Cosmetic surgery combines surgical expertise with aesthetic sensibilities. For a cosmetic surgeon, proficiency in the field goes beyond mastering technical knowledge and skills; it also requires a deep understanding of aesthetics and a broad knowledge base that includes related disciplines and foundational subjects. The qualities and requirements that a cosmetic surgeon should possess are as follows:
1.Profound Understanding of Aesthetics by a Cosmetic Surgeon:
Cosmetic surgery involves applying principles from surgical science, plastic surgery, medical engineering, and rehabilitation medicine to reshape the human body, enhance appearance, and restore functionality, ultimately achieving physical and aesthetic beauty. In addition to medical expertise, a cosmetic surgeon must have a profound appreciation for aesthetics. This entails learning about and embracing principles of medical aesthetic evaluation, cultivating a correct aesthetic perspective, and using contemporary aesthetic standards to guide clinical practice.
This understanding is not confined to clinical and medical knowledge but also draws from diverse fields such as music, dance, art, sculpture, literature, and sociology. Only by possessing a comprehensive understanding of medical principles, a rich aesthetic foundation, and a strong humanistic background can one become a competent cosmetic surgeon.
The external image, personality traits, and overall qualities of a cosmetic surgeon are reflected not only in patient consultations, surgical procedures, and postoperative care but also in their communication, demeanor, appearance, and professional conduct. Cosmetic professionals are seen as agents of beauty and joy, creating a sense of vitality and aesthetic pleasure for individuals. Throughout their careers, they aim to bring joy through beauty, leave a lasting impact, and achieve satisfaction in enhancing beauty for others.
2.Possessing Noble Moral Integrity:
As messengers of beauty creation, cosmetic surgeons should embody beauty both outwardly and inwardly.
Outstanding cosmetic doctors should constantly shape their own character with advanced scientific knowledge and social culture before they can shape the good image and physique of others. The moral integrity of cosmetic surgeons directly affects the success or failure of surgical outcomes. Faced with a large number of seekers of beauty with different mindsets every day, they should provide satisfactory answers tailored to each individual situation as much as possible.
For seekers in need of surgical treatment, comprehensive assessments should be conducted based on different circumstances and combined with medical aesthetic standards to design and propose appropriate surgical plans, shaping a beautiful appearance and physique. This requires cosmetic surgery practitioners to approach each seeker with noble moral integrity, sincere attitude, scientific and rigorous work style, pragmatic spirit, and enthusiastic care.
Practice has proven that cosmetic surgeons can better serve and contribute to the development of the cosmetic surgery industry when they integrate great compassion for seekers of beauty, a strong sense of responsibility for cosmetic surgery work, and a proactive attitude towards cosmetic surgical techniques. Only by doing so can they create beauty for humanity.
Cosmetic surgeons are creators and maintainers of beauty, and their physical beauty should be valued, while their inner beauty is particularly important in establishing an image of noble professionals. They should dress neatly and appropriately, behave dignified and generous, maintain a graceful and elegant posture, exhibit a friendly and natural expression, be polite and humble yet confident, and demonstrate a modest and respectable self-respect, providing seekers of beauty with enough confidence and reassurance.
They should communicate with seekers in a sincere, friendly, and easily understandable manner, understand their motivations for seeking beauty, and address their concerns. They must answer each question posed by seekers with sincerity, providing realistic estimations and predictions of surgical outcomes, balancing expected results with the seekers’ expectations. It is essential to establish good communication with seekers and avoid exaggeration.
Inner beauty is an essential quality for cosmetic practitioners and a concrete manifestation of high medical ethics. Therefore, for seekers who are not suitable for certain cosmetic surgeries, they should be told the truth and never compromise ethical standards for the sake of catering to seekers’ psychological needs or personal gain.
In clinical practice, it is crucial to emphasize the scientific rigor and precision of cosmetic surgery.
