F E AT U R E S
DR . ANDREW JACONO GIFTED HANDS, GILDED HEART ONE ON ONE WITH THE CELEBRITY FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON AND SOUTHAMPTON RESIDENT By Blaire Blass After 17 years in private practice, the Park Avenue facial plastic surgeon Andrew Jacono, M.D., F.A.C.S., is at the top of his game. A world-renowned pioneer in the field of facial plastic surgery, this 47-year-old father of four manages to see over 100 patients weekly, while also finding time to present clinical research, showcase his surgical techniques in front of peer audiences around the world, and author a new consumer book. We sat down with this ruggedly handsome surgical rock star (at the Village Cheese Shoppe in Southampton — his favorite iced coffee destination) to catch up on the latest in flawless, undetectable procedures and treatments; his new NYC office; his upcoming consumer book; and the heart of his medical practice, his philanthropy, which focuses on providing probono surgery to children born with facial deformities. Why did you decide to become a facial plastic surgeon? My desire to become a facial plastic surgeon was solidified in grade school. There was a girl on my bus route who was born with a cleft lip and palate deformity. She looked different from everyone else and, unfortunately, whenever she spoke, the air and words escaped through her nose. Kids teased her and were cruel, and nobody would sit next to her on the bus, so I decided that I would sit by her. She was a very sweet girl and did not deserve this treatment. I felt bad for her and wished I could help. I also remember being acutely aware, at this young age, of how people were judging her by her looks — it seemed unfair to me. There was so much more to her than her cleft lip and palate. But then she had plastic surgery and returned to school with her face repaired, and suddenly, we all saw her face instead of her deformity. Kids immediately treated her differently — fair or not, this was the reality. I was relieved and happy for her, but also intrigued. The face could be changed, and that could change someone’s life! This seemed to me to be a formidable power, and I remember thinking that I wanted to do that. I wanted to fix people’s faces. I wanted to change their lives. SocialLifeMagazine.com
Tell us about your philanthropy work with children? I’m fortunate that my medical practice makes it possible to fulfill my childhood dream of changing the lives of children all over the world. I work with numerous charity organizations aimed at helping children with limited medical and financial resources receive surgeries. The majority of my medical missions have been to South and Central America and Southeast Asia to perform pro-bono plastic surgery on children born with facial deformities, including cleft lip and palate, microtia [underdeveloped ear], and facial vascular tumors. To date, I have completed surgery on more than 500 children during 20 plus surgical missions over the past 13 years. There is no better feeling than being able to give a child a new face and smile — it’s indescribable.