Cosmetic Surgery for African-Americans

Here in Los Angeles, we have a wide diversity of ethnic groups who come to see us for cosmetic surgery. At least a third of our patients have darker skin types. Why does your ethnicity and skin type matter when choosing a cosmetic surgeon? The formation of scar tissue and other characteristics of healing mean that it is extremely important for a cosmetic surgeon to have experience with surgery on many different skin tones.

We’ve also learned to recognize different body types. Every individual body is different, and Dr. Yoho always considers each individual’s body when consulting with his patients. But he is also sensitive to the fact that ethnicity does play a role. There are cultural differences that mean that patients have different standards of beauty, which a surgeon must understand. There are also body-type characteristics that tend to be predominant in different ethnic backgrounds.

African-American body types (or black body types) generally have a very narrow waist and are wider-hipped, having very full buttocks areas. We gauge our surgery to accentuate or improve these features. Other darker skin types, such as Native American skin types in the Unites States typically have thicker waists. Patients with these ethnic body types often ask that we try to improve their “figure 8” or curves with buttock fat transplants (of course this is also requested by some patients with darker skin who feel that they would like to reduce a larger body size).

The many skin types result in a big spectrum of response to incisions. The very lightest skin types do probably the best with scarring. Because they are so light the light-colored types of scars don’t show much compared to the light surrounding skin. On the other hand, the darkest skin types don’t experience the cosmetic concern of the visible darkening effect that some other healing scars have, because the surrounding skin is also dark. These skin types can often show keloid issues, which is a tendency of scar tissue to thicken and lift above the surrounding skin. We commonly inject these scars after surgery and we follow these patients for months, to be sure that they don’t have raised scars. Some of the mixed skin types, with tan-colored skin or a little darker, can develop darkened scars which can be treated with varieties of fade cream, and also sometimes they need injections if their scars are elevated.

Judy Yoho has written a special section of Dr. Yoho’s book A New Body in One Day that further discusses some of the concerns of African Americans and cosmetic surgery. So please consider us if you have an African-American background or if you have another darker skin type, because our experience is tremendous. We’ve performed over 20,000 cases on all varieties of ethnicity. Although there is no way to guarantee a certain kind of recovery, we can usually predict with great accuracy how you are going to improve.

Fractional Laser Improves Skin Color Irregularities in Previously Laser-Damaged Skin

Gorgeous getaway--Dr. Yoho vacation photo

We have a patient who had a prior laser procedure on her neck and had irregular pigmentation where there were some white areas and some darker areas. This individual had this problem for over ten years and had tried all kinds of things, including the Fraxel laser treatment, which is another wavelength than the fractional CO2 laser, even though the names sound very similar. 

With a couple of fractional CO2 laser treatments with our SmartXide DOT laser, all of the skin on her neck evened out to a healthy tan color and the “splotchiness” went away. We think that these fractional CO2 treatments stimulated the pigment in the areas that were lighter and also took away pigment in the areas that were darker. It just has a very nice quality of evening the skin texture and color and making a much more pleasing and youthful finish on the skin. It has been quoted to be one of the biggest advances in laser technology we've had in the last 15 years by at least one famous dermatologist, and we believe this is true. We have more or less abandoned use of the other treatment modalities for light and intermediate depth peels because the fractionated laser works so well. 

We only charge $750 for a full-face laser treatment and a bit more for face and neck and chest. Many of the dermatology offices charge twice this. We use this as an accompanying treatment in many of our surgeries and the patients really appreciate their results.

Did You Know That the Upper Pelvic Area of Female Anatomy Has Different Standards of Beauty in Different Cultures?

In certain South American cultures, the area below the belly and above the vagina is deemed very beautiful if it’s plump and even a little over weight by most American standards. Certain people and certain cultures like this area bigger, and fat transplant can accomplish this if you think that your area is too thin.

For the most part, however, American women like this area liposuctioned when we liposuction the rest of their trunk area or torso. We do this as a matter of course unless there are other requests.

We occasionally come across someone who has a different standard of beauty and for these people fat transplant is not appropriate.

So it’s entirely up to you. We can change your body the way that you think is best by either fat transplant or liposuction. Please come in for your consultation to see just what we can do for you.


All the best,


Robert Yoho, M.D.