Celebrities’ use of cosmetic medicine is fascinating, of course, but that news is also collected here for another reason — to provide a basis for the Register’s “Face to Face” series. In those pieces, which are aimed at exploring the technologies of modern cosmetic medicine, plastic surgeons and dermatologists analyze what they see in stars’ photos. Cast your vote on which celebrity’s face you’d like cosmetic doctors to analyze next on “Face to Face.”

Kelly Rowland, happy with new breast implants

Singer Kelly Rowland had plastic surgery in October to increase her bust size from an A-cup (above right) to a B-cup (above left), she told People magazine.

Rowland, 27, who sang with Beyoncé in the group Destiny’s Child, said she took a long time to decide to have breast implants.

“It is a decision I made for myself. I like it, and that’s all that counts. For young people: Think about it before you just jump off and do something (you may regret later),” she said.

She decided that she didn’t want her breasts to be too large, but she wanted them large enough to look good in the clothing she likes.

“I didn’t want to have double Ds and be a little bitty size 2 — that would look nuts!” she said.

“I was sick of not fitting into my tops,” she says. “There was this one really hot House of Dereon top — I just wanted to fill that out!”

She said she likes how she looks in a top designed by Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles. “I put it on and I looked so good! I’m so happy. I feel complete.”

Vanessa Williams, Botox enthusiast

Feb. 24, 2008 — Add actress-singer Vanessa Williams to the list of admitted Botox fans.

“I certainly do Botox, which I definitely think that almost every woman that I know has,” she told ABC interviewer Barbara Walters in today’s Oscar-night show. “And it’s a miracle drug, no cutting, nothing …“

Williams, 44, who currently stars in the show “Ugly Betty,” won the Miss America pageant at age 20. She was born March 18, 1963.

After Penthouse magazine ran nude photos of her, she was forced to resign as Miss America. She later launched a recording career, including the albums “The Comfort Zone” and “The Sweetest Days.” As an actress, she co-starred with Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Eraser” in 1996.

Other roles, listed by IMDB.com, included “Soul Food” (1997), “Shaft” (2000) and the Broadway musical “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

Stallone as role model

Jan. 25, 2008 — Sylvester Stallone defends his use of human growth hormone, which helped him get buff for the new “Rambo” movie.

Does that make Stallone a bad role model for boys and young men? Answer that question in the survey below.

“HGH (human growth hormone) is nothing,” the 61-year-old actor told Time magazine in its Feb. 4 issue. “Anyone who calls it a steroid is grossly misinformed.”

Because it is nearly undetectable, HGH has become a substance of great concern in major league baseball and other sports battling allegations of rampant doping.

“Testosterone to me is so important for a sense of well-being when you get older,” Stallone says. “Everyone over 40 years old would be wise to investigate it because it increases the quality of your life. Mark my words. In 10 years it will be over the counter.”

Stallone directed and co-wrote the new “Rambo” movie, which arrived in theaters Friday.

Last year, he was arrested in Australia on charges of bringing HGH — a restricted substance — into that country.

Stallone, born in New York on July 6, 1946, is now 61.

(This post, which is based on reporting by the Associated Press, incorporates most of the original AP story.)

Are celebrities using steroids, HGH to maintain youthful looks?
Jan. 17, 2008 — The most intriguing coverage of the latest accusations about celebrities using steroids and human growth hormones comes from MTV.com, which asks:

“Why Would 50 Cent, Timbaland, Mary J. Blige Use Steroids?”

The reply:

“The answer may lie in rejuvenation. Experts believe … that more entertainers are turning to ‘the unproven anti-aging effects of steroids.’ “

The coverage explores a disagreement between cosmetic surgeon Thomas Barnes of Newport Beach and Dr. Thomas Perl at Boston University School of Medicine about the anti-aging potential of human growth hormones.

Barnes cites the effects of HGH such as increasing testosterone levels, which can thicken the hair and skin, add luster to the eyes and “basically (help) the body look more vigorous.” He states:

“HGH, though controversial in some circles, has its benefits. Barnes said when people pass age 30 — especially entertainers — life begins to take its toll.

‘With men, particularly, they start literally wasting away and aging,’ he said.”

