Ocean’s 11 Lines? George Clooney’s Take on Plastic Surgery

Actor George Clooney implied recently that it’s best to let gravity take its course, and he wasn’t referring to his Academy Award-winning sci-fi thriller.

In a radio interview with the BBC, the 54-year-old Clooney sounded off on the subject of plastic surgery, saying:

“For me, it isn’t an issue or an option. I don’t think it would make much sense, quite honestly … I’ve seen it happen and … particularly on men, I don’t think it really works well. I actually think it makes you look older.”

As a board-certified plastic surgeon who has been practicing here in New Jersey for more than 2 decades, I frequently meet male patients who share Clooney’s concern. However, I’ve long practiced with the belief that if it looks like plastic surgery, it’s bad plastic surgery. Yes, it is possible for plastic surgery results to look obvious when the surgeon lacks experience or artistic skill — but not if you do your homework and choose a doctor with your best interests at heart.

Here are 3 of my favorite procedures that offer natural-looking yet rejuvenating results, particularly for men:

• Eyelid Surgery: Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery removes excess skin and fat around the eyes that can make both men and women look older. The eye shape stays the same, and other signs of aging, such as crow’s feet, remain. For this reason, eyelid surgery is a great way to look more youthful without appearing as though you’ve had plastic surgery.
• Brow lift: Also known as a forehead lift, a brow lift reduces forehead wrinkles and those so-called “11’s” (the vertical lines between your eyes above your nose when you frown). A brow lift is a nice way to look well-rested and refreshed without going through with a full facelift.
• BOTOX® Cosmetic: If you’d like to soften some of the signs of aging but don’t want to go through with surgery, BOTOX is wonderful for that. For the best possible results, I personally perform the BOTOX injections at my practice rather assigning this job to an aesthetician or other staff member.

Want the best results? Seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon. Yes, Clooney may have played a famous doctor on E.R., but when it comes to your body, consult an expert before ruling out the O.R.