Suzanne Somers to become ‘poster girl’ for stem cell face lifts

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Suzanne Somers, 63, will not admit to plastic surgery and only cops to using Botox despite the fact that her face is tight as a drum. Last month, The Daily Beast ran an excellent expose on Somers’ new book claiming to offer alternative cancer treatments, Knockout: Interviews with Doctors Who Are Curing Cancer–And How to Prevent Getting It in the First Place. They quoted cancer experts who debunked a lot of the claims in Somers’ book, with many calling her assertions dangerous and potentially deadly for patients who may opt for unproven experimental methods instead of traditional clinical treatments. Some of the doctors touted in Somers’ book have been outed as quacks. One is facing indictments for fraud after bilking people out of their life savings with promises of a miracle cure.

The National Enquirer reports that Somers’ plans to start touting stem cells for use in cosmetic procedures. She’ll undergo a face and breast lift using a new stem cell method and will start evangelizing it as an anti-aging treatment. I doubt she’ll ever admit to using traditional plastic surgery as well, though. The Daily Beast quoted a plastic surgeon who looked at before and after photos of Somers as saying “I am fairly certain that she has had a face lift, some fillers, and eyelid surgery.”

Suzanne Somers is getting a face-lift – but she’s using a bizarre new procedure that utilizes stem cells, the Enquirer has learned.

The former “Three’s Company” star is telling pals she plans to undergo the process in February and intends to become the poster girl for the cutting-edge procedure.

“Suzanne is incredibly enthusiastic about the use of stem cells to beat aging,” a family friend told the Enquirer. “She thinks stem celsl are the new frontier and she’s determined to spread the word.”

Suzanne, 63, is planning to get both a face and breast lift using the new technique, says the friends.

“She’s starting a new book on anti-aging techniques using stem cells, and she’s going to have her own procedures photographed to emphasize the ‘before’ and ‘after’ benefits.

“She’s already talked to Larry King about making an appearance on his show to promote the project.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, December 21, 2009]

I did some light research on this “stem cell facelift,” and it basically involves using a patient’s own “adult stem cells” from their stomach fat, processing it somehow to extract the stem cells, then re-mixing them with some fat and injecting into the face. It’s touted as a “non surgical facelift” because it involves only injections and no cutting. It costs about $5,000 and takes about an hour under local anesthesia. Recovery is about a week. Somehow the stem cells generate new tissue in the face that is tighter and younger-looking. There’s little chance that the patient might reject the cells because they’re from the patient and not a donor. Some of the before and after photos I’ve seen make it look like this works, although you can’t verify if they’re altered photos or if the patients had a stem cell or traditional facelift. (Here’s a video that explains stem cell facelifts.)

At least with this latest health trend Somers doesn’t have the potential to do much harm. The worst that can happen is that someone wastes their money. There are risks with all surgery but this sounds kind of benign, especially when compared to a regular face lift. Maybe Somers should stick to promoting plastic surgery and quit trying to give health advice. I know I’d rather inject my own fat and stem cells into my face than a chemical or toxin. It’s also a lot safer than opting out of chemotherapy treatment for cancer because some former actress told me to try enzymes instead.

Suzanne Somers is shown on 12/20/09 and 11/10/09. Credit: Johnny Louis/WENN.com

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21 Responses to “Suzanne Somers to become ‘poster girl’ for stem cell face lifts”

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  1. Lantana says:

    Maybe she should try it on her neck first.

  2. Firestarter says:

    Lantana- My thoughts exactly!

  3. KT says:

    I do love how she has the “goldie” hairdo…so you really only see a wee portion of her actual face. I’m sure if was socially acceptable to have blond ‘neck bangs’ she probably would:)

  4. snowball says:

    Her skin is awful. You’d think she’d have enough money to regularly see a dermatologist and aesth-whatever. What the hell is going on with her lips?

    She tries way too hard to be cutesey. She’s not Chrissy Monroe anymore.

  5. BiggieShortie says:

    I’m losing respect for Ms. Somers. She used to seem so much more likeable and down to earth. Now she seems to take herself too seriously.

  6. Raven says:

    That does not look like a face that has had plastic surgery. Her neck and chest area look really crepy and her chin looks very scarred.

    I was also not impressed with those “before” and “after” photos for the stem cell face lifts. I like the concept, but it looks like it needs a lot more refinement particularly in where the injections are placed.

  7. Instantsoup says:

    I would bet that she would get a 100 stem cell face lifts, but if her life depended on it would NOT get a stem cell transplant if she had lymphoma because it involves POISON. What a joke. I admit alternative therapies do work but as a cancer patient, I will tell you that chemotherapy has given this 20 year old an extra year of life. 🙂

  8. barneslr says:

    @snowball:

    “She’s not Chrissy Monroe anymore.”

    and she never was. Her character was Chrissy Snow (one episode revealed that her full name was Christmas Snow). You are confusing her with Kris Monroe, the name of the character on Charlies Angels that was portrayed by Cheryl Ladd.

