Thank-you for your interest,

Anthony B. Sokol, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Biography of ANTHONY B. SOKOL, M.D., FACS

Dr. Sokol attended the Beverly Hills schools, graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1956. After receiving a degree in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, he attended the Chicago Medical School graduating with the highest honors in 1964. He completed his General Surgery training at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Sokol returned to Beverly Hills where he has practiced Plastic Surgery since 1971. He is a Clinical Instructor at the UCLA Medical Center and the immediate Past Chief of the Division at Cedars Sinai Medial Center. In addition to being a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Sokol is a member of all the important societies including the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the prestigious American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery. He lives in Beverly Hills with his wife, an artist. They have three daughters.

Dr. Sokol has authored numerous articles on Plastic Surgery and has been a lecturer at both national and international medical meetings. He has been an invited guest on many radio and television shows as a recognized authority on Plastic Surgery. In addition, each year, Dr. Sokol travels to Third World Countries, to lecture, teach and perform voluntary Plastic Surgery in these developing nations.

WHAT IS PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY?

This surgical specialty is devoted to the repair and restoration of any aspect of the patient's body that has been damaged by natural or unnatural causes. These causes may be congenital anomalies as birth defects; trauma, such as automobile accidents; cancer producing tissue defects i.e., loss of a woman's breast or skin cancer; burns; maxillofacial trauma (facial fractures); and finally cosmetic surgery also known as Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. To become a Plastic Surgeon, one has to complete the curriculum of an accredited Medical School with a high grade point average. The acceptance into a prestigious four year surgical residency program is crucial to be considered for later acceptance in a Plastic Surgical Residency program. The Plastic Surgery residency lasts 2-3 years and may be followed by an additional year of specialty training in Hand, Craniofacial, Burn, Microvascular, or Aesthetic Surgery. After this 12 year post graduate program is finally completed, the graduate faces a series of strenuous and exacting examinations that, when successfully completed, attest to his or her skills and knowledge as a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. This degree helps the public understand the quality of training the Plastic Surgeon has completed. It also assists the prospective patient in assessing the doctor's credentials.

AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY

After spending years performing surgery in all aspects of of Plastic Surgery, in 1976, Dr. Sokol confined his practice to the subspecialty of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. This discipline utilizes all the techniques and knowledge derived from the entire field of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. However, the subspecialization in this one aspect of Plastic Surgery, has allowed Dr. Sokol to concentrate his efforts on the rejuvenation and enhancement of the patient's features and body contour and form. As a specialist in this aspect of Plastic Surgery, he has become an expert in the affect that aging, trauma, and developmental insults have on aesthetic changes in both the adult and the teenager. These changes and their treatment has become the dedicated interest of Dr. Sokol. The most frequently performed procedures are Facial Surgery, Liposuction, Cosmetic Laser Surgery, and Body Contouring.

REVIEW OF THE FIELD OF PLASTIC SURGERY

By using the attached links of this website, you will be able to access knowledge about the various procedures performed in the specialty of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. This information is provided for you, the prospective patient, in an effort to assist you in becoming better informed about our specialty. We have found that the information within these links has been quite effective in making the initial consultation more productive for the patient. In addition, patients have been very grateful to learn of other areas that can be simultaneously corrected during plastic surgery. During your consultation, additional information will be provided based upon Dr. Sokol's examination of your specific area of concern. By bringing this website information to the patient before the consultation, our patients our less anxious about their appointment and more secure in the questions asked and the information received during the initial visit. Once you have had an opportunity to review this information, there may be further questions. We encourage you to speak with our surgical advisor to help answer these questions. Thereafter, you may wish to set up an appointment with Dr. Sokol for a consultation.

An appointment for consultation will be made by one of our secretaries. You will be provided with preliminary literature to help familiarize you with the desired surgical procedure.

You will meet with a nurse specialist who will create a chart for you and catalogue your anticipated goals and concerns. You will then meet with Dr. Sokol who will review your chart, examine you and provide advice on a specific procedure(s), to meet your goals. Video imaging will be available to assist in the consultation. With this device, your image can be modified during your initial visit. This will allow you to view a simulated post operative result, utilizing techniques that Dr. Sokol feels will allow you to achieve your surgical goals. This technology has enabled our patients insight into proposed changes that could only be alluded to before. The confidence of the patients and appreciation in seeing these changes has become a very comforting part of our consultations.

The consultation with Dr. Sokol will also realistically review the risks, dangers, resultant scars, and postoperative discomfiture that accompanies any surgical procedure. You will be given a timetable that will allow scheduling of the recovery period, how much time off work, exercise, and social appointments.

Finally, you will meet our Office Manager who will quote our surgical fees, operating room and anesthesia costs. You will be informed of available surgical appointment dates, and postoperative surgical and logistical arrangements. Our office manager will work with your schedule to arrange a convenient date for your anticipated surgery. This surgical appointment may be made on the day of consultation or later after you have had a chance to decide.

After the consultation is over, we recommend that you return home and visit our website again. Additional information will be accessed from this followup. Although you will be amazed at how much information you already have from your preliminary study and the consultation, a return to the website will be helpful in crystallizing your decision for Plastic Surgery. Should you wish an additional consultation with Dr.Sokol, this will be arranged without charge.

