Spring 2023 Newsletter

If you have been to the office sometime in the last 11 years, we probably have met. You have also probably read about many of my life milestones in these newsletters. I have grown up within these office walls and learned many life lessons. Plastic surgery is about transformation, and little did I know 11 years ago that it would help transform me into the woman I am today.

I was a young, naïve 20-year-old when I started working for Dr. Ghaderi (I couldn’t even order a cocktail at our office Christmas dinner since I was underage!). I was only a few years out of high school, taking community college courses and working for my parents’ local pizzeria when the opportunity to work for Dr. Ghaderi presented itself. I was a young adult with no professional office experience or prior knowledge of plastic surgery other than what I saw on Nip Tuck or Dr. 90210 on TV. With excitement and nervousness, I accepted a position as a patient coordinator. The next thing I knew, I traded asking customers whether they wanted cheese or pepperoni for asking patients whether they wanted saline or silicone.

Working for Dr. Ghaderi has taught me many life lessons. One is how to “figure it out.” Again, I came to this office without experience, but I had the tenacity to learn and strive to be the best patient coordinator I could be. Whenever Dr. Ghaderi presented a task I didn’t know how to do, he would smile and tell me, “figure it out.” And figuring it out is exactly what I did. I researched online (thank goodness for Google) or contacted people who could help me learn. Dale, our practice manager, was one of those people. Dale exemplified what being a professional should be. I learned punctuality, reliability, professionalism, and poise all from Dale – more life lessons. She didn’t only provide her expertise on professional matters but life.

Dale was a valuable resource on everything from nutrition, dog training, and relationship advice to what song to use for my first dance at my wedding. With time, work ethic, and great role models, I became a confident and knowledgeable patient coordinator for the most respected and kind plastic surgeon in the suburbs. I went from a young 20-year-old dating my high school sweetheart to engaged and married (to the high school sweetheart) and now a mother.

Seeing our patients’ transformations is my favorite part of my job. I love connecting with our patients by learning about their lives. I never could fully empathize with the patients that were mothers until I, myself, became a mother. I am now a mother of two, and I understand the emotional struggle with fluctuating hormones and body changes post-pregnancy. I now know the feeling of loving your kids more than anything and also reminiscing about your body before pregnancy. I meet with different patients and can now tell them, “I get it.” It is great to be part of the process of helping other moms like me get their bodies back and feeling confident in their skin again. I hope to be a patient of Dr. Ghaderi’s one day, too, and then I can also share that experience!

Transformation is a part of life. I transformed from a young adult to a woman to a wife to a mom, all within these walls of St. Charles Plastic Surgery. I grew up here, but the best part is that I have been part of others’ transformations in life. Plastic surgery is so much more than transforming an outer appearance. It is a transformation of the mind as well. It’s the next step to becoming the person you have always envisioned yourself to be. I never knew the satisfaction that I would receive from seeing how happy other people are with their results. Not only am I thrilled for them, but I have great satisfaction in knowing I was part of the team that helped make that happen.

BENEFITS OF WALKING

With spring upon us, it is a great time to implement some new healthy habits. Walking can increase energy levels, improve mood, memory, and sleep, strengthen your immune system, and reduce stress and tension. Keeping yourself motivated can be the most challenging part for people. Here are four ways to keep yourself motivated this spring when it comes to walking.

Set yourself up for success: Setting small, more realistic goals can be easier to create a habit. Once a small goal is reached, you can set a new goal, and soon, you may see yourself reaching goals that once seemed impossible.

Make walking enjoyable: Listen to music you enjoy or a podcast you have recently been interested in. If you don’t like walking alone, ask a friend to join you.

Vary your routine: If you like walking outside, check out different forest preserves or state parks. Plan to drive to other areas that you usually would not see. The great thing about walking is you don’t need any equipment, so you are not tied down to one location. Always remember to walk in safe, well-lit locations.

Take missed days in stride: Don’t feel discouraged if you start walking and miss a few of your scheduled days. Remind yourself how good you feel when you add physical activity and start your routine over again.

ANESTHESIA; IS IT SAFE?

Most plastic surgery procedures require some anesthetic to make you comfortable during the procedure. There are many conditions, such as local only (like at the dentist), sedation or twilight (like during a colonoscopy), epidural (like during childbirth), and general anesthesia. It is general anesthesia that causes patients the most concern. Patients’ main fear is often not the operation nor the prospect of pain after the operation but a fear of general anesthesia. And this fear is not rare – studies by psychiatrists reveal that about 30% of people are more afraid of general anesthesia than the surgery itself. So, the natural question would be, is general anesthesia safe?

General anesthesia is very safe. It is the most controlled environment where everything is monitored and adjusted as needed. Vital functions, such as blood pressure and amount of oxygen, are closely watched by your board-certified anesthesiologist. Adjustments can be easily made to make the surgery safe and comfortable. Even brain waves are monitored to ensure that no patient ever experiences the surgery.

The risks of having general anesthesia have decreased significantly over the years. Even post-surgery nausea and vomiting have been very well prevented and treated. So, it is rare for me to get a call after surgery about that. Most of us are more fearful of flying than driving, even though we all know that flying is one of the  safest activities we do. While driving, we are in control, but not when flying, which makes the difference. Similarly, while under anesthesia, the feeling of not being in control adds to our natural fears.

The risk due to undergoing an operation under anesthesia differs for different types of operation and is also influenced by the health of the person undergoing the operation. In general, the larger the procedure, the greater the risk, and the unhealthier the person undergoing the operation, the greater the risk. The health of a person undergoing an operation is usually expressed in terms of the ASA score (American Society of Anesthesiologists score).

ASA-1: A completely healthy patient.
ASA-2: A patient with mild systemic disease.
ASA-3: A patient with severe systemic disease that is not incapacitating.
ASA-4: A patient with incapacitating disease that is a constant threat to life.
ASA-5: A moribund patient who is not expected to live 24 hours with or without surgery.
E: Emergency case suffix. (Always a higher risk category)

Plastic surgery patients fall into the healthiest categories of 1 and 2. Therefore, their risks are extremely low. Add to that a safe location and board-certified anesthesiologist, and you will have the best environment for an excellent outcome.

RAINY DAY READS

April showers do not only bring May flowers. It can bring days stuck in the house, longing for something to do. Reading is a great way to relax and escape. We looked up New York Times #1 Best Sellers for various genres and listed them below.

• It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
• Spare by Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Five Survive by Holly Jackson

KOMBU-WHA?