Many people have cosmetic surgery for a variety of reasons. They may choose to enlarge their breasts, for example, or correct the appearance of a birthmark.
Many patients find that their appearance after plastic surgery leads to a renewed sense of self-confidence and comfort. This often translates to greater productivity and a zest for life that benefits their personal and professional lives.
It’s a Surgeon’s Job
Surgeons are responsible for preoperatively diagnosing patients, performing the operation, and providing postoperative surgical care and treatment. They work in many workplace settings, including private practice, hospital medicine, academic medicine, institutional practices, ambulatory surgery settings, and government service programs like uniformed services.
They must often collaborate with other physicians, such as primary care doctors who refer patients for surgical procedures, nurses, and allied health professionals. These professionals, including Dr. Joel Aronowitz, require strong organizational skills to manage patient records and operate efficiently in a fast-paced work environment.
Plastic surgery can improve a person’s appearance and enhance their overall quality of life by changing how they look, move, and feel. It can help address medical conditions like cleft lips and palates, ear deformities, facial injuries and repair scarring from burns or trauma. It can also correct cosmetic problems, such as excess fat or wrinkles, and restore function, like removing eyelid skin to improve vision or repairing damaged nerves in the hand to increase mobility.
It’s a Surgeon’s Life
A surgeon’s job entails a robust care team and the ability to lead effectively. A good surgeon can evaluate their colleagues and determine how best to put their talents to use, Dr. Husain notes.
The surgeon must also have the stamina to stand for long periods and make quick decisions. They often perform surgery on patients with varying medical conditions, and the procedures are complex. The patient may experience pain, temporary bruising, and swelling.
The surgeon must understand the impact of their decisions on the patient’s quality of life and self-perception. They will help their patients understand asymmetry and explain that a surgical procedure cannot fully correct certain features. Depending on the surgery, the surgeon will also work to educate their patients about other options. The major medical specialties requiring surgery include general surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, and urology. General surgery focuses on operations related to the stomach, intestines, breasts, blood vessels in the extremities, endocrine glands, and tumors of soft tissues.
It’s a Surgeon’s Career
A surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgical procedures. They work in various settings, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery settings, private practice, institutional and academic medicine, government programs, and the military.
They use their skills to treat various conditions, from torn ligaments and cancerous tumors to hemorrhoids and cleft palates. Depending on their specialization, surgeons like Joel Aronowitz MD may also specialize in minimally invasive or open surgery.
During their two-year Foundation Training as junior doctors, surgeons take rotations to help them decide which area of surgery they want to pursue. Colorectal and ENT surgeons, for instance, focus on surgical procedures involving the colon and rectum, respectively, while plastic surgeons perform cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.
Surgeons must have a strong attention to detail as they perform life-saving operations. They also must have a calm demeanor in high-stress situations and work well with other healthcare team members. In addition, they need to be flexible and adaptable as new medical developments evolve.
It’s a Surgeon’s Passion
Plastic derives from the Greek word plastikos, meaning to mold or shape. Despite the misperceptions of the term, plastic surgery is not about artificial material. Rather, it’s about reconstructing facial and body tissue damaged due to congenital disabilities, trauma or medical conditions like breast cancer.
Whether performing reconstructive or cosmetic procedures, surgeons are devoted to their patients and their well-being. The emotional stamina required for enduring long surgery sessions, as are the physical demands, is considerable. Surgeons are on their feet for hours and often miss meals while preparing and conducting operations.
Many surgeons love their work and are proud to be part of an elite group of doctors. However, not everyone should seek plastic surgery. Those with underlying psychological problems should instead focus on working out their issues through therapy and self-confidence building. Also, people with unrealistic appearance expectations will likely be disappointed. For example, you should avoid plastic surgery if you want lips like that TV star or pectorals sculpted to those of a famous sports figure.