either being “good” or “bad”. Moreover, good artists become respected by not just producing one “good” piece but doing so consistently, whereas the “bad” consistently create sub par results as judged by the median consensus.

However, all artists, whether good or bad, are limited by the quality of material with which they work. It is known that Michelangelo’s David has been deteriorating at a far more rapid pace than would be expected because of the poor quality of its marble composition. Bernini also broke a piece of marble in half through chiseling into an unexpected vein in the stone causing him to start all over with a brand-new block. Does that make him a bad artist? Hardly not.

In other words, complications happen and that’s why there are consents to protect not only the doctor but also the patient. Consents should ensure the patients are informed as to the shared risk both they and the surgeon take when undergoing surgery.

Many complications are avoidable. Both doctors and patients must do their part to optimize a certain outcome and minimize the risk of complications. Patients must avoid certain medications that may promote bleeding, cease all smoking for optimal circulation, follow instructions and take medications as prescribed. Otherwise, surgery may be self-sabotaged. On the other hand, surgeons must do their part in educating and performing the proper operation in the right patient with skill and dedication.

Other complications are unavoidable and just because they may be explainable in hindsight does not mean they were avoidable within the context they occurred. This is why it is paramount that patients disclose all of their medical history and follow their surgeon’s instructions to a T in order to minimize unexpected situations such as abnormal bleeding, poor wound healing, etc..

What spurred me to write this particular blog was a recent experience having performed a complex revision rhinoplasty on a dear friend of mine of 20 years. Unfortunately, this advanced detailed nasal reconstruction was exacerbated by unexpected physiological conditions including excessive bleeding and poor tissue characteristics. The next day, the patient presented with so much swelling underneath the pressure cast that it was being pushed off the face. The swelling was a hematoma which I immediately evacuated from under the skin (it was 4 1/2 mL, being the largest nasal hematoma encountered by either my colleagues or myself). Accompanying this was necrosis (death) of the columellar skin (the partition separating his left and right nostrils). This was particularly disappointing to say the least because the surgical results in terms of nasal shape, symmetry, tip definition and projection were otherwise excellent. Yet losing coverage over the columella would have serious ramifications.

Despite attempts to bring vascularized tissue using local intraoral flaps, my friend eventually needed the help of a certain specialist to bring fresh tissue to the columella below the nasal tip with a temporary forehead flap.

The arrows on the drawing illustrate that portion of the nasal skin (overlying the columella) that was necrotic. Replacement is required through vascularized tissue flaps

Albeit exceedingly rare, this 1.5 x 1.2 cm skin loss was enough to eradicate not only their trust in me as a surgeon but also our long term friendship. Most patients understandably experience a spectrum of emotions including panic, sadness, denial, anger and ultimately acceptance from a complication such as this. However, nothing could prepare me for the degree of ongoing vengeful anger and hostility the patient and their partner have directed towards me including threats to go to the press and ruin my reputation.

Anger is not only destructive but also lacks focus, therefore it can be especially counterproductive to both healing and a good result (not to mention friendship!). Premature castigations of blame fuel brash, illogical decisions which actually complicate the original complication.

Understanding the differences between “bad” and “good” surgery and “good” surgery with a complication can certainly help put things in perspective. When a patient concedes the net surgical aesthetic result, at least in terms of shape and symmetry, as good if not excellent, he or she is less likely to question, and more likely trust, their original choice of surgeon. Whether their breast lift incision opened or, as in this case, a small but strategic portion of nasal skin died, the affected patient will see the “bigger picture” and believe their surgeon will  do the right thing by having their best interests at heart. This same patient understands that they were not necessarily a victim or unjustifiably punished by “bad” surgery. Instead, they will accept things for what they are, learn patience and develop a sense of optimism to set themselves up for the best possible outcome in the future.

The majority of complications concern wound healing and minor infections. For these, possible antibiotics and the “tincture of time” for healing to occur are required. Other times, simple, clinical interventions such as laser treatment, injections, the occasional scar revision and creams are all that are needed.

