Dumb Blonde Podcast
Episode: TBT: Dr. Anthony Youn
January 8, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode features Bunnie XO in conversation with Dr. Anthony Youn, known as "America's holistic plastic surgeon." The two dive deep into Dr. Youn’s background, ethical dilemmas in the plastic surgery industry, holistic approaches to aging, diet and wellness, the impact of social media, wild patient stories, and listener Q&A about plastic surgery. The episode’s tone is candid, humorous, compassionate, and informative.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Dr. Youn's Personal and Professional Background
Timestamp: 03:55–11:52
- Family Pressure and Upbringing: Dr. Youn recounts his traditional Korean upbringing and his father's insistent hope he would become a "high-powered" surgeon. He struggled with the expectation to go above and beyond, feeling limited choice in his path.
- Quote: "The day literally that I was born, my dad decided I was gonna be a doctor. But it's not that I was gonna be any doctor...it was always those high-powered surgical specialties" – Dr. Youn (05:55)
- Journey into Plastic Surgery: Initially considered family practice, but was discouraged by his father. Personal experience with plastic surgery to correct a jaw deformity gave him empathy and an understanding of how appearance impacts self-esteem.
- Quote: “I ended up having plastic surgery...and it really taught me the power of how changing your appearance can absolutely change the trajectory of your life.” – Dr. Youn (07:38)
2. Ethical Dilemmas in Plastic Surgery
Timestamp: 09:15–11:52
- Beverly Hills vs. Midwest Ethics: Shared eye-opening experiences in Beverly Hills where money and competition took precedent over patient care, starkly contrasting his upbringing in Michigan.
- Quote: “Plastic surgery in Beverly Hills was a big eye opener...it was all about money out there." – Dr. Youn (09:34)
- After witnessing unethical practices, Dr. Youn returned to Michigan to build a patient-focused practice.
3. From Traditional to Holistic Practice
Timestamp: 13:21–17:55
- Pivot to Holistic Plastic Surgery: A patient’s sudden post-surgical death led Dr. Youn to deep self-reflection, questioning if surgeons should only focus on surgery. He shifted his approach to help people avoid surgery through holistic means, focusing on wellness and prevention.
- Quote: “The goal of the being a surgeon is not to bring people to surgery. It should be the opposite.” – Dr. Youn (16:28)
Dr. Youn’s Five Pillars of “Autojuvenation”:
- What you eat
- When you eat
- Nutritional supplements
- Skin care
- Non-invasive treatments
The Five Pillars of Holistic Anti-Aging
1. Diet – “You Are What You Eat”
Timestamp: 20:45–21:52
- Nutrition is central to health and skin aging.
- Real-world example: Bunnie shares her health transformation from cutting allergens like rice, sugar, seed oils, and processed foods.
- Quote: "You are what you eat and that's a huge thing." – Bunny (20:45)
2. Meal Timing and Fasting
Timestamp: 21:52–23:51
- Dr. Youn details the process of autophagy—regular fasting allows the body to “clean out” cellular waste, potentially slowing aging.
- Even 12-hour overnight fasts are beneficial.
3. Supplements
Timestamp: 25:16–31:03
- Multivitamin (to address modern nutrient depletion), omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), probiotics, antioxidants, and collagen.
- Importance of quality (refrigerated probiotics) and caution for those with gene mutations (like MTHFR).
- Quote: “You can’t out-supplement a bad diet.” – Dr. Youn (30:57)
4. Protein and Collagen’s Role
Timestamp: 32:44–34:03
- Collagen is crucial for youthful skin, but body’s ability to make it declines with age, especially post-menopause.
- High-protein diets help maintain muscle mass, crucial for aging well and reducing risk of injury (e.g., hip fractures).
5. Exercise – Strength, Balance, and Mobility
Timestamp: 34:23–37:27
- Walking is helpful, but resistance training (e.g., chest press, squats, rows) and balance-focused activities (like yoga) are crucial for maintaining fast-twitch muscle fibers and preventing falls.
- Quote: "Fast twitch muscle fibers... are the muscles that will steady you if you trip." – Dr. Youn (35:24)
Meditation and Stress Reduction
Timestamp: 39:32–43:20
- Both host and guest extoll the benefits of meditation for reducing stress, improving sleep, and possibly even slowing aging.
