Spotlighting Women in Cosmetic Surgery, Part 1: Dr Suzan Obagi

Recently, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) announced the creation of the Women in Cosmetic Surgery (WICS) Section. The WICS will support the professional and personal development of female cosmetic surgeon members of AACS, offering opportunities to network, connect through a mentorship, develop leadership skills, and more. In part one of this Q&A, WICS cofounder Suzan Obagi, MD, shares why the WICS was created.

Dr Obagi is an associate professor of dermatology and of plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the UPMC Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Health Center in Pittsburgh, PA. She has formerly served as president of the AACS, president of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation, and vice president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

How competitive is the specialty of cosmetic surgery?
This is an interesting question and I think about it from two different perspectives that both lead me back to the same answer. The first perspective is one I draw upon from 20 years ago when I opened my first practice (currently, I have two practices). I was told that Pittsburgh did not have a cosmetically inclined patient population and that starting out in an “academic” practice would be an extra hurdle as well. The second perspective I look upon is the now burgeoning field of cosmetic surgery and aesthetic medicine worldwide but most specifically as it applies in my market.

Yes, the cosmetic surgery specialty is competitive and growing even more so with more and more practitioners are entering the aesthetic marketplace.

I think a cosmetic surgeon can approach this field in one of two ways. You can enter this market with plans to cultivate a loyal patient base that will grow through the years, or you can enter this market and try to quickly grow the practice by competing with everyone else that is around you. If the cosmetic surgeon truly loves the aesthetic field and relishes in making patients feel better about how they look, then the slow and steady growth of a practice will be the least stressful and the most fulfilling. The growth will be organic and based on patient referrals and word of mouth.

If the cosmetic surgeon is anxious to enter a market and quickly grow a patient base, they find themselves in a constant state of anxiety and surveillance (of all other aesthetic practices around them) so that they can compete and draw patients to their practice. The growth will have to be from aggressive marketing and discounted treatments. 

Where do female surgeons fit in the future of the specialty?
Female cosmetic surgeons will be a growing force in the field of cosmetic surgery. Currently, the vast majority of cosmetic surgeons are male while the patient population is predominantly female. However, the primary specialties that feed into cosmetic surgery (ophthalmology, dermatology, plastic surgery, otolaryngology [ear-nose-throat/facial plastics], and obstetrics-gynecology) are seeing growth in the percentages of women making up the resident pool. This will shift the aesthetics that we want for our patients as we will be bringing to this field the unique viewpoint of a female surgeon that will hopefully resonate with our female patient population.

Why is this important? I believe strongly that there are patients out there that may feel more comfortable with a female surgeon since we tend to share many of their concerns. Ultimately, though, as a male or female cosmetic surgeon, our success will hinge on our skill and rapport with patients.

What is the significance of forming the WICS?
Almost every medical society was founded by male physicians/surgeons and they made up the vast majority of the membership. As the number of female members grew, many medical societies developed a section to help foster mentorship and comradery for their female members. This is not meant to be exclusionary or separate from the parent society. Instead, it is meant to help the newly expanding female members integrate, feel supported, and guided in matters of leadership, running a practice, and juggling family and work-life balance.

How can physicians get involved in WICS?
We would love all interested cosmetic surgeons and aesthetic physicians to join by filling out a simple application on the AACS website.

Are there any other thoughts that you would like to share with peers and colleagues in dermatology and aesthetic medicine?
I want to encourage all physicians that are interested in the field of cosmetic surgery to seriously contemplate a fellowship early in their career to help build competency and to give them a sense of confidence. This field is growing in both the surgical and nonsurgical arenas, and the patient population is expanding as younger patients want to start taking steps to age better and older patients may gravitate towards either the surgical or nonsurgical treatments to help them age gracefully.