Episode 8: The Importance of Fat in Plastic Surgery

In this episode of Beauty and the Beasts, plastic surgeons Dr. Sam Jejurikar and Dr. Salvatore Pacella discuss how fat has become one of the most valuable tools in modern plastic surgery.

Once considered something to remove and discard, fat is now recognized for its regenerative properties, growth factors, and ability to restore youthful volume in both the face and body. Advances in fat harvesting, processing, and injection techniques over the past decade have significantly improved outcomes and consistency, making fat transfer a core component of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

The conversation explores how fat loss contributes to facial aging and why fat transfer plays a key role in natural facial rejuvenation. The surgeons discuss patient selection, skin quality, and why careful handling of fat is essential for long term success. They explain what patients should realistically expect after fat transfer, including typical retention rates and how fat behaves over time.

Dr. Jejurikar and Dr. Pacella also address potential complications such as asymmetry, cyst formation, and fat necrosis, along with strategies used to minimize risk. The episode expands into fat transfer for the breast and body, including historical concerns about breast safety and current evidence that has shaped modern practice.

The discussion concludes with a candid look at Brazilian Butt Lifts, including how cultural trends influenced demand, why safety concerns emerged, and how ultrasound guidance and strict technique standards have improved outcomes.

This episode is ideal for patients researching fat transfer, facial fat grafting, natural facial rejuvenation, and BBL safety, as well as clinicians interested in the science and evolution of fat grafting in plastic surgery.

Male Plastic Surgery What Works, What Fails, and Why Subtlety Matters

In this episode of Beauty and the Beasts, plastic surgeons Dr. Sam Jejurikar and Dr. Salvatore Pacella tackle the growing and often misunderstood topic of male plastic surgery.

Cosmetic surgery for men has become increasingly common, yet many male patients still worry about stigma, visibility, and looking unnatural. In this conversation, the hosts explain why male aesthetic surgery requires a different mindset, different techniques, and a strong emphasis on preserving masculine features.

They discuss the most common procedures men seek today, including liposuction for the abdomen, flanks, and chest, treatment of gynecomastia, upper eyelid blepharoplasty, neck lifts, facial surgery, and hair restoration. The episode highlights why procedures that work beautifully in women can look feminizing or overdone in men if not carefully adapted.

The discussion also explores scar placement challenges in male patients, how surgeons approach jawline definition and neck contouring, and why volume must be used sparingly in the male face. Real world examples are used to illustrate how subtle changes can dramatically affect how natural or noticeable a result appears.

The episode concludes with a deep dive into hair restoration, including modern follicular unit extraction techniques, candidacy, limitations, and why hair transplantation has become one of the most sought after procedures among men.

This episode is ideal for men considering cosmetic surgery, patients researching male specific procedures, and clinicians interested in sex specific aesthetic planning and outcomes.

Mommy Makeover What It Is, What It Is Not, and How Surgeons Think About It

In this episode of Beauty and the Beasts, plastic surgeons Dr. Sam Jejurikar and Dr. Salvatore Pacella take a practical look at the mommy makeover and explain why the term is often misunderstood by patients.

Rather than being a single procedure, a mommy makeover typically refers to combining breast surgery and abdominal surgery to address the physical changes caused by pregnancy. The discussion focuses on how surgeons decide which procedures make sense for each patient and why efficiency, safety, and realistic expectations matter just as much as the final aesthetic result.

Dr. Jejurikar and Dr. Pacella walk through common breast options such as augmentation, lift, fat transfer, and reduction, along with abdominal procedures ranging from liposuction to mini, traditional, extended, and circumferential tummy tucks. They explain what actually happens to the abdominal muscles during pregnancy, why muscle tightening is often necessary, and how that repair impacts posture, strength, and recovery.

The episode also addresses some of the most common patient questions, including recovery timelines, fatigue and swelling, exercise and weight loss expectations, and concerns about scarring. The surgeons share how they counsel patients about scars, why they cannot be avoided in most tummy tuck procedures, and how thoughtful incision placement allows scars to be easily hidden.

This episode is designed for patients considering a mommy makeover, anyone researching tummy tuck or breast surgery after pregnancy, and clinicians interested in how experienced surgeons think about combined procedures, safety, and patient education.