1.
WHAT ARE THREE WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE YOU?
Empathetic, fastidious, amiable
2.
MY MOTTO
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work
and learning from failure.” –General Colin Powell
3.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION?
Plastic surgery is as much an art as
it is a science. I appreciate that there
may not be one solution to an issue,
just like there is more than one way
to paint a canvas
4.
WHAT SETS MY PRACTICE APART
We are one of a select few plastic surgical teams in Connecticut that offers DIEP flap microvascular breast
reconstruction, which has been shown to reduce recovery time and decrease pain and is known for
having the highest rate of satisfaction of any type of breast reconstruction
5.
MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
My wife and I have two wonderful young sons and every day I watch them challenge themselves, each
other, us and their friends to aspire higher. They are easily our greatest triumph
6.
WHAT IS YOUR SURGICAL NICHE?
Breast and body patients make
up the majority of our practice,
with an additional emphasis on
breast reconstruction. Two unique
options we offer are DIEP flap
microvascular breast reconstruction
and Smartlipo laser-assisted,
minimally invasive liposuction
7.
WHY DO YOU PLACE A STRONG EMPHASIS ON BODY CONTOURING?
In general, when a patient looks in
the mirror, even while in clothing,
there may be areas they wish to
improve. The breast and body make
up such a large part of one’s being that
I believe it is important to ultimately
find a way to be comfortable in our
own skin, whether through surgical
methods or otherwise
8.
WHAT NEW SERVICES ARE YOU EXCITED TO OFFER?
Smartlipo, a type of laser-assisted,
nonsurgical liposuction that can treat
different areas of the body, allowing
for improvement in body contouring
9.
WHAT ONE SURGICAL ADVANCEMENT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT RIGHT NOW?
I am pleased that we are able to
create natural-looking breasts
from a patient’s own tissues after
a mastectomy using state-of-the-art
microvascular surgery
10.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE PATIENT EXPECTATIONS?
Managing patient expectations is a
vital aspect of the surgical process,
especially in plastic surgery. Open,
honest conversations with patients
that include the limitations on what
can be achieved and our mutual goals
are of utmost importance
11.
WHY IS GIVING BACK SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
While charity work assists those
in dire need, it is at least equally
rewarding to those who have the
ability to lend that extra hand.
One never knows when the tables
can turn. To that end, my family
and I had the opportunity to travel
to Cuba with the Yale Alumni Service
Corps during the summer of 2017.
We were involved, along with local
youth volunteers, in reforestation
of heritage land. It was a wonderful
exercise in teamwork and we had the
chance to gain a better understanding
of the Cuban culture
12.
WHAT I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
Passion—if I ever lose it,
it’s a sign to move on to
something else
13.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE
“You miss 100 percent of
the shots you don’t take.”
–Wayne Gretzky
14.
WHAT ARE YOU THE MOST PROUD OF ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE?
We do not follow a cookie-cutter
approach. Just as there is individuality
in personality, every patient’s plastic
surgery needs are unique. We use
our experience to help guide them
to the best outcomes by extensively
understanding their goals
15.
WHAT THREE THINGS SHOULD EVERYONE DO BEFORE GOING UNDER THE KNIFE?
Research your procedure and discuss
what it entails with your surgeon,
research your surgeon to verify their
board-certification, and understand
that patience is often required after
surgery to realize your final results
16.
HOW HAS YOUR PROFESSION CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?
There seems to be a plethora of
information laid out for the world to
see, but not all of it may be accurate.
The Internet can be a wonderful
source of information, but can also
be detrimental in that there may
be no true filter. In general though,
patients are becoming savvier
and are able to wade through the
morass of material to become
more medically knowledgeable
for their own sake
17.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
“The most valuable player
is the one who makes the
most players valuable.”
—Peyton Manning
18.
MY FAVORITE JOKE
I bought the worst thesaurus
the other day. Not only is it
terrible, it’s terrible!
19.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG SURGEONS JUST STARTING OUT?
Follow your passion and stick with it.
It only takes that one patient to show
you the difference you can make in
someone’s life and what an honor
it is when they put their trust in
your hands
20.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM INNOVATION?
It’s no longer a dream—I have
recently developed a patented,
simple solution for directed light
while operating. There are both
clinical and economic advantages
for the patient, surgeon, hospital
and even health care system
21.
WHAT I’M READING RIGHT NOW
The Captain Class,
by Sam Walker
22.
WHY DO YOU THINK PLASTIC SURGERY HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY?
I believe that now, more than ever,
certain elements have become more
accessible to a greater number of
patients, whether it’s physical or
financial accessibility. Techniques
have continued to develop that allow
for more consistent results across
a greater spectrum
23.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SURGERY TO PERFORM?
Breast and body procedures with
an additional emphasis on breast
reconstruction. I have a particular
affinity for breast augmentation and
microvascular breast reconstruction
(DIEP flap), as well as tummy tucks
24.
DO YOU HAVE ANY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES COMING UP?
By the time of publishing, I will have
already visited the Food and Wine
Classic in Aspen, Colorado. Food,
especially how it’s made today, is so
artistic, both visually and in taste. I’m
certain the trip will not disappoint
25.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION IN YOUR FIELD?
That any one individual has the
answer. There can be multiple
methods to achieving a wonderful
result, depending upon which
technique works best for that
particular surgeon and patient.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution
26.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION?
I enjoy the fact that there is constant
learning and innovation. We learn
from those who came before us,
as well as the younger versions
of ourselves each and every day
27.
NAME ONE IMPORTANT LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED IN SURGERY.
So many lessons are constantly
being learned. But, I have to say
that an overarching theme is that
just because something has been
done one way for eternity does not
mean that is the best or most efficient
method. It is also important to be
critical and open to new ideas
28.
WHAT ONE THING CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT IN THE OPERATING ROOM?
Aside from all of the obvious, music
plays a large role in the operating
room. It can be quite calming and
actually help my concentration
29.
WHAT MAKES PLASTIC SURGERY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SPECIALTIES?
Medicine as a whole is mindbogglingly
interesting and intricate.
Daily puzzles are presented and it
remains the physician’s job to decode
them and create solutions. Plastic
surgery has an added component of
artistry, which, to me, makes things
more fascinating and challenging
30.
WHICH SURGICAL PROCEDURES FORM THE MAJORITY OF YOUR PRACTICE?
Over the years, I have streamlined
my surgical procedures, with the
majority of patients being treated
for breast and body concerns. In
particular, we also have a large part
of my practice dedicated to breast
reconstruction. We are proudly one
of the few practices in the region
that offers DIEP flap microvascular
breast reconstruction surgery to
appropriate candidates
31.
WHAT MAKES YOUR PRACTICE UNIQUE?
We strive for a calming environment
right when patients walk through
our doors. From the waterfall gently
splashing in the background to the
demeanor of our entire staff, we seek
to reduce anxiety no matter why a
patient is visiting us
32.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING PATIENTS NEED DURING THEIR RECOVERY?
Patience
33.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU GIVE PATIENTS?
I encourage patients to read about
their chosen procedure. However,
I do caution them to make sure they
are using appropriate sources. It is
also important to understand that
every patient presents a unique
set of circumstances, and results
depend on a host of factors
34.
MY FAVORITE INVENTION
The Light Jacket, which
my team and I designed
to brighten the area where
a surgeon is operating
35.
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW
The new A Star Is Born
album