What does it mean to be named “Western Washington’s Favorite Plastic Surgeon” in Seattle-based KING-5 TV’s annual Evening Magazine viewers’ poll? I have to admit, it felt great, and being nominated for several years running is pretty good too. It reflects not just on me but my staff and our philosophy of how we care for our patients. A mentor once told me that people won’t always remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel. I want my patients to feel my gratitude, respect, and concern at all times.
Plastic surgery is a team effort
Whether it’s a mommy makeover, facelift, or breast reconstruction, to be among the best of the best in plastic surgery requires a team of dedicated professionals. This is certainly true of those whose examples I aspire to emulate; they bring together people who want to be part of something greater than the sum of the parts. My nurses, front office staff, esthetician, and anesthesia providers all hold themselves and each other to a high standard. Being recognized for the quality plastic surgery and patient care we are trying to accomplish is the greatest award.
Driven to improve patient experiences and outcomes
For me, one of the keys to success in plastic surgery is to continue pushing to improve the state of the art. I want to help discover better techniques and technologies, not settle for “good enough.” Plastic surgery should produce natural but worthwhile results, with minimal downtime, maybe without surgery at all. This approach is how I came to start using what came to be known as progressive tension sutures for tummy tucks, develop the split muscle plane for prevention of animation deformities in breast augmentation, and be among the first to adopt the use of Exparel to minimize postoperative discomfort. It isn’t just the results, it’s the patient’s experience that defines positive outcomes.
I hope that next time we are nominated you will cast your vote! And please sign up for our email newsletter if you haven’t already. It’s full of interesting and valuable tips.
