Why did you become a plastic surgeon?
My original training was head and neck surgery. [Then I did] a reconstruction of the face of a little boy who got attacked by dogs – and it was so rewarding. That facial-reconstruction aspect of the surgery took me from being an ear specialist to getting into facial plastic surgery full-time.
What do you like most about your work?
It’s fun and challenging, but it’s also very rewarding. You make people feel good and in some cases [improve] patients’ lives by restoring a sense of hope. Yes, there is the hard aspect of it, with complications and other issues, but the rewards outweigh that.
What have you been most proud of during your years of plastic surgery?
I’d have to say the opportunity I’ve had with Botched and my new show Botched by Nature. Helping those patients who would have never got my help [otherwise] is probably the best part of my career. It’s also what solidified my skill set. These are extremely complicated surgeries, but the patients take the risks because they’re really not happy with the way they’re living.
Do you find it challenging being perceived as the doctor who can fix everything?’
Yes, but what I have to do is be strong with my patients; I’m a little bit tough and that’s kind of my personality. A lot of patients come in with the thought that I’m God and can make their face look perfect again, so my goal is to provide reality checks and realistic expectations. It’s important that I educate my patients and assess what the risks are, then see if they still want do it.
You’re skilled in rhinoplasty – what’s the most requested celebrity nose?
It used to be everyone from Angelina Jolie, to Scarlett Johansson, to Kate Middleton, but I feel that’s all changed now because of social media and everyone adopting their own style. They’re taking their selfies, going to a Facetune app and doing their own thing to show me. It’s past bringing in someone else’s photo – it’s more looking for a better version of you.
See more in the print edition of Simply You Body & Beauty, out now!