Talent, Experience and Dedication

Good in Airline Pilots and Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons

Recently, a new book came out written by Captain Chesley Sullenberger, the veteran U.S. Airways pilot who successfully landed his incapacitated jet airplane onto the Hudson River. That happened about eight months ago. Since then.Captain Sullenberger has made many personal appearances and speeches and has now written a book.

There are key parallels that I see between the conduct and proven ability of Captain Sullenberger and super-specialist cosmetic plastic surgeons.

"Sully", a product of the best education and training available, was a graduate of U.S. Air Force Academy and then served, of course, as a military pilot thereafter. Since that time he has logged thousands and thousands of hours and was considered a "top of the totem pole" pilot with many accolades from his peers. Certainly a novice pilot might be able to get through a minor flight complication, but it is unlikely that a circumstance such as having to "ditch" the airplane on water could have been as handily accomplished by someone with less history behind the controls than Captain Sullenberger. A real test of "a pro" is when the going gets tough. That's when you want the most senior person at the controls.

The operating room is analogous to the airplane cockpit. You want the most- sophisticated, most-specialized, most-experienced doctor specialists "at the controls." I like to have two superspecialist doctors in the operating room: the narrow-focused cosmetic plastic surgeon and an anesthesiologist who has "seen it all."

- Robert Kotler, MD, FACS


Get the WebMD Skin & Beauty Newsletter - tips to look good and feel great.