Hot Topics in Plastic Surgery: A Roundtable Discussion with Dr. Sean Alemi, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, and Dr. Darren Smith

Jessica Matlin (0:06)

Hey, everyone, I am so excited about this episode. I've been wanting to do this for so long, I won't even tell you. I have gathered the best in class A++++++ plastic surgeons to talk about the hottest topics in the field right now. Okay, we've got Park Avenue plastic surgeon, Dr. Darren Smith. His focus is on best in class mommy makeovers, but he just does top to toe body plastic surgery and he is really, I mean, he is the tops and also I've interviewed him a million times. I've been on his podcast, he is and also just such a lovely guy. Okay, we've got Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, okay, and he is also, are you ready for this? Are you ready for this? I mean, when I tell you we have the top top top, I've got the top top top guys. The incoming president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. I know guys, he made time for Fat Mascara. I know, I know. And we have Park Avenue facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Sean Alemi, okay?

He is so dreamy and he is so smart. I've interviewed him before, I've learned so much and he has a gorgeous practice on Park Avenue. But you know what, yes, he has a gorgeous practice, that's part of it, but he's brilliant. I've interviewed him before, he's taught me so much, and he has such an incredible tenure. Do I say tenure? Tenure in the field of plastics, and he is really one of the hottest plastic surgeons around. I know that sounds very sensational, one of the hottest plastic surgeons, but he really is. In this interview, I think you're going to learn a lot from him. So let's say you're listening to this and you're not contemplating your next facelift. I think you're still going to learn a lot about what is happening in plastic surgery and if you are contemplating getting something done now or in 20 years, what you are going to learn today, you are not going to forget. What I love about this group is they're not pushers, guys. They're not pushers in the mean girl sense. They are some of the most judicious, conservative for people who have been booked and busy their entire careers. Some of the most conservative, smart, thoughtful and empathetic surgeons in the field right now, which is, I think, a testament to just their personalities into their careers. So I don't want to take up any more airtime. We've got three incredible surgeons to speak to.

Dr. Smith, Dr. Azizzadeh, Dr. Alemi. Let's take it away.

Hello, Dr. Azizzadeh, Dr. Smith, Dr. Alemi. Thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy schedules. I cannot believe that I got all three of you in one place at the same time. It is a surgical miracle.

Thank you so much for being here.

Darren Smith (3:01)

Thanks for having us.

Babak Azizzadeh (3:02)

Thank you for having us.

Sean Alemi (3:03)

Thank you so much.

Jessica Matlin (3:04)

All right. We're chatting a little bit before.

I have to hit you with, to me, this is, I don't know why this just came to me like this fundamental question. I don't know if it's my audience's question, but I have to get this out of the way. I mean, I'm sitting here with three of the top surgeons, not only in the country, but in the world. How do you find a good surgeon? Everybody is claiming to be a top surgeon. I was on the BQE the other day, and there was a massive billboard about, I am the world's and New York's top dermal surgeon, deep plain boppity boop.

Everyone is claiming to be a top surgeon, and it's like you don't know what you don't know. Nobody really knows their way around the human face with a knife. So, how do you find a great surgeon?

Babak Azizzadeh (3:59)

Okay, I'll take this first. Jessica, thanks for having me.

Jessica Matlin (4:04)

I know, this is a big question, and I don't even mean just like a plastic surgeon. I mean, how are we finding a great doctor?

Babak Azizzadeh (4:11)

I think it's really difficult, and it's even more difficult now because social media is so much information, right? It's like information overload. So, it's almost like the incredible amount of information there is almost creates more confusion. But at the end of the day, I kind of go back to the idea of how people found surgeons 30 years ago, right? It was a lot of word of mouth, a lot of individuals saying, oh, my friend had this procedure with this doctor, and then there would be three friends who had a procedure with a doctor, and all of a sudden, you're like, okay, now I have more than one sample. We have three or four sample sizes to be able to determine. But today, that's just not how people are searching, right? Because everyone, even if they're given Sean's name, Darren's name, or my name, they're going to go and research us, they're going to run us through AI platforms, they're going to run through our Instagram.