He cites potential problems when HGH isn’t administered by doctors but by physical trainers who may not know the right dosages to use or what to do if the patient has an adverse reaction to the injection.

“It is a drug, and it really should be administered by someone who is licensed personnel,” Dr. Barnes said. “It’s easy for a trainer to give it, but when problems start, that’s when the finger-pointing starts.”

Perl, a professor of medicine at BU School of Medicine, disagrees. He founded AntiAgingQuackery.com, which challenges claims about the benefits of steroids and HGH.

“Hormones are the darling of the anti-aging industry, because people generally equate the word with youth,” Dr. Perl insisted. “And they think, ‘Take a hormone. Oh, it makes me young again.’

“The irony is that animal studies show growth hormones actually decrease life span, they doesn’t increase life span,” he said. “It’s all marketing. It’s all a sale.”

Simon Cowell relies on Botox, shuns plastic surgery and hair color

Nov. 20, 2007 — Botox, yes. Plastic surgery, no.

That’s a fairly common attitude. But “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell adds a different twist: Hair color, no way.

He says he uses Botox to fight back against wrinkles, hasn’t had plastic surgery and would never color his hair.

“Vain? Yeah, I am. But to be honest with you, I can’t think of one person who is on TV who isn’t vain,” he said in an interview with the Daily Mail. “It’s the nature of the beast. If you are on TV then you have a vanity, for sure. Just admit it! Why not?”

“Yes, I’ve had Botox, but not in an obsessive way,” he said. “I’ve never dyed my hair, ever and I wouldn’t.”

Cowell, who was born Oct. 7, 1959, is 48 years old.

Kim Cattrell, 51, tells where she uses Botox, why she doesn’t go for plastic surgery

Actress Kim Cattrell, star of “Sex and the City,” says she uses Botox but shies away from plastic surgery, the British magazine Now reports.“’I'm too terrified to get any proper work done so I’ve just had little things,” she says.

That includes Botox injections to remove “a big crease between my eyebrows.”

“I’m scared of surgery because I don’t want to look in the mirror and not recognize who’s looking back,” the magazine reports her as saying. “I think, ‘Why would anyone want to lower themselves to look like an alien?’ “

She cites actresses Helen Mirren and Judi Dench as role models. “These amazing women …look great, but they look like their age,” she says.
“Sex appeal is all about confidence, and that comes from self-knowledge.”

Born in Liverpool, England, on Aug. 21, 1956, Cattrell is now 51.

Jane Seymour explains her breast implants, eyelid surgery, wrinkles

Actress Jane Seymour says she had small breast implants and plastic surgery on her eyelids, but no face lift, according to several accounts of an interview in an upcoming issue of People magazine.

“Genetically I had baggy eyes, and photographers said they didn’t want to spend money endlessly having to eradicate the bags,” the actress says.

“I haven’t had a facelift,” she says. “This is what a 56-year-old woman looks like - with wrinkles.”

Celebrity watchers reacted negatively, since Seymour has spoken against plastic surgery in the past.

The implants were for her first topless scene, in the 2005 comedy “Wedding Crashers.” They were so small “my plastic surgeon had to special order them.”

She says she decided to get the implants because wanted to get back her figure after becoming a mother of twins.

Seymour has been skeptical about some cosmetic procedures. “Until I see a full facelift that doesn’t look like one, or Botox or cheekbone implants that look natural, I doubt I’ll be interested.,” she was recently quoted as saying.

Critics included the “Back in Skinny Jeans” blog, which calls her a hypocrite and urges her to “just be real with us.”

The blog “dlisted” said, “I feel betrayed and it’s going to take me a while to forgive her, but I will. I still love Jane and think she’s one sexy cougar, so I will just forget all the lies she’s told me. It’s time to heal.”

“Jane Seymour lied,” says the blog “Plastic Celebrities.”

But Michigan-based plastic surgeon Anthony Youn comments, “Most women who have plastic surgery are like her. She’s had a few things done to improve her outer appearance, but hasn’t gone overboard nor changed the essence of how she looks. It’s refreshing to see a star like her admit to well-done plastic surgery.”

Asked about how they feel about Seymour’s revelations, readers had divided opinions:

• 46 percent said, “She’s a hypocrite.”
• 30 percent said, “It’s refreshing to see a star admit the work she’s had.”
• 24 percent said, in essence, “Leave her alone.”