3.Possessing a Broad Foundation of Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills:
With the development of the economy and society, cosmetic surgeons are faced with changing medical models, evolving health concepts, and diverse demands from individuals seeking beauty enhancements. It is essential for cosmetic surgeons to evaluate their knowledge structure and continuously enhance their knowledge base to adapt to the evolving field. Therefore, cosmetic surgery practitioners should have extensive knowledge and proficiency in their discipline, along with a broad perspective and a spirit of continuous innovation.
In order to achieve optimal surgical outcomes, cosmetic surgeons must possess not only a solid foundation in aesthetic theory and comprehensive disciplinary knowledge, but also exceptional skills in cosmetic surgery and proficient surgical techniques. This includes a range of fundamental knowledge and skills such as anatomy, physiology, human aesthetics, psychology, tissue engineering, genetic engineering, microsurgery, and endoscopic surgical techniques.
The scope of cosmetic surgery covers various parts of the body, from head to toe, including facial features and the genital area. Therefore, it is crucial for cosmetic surgeons to have a deep understanding of the unique anatomical and physiological characteristics of different body parts and their corresponding variations. As cosmetic surgery is closely related to other clinical disciplines, particularly general surgery, orthopedics, dermatology, urology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, dentistry, craniofacial surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and rehabilitation medicine, cosmetic surgeons must also acquire knowledge and expertise in the diagnostic and treatment protocols of these disciplines.
As professionals in the field of cosmetic surgery, it is imperative to possess a wealth of medical knowledge, a correct aesthetic sense, proficient surgical skills, profound artistic knowledge, a strong sense of innovation, good humanistic qualities, a noble personal charm, and a broad vision. By combining these qualities, cosmetic surgeons can fulfill people’s expectations by sculpting artistic forms that are more beautiful, realistic, and satisfying.
4.Possessing a Certain Level of Psychological Knowledge in Cosmetic Surgery:
Modern medical models (biopsychosocial) emphasize the role of social and psychological factors in biomedicine. From a psychological standpoint, the desire for beauty is fundamentally a social need. In the realm of cosmetic surgery, it is crucial to consider the psychological well-being of individuals seeking cosmetic procedures and integrate this consideration throughout the entire treatment process.
Given that individuals’ backgrounds, cultural qualities, economic status, and environment influence their psychological state, it is essential to conduct psychological analyses for each cosmetic patient. Those undergoing cosmetic surgery should be both physically healthy and psychologically sound. However, in clinical practice, cosmetic surgery candidates often exhibit good physical health but may present certain psychological abnormalities.
Therefore, a comprehensive analysis should be conducted based on the specific circumstances of the patient and their motivations for seeking beauty to determine their suitability for cosmetic surgery. For individuals who are unsuitable for surgery or temporarily unable to undergo the procedure due to psychological barriers, timely and effective psychological counseling should be provided. If necessary, the assistance of a psychologist should be sought, and surgery should never be performed hastily.
According to clinical psychological analysis, 60% of individuals seeking beauty exhibit varying degrees of psychological abnormalities, underscoring the need for careful consideration in practical work. Renowned American cosmetic surgery expert Raes classified cosmetic surgery seekers and identified 10 types of abnormal psychological conditions that should preclude surgery. This classification serves as a rigorous and enlightening guide.
In clinical practice, cosmetic practitioners often encounter various types of cosmetic patients, including:
- Compliant type: Seekers who follow recommendations from family and friends without a clear desire for beauty;
- Idol worship type: Seekers who wish to resemble a specific celebrity in terms of a body part;
- Vague motivation type: Seekers who leave the decision on the surgical area to the doctor, as long as it enhances their appearance;
- Emotional setback type: Seekers who pursue cosmetic treatment due to romantic, marital, or occupational reasons.
These diverse motivations for seeking beauty may lead to unsatisfactory surgical outcomes and potential medical disputes if not addressed appropriately. Therefore, it is crucial to provide necessary psychological treatment based on the incorrect psychological states of cosmetic surgery seekers and avoid rushing into surgical procedures. Cosmetic surgeons should possess a solid understanding of psychology and offer tailored psychological support to patients with psychological abnormalities, as this is a vital skill for any cosmetic surgeon.