Houston Plastic Surgeons Elect Dr. Chris Patronella As New President of Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons
Posted December 29, 2014 in Plastic Surgeon, Plastic Surgery Advice, Plastic Surgery News
Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Chris Patronella is shown here with plastic surgeon Dr. Alan Widgerow and Dr. Rahul Mehta, Director of Research and Development at SkinMedica Inc. At the HSPS October meeting, Dr. Widgerow, a professor of plastic surgery at the University of California, shared his extensive expertise regarding postsurgical scar treatment. Dr. Mehta expanded upon the topic by sharing the promising clinical results of SkinMedica’s Scar Recovery Gel, a product developed in collaboration with Dr. Widgerow.
Houston-area plastic surgeons elected Dr. Chris Patronella to be the new president of the Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons (HSPS) for 2012-2013. A founding partner at one of the largest private cosmetic plastic surgery practices in Texas—the Houston-based Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery—Patronella brings more than 20 years of experience and a nationally-respected reputation to the leadership role.
Comprised of 124 plastic surgeons and plastic surgery residents throughout the greater Houston area, HSPS provides its members with the opportunity to come together once a month to hear guest speakers and enrich their understanding of various techniques, innovations, and other topics relevant to their profession.
Patronella said, “For us to be advocates of our patients, it is important for us to know what changes and innovations are occurring in the types of procedures we do and the manner in which we deliver our services.”
With new products continually being introduced into the financially lucrative plastic surgery industry, the meetings provide a forum for physicians to evaluate and discuss the value of various treatments being marketed to physicians and consumers alike.
Patronella commented, “This is important because much of what is delivered to consumers is marketing from third-party companies that have a vested interest in selling a product or service. It is our job as plastic surgeons to carefully evaluate these products and services and determine whether they’re effective by engaging with other plastic surgeons in the community.” Each member, with his unique expertise and experiences, is able to contribute insights, which ultimately “helps us advise our patients on what’s fact and what’s fiction,” said Patronella.
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| Dr. Chris Patronella, president of the Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons (HSPS), converses with HSPS member Dr. Patrick Garvey, assistant professor of plastic surgery at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. |
While cosmetic plastic surgery such as tummy tuck surgery, liposuction, and breast augmentation is perhaps the most widely-recognized area of plastic surgery, the medical specialty actually encompasses a broad spectrum of areas that are concerned with the correction and/or restoration of the body’s form and function. This includes acute burn care and reconstruction, hand surgery, and correction of congenital anomalies of the face, skull, feet and nearly every area of the body in between.
Patronella commented, “Most plastic surgeons narrow their focus to their areas of primary interest and expertise during their careers. But we all maintain an interest in the broader applications of the plastic surgery specialty and enjoy continuing to learn from others who have specializations in other areas. It’s not uncommon to learn a pearl of wisdom such as a new technique that can be applied in a unique way to our own techniques and specific areas of specialty. This crossover learning happens all the time.”
