Being a make up artist, people tend to think of me as a bit of an expert in all things face and skin related. Since the skin is the canvas for my art, I generally do tend to know more than most, but I am by no means a skin expert. In fact, an enormous number of the questions I am asked are far outside my knowledge base. Knowing that people tend to put weight behind my advice, I never answer questions outside of my expertise without first consulting someone with the know-how in that field.

Over the past few years, the number of clients who have asked me about cosmetic procedures has grown. Their questions have ranged from Botox and Restylane to facelifts, blephs (or Blepharoplasties), and even liposuction. Seeing that so many women (and men) have questions, I have decided to bring my resource to you.

Allow me to introduce Dr. Roxanne Guy, MD, FACS. I like to call her the Michelangelo of the human body. Not only have I seen countless examples of her work, I know (from personal experience) what her gifted hands are capable of.

For years, Dr. Guy has allowed me to turn to her, with all the questions that go beyond my level of knowledge. Given the prestigious position she holds in her field, I have been very fortunate to be able to call upon her as a resource. In addition to educating me, Dr. Guy has informed America by appearing on a myriad of television programs including Oprah, The McNeil-Lehrer News Hour and The Today Show.

As a plastic surgeon, she has practiced for over 24 years. Dr. Guy’s passion, talent and love for people combined with her drive to learn more and further perfect her skill have made her an incredible surgeon who stands out in her field. She has the most impressive distinction of being the first female ever to serve as President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. I am honored to know her and I feel very humbled to be able to share her knowledge with you.

This past week, I asked Dr. Guy a few questions.

NJ: What are common misconceptions about plastic surgery?

Dr. Guy: First, that we always use actual plastic in our procedures!  The name plastic surgery actually comes from the Greek word Plasticos, which means to mold or form.  So, we mold or form the human body to make up for age, trauma, tumors, defects, burns and other deformities.

Second, that plastic surgery is very expensive and painful.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  Hour-for-hour, the procedures done by plastic surgeons are cheaper than those paid for by insurance, when you consider the surgeon cost, as well as the anesthesia cost, as well as the cost of the operating room or facility.  It’s just that so many people never SEE those charges because they are taken care of, in whole or in part, by insurance.

Third, that plastic surgeons only do cosmetic or “vanity” surgery.  In truth, the specialty of plastic surgery got its birth during wartime, when devastating defects of war required highly technically demanding, unique and innovative reconstructions.  These concepts and skills were later used to create cosmetic procedures.  Now, we learn from both sides of the specialty: that is, cosmetic surgery borrows from reconstructive and vice-versa.

NJ: What is/are the most asked about surgical/ non-surgical procedure(s)?

Dr. Guy: Breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifting, blepharoplasties (eyelid lifts),  abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and rhinoplasty are by far the most asked about surgical procedures. Injectables (Botox and Restylane), medical grade skincare and laser treatments are the most asked about non-surgical procedures.

Thank you Dr. Guy for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us in the Stylists Studio. Starting next week (and once a month for the next year or more), she will begin to address our questions and tell us all the secrets we need to know to keep ourselves young and beautiful forever. How lucky we are.

For more information on Dr. Guy, please visit http://www.drguyplasticsurgery.com/. I suggest you sign up for her newsletter…you will learn more there than we could ever capture in this column.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions (for both Dr. Guy and I).