Mentors: DJ Campbell MD and Ed Abell MD, Aesthetic Center of Gainesville
I’ve had aspirations of becoming a doctor ever since watching the medical drama series, Grey’s Anatomy. It seems quite silly to mention such an unrealistic depiction of medicine, however that thought drove me further into wanting to pursue a career that have the ability to change and even save lives. Because I had such a rare opportunity to intern at a plastic surgery office, I wanted to uncover the truth behind the common misconceptions myself and the public has held about plastic surgery, as well as dig deeper to determine if I really wanted to follow through with this career. By shadowing plastic surgeons through consults and numerous procedures, I was able to analyze why the public holds such a negative view on plastics, allowing me to form my own opinions to then educate the public on the benefits of plastic surgery itself. Interviewing Dr, DJ Campbell, I further gained another perspective on why he pursued plastics, as well as his view on the common misconceptions most people hold against his career. I was able to conclude that in plastics, the name does not indicate the vast majority of procedures done. This was supported by research from various national medical websites and renowned doctors who detailed the importance of plastic surgery in establishing self confidence to burn victims, breast cancer survivors, and individuals who suffer major deformities. Seeing patients like the ones previously mentioned opened my eyes to how the public view is so wrong about plastic surgery, intensifying my drive to educate the public on plastics even more. Plastic surgery is more than just the minor cosmetic procedures seen on celebrities; it gives back an individual their confidence and changes their lives forever, and I have learned to never fall victim to believing common misconceptions without doing research beforehand.
Project Website: https://ikezios5.wixsite.com/plasticsurgery