Cosmetic Surgery Today Book

Panifilov (Nofretete Private Clinic for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery, Bonn, Germany) provides an overview of contemporary cosmetic surgery. The text is technical but written at a level intended for not only medical professionals from various fields, but also potential patients, journalists, stylists, make-up artists, and interested lay readers. Coverage includes general questions and background information which frequently arise in daily practices; clear descriptions of current techniques used in aesthetic plastic operations; the doctor-patient relationship, and the world and values of the surgeon; and a multidisciplinary examination of the complex phenomenon of "beauty." The text was originally published in Germany in 2003 by Trias Verlag, Stuttgart, and is translated into English by Dr. Grahame Larkin. Illustrated throughout with color photographs and diagrams. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, MD(Bridgeport Hospital)
Description:Philosophy, sociology, structural anatomy, art, science, and both the historical and modern approaches to beauty, within the scope of cosmetic surgery, are but a few of the topics addressed in the pages of this thoughtful and well written book.
Purpose:If there is one raison d'etre for this book, it is to unveil how an artist can commingle the scientific principles of cosmetic surgery with a vision of what comprises true beauty. It is both a historical travelogue and philosophical discourse that emphasizes the multiple needs of the patient from emotional, psychological, and physical vantage points.
Audience:The author imparts some of his 25 years of wisdom in the field of plastic surgery to his readers. The book, a veritable cornucopia of information, highlights an enlightened approach from which practicing aesthetic surgeons will have the most to gain; however, students or residents may also benefit.
Features:Diagrams and instructive photos are thoughtfully sprinkled among the historical, philosophical, and practical underpinnings of the five chapters in this book. A brief historical overview of cosmetic surgery uses the enigmatic face of the Mona Lisa as the launching point for this initial chapter. Subsequent parts of the book are thematically grouped: general principles of patient-physician contact and care, aesthetic plastic operations, and reconstructive surgery. The final two chapters discuss the complicated nuances that influence our values and perception of the human form and the mystifying quality that we call beauty.
Assessment:This book skillfully incorporates the various components of a surgical rejuvenation procedure with its profound effect upon the human psyche.