Plastic Surgery Articles

Frequently my day will start making rounds on my patients in the hospital. My patient population encompasses most of what a board certified plastic surgeon is trained to treat. So, in any given week I may have patients with pressure sores that I have repaired, patients with traumatic injuries and breast cancer patients after reconstruction. Patients with pressure sores present a very unique set of challenges- how do you reconstruct a large hole in some one’s buttock area so that they can return to normal activity? I offer my patients the full gamut of breast reconstruction from implants to free flaps. These cases are very rewarding for me because I am helping a woman return to normal after facing cancer, her own mortality and a devastating operation. My preference is to tailor the reconstruction to the patient, her desires, her physical condition and her lifestyle.

Then, its off to the office where I again see a very wide variety of patient problems: from skin cancer to facelifts from body contouring to hand reconstruction. This amazing variety of patient problems is what drew me to plastic surgery and it is my ability to successfully treat all of these problems that sets me apart from non-board certified surgeons. Board certification means that I have the training and the skills to treat the most complex reconstructive problems and also offer facial and body rejuvenation procedures.

Today, I saw a patient that had her nose reconstructed after a dog attacked her. When I took off all her bandages and held the mirror up for her to see she started crying. I thought ‘Oh no, she is not happy’. Then she turns to me and gives me a big hug and exclaims: “I look better then I did with my old nose- THANK YOU THANK YOU”! This is why I am a board certified plastic surgeon.

Written by: Amy Wandel MD