Dr. David Shifrin specialized in cosmetic surgery because, he said, of his perceptive nature, love of geometry and creative desire. While he does some medical reconstructive work, "100 percent of the clients in his Chicago office are cosmetic patients", and he kindly spoke to the Windy City Times about considerations a patient might have before undergoing cosmetic, or plastic surgery.
According to Shifrin, surgery is not always a patient's first option. He said that diet and exercise and various skin products can clear up lines and wrinkles. Shifrin also performs less invasive medical procedures such as Botox. His decision on whether non-surgical options will work has to do with the amount of skin the patient has in an area—in his experience, "nothing but surgery can reduce excess skin."
Shifrin starts his appointments with consultations, currently doing about "five to 10 a week." He said that many of his patients find him via referral from previous patients, and their average age is "mid-20s to mid-60s." Realizing patients may not be from the area or have tight schedules, he offers a virtual consultation on his website in addition to office hours.
Davidshifrinmd.com also outlines the consultation process: "You will begins with an introduction to our practice by a member of our staff. You will share your medical history and discuss your goals. You will then meet with Dr. Shifrin and his assistant for a personalized evaluation. All examinations include Dr. Shifrin and our Patient Care Coordinator who is present to advocate on your behalf. Dr. Shifrin will then offer individualized recommendations regarding the best treatment options available to you. The consultation concludes with time for answering any questions and providing you the information you may need to make a completely confident, well-informed decision."
Shifrin estimated "about 50 percent of patients" opt for surgery after the consultation. As Shifrin's website describes it, there is also a pre-surgical visit that includes taking the famous "before" photo. Depending on the procedure's invasiveness, local or general anesthetic is employed, and while most surgery is outpatient, larger operations may require a short hospital stay. For most surgeries, Shifrin recommended "taking a week off of work" for comfort.
A surgery Shifrin does often is liposuction, and he does two different kinds: "laser liposuction and the more traditional procedure. After 7-10 days, swelling and slight discomfort will decrease. By six weeks, results are 90-percent obvious, and by three months recovery is complete and results should be total."
Shifrin also said that rhinoplasty—also known as a "nose job"—is another popular procedure. He explained that the part of the procedure that deals with breathing is often covered by insurance, while the cosmetic portion—the shape change—is out-of-pocket. "Rhinoplasties involve stitches, which need to come out in a week. There will be bruising and swelling underneath the eyes, and the tip of the nose may stay swollen for up to six week to three months. However, results are seen immediately."
Shifrin outlined body contouring, an area of cosmetic surgery that includes breast surgeries. "There are breast augmentations, breast reductions, breast lifts, and for men, removal and shaping of their chest area. Other body contouring procedures would be tummy tucks, for people who have lost large amounts of weight and have extra stomach skin as a result. The procedure reduces that skin around the belt line," Shifrin said. He also mentioned "Brazilian buttock implementation, which is fat transferred from various parts of the body to the backside." Fat-transferring in general is a technique that's "come into its own in the last 3-5 years", and is something Shifrin said he feels very comfortable with.
Shifrin said that things to look for when choosing a surgeon would be "experience, critical results, surgeon availability, and excellent before and after photos." Shifrin has been in practice for five years, which he said makes him well-versed in recent procedures such as "laser liposuction and through-the-armpit breast augmentations that don't leave visible scars." He thought his experience and training factors into his patient's choice.
Cosmetic surgery fosters a close relationship it between doctor and patient, an aspect Shifrin said he particularly enjoys. He said it's important for patients to have all the questions answered and for their surgeon to be available to them. He added his office treats everyone like a family member—and he personally delights in seeing them get the results they desire.
