One of my New Year’s resolutions for 2025 is to declutter my hangar. Over the years, I’ve collected a variety of unique and meaningful items, each holding a special place in my heart. However, as we age, it becomes clear that it’s time to let go of things that no longer serve us, allowing others to enjoy them instead.

Towards the end of last year, I sold my Eclipse jet, N457TB, which I’ve owned since 2007. While it brought me years of joy, I no longer flew it. On New Year’s Day, I took another step in my decluttering journey by donating two cherished items to a museum: a custom Arlen Ness chopper and a 1981 Buick, both sharing the same stunning paint scheme.

For those unfamiliar, Arlen Ness was the godfather of custom motorcycles. A dear friend of mine, Arlen created seven incredible bikes for me over the years. This particular chopper, crafted in 2000, was one of my favorites. Though I’ve enjoyed it immensely, I realized it’s time for others to experience its beauty and craftsmanship.

The Buick holds an equally sentimental story. I bought it in the fall of 1980 while a plastic surgery resident at Harvard. It was the car I drove my newborn son, Justin, home from the hospital in. After years and over 150,000 miles, I couldn’t part with it. Arlen helped me restore it—not just a new engine, but a complete makeover, culminating in a matching paint scheme with my chopper. These two machines have been a pair for 25 years, but now they’re ready for a new chapter.

This year, I’ll also part with the remainder of my motorcycles and a custom 2005 Mustang customized for me by Scott Peterson. If anyone’s interested, let me know—it’s time to pass the torch!

With Arlen Ness in 2000. My, how time has flown by!

Saying “Goodbye” to old friends

When we started in private practice in the 1980s, liposuction was a game-changer in body contouring. Back then, one of the most common requests was to reduce the size of the buttocks.

How times have changed! Over the last 15 to 20 years, thanks to influences from Hollywood and popular culture, the aesthetic ideal has shifted toward a fuller, curvier silhouette, with many patients seeking larger buttocks.

Two popular techniques have emerged to achieve this look: the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and buttocks implants. Both have their unique advantages and drawbacks, and the choice often depends on the patient’s anatomy and goals.

The Brazilian Butt Lift uses fat harvested from other parts of the patient’s body, typically through liposuction. This fat is then purified and carefully injected into the buttocks to enhance shape and size. The BBL is especially appealing because it uses the patient’s natural tissue, resulting in a soft, natural look and feel. However, not everyone is a candidate. To achieve significant augmentation, patients must have sufficient fat in donor areas. One downside to this method is that some of the injected fat may be reabsorbed by the body over time, which can reduce the initial results.

Buttocks implants, on the other hand, provide a more predictable and lasting solution. Unlike breast implants, which are filled with a gel or saline solution and typically need replacement every 15-20 years, buttocks implants are made of solid, soft silicone rubber. They don’t wear out and can last a lifetime. This makes them an excellent option for patients who are slender and lack the necessary donor fat for a BBL. That said, the surgery involves a longer recovery time and a slightly higher risk of complications, such as implant shifting, seromas or infections.

Over the years, we’ve seen many happy patients achieve their desired look through both methods. The choice between a BBL and implants ultimately depends on the patient’s body type, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals. Whatever the path, the results can be transformative—proving that the art of plastic surgery evolves to match ever-changing beauty trends.

These are before/after photos for a 45 year old who underwent fat transfer (fat grafting-BBL) to the hip dips and buttock by our “Fat Grafting Queen”, Dr. Deborah Ekstrom. The patient is very happy with her perky fuller bottom.

Female in her 50’s before and after silicone buttocks implant augmentation by Dr. Juris Bunkis at Orange County Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach.

We want you to feel as good as you look. We are currently offering free bioidentical hormone pelleting at the time of each facial rejuvenation patient – to allow patients to feel as good as they look after surgery!