“If something is bagging, sagging, or dragging, I’ll tuck it, suck it or pluck it.” These memorable words come from 77-year-old national treasure Dolly Parton, and it’s safe to say that she is as expert as any patient on what plastic surgery can and cannot do. Claiming that she is not a natural beauty, Ms. Parton has crafted a look that she has described as “a country girl’s idea of glam” with a lot of care and forethought.
After over fifty years of living her own uniquely American dream, Ms. Parton has gone into detail on how she has maintained her trademark appearance. Recently, she talked about plastic surgery with an infamously frank media figure.
Dolly and Howard
Somewhat mellowed in his later years, one-time shock-jock Howard Stern recently interviewed Ms. Parton on his Sirius radio program. Complimenting her appearance in his trademark salty style, Stern said that if he wanted any work, he’d ask her which plastic surgeon she uses.
It turns out that many other celebrities think like Stern, and Ms. Parton admits that she often suggests plastic surgeons to her famous friends.
“I always say, ‘You absolutely have to find the best doctors – the most talked about doctors and the ones most highly recommended.’” Ms. Parton adds that people should try and avoid getting more work than they need to keep an attractive and natural look. “I like to do just little bits at a time,” she adds, discussing how she augments her past surgeries with Botox and facial fillers that she can use as needed before appearances.
What It Means to Only Work with the Best
Agreeing with Dolly Parton that the best plastic surgery and cosmetic work never announces itself and less often may be more, is leading Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Payam Jarrah-Nejad, M.D., F.I.C.S., F.A.C.S. One of the widely discussed and highly praised plastic surgeons in the Greater Los Angeles area and known more familiarly as Dr. J, observers not how he has not courted the media spotlight, instead preferring to concentrate on his patients.
The double-board-certified plastic surgeon has nevertheless attracted a national and worldwide following ranging from celebrities to schoolteachers. Dr. J believes that both word of mouth and maintaining a consistent five-star rating on sites like Yelp and RealSelf have been central to his ongoing renown.
Admirers also point out that it’s only natural to get positive attention when the public can see online galleries featuring spectacular outcomes for procedures ranging from breast augmentation and mommy makeovers to rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation. Dr. J is also praised for his ability to help patients fully understand their procedures and what kind of outcomes they can realistically expect — an important indicator of how satisfied a patient will feel once their recovery is complete.
Finding the Right Plastic Surgeon
Of course, the world is full of doctors offering plastic surgeries and cosmetic procedures. Dr. J and his team note that the first thing prospective patients should understand is that it is essential to work with a plastic surgeon. This may sound self-evident but most laypeople do not understand that plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons are not the same.
To call themselves plastic surgeons, doctors might take an additional two years of training after completing their initial residencies as general surgeons to enter the specialty. Medical doctors, on the other hand, require no set regimen to legally call themselves cosmetic surgeons though most may take an additional class or two. While both types of doctors are allowed to perform surgeries, plastic surgeons must have a higher level of training and knowledge, making them the safer choice according to experts.
Finally, your doctor must be board-certified in plastic surgery. This means they have undergone the demanding process of proving to a board of top plastic surgeons that they have all the knowledge and skills they need to provide consistently satisfactory results. Importantly, plastic surgeons must renew these qualifications every 10 years.
Dr. J has decided to maintain not only his plastic surgery board certification, as most plastic surgeons do, but also the earlier certification he obtained in general surgery. He believes that maintaining a double-board certified status allows him to have the complete range of knowledge and skills he needs to do the best work possible.
The Challenge of Finding the Best
Of course, not every patient can see Dr. J, and very few of us have Dolly Parton’s private phone number! Patients-to-be must do everything they can to confirm that any plastic surgeon they are considering can provide the outcomes they’re hoping for while maintaining the highest level of safety. This means checking out the top websites covering area plastic surgeons and talking to anyone an individual can find who has had experience with getting work done with a particular doctor.
What Not to Do
Up to now, we’ve given you some “do’s” but we also have two potentially life-or-death “don’t’s” to keep in mind while you’re going about your plastic surgeon search.
- Don’t Shop on Price. As we’ve explained, becoming a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon takes many years of arduous training. Moreover, running a first-rate plastic surgeon’s office involves overhead to ensure safety and positive outcomes. Any practitioner who is offering work at bargain prices is almost certainly cutting important corners and that can be disastrous if patients are unlucky. Please understand that you will likely get what you pay for and that correcting botched procedures is invariably unpleasant, time-consuming, and far more expensive than simply going to a superb plastic surgeon the first time.
- Never Engage in “Medical Tourism” to Save Money. World-class plastic surgeons like Dr. J often see patients from other parts of the world. However, if you choose to go to a plastic surgeon far away from where you live, it should be moreexpensive, not less. There are numerous outstanding plastic surgeons throughout Europe and in countries famous for plastic surgery such as South Korea and Brazil. However, if you want to take this path, you should be even more careful in your choice of a physician.
Getting cut-rate surgeries near where you live is dangerous but leaving the country for them increases the risk. Other countries may have lax rules and/or weak enforcement compared to the United States, and there’s every reason to be concerned about the credentials of the people doing your work. One problem with even some relatively reputable plastic surgery providers in South Korea and elsewhere is “ghost doctors.” This is when a patient believes they are being treated by one doctor but another, less experienced, physician performs the surgery. Your choice of a plastic surgeon may be one of the most important selections you ever make. Choose wisely.
The Best in Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery
If you live in the Greater Los Angeles/Southern California area, your choice may be an easy one. Dr. J has been praised by patients from throughout Southern California and worldwide. To see what Dr. J and his team of caring and knowledgeable medical professionals can do to help you Live the Dream®, please call (310) 993-3800 or make an appointment online.