What goes through your mind at the end of each surgery?

I want to know that I have done absolutely the best that I could do to achieve the results that my patient has asked for and expects.

Did you have any mentors while you were in med school, and why were they so valuable?

I had several mentors during and after my medical training.  They taught me not only how to be a good surgeon but how to be a physician who truly cares for his patients.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I usually spend time with my family in whatever activity our children might be involved in, usually sporting activities in school.  I also enjoy traveling with my family.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go?

We presently have on our wish list a trip to Italy and the South of France.

What advice might you give to young people interested in becoming a surgeon?

Surgeons have to know their stuff, of course, but they also must have extraordinary discipline; so young people should develop disciplined study habits in school, and cultivate a strong interest in science.

At the end of the day, what makes you happy?

Happy patients and a family dinner usually make for a very good day. When I know that my patients and family have had happy days, then I can sleep well at night.

What advice do you have for perspective new patients considering cosmetic surgery?

Make sure that the surgeon that you are speaking with is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and that he or she has extensive experience in performing the surgery that you are considering.

To learn more about him and his cosmetic surgery skills, please contact Dr. Robert Aycock in San Francisco, California. You may also want to check out Dr. Aycock’s Facebook page under Bay Area’s Premier Aesthetic Surgery and Laser Center.

What made you want to be a surgeon?

As a medical student, I had the opportunity to participate in all facets of medicine, and very early on, it seemed to me that surgeons could see a medical problem and then correct it with surgery. This approach to healing was very attractive to me, so when the time came to begin my training as a resident after medical school, I chose General Surgery. While on my General Surgery rotation, I found that I was very comfortable in the operating room and enjoyed interacting with patients in the surgery clinic. For me, surgery is more than what I enjoy doing—it’s what I am.

Why did you choose Plastics?

During my General Surgery training, I had the chance to rotate through different surgical specialties.  On my Plastic Surgery rotation I was impressed by the intricate surgeries the surgeons were performing and how much the procedures seemed to change patients’ lives.  Also, the procedures were so diverse, ranging from micro vascular surgery to surgery of the hand, craniofacial surgery, burn surgery in reconstructive surgery, and finally, cosmetic surgery.  I was attracted to the broad spectrum of ways to help patients—to really change their lives—so I applied to the Plastic Surgery program and fortunately was accepted.

What is your favorite surgery to perform?

My favorite surgery is any Plastic or Reconstructive Surgery that I am performing at the time.  Ninety percent of the surgery that I do now is cosmetic surgery of the face and body.  I do not routinely take trauma calls, but recently I had the opportunity to repair the lip of a friend’s child.  Seeing this child first with her lip torn half off and then seeing her as good as new after the repair was so very rewarding.  Seeing the relief in her parents’ eyes was priceless. It isn’t so much about the surgery as it is about the lives that are changed.

What is your biggest achievement thus far?

Professionally, happy patients are my biggest achievement. Whether they are recovering from reconstruction after trauma or from a facelift, if they have achieved a better life, then I have achieved.  Personally, my children are my biggest achievement. I don’t know of a greater joy than raising your children with the help of an excellent mother to be good, happy, healthy and productive members of society.

Check back for the continuation of Dr. Aycock’s interview in next week’s blog.