Famously known as Dr. Nip & Tuck, world renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Jones, MD, FACS, took time away from his lucrative Atlanta based practice to discuss his path to success, ways to minimize risks, and the importance of choosing only licensed medical professionals.
While he is known around the globe for his exceptional surgical skills, locally, it is his service to his community that fills his heart with pride. Whether he’s coaching a high school basketball team or mentoring the future doctors of tomorrow through First Tee of Atlanta, it is effortless to see that even among the finest in his field, Dr. Jones clearly has not forgotten his roots.
Let’s talk about the moment you realized you wanted to become a doctor.
When I was a young child, my mother always told me that I was going to be a doctor. Hearing something frequently can lead you to believe it. When people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say a plastic surgeon. I really started to pursue it when I was a junior in high school… As a kid, I always thought plastic surgeons were fly (laughing). I loved the lifestyle, and I knew they made a lot of money.
You are double-board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. Explain what this means to our readership.
Basically, that means I completed a general surgery residency, which is five years. After I completed my residency, I did a plastic surgery fellowship, which was three years. Once you have completed your training, to be certified, you sit before a board of your peers who decide whether you are adequately qualified to operate.
You had so many possible career paths. What was the deciding factor in choosing cosmetic surgery?
I enjoyed making patients feel better about themselves. Most surgeries focus on restoring function and form. I am a creative person and I have always felt like I had an ‘eye’ for cosmetics. If you go to twenty different barbers asking for the same cut, you will get twenty different variations. The same thing applies to plastic surgery. If you do twenty abdominoplasties or tummy-tucks, none of them will be exactly the same.
Share with us some questions that should be asked when considering cosmetic surgery.
As a patient, you want to know if they have done the procedure before. Can you see some of their results? You want to be confident in your surgeon. You want to make sure that if you have any complications, there’s a plan for how they will be managed. Do they have admitting privileges in a nearby hospital? Where will your surgery be performed? Will there be other individuals assisting in the operation? Have you had any complications? You should meet with your doctor prior and determine if you are comfortable. If you have any hesitancy or reluctancy, they are probably not the doctor for you.
What do you say to people who believe that cosmetic clients should seek a psyche evaluation before surgery?
I don’t think that is necessary in all cases. As a provider, when I am evaluating a patient, there are red flags that may indicate we should not move forward. For example, if there is a patient who wants something done to their face. If I don’t see anything wrong and the patient seems to be emotionally unstable, that’s when an evaluation may be necessary. If I feel a patient may need a psyche evaluation, they are probably not a suitable candidate for plastic surgery.
Discuss the most common cosmetic surgeries that you perform.
At the top of the list, I would say tummy-tucks, followed by liposuction, then Brazilian butt lifts and mommy-makeovers.
Living in the age of social media, do you consider it harmful or helpful to your practice?
For my practice, I would say that social media has been helpful. The reason being, I can showcase my results and I can not only engage and interact with members of my audience but inform and educate them. I want to make sure they are knowledgeable so when deciding on plastic surgery, they can make an educated decision.
How have the recent related deaths, including Kim Kardashian lookalike Christina Ashten Gourkani and former Wild ‘N Out cast member Jacky Oh, impacted your trade?
It is somewhat a double-edged sword. The effects can be both beneficial and detrimental. In the case of the Kim Kardashian lookalike, it helps my business because she reportedly had a procedure done by someone who wasn’t even a healthcare professional. That makes being board-certified and having the right credentials more valuable to potential clients. People become more educated about the risks involved and the importance of choosing a professional with the right credentials. I have been sought out by multiple media outlets for my expertise in my field due to recent deaths, which allows me opportunity to educate the public and explain the risks.
Will some people cancel surgeries? Absolutely. Nevertheless, people are going to always want to enhance their bodies.
What are some ways a potential patient can reduce risks?
As a patient, you should make sure you’re going to a credentialed plastic surgeon. After deciding on a surgeon, be upfront and forthcoming about your medical conditions. You don’t want to lie to your plastic surgeon about previous complications. You don’t want to say that you don’t smoke when you are an active smoker because that can lead to a complication. It can be deadly in some instances. Being honest with your plastic surgeon is important. Also, make sure you are doing everything you are supposed to do. You have to follow our instructions. If you’re not supposed to eat hours before surgery, don’t eat. There are also certain things that you need to do after surgery. Make sure you have a reliable emergency contact. Make sure you know which hospital your physician has the necessary medical privileges in case there are complications.
Let’s talk about the many ways you serve the community, including coaching basketball and being a board member of the Charleston Susan G. Komen Foundation. Why is community service so important to you?
Community service is important because so much has been given to me, I feel obligated to give back. It is just the way that I was raised. I come from a lower-middle class neighborhood where my parents instilled so much confidence in me. My mom was a social worker, and she has helped so many people. I have seen, face-to-face, what a little bit of help can do for underprivileged youth… What I find most rewarding is seeing people succeed after I helped them in some sort of fashion. There are kids I have mentored in high school or college who have become doctors or students in medical school. It’s very impactful for me. That’s why I do it.
As far as coaching basketball—the sport has always been a part of my life. The reason I am where I am today is because of basketball. The leadership skills, the delayed gratification, the competitiveness, and the team-building—all those things were instilled in me through basketball.
Be’n Original
