The Jenke experiment with Dr. Julia Berkei — self-experiment with plastic surgery

What is the Jenke experiment?

The “Jenke Experiment” is an award-winning series of reports by the German TV journalist and presenter Jenke von Wilmsdorff, aired on ProSieben. The basic idea: Jenke makes extreme self-attempts to answer socially relevant questions up close and personal, with full physical effort.

As a result “20 years younger in 100 days” He is looking into a question that concerns many:

How much can you influence the aging process with modern medical means?

To find out, Jenke decided to do a unique experiment:
He left One half of the face surgically and minimally invasive treat the others exclusively with Dr. Julia Berkei non-invasive methods of classic cosmetics and aesthetics. The aim was to determine the effects to compare directly on your own face, unadulterated, honest and publicly documented.

Two ways to rejuvenate — cosmetics meets surgery

At the heart of the experiment was an unconventional idea: two completely different approaches to rejuvenation, applied to One half of each face.

• The right side of the face was treated exclusively with non-invasive methods: care, cosmetic treatments, medical cosmetic products. The aim was to show what is possible with classic “beauty” care over a period of 100 days, completely without surgical intervention.
  
• The left side of the face was carried out in our practice in Frankfurt under the direction of Dr. Julia Berkei treated, but not exclusively surgically: Minimally invasive procedures such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic filler, PRP (vampire lift), thread lift as well as apparatus methods such as CO₂ laser treatment. This approach was supplemented by precise surgical procedures such as an upper and lower eyelid lift and abdominal liposuction to gain your own fat for targeted volume replenishment in the face.
  

The aim of this unusual setup was a clear, documented before-and-after comparison: What do cosmetics and care do, and where does the effect of plastic-aesthetic medicine begin?

The surgical-aesthetic part — that was done

The left half of Jenke's face was carried out under the direction of Dr. Julia Berkei treated, with the full spectrum of modern plastic-aesthetic medicine. The focus was not only on rejuvenation, but also Harmony, naturalness and functionality. The treatment goal: visibly younger without having an artificial effect.

The following procedures and procedures were combined:

• Upper eyelid lift
• Lower eyelid lift
• Abdominal liposuction for extracting your own fat
• Autologous fat injection to replenish facial volume
• CO₂ fraxel laser to improve skin structure
• Laser neck lift
• 16 ampoules of hyaluronic acid for targeted modelling
• 85 units of botulinum toxin
• 6 ampoules of PRP (vampire lift)
• 2 ampoules of polylactic acid
• 31 threads for a structural lift
• crystal cortisone to refine the tip of the nose

Of course, we have pushed our limits in this experiment; at first glance, the range of measures appears unusually extensive. But that was exactly what it was about: making the maximum effect visible. In reality, in our practice, for every patient, a individual, much more restrained treatment concept developed, always adapted to wishes, requirements and medical feasibility.

The special feature — why Dr. Julia Berkei only treated one half of her face

What makes the “Jenke Experiment” so unique is the radical separation of treatment approaches. Only the left side of the face was treated surgically and aesthetically under the direction of Dr. Julia Berkei. The right half, on the other hand, was reserved for purely cosmetic procedures.

There were several reasons for this deliberate decision:

• Scientific comparison: The aim was to compare plastic-aesthetic procedures directly with non-invasive methods, under real conditions and on the same face.
  
• Maximum significance: A half-page before-and-after comparison allows an unfalsified assessment of the effectiveness of both approaches.
  
• Responsibility & ethics: Instead of demanding massive procedures on the entire face, only one side was deliberately operated on, with a focus on naturalness, safety and precision.
  
• Individual appearance instead of uniformity: Dr. Berkei took care to preserve natural facial expressions and facial proportions. The experiment should not demonstrate what is “feasible”, but rather what is useful and responsible.
  

“I only agreed to the operation on the condition that we proceed in a medically justifiable and aesthetically appropriate manner, without sacrificing safety and naturalness. ”
- Dr. Julia Berkei

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The result — visibly younger, visibly subtle

After 100 days The difference between the two halves of the face was clearly visible, and at the same time surprisingly sensitive. No overwritten “before and after”, no rigid mask. Instead: a fresh, relaxed, defined expression on the surgically and aesthetically treated side, while maintaining naturalness and facial expressions.

The differences in detail

• eye area: The side with upper and lower eyelid lift appeared significantly more alert, less tired, without losing its naturalness.
  
• Skin texture & contour: The combination of CO2 laser, autologous fat and toning revealed smoother, tightened skin, particularly along the chin line.
  
• Volume & symmetry: Through precise filler and autologous fat injections, lost volume could be gently reconstructed, making the page appear more youthful and harmonious.
  
• neck area: The neck on the operated side was visibly tightened, the transition to the face was more clearly defined.

What patients can learn from the Jenke experiment

The Jenke experiment not only attracted media attention, but also focused on a central issue of aesthetic medicine: How much change is possible and how much makes sense? For patients, this extraordinary project provides several valuable insights.

Possibilities and limits of aesthetic medicine

The comparison of the two halves of the face makes it clear how diverse the methods of plastic and aesthetic medicine are now, from minimally invasive applications to surgical procedures. However, it is not only what is technically feasible that is decisive, but above all what suits the individual face.

The role of education, expertise and experience

Jenke's treatment shows how important comprehensive information and realistic expectations are. Surgical intervention does not replace a healthy lifestyle, but it can specifically alleviate the signs of aging in experienced hands. At BERKEI in Frankfurt, we focus on individual concepts, precision and medical integrity.

Holistic planning is crucial

A harmonious result is not achieved by “more” but by targeted selection. That is why in our practice we combine surgical techniques with highly developed minimally invasive procedures, always with the aim of maintaining naturalness and underlining the personality of the patients.