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I wrote the following article four years ago about my experience on a medical mission to the Corozal Community Hospital in Corozal, Belize in February of 2018 for the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS). I was awarded a grant from the ABO-HNS to help fund my trip. They asked that I write this article in exchange for the grant. This week-long mission was a...

Published in 1998, Lift: Wanting, Fearing, and Having a Face-Lift by Joan Kron is one of the best books I have read on facial plastic surgery written by a non-physician. It is also one of the best histories of facial plastic surgery I have read by any author, physician or not. The book is a time capsule of sorts, capturing a transition point in cosmetic facial plastic surgery before, for example,...

I noticed the following excerpt from the personal essay I wrote for my facial plastic surgery fellowship application when looking through old email folders: "My passion for facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in many ways parallels my interest in modern architecture. Irving Gill, one of my favorite architects and a 'premonitory prophet of rationalist modernism' in early twentieth century...

The definition of a kludge is a solution that is clumsy, inelegant, inefficient, and difficult to maintain. There are many kludges in facial plastic surgery that should generally be avoided. It is important to seek not only a fellowship-trained but also a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon if you have aesthetic concerns about your face and/or neck. My Experience with a Kludge The above...

I have the privilege as a physician and surgeon of helping patients "feel good about feeling good." I pride myself as being a well-trained facial plastic surgeon who can provide natural surgical and non-surgical results, safely. However, I often wonder if during my consultation with patients they are thinking: "sure, you know what you are doing, but do you truly understand what goes into making a...

It is challenging to identify skin care products based on strong clinical evidence and a strong safety profile. The skin care products I currently use are not perfect. Therefore, my choices may not be well-tolerated or beneficial to others. Every individual's skin is different. Consider an evaluation by a dermatologist to help determine the best tolerated, safest, and most effective products for...

Tirzah Thompson MS, RDN, LD Nutrition goes a long way when preparing for and recovering from surgery! Proper nutrition can be the key to a successful surgery. What you learn here should empower you while relieving some of the stress you may feel going into and coming out of your upcoming surgical procedure. It is important to seek not only a fellowship-trained but also a double board-certified...

The term "Ozempic® Face" has been widely circulated and commented on on the internet. Its popularity parallels the increased popularity of the use of Ozempic® and its family of medications for weight loss. The term likely refers to the changes in the appearance of the face after the often significant, rapid weight loss associated with the use of these medications. The following blog post is not a...

There are a massive number of books helpful to master the topics required to succeed in medical school and residency. Each medical specialty has their own sources, which range in size from large multi-volume texts to small clinical reference guides that include brief summaries of what are considered the most important, or high-yield, information "pearls." Facial plastic surgery clinical reference...

Visual aids assist in explaining complex facial plastic surgery concepts. The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures by Dan Roam provides a good system for assessing how to communicate complex concepts to an audience in a manner that is simple but is dense with relevant information. This blog post seeks to summarize the system as described by Dan Roam as well as how...