THERE is a general misconception that plastic surgery is all about cosmetic surgery, but Dr Labros Chatzis, medical director of the River Medical Group, says it is just that — a misconception.

 

On the contrary, he says much of his work is involved in doing reconstructive surgery, dealing with burns, neonatal illnesses, congenital deformities, melanomas and skin cancers, with cosmetic surgery being just a part of it. That's not to discount the merits of cosmetic plastic surgery, however, which can go a long way towards changing people's lives.

 

Chatzis began his medical career in 1975, when he attended medical school in Athens. It wasn't until the early Nineties that he completed his studies in the UK to become a plastic surgeon.

 

"I was intrigued by plastic surgery. It was like doing sculpturing although, instead of using clay, we used live tissue."

Since qualifying as a surgeon, Chatzis has carried out 7,000 procedures. When he came to Ireland, he says he was shocked by how unregulated the plastic surgery industry is here.

 

'You never lose this sense of being uptight until the moment you're finished and are certain the patient is well'

Chatzis is a fully certified plastic surgeon, and is one of only a handful on the Specialist Register in Ireland and the UK. He says he will only conduct operations in major private general hospitals, including The Beacon in Dublin and Clane General Hospital. In addition, he only carries out treatments that are appropriate.

With his working week divided between consulting and operating, Chatzis spends two days each week in the operating theatre, starting surgeries from 8.30am and finishing at about 5pm. The other days are spent consulting with patients.

"To do your job properly, you shouldn't be doing surgery more than two days a week, a maximum of three," he says.

Surgeons must also be quick decision-makers and have the ability to think laterally, notes Chatzis. He believes being a doctor or surgeon is like a vocation, being on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. While Surgeons must be a bit arrogant about their abilities, Chatzis says it's daunting work.

"No matter how experienced you are, and no matter how many cases you've done, you never lose this sense of being uptight until the moment you're finished and are certain the patient is well. There is never any room for frivolity."

Chatzis loves his job-, however, and says he wouldn't do anything else.