Our goal is to assist you in becoming completely informed about what Aesthetic Plastic Surgery can offer you. We will help you understand the surgical (and non surgical) plastic procedures available to you. You will be provided all the information on the operation, expense, risks, and time required for healing. Once you have had this information, a decision for Plastic Surgery can be made. If Dr. Sokol performs your surgery, he will use the most current surgical techniques, modern equipment, and caring staff to achieve your desired goal. We want your journey in Plastic Surgery to be a comfortable and satisfactory experience. That is both the mission and dedication of Dr. Sokol and his staff.

SURGERY IN THE NOVA SURGICENTER

All procedures are performed in our state of the art, certified, and fully equipped surgicenter. This facility is located on the first floor of our office. Like a hospital, the surgicenter has all the most modern equipment, patient monitors, and technology to ensure patient safety and successful surgery. The center is constantly updated with new technology, instruments and equipment so that our patients have the latest and best technology available to achieve their goals.

All procedures are performed with a Board Certified Anesthesiologist in attendance. Our nursing staff consists of Registered Nurses, operating room technicians, and certified First Assistants. Safety of our patients is the utmost concern of our staff. The surgicenter is equipped with the latest technology to allow continual patient monitoring from the time they enter the operating room until they leave our recovery area approximately two hours following their procedure. All operating room staff are thoroughly trained in the use of the monitoring equipment and routinely take updated CPR, and technical courses to maintain their competence.

On the day of surgery, the patient is met by our preoperative nursing staff after entering our surgicenter through a separate, discreet entrance. After the preliminary charting has been accomplished, the patient is escorted into our operating room. Dr. Sokol will then meet and personally prepare the patient by applying special patterns and markings to effect the desired surgical changes. The patient will have input on these markings and aspect of the surgical plan. Frequently, marks are applied in front of a mirror, so that the patient feels comfortable with their anticipated procedure. The patient is then turned over to the anesthesiologist. Special monitors are utilized during the procedure that will ensure patient comfort and safety. Surgery is begun after all precautions and satisfactory monitoring are in place. The anesthesiologist will choose the appropriate anesthetic procedure to ensure that your plastic surgery will be successful, safe, and comfortable for you. You will have an opportunity to speak with our anesthesia staff before your surgery.

RECOVERY ROOM

After surgery is completed, you will be taken into our recovery room area. A special bed will be positioned for your comfort. In addition, you are placed in a blanket of circulating warm air to add to your comfort as you awaken from surgery. Monitoring, begun in the operating room, is continued for an additional two hours until you are alert and ready to go to your chosen after care facility. Before leaving the recovery room, you will be checked by the Anesthesiologist and Operating room staff. Once you are alert and your recovery is begun, you will then be released.

AFTERCARE FACILITIES

A number of aftercare facilities are available to the patient. HALFWAY HOUSES are frequently selected by our patients. These are located in nearby hotels with 24 hour skilled nursing care provided by qualified, knowledgeable, and caring nursing staff. These are private institutions which are open only to plastic surgery patients. The staff is very discreet about their clientele, assuring that your stay will be private and restful. Specially prepared foods and meals required by the plastic surgery, are provided in theis supervised setting. Any medications required are dispensed by the nursing staff in a prompt and courteous manner. Each facility recommended constantly undergoes inspections and upgrades to ensure our patients' comfort and safety. All transportation will be provided by the halfway house to and from the office following your surgery and for required office visits. Should your family desire to stay with you after surgery, these arrangements can be made in the Halfway House. In addition, arrangements can be made for the patient to be met at the airport or train station if desired.

Patients who live in the area, sometime feel better recovering in their own home with a relative, friend or skilled nurse. Generally, those patients who live more than one hour away from our office, are advised to spend, at least the first night, in a local hotel or aftercare facility. This is to allow our staff to examine you and change your dressing on the first post operative day. We have found that if the patient lives a great distance away, this local arrangement is safer and appreciated by our patients. All of these situations are available and utilized for our patients. Our staff will advise the patient on which will work best after their particular procedure.

Your recovery is considered an important part of your plastic surgery. A safe, pleasant, and non stressful recovery is imperative for you to achieve your plastic surgical goal. It is also important that you take sufficient time off your employment or social schedule to allow healing to take place. In addition for our out of state ( or country) patients, we recommend that you stay in town for at least 7 to 10 days so that we can provide the initial wound inspection and care and assure you, that healing has begun. Occasionally, this time schedule will not be possible. In these situations, alternative care will be arranged in your own city or location by a colleague of Dr. Sokol.

The next step in the Website, will be for you to find the specific link(s) that will answer your goals of Plastic Surgery. Please feel free to visit these or additional links. They were designed for prospective patients like you to assist in providing necessary information about our specialty. You are invited to write down any questions or concerns you may have after this review and discuss them with our surgical staff or Dr. Sokol at the time of your consultation. Thank-you for allowing us to provide you with information on Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

THE OFFICE

The office of Dr. Sokol is located adjacent to the Golden Triangle in the heart of Beverly Hills. There is convenient parking within our building as well as on the city streets (metered). Our office is easy to find and readily accessible from freeway exits. Please see the attached map.