Caring for patients like family.   Giving back.    Making certain to give my all to each patient, figuring out their desires, setting reasonable goals, an putting in play the steps needed to reach those goals.
This may mean getting an insurance company to approve a procedure, preparing the patient for procedure and the care needed afterwards, and of course performing the procedure to the best of my ability...  The best part is the appreciation I receive from the young and old from all walks of life.

Scar revision surgery is gratifying both to the patient and the surgeon, but a recently performed scar revision surgery went well beyond the word “gratifying” for both the patient and myself.
The patient was one pound and a few ounces when born 20 ( twenty !!!) years ago… a miracle indeed…and that is when her abdominal surgery created the scar.
She has lived her whole life with a scar clear across her belly and that was deep and right down to the abdominal wall holding back all her intestines ( literally 1.9 mm’s away) .
Extensive studies ( CT scans ) were done and the case discussed with many colleagues until every aspect of her surgery could be planned,  including contingency plans for disruption of the abdominal wall itself.
At age 14 she had a chance to have it corrected, but the stars were not aligned properly and she didn’t have confidence in her surgical team.
At age 20 she her scar has been safely replaced, yes with another scar, but one much more acceptable, and she's so happy and appreciative.     I have been on an emotional “high” for weeks just knowing I did this for her….
This is the kind of reward the Plastic Surgeon I dreamed I would be, lives for.

Can a doctor care too much ?   I think not.   This past week I took care of an elderly gentleman who was to say the least a bit disgruntled with life and his current state of health….   He might have proposed a challenge with regard to being loved, but for some endearing reason, he captured my heart like a parent.   This made my job a bit more difficult, but overwhelmingly rewarding.   Though he was very brittle and frail is an understatement, but I had to remove skin cancer from both legs and keep in a the position of a figurative pretzel.    I worried about “breaking” him while curing him.   He returned to the office for his first post-operative visit with a smile on his face.    Best birthday present so far :-)  ...
 

Abdominal or tummy tuck procedures can be considered cosmetic or medically necessary.   If you have had insurance approved "bariatric" surgery, you may be a good candidate for insurance approved abdominal surgery.   I will fight for your right to have this surgery and have done so recently going "peer to peer" and making sure the insurance company follows its own rules.   I can't describe how good it felt to see the appreciation in my patient's eyes when she looked at her flat tummy. Cosmetic tummy tucks can restore self esteem and remove skin that cannot be lost any other way after dieting has gotten you to your ideal body weight. 

Pro bono work.....working for free....where else do you get free care ...plumbing, electrical, car repair, well you get the message.....pretty rare....but yes it's wonderful  ..... I took care of a wonderful young man who had no insurance and had his face / lip torn apart by a pit bull attacking his dog......
He will do well and I felt privileged to be able to provide the care he needed to end this bad chapter of his life with a happy ending...

    Wound care has always held a special interest for me, especially when I can not only get a wound to heal but prevent it from recurring.    Wound care can be simplified into first making the wound a "clean" wound, second improve the circulation to the wound ( reduce swelling and edema), and ultimately preventing the recurrence by eliminating the cause.    The challenge is to this in least amount of time and with minimal inconvenience to the patient and family.