Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Dr. John Q. Cook’s Work in Plastic Surgery Is Informed by His Lifelong Study of Natural Form

Plastic surgery should be an expression of the beauty that is present in each of us, rather than a caricature based on currently popular celebrities. Each face, breast and body shape has its own internal logic, which can be discovered only by careful evaluation. As a practical measure, how does one accomplish this? Dr. Cook believes that there are three steps to the process. First, one must study examples of beauty through careful observation of the great works of artists and photographers, and beautifully structured men and women. This leads to the conclusion that there is no single standard of beauty that can be reduced to a simple mathematical formula. With enough attention it is possible to appreciate the special logic of each person’s beauty. The second step is to internalize what you have learned about beauty, so that you can apply this understanding in a way to help your patient. The third is to develop surgical techniques that allow for an individualized approach to each patient. For plastic surgery to be successful, there must be a meeting of the minds between surgeon and patient. Dr. Cook’s passion for naturalism in his work is best suited to patients who have a similar philosophy.