The keynote lecture in the 13th ASEAN Congress of Plastic Surgery was given by world renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Foad Nahai, who I had the opportunity to observe when I was training in 1990 with Dr. John Lewis, founder and first president of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Nahai was with the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia then.
Dr. Nahai's lecture was interesting because, contrary to popular opinion that the cutting edge in aesthetic surgery means that it is the newest and the best, he stated that the "cutting edge" could be a fad or an unproven technique, therapy or procedure and therefore, not necessarily the best. Some of the newer techniques that he mentioned were now under review were radiofrequency skin tightening, barbed sutures, and nonsurgical liposuction alternatives. He gave a quote that goes something like this: "Not everything that is new is good, but everything that is good was once new." And so, this highly esteemed plastic surgeon cautioned the participants to the Congress and said, "Don't be the first to jump on the bandwagon of something new. Not the last either." With a touch of humor, he warned us "Don't fall off the cutting edge".
Dr. Nahai noted that the world wide interest in cosmetic surgery has never been greater. This is due to the exposure from media. According to him, media coverage may be considered good because it increases awareness and intrest but in a way, it can also be bad because it can lead to unrealistic expectations. Sometimes, media tends to minimize the risks of plastic surgery.
Some statistics that he cited: In the U.S., $12.4 Billion was spent on cosmetic surgery, with a growing trend towards non-surgical options with less downtime. With all the opportunities and challenges the plastic surgeon faces today, Dr. Nahai encouraged the plastic surgeons in attendance to "Continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards, always put the patient's interests first, enforce standards and weed out "bad eggs", educate the media and the public and to continue to be a real plastic surgeon and not just a cosmetic surgeon."
Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines
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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines
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