On Desperate Housewives, yes I watch that show, there was some controversy over Tom Scavo, played by Doug Savant, wanting to get a facelift in order to become a more competitive applicant. He sees a college classmate who now looks amazing and who is wife Annette is raving about. He feels that if he gets a procedure done, he will become more atttractive and more likely to get a job. In order to dissuade Tom from receiving a facelift, Annette brings in a patient with a poor facelift outcome, with a windtunnel appearance. Annette later comments on liking Tom’s forehead wrinkles and nasolabial folds as character and also states that she does not want himi to look younger than her.
It becoming a more and more common trend (see previous posts) for patient’s to consider having plastic surgery as a Resume builder. There are a couple of issues with this. First of all, if you equate getting a procedure to getting a job, then you probably are going to be disappointed. Only think of getting a procedure if you would want it anyway and need it. I commonly see patients in my office who have seen 5 previous plastic surgeons in the area for a facelift, all of whom said the patient needed it, when in fact many of these patients are clearly not candidates for a facelift.
Second of all, get the procedure you would need. Tom Scavo is played by a 43 year old actor named Douglas Savant. He clearly does not need a facelift. He could benefit from botox and facial fillers if he would like to soften some lines but for the role he plays on TV, but this is obviously a stylistic choice, especially for the role he plays on TV.
Seeing the patient with the wind tunnel appearance on Desperate Housewives also brings up the point of looking natural and not trying to look like you’ve had surgery. Many of the “skin only’ techniques and older techniques out there will create this disturbing look, as can be witnessed at many restaraunts, plays, events. Newer techniques, such as CPMS, helps create a more natural apperance and youthful appearance.
Finally, Annette is afraid her husband will look like she is too old for her husband. I commonly see husbands and wives either getting facelifts together or having their lifts at an earlier date.