This is an article that appeared on the Sunday Circle of July 2011…
AT THE CUTTING EDGE – THE PLASTIC SURGERY APPEAL
Does it come from within or is beauty really skin-deep? Mariella Camilleri asks Dr Des Fernandes, the seventh top plastic surgeon in the world
It’s a humid Tuesday morning and I am making my way to the Palace hotel in Sliema where I am to meet Dr Des Fernandes, the seventh best plastic surgeon in the world.* To me the idea of having my skin snipped and stitched is very daunting – however, as I shake hands with Dr Fernandes himself I realize that most patients must feel very relaxed in his presence because he possesses an aura of gentleness and kindness. Today, dressed in a striped shirt he is looking very relaxed and as he begins to talk about his career I find myself becoming totally absorbed in his story.
“I was always interested in art, sculpture and medicine; however when I graduated as a doctor my professors thought it would be a waste for me to study cosmetic surgery,” he says. “Instead of following my dream I went on to study cardiac medicine and soon realised it wasn’t my field. Nine years later I decided to take the plunge and go into cosmetic surgery – I wanted to specialize in reconstructive surgery to help people feel better about themselves.”
On his first day working as a reconstructive surgeon Dr Fernandes operated on a little boy with a cleft palette and afterwards went on to operate on a child whose fingers were joint together. “The satisfaction I felt that day is indescribable and I knew I had finally found my place in the field of surgery.”
Born in South Africa, Dr Des Fernandes carried out his studies in Britain and now specialises solely in facelifts on men and women of all ages. “My youngest patient was a 28-year-old woman who felt that her skin was in need of a lift and by looking at her I could see that she was right.” The effects of a facelift normally last for six to 10 years and, for best results, Dr Fernandes suggests that patients do a little bit of surgery where needed when needed.
“Some patients who do small lifts and tucks every so often seem to age better than those who go for a full facelift every couple of years.”
So does Dr Fernandes realise instantly what kind of surgery the patient is after?
“No I don’t…” he laughs. “Sometimes I see a patient and I am sure they want a rhinoplasty (nose job); however when they start talking they will tell me that they would like to remove a small mole from their cheek.”
Going under the knife for cosmetic reasons might sound like a traumatic experience; however Dr Fernandes tells me that plastic surgery stands in a class of its own. “When it comes to cosmetic surgery, the patient knows that he can do without the procedure because it is not one that will improve one’s health… yet we still offer plenty of reassurance and patients can visit the clinic as often as they deem necessary.” Unlike general surgery where the use of anaesthesia is essential, most facial surgery can be done under heavy sedation and this minimizes the risk that comes along with surgical operations. What about the pain associated with cosmetic surgery? “Human beings are all equipped with different pain thresholds,” says Dr Fernandes.
“Some people seem very sore and others say that they didn’t feel any pain at all during their recovery period; however it all depends on the individual.”
When patients return for their post-operative visit many of them seem reborn and full of confidence and it is here that Dr Fernandes experiences deep satisfaction.
“Our work is about giving people confidence and helping them to feel happy with the way they look. It is common to come across people who are dissatisfied with the shape of their facial features and undergoing surgery can help them to feel better about themselves.”
Much is said about how cosmetic surgery can become addictive over the years; first it is lips injected with silicone and soon after it could be a nip and tuck over the brow. Dr Fernandes explains that sometimes patients return after just one year because they feel that the effects of the facelifts have worn off and begin to point out new wrinkles and saggy skin. “It is only when I show them the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures that they realise that their face lift is still very much in place.”
Dr Fernandes is often visited by patients suffering from Body Dysmorphic Disease (BDD), a psychological disorder where individuals believe that they are repulsive or ugly and feel the need to change their appearance when in fact they look completely normal. He explains that when faced with BDD patients he often offers reassurance and explains to the patient that if he operates on the features the desired effects will not be obtained. It is not only with psychological disorders that Dr Fernandes feels the need to offer his professional advice prior to surgery.
“Sometimes a patient comes in and tells me that she wants the skin on her eyelids reshaped; however after examining her face I realise that only a proper brow lift will give her the desired effect.”
How important are looks and is beauty really skin-deep?
Dr Fernandes tells me that society still perceives looks as really important. “Having good looks is always beneficial… except in cases when women murder their husbands! This is the only time when good looks would work against you,” jokes the surgeon.
Male cosmetic surgery is also on the rise and Dr Fernandes tells me that he performs plenty of face lifts on men past the age of 50. As I wonder if it is possible to age gracefully without the need of possibly painful nips, tucks and stitches Dr Fernandes – also the founder of Environ Skin Care – adds that caring for one’s skin from a young age and steering clear of the sun helps to keep wrinkles, frowns and laughter lines at bay.
“From my research I have found that vitamin A helps to delay the aging process on skin all over the body. Vitamin D derived from the sun reduces the amount of vitamin A in the skin; therefore for skin to remain youthful one must have a steady source of vitamin A in the body. I always test new products on myself before I ask my patients if they would like to join my research programme. My products are always medically safe… so it is only a question of how effective they are.”
Research into skin products goes a long way and Dr Fernandes believes in prevention rather than cure.
“Beauty is something that we can feel from within… an aura that lights up the individual’s face with confidence and contentment.”
Facial beauty is not simply a question of symmetry or proportional facial features – sometimes an odd feature could be the spot that makes an individual stand out from the crowd. Dr Fernandes tells me that one day a beautiful woman came to see him because she wanted to remove a bump from her nose; however he refused to operate on her face.
“She was one of those beautiful women who made heads turn when she entered a room… She did have a slight bump on her nose – however she looked so gorgeous she stood out from the crowd. Quite simply I told her that if I removed that bump from her nose, her face would look ordinary, because sometimes it is an odd feature that gives a face a unique look…”