Australians worry about teens and celebrities’ enhanced breasts

The penchant of young Hollywood stars such as Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears for silicon breasts and Botox-pumped lips sends a message to teenagers that cosmetic surgery at their age is acceptable, says the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Every celebrity in their age group that they aspire to is already doing it,” commentator Mia Freedman says.

That’s one reason why the Australian state of Queensland is considering banning or limiting breast implants, nose jobs, tummy tucks, liposuction and Botox injections for youths under age 18.

Under consideration: a “cooling off” period between consultation and surgery, a requirement for parental consent, ¬ compulsory medical and psychological evaluation of prospective patients, or a ban on cosmetic procedures for minors.

For more information, see the article “It’s the great body swindle” from the Sydney Morning Herald.

Readers of this blog overwhelmingly say plastic surgery should be banned or regulated for patients under age 18, according to an unscientific survey. Here are the results:

• 48 percent said, “Ban it.”
• 44 percent said, “Require a parent’s consent.”
• 4 percent said, “Require a waiting period.”
• 4 percent said, “It’s OK.”

Queen Latifah: breast reduction surgery left me one size too small

Oct. 26, 2007 — Actress/rapper Queen Latifah, 37, says Hollywood has expanded its definition of beauty.

The change is an improvement, she told People magazine. “It’s good for regular girls because the meter (for beauty) has been a slim white girl.” Among larger actresses, she said, “It used to be just me! Now with Jennifer Hudson’s success and America Ferrera, I got some successors to take the reins on this whole bodylicious thing.”

The star of “Chicago” and other films says she had elective breast-reduction surgery in 2003 to alleviate years of back and shoulder pain.

“I didn’t want to get it. But I had lost 25 pounds and my breasts didn’t go anywhere! I was still carrying that load,” she tells the magazine.

However, “I didn’t quite want them to be this small,” she laughs.

Before surgery, Latifah says she was “an E or an F cup. I was pretty big. Now I’m like a DD. I wanted to be a triple. They took one D too many! So that was hard to deal with. … I missed my old look.”

Latifah says she isn’t interested in more surgery.

“There are people who love (plastic surgery) and want to cut and chop anything. I’m like, ‘Y’all are crazy!’”

(That item is based on reporting by the Associated Press.)

Demi Moore: no surgery on my face

October 2007 — Actress Demi Moore, 44, told a British interviewer that she had had plastic surgery, but not $3 million worth, as was rumored. She did not have liposuction or facial plastic surgery, she said.

In an interview with Chrissy Iley for The Guardian, Moore complained about rumors of extensive plastic surgery.

“The culmination for me was when there were multiple reports I had my knees done. When I read that, I thought, ‘Wow, should I have been worried about my knees?’ ” Moore said.

Iley wrote:

“Her knees are readily available beside me. She invites me to examine them for the scar. She bends them and shows me a wrinkle, but not a scar. I put my finger across it to check. I can feel no ridge, just smooth skin. A couple of businessmen in the corner look alarmed as to why I would be stroking Demi Moore’s knees. But she seems to find it amusing. ‘It’s not just my knees. They say I’ve had multiple face surgeries. I was in getting a facial recently and there were reports that I’d been in there for countless hours, saying I’d had surgical procedures. Am I going to sue? Do I really care?’

“She’s adamant she has had nothing done to her face. She allows me to stare at her very closely. No evidence of any work. She also assures me she’s never had lypo.”

Sharon Osbourne: I’ve had too much plastic surgery

October 2007 — Rock singer Sharon Osbourne, 54, says she’s had too much plastic surgery and won’t have any more.

The surgery has been on her breasts, stomach and legs, Osbourne told the New York-based publication the Post Chronicle. It quoted her as saying:

“My body’s tired. I’ve put it through too much, abused it, and my body is knackered. I am content with how I look at my age, and I’m really scared of ending up looking like those people whose faces are ironed and foreheads don’t move.

“I regret having my breasts done because I’m never happy with them. But the most painful was having my legs lifted. They literally cut all the way around the top of your thigh, pull up the skin like a stocking, then cut the excess away and sew it back on.”