Isn't it a common sense to have a plastic surgery done by an experienced plastic surgeon? ok then how do new plastic surgeons start their private practice if everyone wants to have the surgery done by experienced surgeons? they sure don't have "before and after" pictures and they don't have many years of experience. so where and how do they gain experience and start attracting customers?
I'll take a swing at this, and I'm sure others are going to jump in as well. From my limited view (being a "new" plastic surgeon"), here goes:
You will have before and after photos from residency. If you decide to do an aesthetic fellowship, you will obviously have more.
Granted, graduating residents don't have 10 years of experience since residency (or fellowship after general surgery) is usually only two years. But that time, you do a lot of operating. Most people I know who have graduated feel fairly comfortable doing procedures, and if they don't, they do a little extra time with a more experienced surgeon (or partner).
Dan Baker charges a ridiculous amount of money for his faces. Most people don't have that kind of cash, so they will see someone they can afford (i.e., the "new" plastic surgeon).
They guy who graduated ahead of me stayed local and kept in touch. His first month out, he did ER coverage, some botox, and some restylane. One of his restylane patients really liked her results and sent her friends. This escalated into more injections, belphs, implants and then facelifts in a relatively short period of time. He's now been out a year and is very busy. It also doesn't hurt that he's also very good.
I've sewed up ER lacs on kids and had their mothers ask me if I did cosmetic work. It's out there, and it'll happen if you work at it.
--Moravian
