If Plastic Surgeons Were Professional Athletes...

This past week I was reading an article about coaching and the fact that most professional athletes have coaches all of the time - even someone as accomplished as Tiger Woods. These are highly compensated professionals that are still in need of professional coaches. Even with the best coaches and the best athletes the Twins or Vikings can still lose. The best player on the Twins gets on base less than half of the time they are up to bat and completely strike out - often. The Viking's "new" and well-seasoned quarterback, Brett Favre, still fumbles or has his passes intercepted. So if plastic surgeons were more like professional atheletes - would we have coaches and would the public be "fans" even if our passes were interecepted, the ball was fumbled or we simply struck out when it was our turn at bat? Unlikely - well - let's just say - no.
Our speciality is especially vulnerable to criticism given the visual nature of what we do. If an appendix removal or knee surgery is imperfect - most patients would never know. If a cosmetic procedure is less than perfect - say - we got a new first down or we got a great hit and got to second or third base - a patient will usually be quite happy but sometimes they can feel disappointed it wasn't a touch down or home run. Fortunatley - many of us have great mentors that we resource for difficult problems or other solutions. Even wihout a professional coach - many of us constantly strive to improve our skills and outcomes. We are required to take at least 50 hours per year of continued education (aka - coaching). So, do I ever dream of being a professional athlete? Not really. Would I like to have a paid coach looking over my shoulder every day in surgery? No. Do I like having adoring fans - well - of course.
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to do what I do and to work with such a great team! To all of my "fans" - it is my privilege to share this bit of life with you. I hope the Coach continues to keep me at the top of my game!