BestOfBothWorldsAZ.com

I finally found the time to read ” In Stitches” a memoir of Plastic Surgeon, Anthony Youn, M.D. I am not in the habit of writing book reviews, however I have been looking forward to reading this book since it was released. Dr. Youn is recognized as a top plastic surgeon and has been seen on shows like Rachel Ray and Dr. 90210. His blog “Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery” has been hugely popular, and now he shares his personal journey to becoming a plastic surgeon in his book “In Stitches”. This is a fun, easy read, a perfect book for a relaxing summer day.

In Stitches gives a humorous inside look of the life of Anthony Youn, a boy that grew up feeling like a “nerd” who didn’t fit in, and his journey to becoming a successful Plastic Surgeon. As a teen he was insecure about his over sized jaw and had major plastic surgery to correct it. He hoped that after the surgery he would have better luck with girls, but things don’t always work out as planned. Dr. Youn shares the personal struggles he had talking to women and trying to get a date while in medical school. Honestly, I was beginning to wonder if he was EVER going to get lucky. I actually had to flip back to the photo of Dr. Youn on the inside flap several times, to see if it offered any clues to his dating challenge. I think it all comes down to confidence.

Dr. Youn said he never had an “ah-ha” moment when he instantly knew that he was going to become a plastic surgeon. Maybe he didn’t have an “ah-ha” moment, but I suspect that a night he spent in pediatrics was a major influence. It is often overlooked, that plastic surgery has it’s roots in reconstruction, we are reminded of this when an infant is brought into the emergency room in need of immediate plastic surgery to reconstruct his face.
You will have to read the book to find out exactly what happens. (Warning, this chapter is a tear jerker)

I have spent my career working with doctors, in the field of Medical Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery, so I have some idea how challenging medical school is and plastic surgery happens to be one of the most competitive fields in medicine. Youn was one of 250 qualified candidates competing for a residency in plastic surgery, with only 60 openings. After completing applications for 35 plastic surgery residency programs and 20 general surgery programs (as backups), he receives 15 interview invitations for general surgery and 8 for plastic surgery. Now begins the exhausting process of traveling around the country for residency interviews. These interviews are a bit unusual and a little comical. Finally, Match Day, the day when future doctors are matched with their residency via a process that is compared to E-Harmony.

Intrigued? Buy the Book!
Let us know what you think of the book.

Thank you for visiting Best of Both Worlds Az
You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and on our blog site
www.bestofbothworldsaz.com