Other complications require more invasive solutions. Depending on the type of complication, an expeditious trip to the operatory maybe all that is required (e.g.,to drain a hematoma) whereas staged surgical revisions may be undertaken in the extremely rare case of tissue loss.

Most surgeons will recognize if a particular complication is beyond their level of expertise. A patient should not feel abandoned or simply passed off if they are referred to another expert if a complication warrants it. It is important to recognize that medicine is team work and the referral is simply a reflection of the original surgeon’s dedication to the best outcome possible.

Emotional advice after a complication

Watch out for advice with an agenda. It is understandable that if a complication does arise, fear and anxiety will prompt you to seek solace and advice from friends and family members. While this is wholeheartedly encouraged, it is important to remember that not all the advice given is good especially considering that those giving advice are not often doctors nor do they know the intricate details of the patient’s particular case. Though most advice is well-meaning in intent, some may be motivated by guilt, jealousy, personality disorders or just plain ignorance. Furthermore, the advice a patient may obtain from elsewhere may be counterproductive because it may only increase their level of anxiety.

Stay optimistic and avoid jumping to any pessimistic conclusions. It is not unheard of that acute anxiety will provoke a patient to impatiently reach for the help of an alternative plastic surgeon. Unfortunately, some plastic surgeons may be unscrupulous and advise the fragile, highly suggestible patient into unnecessary and ill-timed surgery claiming it is urgently needed to prevent some permanent deformity. Always keep a line of communication open with the original plastic surgeon to not only help allay personal fears but also be guided in the right direction with a second opinion if necessary.

“A good patient is an educated patient”-

Randal D. Haworth M.D., F.A.C.S.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Beverly Hills

Self-Centered Aesthetics

After more than two decades of commitment to delivering the best of what plastic surgery can deliver in terms of aesthetic results and quality-of-life improvement, top Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, Randal Haworth, found it time to expand his philosophy into an adjacent arena. That arena is the nonsurgical approach to optimize the patient’s aesthetic wellness. Dr. Haworth has maintained that future advances in plastic surgery will not lie solely in the operatory but more in the laboratory. Specifically, advances in lasers, injectables, light and genomic therapy will take precedence over any evolutionary steps in surgical technique. Currently, non-surgical cosmetic procedures are rapidly evolving to meet the expectations, budgets and lifestyles of patients of all backgrounds and consequently, their popularity is exponentially increasing every year.

As a world-renowned expert in facial plastic surgery (including rhinoplasty, lip lifts, face lifts, eye lifts and even bodywork such as breast augmentation) Dr. Haworth has come to a point where he need not confine his artistry mainly to the syringe and scalpel but also safely and reliably imbue it into noninvasive aesthetic medicine. Consequently, he and his team at the Haworth Institute have founded Self-Centered Aesthetics, a center devoted to optimum physical appearance, through the safest, most reliable state-of-the-art technology.

Self-Centered Aesthetics (SLF-CA) will be catering to the vast majority of patients’ aesthetic needs. Among the services SLF-CA will be offering are:

1. Laser hair removal with our virtually painless Light Sheer Duet vacuum laser technology

2. Eyelash and eyebrow treatments

3. Removal of wrinkles, fine lines and sagging folds via a variety of methods including essentially all fillers, microneedling with PRP, Botox and lasers (Spectra®, Encore® Active and Deep FX™ fractionated CO2, ResurFX® fractionated erbium and IPL® Photofacial)

4. Treatment of brown spots, brown patches, red discolorations and spider veins utilizing proven laser technology (IPL® Photofacial and Spectra®)

5. Tattoo removal (Spectra® and other lasers)

6. Noninvasive body fat reduction through SculpSure®, a laser designed to achieve up to 20% fat reduction in 25 minutes with virtually no discomfort and absolutely no incisions.

