How Your Cosmetic Treatment Can Help OthersTrillium Plastic Surgery

November 25th, 2019

"Mankind is my business. The common welfare is my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, are all my business. The dealings of my trade are but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business."

- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Since I was a child, Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol has been traditional Christmas Eve viewing at our house (the 1938 black and white version, which my father recorded on our then-high-tech VCR around 1981). The quote, spoken by the ghost of Scrooge's long-time business partner Jacob Marley, perfectly sums up his view of the goals he and Scrooge had for their business while he was living, emphasizing material possessions over the common welfare.

Plastic surgery, as I have written before, is a wonderful specialty. As plastic surgeons, we affect positive changes in the lives of each of our patients on a daily basis. Some of the profound impact we have isn't appreciated until much later - this is especially true in the case of much of the pediatric aspect of plastic surgery, a part that doesn't often make it to the E! network or "Inside Edition".

example, this child who was born with the ear deformity that you see in the upper photo. As you can see, I have been able to completely correct what is a severe deformity (and without surgery!) in 6 weeks with ear reconstruction treatment. However, at just 8 weeks old when the bottom photo was taken, she is blissfully unaware of what has happened, and may stay that way until she is looking through photos of herself as a newborn one day. However, that she will not have to grow up and endure the ridicule that she otherwise would have brings a smile to my face.

similar way, our program - For You, For All - allows our patients to participate in local and international charities by doing nothing except being a part of our practice family. If you missed my article about it this summer, it works this way: for every cosmetic procedure that we perform, a portion of the fees will go to charity organizations both locally and nationally. You will get to see where it goes on our social media platforms and email newsletters, and will get to "meet" some of the people who benefit from your charity.

As a physician and surgeon, but most importantly as a human being, my "business" is helping who I can however I can. This Christmas, as you get busy with holiday shopping and realize that you have (gasp!) holiday pictures coming up, stop in and do something nice for your self, and help someone else out along the way.

For more information about newborn ear reconstruction, fillers, Botox, or to learn more about our "For You, For All" program, please call our Knoxville Plastic Surgery practice at (865) 973-9500.