Plastic surgery is the one surgical specialty that is recognized to be the most innovative and creative. Much of that has to do with the many procedures that are performed over the entire body. The history of creativity in plastic surgery is a long one which has its origins in the demands of reconstructive surgery where many problems are unique and one of a kind. The ability to analyze each tissue defect and come up with various plans for rebuilding it make plastic surgeons nimble in the mind and exacting in their techniques. This mindset has spilled over into the burgeoning cosmetic surgery area where the requests for various face and body changes can be as unique as each patient. Many available cosmetic procedures are not well known or recognized..sometimes even by most plastic surgeons. Others are developing cosmetic procedures that may not yet have been perfected and are in their infancy of use. This is why I occasionally hear from patients that they were told that a certain procedure could not be done or would not work. Many times that may be true but not always. Not every plastic surgeon knows how to do every procedure and may have only done some procedures certain ways. This is understandable given the large number of cosmetic procedures and options that are now available. What is unique today is that the internet makes it possible to do your own research and reach out to any plastic surgeon (provided they answer) to find out their experience with any number of cosmetic procedures. We are all mentally trapped by our own experiences…plastic surgeons are no different.
‘Just Because It is Unfamiliar Doesn’t Mean An Operation is Impossible’
Dr. Barry Eppley