7. Facial feature improvement through the selective use of fillers and Botox®. With refined aesthetic sensibility and an astute artistic sensitivity, fillers (both temporary and permanent), can enhance all aspects of the face. However, to maximize the beauty of a result without artifice or outward fakery requires customized planning to balance patients’ needs with their individual expectations. From a flat forehead with hollow temples to sunken cheeks and dark eyelid circles to thin lips and an ill-defined jawline, the professionals at SLF-CA under the auspices of Dr. Haworth dedicate themselves to make you look your very best!

​Additionally, our CENTER will offer aesthetician services to maintain and fine-tune your SELF and your AESTHETIC results. Self-Centered Aesthetics™ will be coming soon. www.selfcenteredaesthetics.com

Drastic or Fantastic Plastic Boob Job?

 
Fake pre-pectoral breast implants
Artificially round and hard appearing breasts after an overfilled “above the muscle” breast implant augmentation. The patient desired a more natural and smaller pair of breasts to match her frame
Natural, conservative result after breast implant revision and breast lift perform simultaneously.
Natural result afterexchange of her overfilled implants to memory gel silicone implants “under the muscle” along with a mastopexy (breast lift).
What is wrong with this revision breast implant and lift surgery I performed? According to this patient, apparently everything!     At first, this patient came to me with ostensibly straightforward requests to “make” her breasts smaller and “better-shaped” in accordance with her body frame.  Of note, she had undergone a previous “above the muscle” breast augmentation which, in my humble opinion, left her with a net result of breasts which were too big, too round and too fake. In essence, her breasts did not lend to a pulchritudinous appearance and that is why she sought my expertise in the first place. Indeed, she wanted to get remarried after having children and was seeking “christian boobs” to attract a decent husband. So I did what any self-respecting, honest and aesthetically minded board certified plastic surgeon would do and that was to perform a capsulectomy (remove her collagenous scar capsules),  substitute her overfilled saline implants with smooth Memory Silicone Gel  implants placed “under the muscle” and conclude with a bilateral mastopexy (breast lift). I thought the surgery was an unqualified success and, further punctuated by her exceptional healing vis-à-vis scarring.     So why was she unhappy? I was thoroughly puzzled since we both had extensive discussions prior to the surgery about the usual risks, alternatives and benefits including what she exactly wanted from the surgery. I know she wanted to go smaller (check), she wanted to be natural (check), she wanted to appear more youthful and perky (check) and indeed she conceded that I did achieve these goals. However,she also expected her breasts to be firm and more round  she felt that her result was too natural, both in look and to touch and therefore something went wrong.  
Fake pre-pectoral breast implants
BEFORE: Artificially round and hard appearing breasts after an overfilled “above the muscle” breast implant augmentation. The patient desired a more natural and smaller pair of breasts to match her frame
Natural, conservative result after breast implant revision and breast lift perform simultaneously.
AFTER:Natural result after exchange of her overfilled implants to memory gel silicone implants “under the muscle” along with a mastopexy (breast lift).
Fake pre-pectoral breast implants
BEFORE
Natural, conservative result after breast implant revision and breast lift perform simultaneously.
AFTER
                      But after further, protracted postoperative conversations with her, I realized where the disconnect was. I did not give her what she exactly wanted from the surgery because I gave her what she asked for and not what she wanted. In essence, this was a story of missed and unrealistic expectations.     More and more of these situations arise in a plastic surgery practice simply because unrealistic expectations are instilled in us 24/7 by social media. The main platforms culpable for this insidious brainwashing are the mobile apps Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube with their interminable repository of Photoshopped/FaceTuned manipulated models and instructional contouring videos. Young women come to me wanting cheekbones, buttocks or breasts like Abigail or Jocelyn Instastar simply because they are famous and therefore more popular and loved.    
Social media and Instagram star Abigail Ratchford
Social media and Instagram star Abigail Ratchford
Indeed, one patient requested Bella Hadid’s nose even though, in my opinion her rhinoplasty ended up with an “inverted V” deformity and a somewhat pinched, boxy tip. However, it did not matter to her because she considered Bella her idol andwas willing to accept a possible substandard result with potential nasal obstruction. Ah, the power of celebrity!     Recently, I had the experience of operating on another young woman who had beautifully shaped breasts with a natural cleavage. She wanted to go only slightly bigger yet have a bigger gap between her breasts. The surgery went flawlessly but the patient was dissatisfied. She agreed her breasts were fuller with a wider cleavage but she now voiced that I should have known all along she wanted her breasts to look fake, round and hard! After this perplexing conversation, I sat down and pondered the meaning of what I really do.
Social media and Instagram star, Joselyn Cano.
Social media and Instagram star, Joselyn Cano.
    It is one thing to make abnormalities such as unnatural breasts look natural but it’s  another thing altogether to make natural looking breasts look deliberately unnatural and possibly unappealing. For decades, I have endeavored to create natural results by making the deformed normal and the normal beautiful but now a new aesthetic standard has emerged in our culture and ultimately, it may not have positive consequences.   But who am I to judge?  Fake is the new real.     Randal Haworth MD, FACS

