Extreme examples of cosmetic enhancement have invited ridicule. Some people go to great lengths to create a reality-show persona that will earn instant celebrity status, and the money and trappings that go along with it. One example is Justin Jedlika, also known as “the Ken doll”who became famous for undergoing more than 100 plastic surgeries. Jedlika is an example of someone who is dramatically altering his appearance in order to establish his celebrity persona as a perfect human doll.
Gaboriau is quick to point out how some patients have requested procedures that are not necessarily in their best interest. He is known for always doing the best thing for his patients, even if it sometimes means having to say “no.” One young woman, age 25, came for a consultation with Gaboriau, seeking a nose revision and a face lift. This was after she had already undergone five nose surgeries and three breast surgeries that had been performed by other plastic surgeons. When she came to Gaboriau, he advised her to consult with a psychiatrist. As for the face lift, Gaboriau declined to perform the surgery. He later found out she had the procedure done with another plastic surgeon.
“These patients will always find someone who will perform the surgery for the money,” he noted. “And it’s a shame because by performing the surgery they are validating the patient’s fixation, which may not always be healthy.”
Good work does not look like work
According to Gaboriau, there was a time when everyone who had rhinoplasty turned out with the same ski-slope nose, or the “pinched nose” look.
Successful cosmetic improvement means you don’t see the work that has been done. People will instead comment about a patient looking good or refreshed. It takes more time and preparation for a surgeon to do good work. There are many details to take into account: how the patient looks sitting down at eye-level or from the top of the skull down to the toes. Is my patient tall or big boned? How does the chin compare to the nose? Is the face very slender or round?
“I examine all of these factors, and it takes time to plan the surgery,” he said. “The surgery can be described as good work because it fits your face. Good work does not look like work has been done. “
From France to America
One thing that you will immediately notice about Dr. Henri P. Gaboriau is his French accent. Originally from the Brittany region of France, he obtained his first medical degree at the School of Medicine in Paris. He then transferred to Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he received his second medical degree in 1994.
He stayed at Tulane Medical Center to do his residency in the field of otolaryngology(head and neck surgery). Following his residency, Gaboriau moved to Seattle to take part in a fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Washington. In 2000, he opened the Gaboriau Center for Plastic Surgery in Sammamish, Wash., and is currently the director of this facility.