Lisa Rinna's newly deflated lips (Credit: Jon Kopaloff, Film Magic)

For those looking to get a little nip and tuck, being able to tighten and lift with as few signs of a procedure as possible is important.  There’s no question plastic surgery can improve a patient’s overall self-esteem and enhance body image, but when performed improperly, a would-be enhancement can become an unfortunate dead giveaway to having “work done.”  As many procedures can cost upwards of thousands of dollars, making sure you’re left with the most natural looking result is important.

A leader in plastic surgery, Dr. Peter Geldner, founder of The Geldner Center, Chicago’s premier practice for cosmetic, plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic procedures, notes that a key step to avoiding results that exhibit these blatant signs of plastic surgery is to only consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon.  “It’s important for patients to do their research,” Dr. Geldner says. With a rise of cosmetic procedures offered in spas and salons and by non-licensed surgeons who do not specialize in the practice, patients may not know where to turn and wind up with results that are not as sleek, streamlined or “hidden” as they could be.

Dr. Geldner took us through some of the tell-tale signs of poorly performed plastic surgery, read on for more!

The Nike Swoosh
A facelift should lift tissue upwards, making sure to encompass the entire face.  Instead, if skin is pulled horizontally, the outcome is a distinct wind-blown look (also dubbed the “Nike swoosh”).  As the patient ages, the two stitched points between the face’s midline and ear remain lifted, while the tissue in the middle begins to sag forming the unattractive “swoosh” effect.

The Botox Brow
From Hollywood to the Big Apple, the ever popular permanently “surprised” look can be seen on Botox buffs everywhere.  “The overemphasized arch can be a result of injecting Botox in the wrong place or not injecting into the muscle that lifts the brow,” says Geldner. By ensuring a board-certified plastic surgeon performs your injectable fillers, you will greatly reduce your risk of getting these unsightly results.

Duck Lips
There’s no question a plump pout a la Angelina Jolie has been a coveted characteristic over the last few years.  But when performed incorrectly, lips can appear over-injected.  Duck-like lips can be a result of fillers being injected in excess, as well as positioning the injection incorrectly.  “Without a precise injection, dermal fillers can be easily recognized,” notes Geldner.