2016 State-of-the-art lip shaping-Dr. HAWORTH on the “Doctors’ show

Very few surgeons in the world understand aesthetics to the point where they can be a  true hyperaesthetic facial plastic surgeon specialist. A hyperesthetic specialist is similar to the conductor of an orchestra-he or she needs to know all the instruments better than the individual players in order to “orchestrate” them to create melodious harmony without dissonance. One of the keys to create visual harmony in the face is mastering lip rejuvenation surgery-it’s not just about adding volume (which is essentially what most practitioners and patients equate with lip enhancement), it’s about mastering the shape of both the upper and lower lip. Patients travel  from all corners of the globe to top Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and lip augmentation specialist, Dr Haworth to undergo hyperesthetic change, which may include any number of surgical art performances including a high-profile facelift, endoscopic brow lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty or his lip reshaping signature surgery! https://youtu.be/cI3nEq5R3x8

Know your nose job options:

Know your nose job options: knife or needle?

So you had a nose job and you don’t like the result.   Now what are you going to do?   You can always do nothing and live with the result. That’s OK. That’s your decision.   You can go back to the original surgeon or to a new one (of course, one who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery). This plastic surgeon may feel you’re a good candidate and give you two options: surgery (secondary or revision rhinoplasty) or non-surgery. In essence, the knife or the needle. Before your meeting with the plastic surgeon, you may think your only option at this point is a revision rhinoplasty with its attendant cost and recovery. However, this plastic surgeon rhinoplasty expert whom you chose to get a secondary opinion with, surprised you with his honesty, suggesting an altogether different approach to your nagging problem. He offered you a solution that involves less recovery, costs a good deal less and fixes your main concern…

  …and it doesn’t involve surgery.

  Your new plastic surgeon offered to inject filler into your nose to camouflage the irregularities, smooth and even out your bridge and even give you more of a chic tip. From the front view, by strategically injecting the filler to alter the light reflex and  control shadows your deviated nose can even be made to appear straight. He/she offers you a temporary or permanent filler. The temporary ones can serve as a dress rehearsal, so to speak, if you are unsure as to whether this is a good idea or not. Temporary ones such as hyaluronic acid  (e.g., Juvederm ®, Restylane ®, Voluma ®) or calcium hydroxyapatite (Radiesse ®)are good choices. Permanent ones such as Bellafill ®, Aquamid ® (not FDA approved) or fat transfer (a living transplant from your own body) are all excellent fillers in my opinion. You decide to go for it but you must be counseled to have realistic expectations. Fillers definitely cost less and involve less recovery (a few days of swelling and perhaps minor bruising at worst). However, the filler solution will: 1.  Neither help breathing problems 2.  Nor  will they treat all forms of aesthetic deformities such as this:
distorted medial crura of the alar cartilages
Significantly distorted medial crura of the alar cartilages
So the next time you’re considering altering the shape of your nose with a rhinoplasty of some sort, you may ask your plastic surgeon (hopefully,  board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery) about the filler option. Albeit,  it cannot match the power of an actual surgical rhinoplasty, the non-surgical, filler rhinoplasty can be an excellent alternative to actual scalpel- based surgery in many select circumstances. In these cases, the needle can be more powerful than the knife as one can see below:
Bellafill injectable , non-surgical rhinoplasty
This lady had a distorted nose after a previous rhinoplasty. Her cartilages were visible through her extremely thin skin and were twisted. After Bellafill ® Treatment.
Bellafill injectable , non-surgical rhinoplasty
Note the improvement of her inverted V deformity and how the nose appears straighter
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Note how her nasal rims have been dramatically lowered with the off-the-shelf filler. Of course, individual results may vary.