    It’s probably not a good thing that I remember this crap.

  9. Boo says:

    I’m so glad I’m not in any kind of public eye. Cosmetic surgery and Botox sound scary and completely against how I choose to live my life. But if I was under public pressure to look good…who knows where my head would be? I have a lot of respect for the (very few) female actors who choose to age naturally. And somehow they always seem more graceful and beautiful than their pulled and frozen counterparts….

  10. crash2GO2 says:

    Her face is not as ‘tight as a drum’. She utilizes a facial muscle exercise gadget and has probably used a lot of fillers and botox. Facial exercises really do work, although you don’t need an expensive gadget to do them.

  11. snowball says:

    @barnslr – yup, thank you for the correction. I knew it was some “o” thing.

    I watched every single episode of Three’s Company. That was totally one of my favorite shows. I was ticked when they got rid of the Don Knotts and then put Normal Fell and Audra Lindley in. He was dumb and she was creepy with her giant caftans and huuuge jewelry.

    Let’s have drinks at the Regal Beagle!

  12. Cat says:

    It’s weird how someone who touts natural cures for life-threatening illnesses, uses surgery and poisons for beauty. Where are your priorities Suzanne??

  13. lrm says:

    why is it that the most vocal actresses look the worst? ‘Oh,i dont get surgery’,etc.

    Except for Demi Moore,the others who talk about it look awful.
    Chrissy looks 63 to me. She doesn’t look bad for 63,but awful b/c of too much clown makeup,and like she is ‘trying’ to look younger than her age. Trashy comes to mind.

    People like Meryl Streep,Helen Mirren,Susan Sarandon,Rita Wilson. They look good,dress age appropriately,and are not constantly touting the whole aging or anti aging thing.

  14. lady says:

    The pictures on that website of the before and after are not good at all. The patients all look better before – they look depressed and shiny after.

  15. WTF?!? says:

    She looks every day of 63.

  16. Martha says:

    She is scary-looking to me. She doesn’t even resemble herself anymore. And what is up with those childlike chipmunk cheeks on a 67 year old? There comes a point in every woman’s life when less becomes more and some will just never get it. She is a prime example. Sad!

  17. Hoa Uzun says:

    I don’t get it, Hoa Uzun

  18. maria says:

    I do not think she had plastic surgery – she DOES look her age – actually she looks older than I do and I am the same age than she is. I have smooth skin and my chest area is not as old looking as this woman’s….. its really sad because she touts all these remedies and they apparently have not done her any good at all…. my secrets (no secrets at all) are no sunning, no drugs, no smoking, a healthy lifestyle etc. and it shows. I do use really good skin care but never have been under the knive. I do look 15 years younger than most women my age, but I also think it comes from aging gracefully and not making a fool of myself. I used to really like suzanne but have lost all respect for her when I saw her a few weeks ago on a show looking like a total clown and fool. Even her arms etc and skin on her legs looks really old. She needs to admit to aging and stop being such a fool.

  19. Kayla says:

    @Snowball

    I also watched Three’s Company, and re-runs. Norman Fell and Audra Lindley were on the show first, before Don Knotts. Don Knotts replaced them when they left the show for their own show playing the Ropers.

    As for Suzanne Somers pic, I find shocking! She looks terrible. Why not just age normally, and not make such a huge deal out of it.SS is all about the $$$$$$$$$….

  20. Jeanette says:

    It is what is underneath that counts one can only achieve inner beauty on the inside by feeling good about life and themselves. The love within our hearts is really what makes us beautiful, because it puts a beautiful magnetic shield around us that draws attention and people towards them. Suzanne definately draws alot of attention towards her and she loves life and tries her best to take care of herself. I will always admire her for that. what makes me mad is when people have it all and keep wanting more and end up hurting themselves afterwards. She didn’t need another facelift she is already pretty. Donate to charity.

  21. Kate says:

    In my opinion, I think Suzanne is way too concerned with aging. We all age. She makes it seem like it is a bad thing, and you need to keep going for the younger look. Well I am not twenty anymore, and don’t want to look it. Someday I will die, when it is meant to be. She talks about living forever, and over 100, all over the map. I think she is afraid to face the inevitable. We all age & we all die eventually.She makes a living off what she is doing now, telling people how to look younger, and controverial books. She is not a Medical Doctor, yet she makes claims with no disclaimers.She has these groupies that believe her mantra. I take what she says for what it is. I heard her say this weekend she will be 65 next year, ummm no Suzanne you will be 65 in six months, Otcober. She is always trying to shave off years of her age.She had her son after she graduated High School when she was 19.He was born in November and is 46, she is 64.She loves to exaggerate anything about aging..I would need to write a book for all the discrepancies.