Book sheds light on philosophy behind cosmetic surgery
An entertaining look into cosmetic surgery has been provided by Robin Yuan, MD, Beverly Hills, Calif., in Behind the Mask, Beneath the Glitter, a book that investigates the truths about cosmetic procedures and explains the reasoning behind Dr. Yuan's view of the field.
A Harvard University and Harvard Medical School graduate, Dr. Yuan came up with the idea for the book after philosophical struggles with cosmetic patients. "Patients asked questions that weren't really getting at the heart of what I thought cosmetic surgery was all about," he told PSN. "They would ask me: 'What would I look like after a facelift?' We don't take a facelift and apply it to a patient - we take a patient, analyze their anatomy and try and figure out what's going to make them happy. Then we do something to achieve that." Dr Yuan strongly believes the real question patients should be asking is: "What do you need to do to make me happy?"
The book aims to answer such questions and dispel the myths about cosmetic surgery by explaining Dr. Yuan's philosophy that "cosmetic surgery is unnecessary, but it is desirable." It's this view that he employs to set his practice apart from others - because he looks at psychological decisions behind each patient's procedure.
To Dr. Yuan, cosmetic surgery is a very psychological endeavor, therefore in order to have a successful procedure and satisfied patient, "patients have to know the truth about themselves in the broadest sense," he tells PSN. A necessary step before exploring surgical options is for them to discover how they view themselves in every aspect of their lives - for example, as a woman or man, or husband or wife.
Cosmetic surgery is not designed to create looks that are strictly identical, so Dr. Yuan helps patients through their journey by helping them seek their own personal truth and look - and he hopes the book will do the same. "Hopefully, what I've written will force patients to think more deeply about what they specifically should or should not do, and not just think of cosmetic surgery as something everyone does."
Dr. Yuan's approach to the specialty doesn't just differ in consultation - it also differs in the O.R., as he believes that plastic surgeons bring their heritage, training and childhood to the surgical table. Dr. Yuan views his upbringing and background in sports and music as important building blocks to his career. "I've played the violin and I've been involved in several different sports throughout my life," he says. "Sports is a great metaphor for life and how I approach surgery. It's a combination of both art and science."
In Behind the Mask, Beneath the Glitter, Dr. Yuan devotes the chapter "Incisive Beginnings" to exploring how having two doctors for parents, a background in music and sports, and mentors D. Ralph Millard, MD, and Joseph Murray, MD, have helped to shape his surgical process.
Dr. Yuan believes that just as patients need to find their individuality before starting this process, so do surgeons. In Beverly Hills, physicians' approaches to medicine can be compromised by style, fame and celebrities, but Dr. Yuan strongly stands by his beliefs. "I try to not be influenced by trends and I try to stick close by my core values and philosophy," he says. "I keep an ethical behavior in my practice." In his book, Dr. Yuan explains how this process helps to lay the foundation for a strong doctor-patient relationship - something he finds crucial to a having a pleased patient in the end.
Dr. Yuan wants readers to come away with a clearer sense of the field, as well as his personal view on cosmetic surgery. "There are many different ways of practicing cosmetic surgery. In the book, I describe the way I practice, but it's not the only way of practicing. For me, it's the truthful way of practicing, but it isn't the only way of doing things," he says. "Everyone has to find their own philosophy and methodology of how they approach things." That means both surgeons and patients alike: "I put a little burden on patients to be more proactive and involved in what they do and how they make decisions," Dr. Yuan says. "It's not about just following a doctor down a hall into the O.R."
Dr. Yuan says he has another book in the works. The Skinny... On Marriage: A Plastic Surgeon's Practice Guide will endeavor to explain the dynamics within couples' relationships and how these relate to cosmetic surgery. The book has been completed and is ready to be printed, Dr. Yuan says.
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