- They recommend guided apps like Insight Timer or Peloton Meditation.
- Personal anecdote: Dr. Youn managed pandemic-related anxiety through daily meditation, which directly improved his sleep.
Notable Moment
Quote:
“There are studies that show that meditation can help you to look younger…It is crazy how just that simple act of breathing in and out can reduce your stress and really help to improve your life.” – Dr. Youn (41:25)
On Food, Healthspan, and Lifespan
Timestamp: 45:53–48:18
- Dr. Youn clarifies the difference between extending lifespan (years lived) and healthspan (years lived while active and healthy).
- Advocates focusing on extending healthspan through healthy eating, movement, meditation, and responsible use of medicine.
Practical Anti-Aging Advice & Listener Q&A
Antioxidant Foods, Sugars, and Processed Foods
Timestamp: 46:39–52:09
- Sugar is the number one cause of premature aging for skin. Ultra-processed foods contribute to free radical damage.
- Advice: Cut back on sugar/soda incrementally and replace with water, kombucha, or green tea.
Breast Augmentation vs. Fat Transfer
Timestamp: 52:52–55:57
- Fat grafting is gaining popularity but may carry as-yet-unknown cancer risks because fat is full of stem cells and the breast is “a cancer-prone organ.”
- Quote: “What if...you inject a bunch of stem cells around those cells?...Is it possible that now she develops breast cancer when she turns 60 or 65? I don't know. And we don't know the answer to that.” – Dr. Youn (54:21)
- Fat transfer produces a different (less “full/round”) cosmetic result than implants.
Surgery Safety & Special Cases
Timestamp: 79:35–81:18
- For patients with clotting disorders (like factor V Leiden), elective surgery may be possible but carries significant risks—benefit vs. risk must be weighed carefully, sometimes requiring blood thinners (which then increase bleeding risk).
Common and Least Favorite Procedures
Timestamp: 81:49–83:53
- Most common: Botox injections.
- Surgical: Breast augmentation.
- Least favorite: Rhinoplasty (nose jobs), due to the complexity and unpredictability of results.
Dealing with Body Dysmorphia and Difficult Patients
Timestamp: 62:06–73:21
- Dr. Youn shares a standout story of a challenging, litigious patient who attempted to extort him and demonstrated clear body dysmorphia. He also reflects on the prevalence of BDD among cosmetic patients and the importance of patient selection.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "I just had this sense of assuredness that everything was going to be okay and that this was something that I had to do for her." – Dr. Youn (about the high-risk, life-changing surgery he performed out of compassion) (58:07)
- "You can't out-supplement a bad diet." – Dr. Youn (30:57)
- "I could just pick your brain all day. Do you have time to answer a couple questions?" – Bunny (52:09)
- On meditation: "It's fascinating what breathwork can do for you." – Bunny (43:34)
- "Holistic plastic surgeon means not just focusing on the cosmetic result, but how does this affect your whole body?" – Dr. Youn (55:12)
- On facing fear, cutting into a body for the first time: "You gotta start in somewhere." – Dr. Youn (74:04)
Social Media & Public Education
Timestamp: 88:08–90:27
- Dr. Youn is recognized as “TikTok’s Plastic Surgeon” (8.3+ million followers).
- He’s personally responsible for his social content, aiming to educate, demystify, and foster safe, supportive discussions about plastic surgery and self-care.
- Quote: “Not caring about clout gives you clout.” – Dr. Youn (90:01)
Where to Find Dr. Youn & Resources
- Book: “Younger for Life” (Released Jan 2, 2026) – available everywhere books are sold; support local bookstores via bookshop.org
- Website: autojuvenation.com – free gifts and resources with book purchase
- Product line: Yoon Beauty – natural/medical grade skincare
- Social Media:
- TikTok: @DrYoun
- Instagram: @TonyYounMD
Final Thoughts
Dr. Youn and Bunnie’s conversation strikes a balance between the light-hearted, personal, and deeply practical. They lay out holistic anti-aging strategies, call for more ethics and empathy in medicine, and champion self-advocacy, self-love, and health literacy. The episode is approachable and packed with takeaways for anyone curious about plastic surgery, holistic health, and living a longer, richer life.
For full resource links, episode notes, and Dr. Youn’s book, visit autojuvenation.com
All timestamps MM:SS. Ads, intro, and outro omitted for clarity.