One of the great privileges of my job is that I get to combine my interests in science and art with my extremely detail-oriented personality. Another great privilege is that I am given an opportunity to improve the lives of my wonderful, gracious patients.
Today I received the letter below from a 63 year old man on whom I performed a facelift/ necklift and upper & lower eyelid blepharoplasty (eye lift). He gave me permission to use his name.
Click to enlarge
Artist Anthony Cerniello has compiled a beautiful video simulating the aging process of a woman. Using a friend as a model, and meshing her image with photos of older and younger relatives with similar facial features, Cerniello and a team of animation specialists have captured the subtleties of getting older.
Click to watch the remarkable process of a lifetime, compressed to under 5 minutes.
Dr. Devgan is featured as an invited contributor to The Doctor Blog by ZocDoc, a critically acclaimed service for finding healthcare professionals that serves over 2.5 million people.
October 22, 2013 By Lara Devgan, MD
Halsted once described plastic surgeons as “the surgeon’s surgeons.” Yet in today’s era of media hype about cosmetic surgery, this turn of phrase feels long-forgotten. Despite what reality television may have you believe, the specialty remains at its core about reconstructive surgery, and collaboration is still a key element. Here, a few points that show those words are as true now as they ever were:
Patients may have high expectations for how their scars will look, particularly on cosmetically sensitive parts of the body. Whether it is a thyroidectomy incision on the neck, a sternal wound on the chest, or a facial laceration on a child, when a patient expresses concern about “not wanting to have a scar,” it may be a good idea to get a plastic surgeon involved. We, as a group, may be able to explain what to realistically expect from a scar after surgery. We may also be able to offer optimal wound closure (to a plastic surgeon, this is based on fundamental principles of layered, tension-free closure). Finally, we may be able to help with scar management after surgery, using an array of silicone gel, silicone sheeting, and steroid injections to help achieve the desired results.
Some patients have the decks stacked against them. They may be older, frail, beleaguered by other medical conditions, or operated on multiple times. For individuals in these subsets – those who are likely to encounter roadblocks in the healing and recovery process – a plastic surgeon may be able to help. Whether your case involves a vasculopath with an infected groin wound; a cardiac surgery patient with diabetes; a knee replacement candidate with a connective tissue disease; or anyone who is elderly, sarcopenic, or likely to have a wound complication – a plastic surgeon who performs a wound closure is shouldering the responsibility should that wound break down. This is a very real way to help you sleep better at night.
As a discipline, plastic surgery has evolved tremendously in the past fifty years. Grafts, pedicled flaps, and free flaps are some of the many techniques now in our armamentarium. We can use a patient’s own skin, muscle, bone, and cartilage to fill a hole or cover an important structure. There are also dozens of new biomaterials made from donor humans and animals that can help with difficult reconstructive surgery problems. For patients with chronic wounds – venous stasis or decubitus ulcers, for example – there are many new types of dressings and treatments available. The state-of-the-art standard is always changing, and we can offer patients excellent techniques and options that previously eluded us.
In our daily lives as attendings, many of us are so busy juggling families and careers that we forget how much fulfillment we got out of working alongside our peers during medical school and residency. Plastic surgery is my own specialty, of course, and I am passionate about its applications and potential. However, consulting a plastic surgeon for assistance with a difficult case is just one way to reach out to a fellow doctor in your community or at your hospital. Most importantly, no matter the specialty, collaborating to solve a challenging patient care problem can offer deep value to the case, and as such can be extremely personally and professionally satisfying.
Click to read Dr. Devgan's piece on ZocDoc's Doctor Blog
Thank you to my friends, supporters, colleagues, and wonderful patients for making the start of my private practice so amazing. I am incredibly grateful to have reached over 10,000 unique visitors and 16,500 page views to this website in under 3 months-- all completely organically, with no "search engine optimization," public relations firms, or advertising.
I am honored to have your support, and I will continue to work hard to take excellent care of you and your loved ones.
Patients of Dr. Devgan who book surgery anytime between now and January 1, 2014 will be treated to either a Champagne Pedicure or a Top Tier Massage (your choice!) at the world-famous Cornelia Spa-- as our gift to you!
A five-start luxury retreat on the Upper East Side, Cornelia is a gem that has been featured in Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, and the Robb Report for its fabulous amenities and relaxing service-- and it is one of Dr. Devgan's favorite places to unwind!
As soon as Dr. Devgan medically clears you (usually at your second post-surgery visit), you'll get your luxurious treat.
Because October is Breast Cancer awareness month, if you book surgery in October, your Champagne Pedicure will be enhanced with special 'pink' inclusions: two signature cupcakes from the Cornelia Chef, a glass of rose prosecco, and a bouquet of roses and dried lavender.
Get ready to start the new year off with a new you, and let us pamper you. Call 212.452.2400 or email info@LaraDevganMD.com to schedule your consultation.
As above, but enhanced with special 'pink' inclusions: two signature cupcakes from the Cornelia Chef, a glass of rose prosecco, and a bouquet of roses and dried lavender.
Read about Cornelia Spa in Vanity Fair
Read about Cornelia Spa in New York Magazine
