Modern Plastic Surgery: No Longer Just Surgery!

Modern advancements in both the science of medicine and devices have created a paradigm shift within plastic surgery: no longer do surgeons only provide surgery to their patients. Diet plans, skin care, non-invasive procedures… these are the new tools plastic surgeons utilize to provide a more complete service to their patients. Dr. Brad Calobrace, a board certified plastic surgeon in Louisville, has gone all-in with this shift, providing information, non-invasive procedures and surgery to treat his patients for life.

By: M. Bradley Calobrace, MD
and Adam McMillon
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com

The Complete Approach

The idea behind a more complete approach to patients looking for cosmetic procedures is maintaining youth and looking your best throughout every stage of life. Today, patients have the option to go in earlier than ever before to begin treatments that keep them looking youthful, healthy and beautiful. It could be Botox in their thirties or a bit of fat grafting in their forties. Instead of waiting until you need a face lift or another more invasive procedure, patients can slowly combat aging, with the help of comprehensive care by their doctor.

“The day of being a plastic surgeon where we’re just a surgeon is over,” says Dr. Calobrace. “Everything is more non-invasive; it’s more about aesthetic medicine than plastic surgery. It’s thinking about the whole process. So much of what we do now is about non- surgical options. Botox, fillers, fat grafting, diet, exercise, skin care products… all of those are a part of aesthetic medicine.”

More Options for Maintaining Youth

With the plethora of new non-invasive devices and treatments, patients can enter their surgeon’s office and find the results they’re looking for without having to even consider surgery. “Plastic surgery has to be comprehensive,” says Calobrace. “In my practice, we start with a spa. Simple things like massage, manicure, pedicure. Then we have a medical spa for the non-invasive procedures such as lasers, Botox, fillers, skin care, and Coolsculpting. For the patients that need it, we have a diet program, a nutrionist, exercise programs, and even life coaches. There are a lot of things we can bring into the puzzle. Lastly, we have surgery, because sometimes, all of those things aren’t enough.”

Surgery is Still King

With all of the burgeoning non-invasive treatments, surgery is still important. A woman in her thirties or forties who has a distended abdomen from multiple pregnancies will not find much help in the gym or from diet. A mommy makeover procedure will best fit the bill, a surgical treatment that repairs the muscles of the abdomen, removes stretched skin and reinvigorates the breasts. “We have surgery for those patients who need surgery, but we don’t want to forget about the whole patient,” says Calobrace. “That being said, we don’t want to forget about the whole patient. If you do aesthetic medicine that way, you’re going to provide a service to your patients. Not just doing surgery and sending them on their way, but being with them. Being the last primary care practitioner for your patient.

“We have to provide all of it if we want to completely take care of our patients. It’s a new paradigm in how we as plastic surgeons need to deal with our patients, in a much more complete way.”