Aesthetic medicine in the view of a resident otorhinolaryngologist
The new wave of otorhinolaryngologists or when the world is theirs
Dr. Zain Latif – Otorhinolaryngologist Doctor
When did you discover you wanted to pursue a career in medicine?
Initially, when I was a child, my dream was to become a pilot and conquer the clouds. Then I grew up and my options started to change, so piloting fell, slightly, slightly behind. And after I changed a few more “jobs”, somewhere in adolescence, I said: “I want to be a doctor!”. At that time I did not know exactly what specialty I would choose, but I clearly knew that I wanted to do medicine. I don’t know how I went from a pilot to a doctor, but I think adrenaline is the common point where the 2 jobs meet.
I am glad that I chose to be an Otorhinolaryngologist doctor and I will never regret the choice I made.
Have you ever felt that the “taboo” label that aesthetic interventions have in Romania affects you?
In ENT, we are not seen as “cosmetic doctors”, even though we also perform interventions that improve the physical appearance, such as rhinoplasty or otoplasty. And even if it’s not necessarily my case, I really know that aesthetic procedures are criticized on the one hand, and on the other hand, more and more patients are crossing our threshold.
What are the main sources of information for young doctors at the beginning of their journey?
When you’re a student, you want to learn, to find out more and more, that’s why you take advantage of every opportunity and keep your eyes peeled: courses, workshops, books. Then you finish college and practice comes in. And here you can really value the theoretical knowledge you have accumulated during this whole period, because you are becoming a doctor.
For students or beginning doctors, some of the best sources of information are medical conferences and workshops. Added to that is the experience you will gain over time, with the patients you treat and the information you gather. Ultimately medicine is about continuous development and performance.
Do you think that the legislation in force manages to protect and motivate doctors to constantly evolve?
I believe that it is one of the main elements for doctors to be protected, to evolve in their careers, especially since there are some cases considered malpractice from the patients’ point of view, but in fact they are postoperative complications or non-compliance with the recommendations made by doctors.
What do you think are the top 3 surgeries that have revolutionized the world of aesthetic medicine?
It is difficult to make a list of the surgeries that have revolutionized the world of aesthetic medicine, especially since I only have to choose 3 surgical procedures. Every operation that aims to beautify, to correct a “defect” is, for the patient, the best and revolutionary intervention. From my point of view, 3 surgeries that have changed the world of aesthetic medicine are: abdominoplasty, breast implant and rhinoplasty. There are interventions that can have both aesthetic and medical purposes, at least in the case of rhinoplasty.
The new wave of otorhinolaryngologists or when the world is theirs
What is the biggest challenge for an otolaryngologist in 2023?
I think we face challenges every day and that’s because we are people working for people. And perhaps the biggest challenges come from the fact that every body is different, and we have to adapt to its needs. Even if I perform surgeries that also have an aesthetic purpose, my main concern is the safety of the patient, of the medical procedure, in order to achieve the best result.
I could also mention here the challenges brought by the so-called trends in aesthetics, trends that most often give patients the impression that the doctor has a magic wand and can transform them radically, by magic.
What are the conditions for which patients cross your threshold most often?
If we talk about simple surgeries, well they vary quite a bit. But I can clearly say that rhinoplasty occupies one of the leading places. Patients turn to this surgeries either because they are bothered by the unsightly shape of the nose or because of medical problems such as deviated septum and nasal obstruction.
Rhinoplasty is a procedure that has gained momentum in recent years. What is the proportion of patients who turn to this surgery for aesthetic versus functional purposes?
In recent years we have been faced with an increasing flow of patients who choose the rhinoplasty procedure because the shape of the nose is an important aesthetic element. Of course, we are not only talking about aesthetics, but also about the functional correction of breathing.
In recent years, aesthetic medicine has evolved a lot in our country as well. Where do you think this branch has already reached its peak?
I think that all branches of aesthetic medicine have evolved a lot here in Romania. Access to information, the Internet, the ability to go anywhere, anytime, even to the other end of the earth, have led to rapid and efficient development. And that’s a great thing, because it helps us to constantly evolve and find solutions to problems that were previously considered unfixable.
