Inside Aesthetics Ep 69 In Conversation with Australia's Leading Plastic Surgeon | Dr Kourosh Tavakoli
Episode 69 hosts Dr Kourosh Tavakoli (Plastic Surgeon from Sydney, Australia)
Kourosh has established himself as Australia's leading cosmetic breast surgeon and his work is world-renowned using fat grafting for exquisite and natural-looking results.
We have a frank conversation about the current state of the cosmetic industry in Australia and the difficulties in obtaining adequate cosmetic training and qualifications. Kourosh is a pioneer in his field and we discuss his suggestions to improve the industry for both surgeons and patients alike.
0:00 Introduction 1:03 Meet Dr Kourosh Tavakoli 3:19 Early Career and Surgical Training 5:16 Interest in Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery 9:44 Challenges in Cosmetic Surgery Training 11:56 Public System and Lack of Cosmetic Exposure 14:01 Stigma Around Cosmetic Surgery 16:30 Evolution of Cosmetic Surgery Acceptance 18:16 Training Pathways and Career Decisions 23:53 Differences Between Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons 27:02 Need for Formal Cosmetic Surgery Training 30:22 Patient Safety and Standardized Qualifications 33:44 Industry Regulation and Professional Tension 37:39 Role of Government and Independent Oversight 41:39 Injectables and Regulation Challenges 45:36 Lessons From Medical Training Reforms 48:05 Industry Incidents and Regulatory Response 51:43 Impact of COVID on Policy and Oversight 57:32 Medical Tourism and Local Treatment Options 1:01:04 Future Collaboration Between Specialties 1:03:30 Personal Background and Migration Story 1:07:48 Boarding School and Early Education 1:12:19 Decision to Pursue Surgery 1:16:00 Early Career Direction and Specialization 1:19:56 Choosing Cosmetic Surgery Focus 1:22:22 Developing Expertise in Breast Surgery 1:25:07 Career Progression and Subspecialization 1:27:43 Balancing Market Demand and Clinical Interest 1:30:37 History of Breast Implants and Innovation 1:33:59 Limitations of Implant Technology 1:36:53 Fat Grafting and Biological Alternatives 1:39:25 Predictability and Treatment Outcomes 1:42:10 Challenges With Fat Retention 1:44:30 Hybrid Techniques and Future Solutions 1:48:40 Patient Selection and Body Type Considerations 1:53:30 Surgical Technique and Fat Processing 1:55:45 Refining Harvesting and Injection Methods 2:00:30 Use of Nanofat and Advanced Techniques 2:03:05 Trends in Breast Size Preferences 2:05:40 Managing Unrealistic Patient Requests 2:10:55 Screening and Psychological Assessment 2:13:30 Social Media and Body Image Concerns 2:18:00 Advice for Young Surgeons 2:20:15 Training Gaps and Mentorship Importance 2:23:40 Impact of Lockdowns on Surgical Demand 2:26:30 Social Media in Practice Growth 2:29:45 Educational Content Versus Marketing 2:32:50 Patient Education and Expectation Setting 2:36:10 Transparency in Surgical Outcomes 2:39:25 Handling Reviews and Public Perception 2:42:10 Career Reflections and Industry Future 2:44:30 Improving Cosmetic Surgery Training Standards 2:48:40 Vision for the Specialty 2:50:30 Final Thoughts and Closing