A Little Lift
Nurses help patients boost their appearance and self-esteem through cosmetic surgery

By Linda Childers
October 22, 2003

A rainy road. A devastating car wreck. The life of a young female driver forever changed.

Although she survives the accident, the woman sustains facial injuries that severely alter her appearance and makes her the object of intense public scrutiny.

Her primary physician refers her to the Danville (Calif.) Ambulatory Surgery Center, where one of the center's surgeons, Timothy Leung, MD, specializes in cosmetic surgery for trauma patients.

At the center, the patient meets with Deborah Price, RN, who carefully explains the cosmetic surgery that will restore both the woman's appearance and self-esteem.

Helping patients rebuild their lives is one of the rewards of being a cosmetic surgery nurse. Although the media often portrays cosmetic surgery as a frivolous form of medical care embraced primarily by celebrities, the reality of working in the field is far different.

"Very few of our patients are driven by vanity," said Price, who has worked in the field for the past 16 years. "The majority of our patients are seeking a simple cosmetic fix that can improve their appearance and make their lives better."

Procedures range from noninvasive techniques such as microdermabrasion and glycolic peels, to surgical procedures such as liposuction and face-lifts.

"We definitely practice a happy form of medicine," Price said. "Our patients all opt to have surgery voluntarily and they all leave with a positive outcome."

Cosmetic surgery is a field that is evolving. Price has seen many new procedures introduced during the past 16 years, and has worked on the cutting edge of some of those technologies.

"Our medical director, Dr. Edward Knowlton, founded Thermage and is the inventor of the technology behind the Thermacool TC system. Thermoplasty is a noninvasive technique that uses radiofrequency to tighten a patient's skin," Price said.

She and the center's other nurses received training in the use of Thermage, and have mastered laser procedures and the art of microdermabrasion.

The center operates a full skin care center, where nurses can recommend a variety of procedures and skin care products to patients who want to slow the aging process or combat common skin conditions, such as adult acne and rosacea.

"My job allows me to practice nursing to the fullest," Price said. "I receive a lot of respect from physicians and colleagues and my input is very much valued."

A new nursing path

In Napa, Calif., Deb Covington, RN, left a 35-year career as an operating room nurse and made the transition into cosmetic surgery nursing. She works as the practice manager for Napa Valley Plastic Surgery Associates.

"I enjoyed working in surgery, but now I have more involvement with patients, which I absolutely love," Covington said.

In her job, Covington conducts patient education, serves as the patient's advocate during surgery and follows up with clients during their recovery.

Some of Covington's most rewarding experiences have been working with breast cancer patients.

"We see women who have been through mastectomies or chemotherapy and have lost so much to cancer," Covington said. "To be able to help them regain a part of their lives through reconstructive surgery is very gratifying."

Despite tabloid reports of celebrities undergoing extensive cosmetic surgeries, Covington said that most of her patients are regular people seeking a little rejuvenation.

The cosmetic surgery field offers patients a wide variety of surgical and noninvasive options guaranteed to improve a patient's self-esteem. Maybe it's a shot of Botox to reduce the appearance of crow's feet or a laser resurfacing treatment designed to minimize sun damage and wrinkles.

"We offer a wide variety of services to help people who want to look more refreshed, or to put their best foot forward in this competitive job market," Covington said.

To work in the cosmetic surgery field, nurses are required to have a critical care and operating room background, and to be ACLS certified.

In addition to working in a medical office, nurses often are asked to take their expertise on the road. Covington and other nurses join physicians from the Napa Valley Plastic Surgery Associates to travel to underdeveloped countries each year, where they spend several weeks participating in cleft palate restoration. Their work is done on a volunteer basis through international relief organizations such as Interplast or Rotaplast.

"It's an honor to be able to take our skills to developing nations and assist children who don't have access to health care," Covington said.

A dose of self-esteem

Susan Erno, RN, a cosmetic surgery nurse at Parrish Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center in Medford, Ore., said it is especially fulfilling to work with patients whose facial features have caused them years of emotional pain.

"We see patients who are born with a nose that has caused them to be ridiculed, or a chin they have always despised," she said. "Just seeing how happy and self-confident they are after the surgery is very rewarding."

Erno works with a variety of patients, including men, women and children of all ages. She meets with patients for an initial consultation where she answers questions and uses computer imagery to offer them a glimpse of how they will look after surgery.

"I believe it's important to discuss realistic expectations with each patient prior to surgery," Erno said.

Among the most popular procedures performed by Earl Parrish, MD, and his staff are face-lifts, breast augmentation and liposuction.

"Many of our patients are mothers seeking to regain their pre-baby bodies through a breast lift, or women who work in demanding careers who want their eyes done to reduce the puffiness that comes with aging," Erno said. Although she's worked in the cosmetic surgery field for the past eight years, Erno continues to be amazed at the speed at which cosmetic procedures are being introduced and altered.

"Many new procedures are being introduced that are less invasive and offer patients a quicker recovery time," she said. "Cosmetic surgery is a field that is constantly changing and each day offers a new learning experience."