Health
the goal of a professional and realistic surgeon. Another reason why I don’t use imagery is that the program is time consuming, as well as costly. However, in some cases, I do show photos of former patients (with their consent) to explain the improvements current patients can expect. I take the time to give patients a realistic expectation about what can be achieved so they won’t have any illusions.” Dr Chartchai gave some guidance on how to choose a plastic or cosmetic surgeon. “Patients should take time and do research. If anything sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Over the past years there have been a lot of advertisements on the internet and social media which many times are pure frauds. Find a respectable website with genuine reviews from patients who are willing to share their real experiences. The best situation is if you know somebody who has had a surgery you are
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considering. Ask them and see their level of satisfaction with the procedure and the doctor. Just because a surgeon works in a look good hospital is not an automatic endorsement.” As for complications that may arise during and after surgery, Dr Chartchai said: “Bleeding and infection is common, but doctors have to keep these to a minimum. If you are well-trained, there shouldn’t be any major damage. But of course, unexpected complications can occur any time. No plastic surgeon in this world can or should guarantee a 100 percent safe result,” Dr Chartchai said. He usually refuses patients who were operated on elsewhere and had bad results. “I have to be extremely cautious regarding whether or not the patient can accept the less-than expected outcome, or if they are in the middle of a legal process. Also, in the first place I have to determine if it is possible to repair the damage. Honestly,
I don’t like fixing other doctors’ messes. However, sometimes I will accept botched jobs, but I must be 100 percent sure that I can make it better. “Sometimes a botched job is beyond repair. The patients are often in a state of agony and obviously I want to help, but sometimes they don’t understand that damage repair is much more difficult and there is no way I can produce exactly what they want. I think it is better that they go back to the first doctor and leave the problems with them. “I also refuse patients who expect impossible or unreasonable outcomes, and those I feel uncomfortable with for various reasons. Before a surgery the patient needs a thorough checkup. If they have uncontrolled heart disease or diabetes or any other conditions which can be dangerous then we won’t do it. Finally, I think that when the patient is mentally or psychologically unstable it is better to back off.”
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is most difficult operation was about 30 years ago, a reconstructive surgery for a patient with a cancer in his throat that had to be removed. “Long story short, I had to perform a surgery that required a lot of craftsmanship under a microscope. It was my first case of its kind and it turned out successful. “Various procedures have different ‘shelf lives’. For instance, nose operations may last a lifetime, but face lifts and procedures for the eyes lose effect over time. As for breast enlargement with implants, even the best type brand may start to leak after years.
“Operations to make Asian noses higher might take up to two hours, depending on the person. A simple augmentation with implant takes me about 20 minutes. It usually takes over two hours for a Caucasian nose job.”
When to operate? “When patients come and ask me to change something on their face or body, my first question is why they aren’t happy with it. I want to know if they are really serious and if what they want is realistic. I even tell some patients who come for a cosmetic surgery, ‘You look just fine already. Please, you don’t need surgery.’ “Some young people are overly obsessed with their looks and they see plastic surgery as a quick solution. Feeding their dreams are advertisements often featuring celebrities that may lead people to believe that cosmetic surgery is necessary to improve the quality of their lives, and is almost always safe and effective. They want to be beautiful like people they see on television, but sometimes it is just not realistic. So, it is my job to tell them what is possible and what’s not,” Dr Chartchai said. “I perform all the operations in Samithivej Bangkok Hospital. We have 10 operation theatres there. I am in charge of every operation myself but I need assistants, sometimes a doctor and a nurse. I also have an assistant to help me with examinations. Sometimes my 33-year-old son, Dr Oumyos, helps me on weekends. He is a trained plastic surgeon. He graduated three years ago and is now working at a government hospital.