Is Yelp Contributing To Opiate Drug Addiction?

doid_yelpI recently came across this article by Jonathan Kaplan, and it struck a chord with me. The Yelp review is something that doctors have become accustomed to in recent years, but not always by choice. While Yelp can be a great way for patients to find new doctors, it also poses a lot of problems for the medical community. The care of a doctor is very different from the service you might get at a restaurant, so why would you review the two using the same system? It is much more difficult for patients to review their health care objectively. Their opinions are often based on their emotions and the pain they are feeling. In his article, Kaplan suggests that Yelp reviews might be contributing the opioid crisis in America. A patient in a great deal of discomfort may ask for more pain killers. Their doctor is trained to know the proper dosage to give them, and will often deny them anything more than what is necessary. However, more recently, patients who do not feel their pain has been sufficiently addressed have taken to Yelp to voice their anger. A bad Yelp review can really make things difficult on a practice, so more and more often, doctors find themselves giving in to these requests in order to avoid the negative reviews. I can’t count how many doctors, not just plastic surgeons, who been held hostage by their misguided patients threatening to post misleading if not blatantly false reviews if they do not get what they want. Consequently, these online reviews can be inherently biased, arising from personal agendas and not  from impartial reporting of facts. It’s not hard to imagine how this can also harm the unsuspecting public who, prompted by a malevolent post, may seek alternative treatment from a less qualified professional. This was unfortunately the case when my friends daughter was booked for a liver transplant for a congenital condition to be performed by one of the worlds preeminent liver transplant surgeons here in Los Angeles. After reading a negative online review, she canceled her surgery and ended up getting surgery elsewhere. Tragically her operation was bungled because of a negligent mismatch which resulted in her ultimate death. This could’ve been avoided if she did not read the deliberately misleading online review by the disgruntled patient (who I later came to find out was denied further Vicodin pain medication for her own good since it contains acetaminophen, a known tocsin to the liver). Like in any profession, doctors have patients that are wonderful and compliant, but they can also come across others that can be difficult to work with. The review of one difficult person should not affect an entire medical practice. Furthermore, the fear of negative reviews can not and should not lead doctors to over prescribe medication and put the health of their patients at risk.

ANGELINO (2015)

Anti-aging treatments
The latest in treatments, fillers and procedures help keep you beautifully radiant-at any age. Here’s the inside track on what to do, and who to go to, to put your best self forward. Among those esteem practitioners interviewed by Angelina, Dr. Randal Haworth MD was honored to be included among them. Anti-aging treatments
scan-9“Botox plays in important role in keeping fine lines at bay”, says plastic surgeon Dr. Randal Haworth MD renowned for achieving naturally beautiful results. Haworth suggests conservative use of Botox (from $500, the Haworth Institute) in the 30s to diminish fine lines and crows feet. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Randal Haworth MD Bellafill ($1200, The Haworth Institute) to permanently diminish deep folds and fill out eyelid hollows.
Page 2 of 3
1 2 3