Do that which cannot be done

It is often said that plastic surgery is art and science, and it is true. So I draw inspiration from artists who innovate as well as scientists with imagination. Picasso once said “I am always doing that which I cannot do, so that I may learn how to do it.” Much of what is now almost routine in plastic surgery must have seemed impossible only a few generations ago; in fact as a recognized specialty it is less than 100 years old. (The term comes from the Greek word plastikos, which means to change form or restore.) How does one rebuild an ear or a breast using only available “spare” parts? That kind of creative challenge is the real joy of plastic surgery.
But surprisingly there are old ideas that seem to reappear in new packaging from time to time. The heavily advertised “brand name” facelifts look a lot like the descriptions of the very first facelifts, yet are heralded as dramatic breakthroughs. And too many plastic surgeons fail to update their skill set or way of thinking, preferring the safe, tried and true methods. There’s nothing wrong with safe and predictable, but we are in a world of rapidly evolving technology, and consumers (our patients) are being bombarded with information overload. Only some of what’s new and innovative is truly worthwhile, but it takes the sort of mind that embraces what seems impossible to learn what is.