The Spanish philosopher Ortega y Gasset believed that a generation lasts about eight years. For most of us this is a good time frame to look at the past, reflect upon our lives, and build upon these experiences as we move forward. I am writing this in 2017 and looking at what this generation might bring.

I would propose we are facing a new paradigm in the global aesthetic arena- Correct and Maintain. Our goal is to prevent aging changes with great skincare products, great injectables, and great minimally invasive procedures. When correction is necessary it should be precise, artistic, and natural.  We then develop a team plan to maintain the benefits throughout the patient’s lifetime.

“It is essential to refine how we understand each face – not only in scientific terms but as artists.”

At the Larrabee Center, we have remained dedicated to our goal of advancing the specialty of plastic surgery. The development and publication of our textbooks – Surgical Anatomy of the Face, Principles of Facial Reconstruction, and The Art and Craft of Facial Rejuvenation – have continued. Anatomy is the foundation science to understand facial aging and how to correct it.  I also founded and served as Editor in Chief of JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery for over 15 years.   Those years provided an opportunity to identify and study the best evidence-based techniques in the aesthetic arena.  These academic studies provide the scientific and artistic foundation for us to advise and treat our patients optimally.

Our primary surgical mission remains to provide the most advanced and artistic surgical results for our patients in the safest environment possible.

In medicine, the passage of knowledge to the next generation is a structured but sacred tradition. During the last decades, while serving as President of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the International Federation of Facial Plastic Surgery Societies, it has been my distinct honor to work to improve the quality of medical care delivered both in the US and abroad, while striving to preserve the potential for deeply personal physician-patient relationships.

I continue to mentor in the University of Washington’s Fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery, teach and direct national and international courses, as well as maintain our commitment to ongoing pro bono activities. All of these activities ensure we remain at the forefront with the newest procedures and technology from around the globe.

During the last decades, we have been able to invest in a range of programs to help victims of domestic violence in Seattle, as well as children with cleft lip/palate and other facial deformities in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It is our goal to expand our humanitarian contribution in partnership between the University of Washington and Global Surgical Outreach, a non-profit I founded and directed.