“Metron Ariston” Kleovoulos (6th century B.C.)
(Everything in moderation)
Plastic Surgery is all about appearances. This entails fragile borderlines, while crossing the Rubicon can often lead to irrevocable devastating results. That is why throughout my career I have been committed to my ancestors’ wisdom -“Metron Ariston”- striving to find the golden mean in all cases, to avoid extremities.
Yet, how feasible is for Plastic surgeons to fulfil their patients’ aspirations, often driven by the images propagated in an era ruled by the pressure of perfection, and still be committed to high medical standards?
Not so easy indeed! My long-term experience has highlighted that it is outstanding education and training that is required, along with sound expertise. Specifically, in order to be able to deliver optimal results, a Plastic Surgeon should opt for minimally invasive surgical techniques, as well as for techniques that deliver safe and long-lasting results. Yet, most times these involve highly-skilled procedures, the successful application of which demands rigorous training and vast experience.
For instance, in order to become an expert in Scarless (Endonasal) Rhinoplasty, I underwent a 2-year fellowship with Prof. Dr Jost (acknowledged as one of the 5 leading Plastic Surgeons of all times) in Lariboisière Hospital, University St-Louis, Paris, having operated – under his supervision-more than 1500 cases. My solid training in leading reference centers of Plastic Surgery in Switzerland, France and Canada has not solely helped me develop eminent expertise, but also provided me with the grounds to advance existing techniques and procedures in Plastic Surgery. Along with Prof. Dr Moufarrege (University of Montréal, Canada) we improvised and optimized an Advanced Breast Reduction Technique allowing preservation of nipple sensation and breastfeeding ability, the results of which have been published in Annales de Chirurgie Plastique Esthétique – one of the most highly-esteemed peer-reviewed journals in Plastic Surgery.
Due to my optimal education and training, paired with a 30-year experience as Consultant and Full Professor of Plastic Surgery, I belong to a pool of highly-skilled surgeons worldwide who are able to perform a set of high-end (due to their complexity both at design and execution levels) techniques, such as Endonasal Rhinoplasty (without external scars), Transconjunctival Lower Eyelid Surgery (scar-less Blepharoplasty), Minimal Access Cranial Suspension (MACS) Face lift which involves less invasive surgery and smaller scars, Breast Reduction and Mastopexy using the aforementioned advanced technique which allows preservation of nipple sensation and breastfeeding ability, Breast Reconstruction using Expanders, Implants, Fat graft transfer and Myo-cutaneous flaps, Abdominoplasty (TummyTuck) using High Superior Tension technique which helps avoid complications like seromas and necrosis.
What I need to highlight though, is that throughout my career my primal concern has been patients’ safety and the commitment to delivering natural results. To this end, I never stop learning and researching (my latest research project is the cultivation and application of fibroblasts in skin rejuvenation), while I never get sidetracked from my golden rule “Metron Ariston”.
