They Are the Masters of Their Trade
Written By: Cheri Fox LA’s Top Plastic Surgeons
We had the exclusive opportunity to interview our readers’ favorite plastic surgeons in Los Angeles. You voted, and Dr. Sheila Nazarian and Dr. Jon Diaz are your top two!
LA’s Top Plastic Surgeons
Dr. Sheila Nazarian, M.D., Nazarian Plastic Surgery LA’s Top Plastic Surgeons
Dr. Nazarian graciously explained about her upbringing and how she was inspired to become a doctor. She also dove into how women have come a long way in the medical field, and how females represent 14 percent of plastic surgeons. Some of her specialties include tummy tucks, body contouring, lipo, fat transfer, injectables and non-invasive devices.
Q: How does it feel to be voted as one of the top plastic surgeons in LA?
Dr. Sheila Nazarian: I am honored and humbled to even be considered in this category. There are so many great plastic surgeons in our community!
Q: How does it feel to be the top female doctor amongst the top 10 plastic surgeons in LA?
SN: I think women have come a long way in medicine. We make up about 14 percent of all plastic surgeons and have an important voice. My patients often express that they can come to me without feeling awkward or embarrassed. Whether male or female, I believe that if you do good work and keep the patient’s outcomes at the top of your priority, you will do well, in Los Angeles or elsewhere.
Q: How did your parents inspire you to pursue your own career in medicine?
SN: My father was a pathologist and worked so hard to put my sister and I through the best schools. We escaped from Iran in 1985 on the back of a pick-up truck and came to this country with nothing. We have worked hard to get to where we are today. I am so thankful to be in this country and in awe of my parents for leaving their country to give us better opportunities.
Q: What inspired you to become plastic surgeon?
SN: Originally, I wanted to become an architect or an orthopedic surgeon. I decided against architecture because I wanted to be building with my hands, not just designing. I then started following an orthopedic surgeon and I didn’t find it creative enough. A friend suggested I explore plastic surgery, so I did, and I haven’t looked back. It is the perfect blend of science and art.
Q: What do you think makes your practice stand out from the rest?
SN: My practice stands out because we are authentic, honest, and genuine. We specialize in natural results and our patients really want to look natural. Fresh. Not ‘done.’ We also have 13 devices so not everyone gets surgery. They get what they need to make them look their best.
Q: What has been one of the most memorable moments in your career?
SN: There are so many memorable moments. A patient of mine writes me an anniversary letter every year on the day of her surgery when I removed cancer from her chest and reconstructed it. But honestly, every day, patients express their gratitude. They tell me how good they feel, how many compliments they have gotten. I’m truly blessed to be able to do that for others.
Q: What procedure are you most frequently consulted on and what is your specialty?
SN: My top procedures are breast surgery, tummy tucks and body contouring with liposuction and fat transfer. I also have a heavy non-surgical practice with injectables and non-invasive devices.
120 S Spalding Dr, Ste 315
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
310.659.0500
John Diaz, M.D. LA’s Top Plastic Surgeons
Dr. Jon Diaz explains in his exclusive interview about his education, his specialty in breast augmentation and his TV appearances on CNN and “Dr. Drew.”
Q: How does it feel to be voted one of the top plastic surgeons in LA?
Dr. Jon Diaz: I was very honored to be voted one of the top plastic surgeons in LA, especially when you consider that very best plastic surgeons in the country are found here.
Q: What brought you to the West Coast to practice in LA?
JD: Honestly, it was the weather. I was living in Manhattan during my residency and I was growing tired of the miserable winters. Sometimes, I would have to wake up at 5 a.m. to go outside in the freezing cold to shovel snow off my car so I can drive to the hospitals. It was terrible. I had friends who had moved to LA and they asked me to visit them in February. I left NYC during a blizzard and when I landed in LA it was sunny and 70 degrees outside. It was at that moment that I made my decision!
Q: What do you think makes your practice stand out from the rest?
JD: Since the beginning of my practice, I always focused on making the patient experience the number one priority. From the moment the patient walks in, we focus on making sure patients feel comfortable and welcome. I spend as much time as possible listening to patient’s concerns and wishes during the consultation so that I can fully understand the kind of result they are seeking. When I am in the operating room, I am laser-focused on creating the best aesthetic results. I am meticulous and obsessive about every detail. After surgery, we are there for our patients and ensure their recovery is as smooth as possible. In this day and age, when it seems like everything is about marketing and flashiness, I have always made caring for patients the core of my practice and I believe it is this dedication to care that sets me apart.
Q: What procedure are you most recognized for as your specialty?
JD: I am most recognized for my breast surgery techniques. I wrote a book on breast augmentation surgery (“A Comprehensive Guide To Breast Augmentation: The Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Series”) to help prospective patients learn more about this procedure. I also wrote a scientific article on breast augmentation published by the most prestigious journal of plastic surgery. In this article, I describe my unique system for achieving superb augmentation results. It has been distributed and viewed around the world.
Q: What inspired you to pursue plastic surgery?
JD: During my first year of medical school, I displayed a talent and passion for surgery. In fact, I co-founded the medical school’s ‘Surgery Club.’ As I was exploring the different surgical specialties, such as cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery, I discovered plastic surgery. I fell in love with the fact that plastic surgery covers an incredible variety of procedures. We are experts in reconstructing everything from the head to the toes. Whether it is from cancer, an accident or a burn, plastic surgeons are the specialists who restore function and aesthetics to every single feature of the human body. While in training, I displayed an aptitude for cosmetic surgery and excelled in all cosmetic procedures. This is what I have focused on in my private practice. For over 12 years, I have developed one of the most successful cosmetic surgery practices in the country.
Q: What do you enjoy about working with clients in Los Angeles?
JD: I think what I have enjoyed the most about working with clients in Los Angeles is the variety of amazing people I have been able to meet here. Although Los Angeles is the center of the TV and film industries, and many of our patients are actors, this city also attracts people from all over the world and from all walks of life. In addition to having patients fly in from all over the country to see me, I also have patients fly in from all over the world. It has been incredibly interesting and fun to meet and get to know patients from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. I learn a great deal from my conversations with all of them. A city like Los Angeles makes it easy for this to happen.
Q: Can you tell us about your appearances on TV shows like “Dr. Drew” and on CNN? And how does your TV show experience help patients?
JD: Appearing on TV, particularly on news and health programs like CNN or “Dr. Drew,” has been very rewarding. I am dedicated to the advancement of plastic surgery and it is one of the reasons why I was elected the Vice President of the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons. I love teaching and sharing my knowledge, and TV gives me the opportunity to speak to millions of people at a time. TV, therefore, has given me a platform to address many of the questions and concerns people have about plastic surgery. It is my hope that through my TV appearances, I have helped some patients make wise decisions about plastic surgery procedures they were considering.
465 N Roxbury Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
424.278.2214 LA’s Top Plastic Surgeons
