"The Kings of Nip and Tuck"  (Westside Today Oct. 2004)

Beverly Hills has long been the Mecca of plastic surgery, but over the past couple of years much of the country has jumped on the cosmetic makeover bandwagon. 

This recent fascination with nip and tuck may be linked to the success of reality shows such as “Extreme Makeover,” which follows patients through a complete physical transformation performed by a team of various experts, including Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon Dr. Garth Fisher.

“I think the show is appealing because it’s a Cinderella story,” says Dr. Fisher. “And everybody on some level would like to look better.”

“Extreme Makeover" has resulted in extreme exposure for Dr. Fisher. He used to book patients one year in advance, but since the show went on the air, one can expect to wait two years for an open slot.

While his clientele includes Baywatch babes and Playboy Playmates, Dr. Fisher says he puts the same care into his non-famous patients. “I try to do a good job no matter who the patient is.  I will spare no expense or time in trying to achieve the most perfect result possible.”

Because Dr. Fisher works in Beverly Hills, stars on a hit TV show and is married to actress Brooke Burke, some might see his life as glitzy and glamorous, but this doc’s busy schedule leaves little time to enjoy the spoils of success. 

“I work 12-14 hours a day,” he says. “Whatever free time I have I want to spend with my family. We’re homebodies. We really don’t go to parties. I don’t consider myself a celebrity, I just consider myself a doctor.”

Part of his jam-packed schedule was recently taken up with the making of a video, “The Naked Truth About Plastic Surgery,” which is designed to educate the public about cosmetic surgery procedures. For more info, check out www.NakedTruth.com.

Just down the street from Dr. Fisher is another celebrity surgeon, Dr. Robert Kolter. This Beverly Hills veteran has been practicing cosmetic surgery for 35 years, which is why he was asked to appear on the E! Channel’s “Dr. 90210.”

“It’s a peek into the lives of real people, both patients and doctors,” Dr. Kolter explains. “These shows have proven that cosmetic surgery is not beyond the reach of most people. Most of our patients are just regular people from all walks of life.  It’s not just for the ultra rich anymore.”

In fact, being rich doesn’t always guarantee the best results. “Unfortunately, we have seen that Michael Jackson has gone way too far,” says Dr. Kolter. “Marie Osmond always looks surprised; her eyebrows are a bit too high. I think Joan Rivers has reached the limit as to what is reasonable or has gone just a step beyond.”

This raises the question, why do some people, especially wealthy celebrities, look as if they got a runover instead of a makeover?

Dr. Kolter says, “They, like all of us, can make bad consumer choices. They may not pick the most specialized surgeon. Second, some surgeons go along with things that aren’t right, and celebrities are very good at convincing them to do so. And some surgeons may want to be part of the celebrity world.  They may not want to say ‘no,’ but you need to say ‘no’ to some patients.”

To illustrate this point and others, Dr. Kolter has written a book, “Secrets of a Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgeon,” which gives the public inside info on cosmetic surgery and ways to avoid costly mistakes.

One of those mistakes could be having plastic surgery done too early in life. Top Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon Dr. Athleo Cambre believes that certain procedures such as otoplasty (pinning back protruding ears) or rhinoplasty (nose job) are acceptable for younger age groups, but says, “What I’m starting to see are teenagers saying they want liposuction or breast implants. It’s not illegal, but we’re really not allowed to do that. Most malpractice carriers are not going to cover you if you operate on a patient younger than age 18 for cosmetic breast surgery.”

Dr. Cambre also offers advice for those who may think that liposuction is a cure-all for obesity: “There is a mentality out there that plastic surgery can forgive you for your sins of excess eating, but it’s not a major weight loss operation. The amount of actual weight that people lose is typically less than 10 pounds. For certain people with genetically determined fat deposits that they are unable to get rid of with any kind of dieting or exercising, liposuction is a good alternative.”

To learn more about the ins and outs of cosmetic surgery, check out the Cosmetic Enhancement Expo at the LA Convention Center on November 5-7. Drs. Fisher, Kolter Cambre and many others will be speaking on plastic surgery. There will be electronic imaging, seminars, skin care tips and body contouring info. Go to www.MyCEE.com to learn more.