Our Interview with Zahi Abou Chacra, Montréal’s Highly Skilled Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Zahi Abou Chacra is a renowned Canadian plastic surgeon with board certifications from both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He specializes in Custom Rhinoplasty – offering a variety of types of Rhinoplasties, including: Ethnic Rhinoplasty, Revision Rhinoplasty, Cosmetic Rhinoplasty, Primary Rhinoplasty, Finesse Rhinoplasty, Ultrasonic Rhinoplasty and Functional Rhinoplasty, as well as adjunct procedures such as Chin & Neck Liposuction and Chin Implants. Dr. Chacra is the owner and Medical Director of Clinique 7 – Rhinoplastie, located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Clinique 7 is a boutique rhinoplasty practice, the first of its kind in Montreal, offering high-end patient care and is a private practice dedicated exclusively to the art of rhinoplasty.
Over the last 13 years, Dr. Chacra has become one of the top Rhinoplasty surgeons in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. He believes that Rhinoplasty is a combination of both art and science.
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Q: Why did you open Clinique 7 – Rhinoplastie, your private practice?
Dr. Chacra: I opened Clinique 7 after 12 years in practice to be able to offer more patients the opportunity to discover their options when it comes to Rhinoplasty. This surgery demands that patients be well-informed and followed closely throughout the process, not only due to its complex nature, but because it truly is such a considerable change to the most central part of the face. Rhinoplasty is widely considered the most intellectually demanding of all facial plastic surgeries. Patient selection is very important to me, and at Clinique 7, my team and I can offer a service that is highly personalized. Every patient benefits from the one-on-one approach with myself and my surgical coordinator, which allows me to thoroughly evaluate their candidacy for surgery and design a treatment plan that is tailored to them. It was important to me when opening Clinique 7 to build a brand with a reputation for excellence and a culture that was heavily influenced by my devotion to this surgery which I truly love doing.
Q: What are some top reasons that people come to you for a rhinoplasty?
Dr. Chacra: Patients seek out rhinoplasty services at Clinique 7 for many different reasons. Usually, patients wish to modify the appearance of their nose for reasons related to their self-esteem. As such is most often the case when it comes to plastic surgery. Whether it be asymmetry, size, or shape, I evaluate the underlying concerns of the patient during an initial consultation with them to better understand why they’re interested in rhinoplasty.
It’s important to understand someone’s motivation behind meeting with a plastic surgeon in the first place. I have a responsibility to assess each person seeking to undergo rhinoplasty with me and get to know them and what they are looking to achieve with the surgery, whether it be something that’s linked to the physical, or the emotional quality of their life. Some questions I ask patients are: Why Rhinoplasty? Why Clinique 7? And, of course, why now?
Q: What other surgeries do you perform?
Dr. Chacra: I am an ENT who specializes in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery with a penchant specifically for Rhinoplasty. I took a liking to this branch of plastic surgery very early on in my medical career. It’s important to note that I offer all kinds of rhinoplasty services, operating on patients for both cosmetic, as well as functional reasons – often combining both during the same surgery. However, I do offer adjunct procedures, as well, that are combined with rhinoplasty.
During consultations with patients, I evaluate the overall harmony of their face and the delicate balance of their features. This means that I look at their face from all angles and adjust my surgical planning to carefully recommend or suggest how they can achieve optimal facial balance to create a softer, more attractive appearance.
This is where a surgeon’s eye for beauty comes into play since these recommendations come down to proportions. The goal is always to bring out the patient’s natural beauty and enhance their other features, such as the eyes or the lips. I do this by combining rhinoplasty with chin & neck liposuction or a custom chin implant.
I may also contour the jawline or plump the lips slightly with a bit of injectable fillers if the patient desires some natural volume or definition that is non-surgical, a bit of time after their surgery.
Q: What advice would you give to other surgeons starting out on their medical journey?
Dr. Chacra: I would encourage them to be a part of a strong medical community and take part in research. As a physician and surgeon, especially, I feel there is a responsibility and a commitment to lifelong learning. It’s not enough to be “good.” I feel that to offer patients the best of what medicine has to offer, you must be great at what you do. This means: Follow what you love and commit to being the best at it.
When you do this, your patients benefit from informed decision-making, optimal outcomes and an overall positive experience. We become physicians to help people. Surgeons, in my opinion, have the duty to become experts in their field who can assess, tackle and solve complex problems for patients. You stay sharp by doing research, attending conferences, taking extra courses, being mentored by older, more experienced surgeons and specialists. The best advice I would give a younger surgeon is: Don’t be afraid to seek advice. Being challenged is a part of this career. In my opinion, you must be curious, focused and feel passionate about your specialty to be successful at it.
Q: What is the success rate like with rhinoplasty?
Dr. Chacra: Very high. During a Rhinoplasty consultation, a detailed and personalized discussion with each patient takes place. A thorough examination is done to accurately assess the difficulty of each individual case and address different concerns. A surgical correction is rarely required once the healing period has passed.
My patients can expect very minimal scarring, if any, from my techniques. Most of my patients do not display a scar once they have healed.
Q: Do male patients seek to undergo rhinoplasty as often as female patients?
Dr. Chacra: In short, the answer is yes. Though female patients may be more vocal and transparent when it comes to having plastic surgery, male patients also benefit from rhinoplasty, and I see many in my practice. As with the beauty industry in general, it is mostly targeted to women. However, over the last 10-15 years, we have seen a considerable rise in male rhinoplasty patients, though this demographic has always existed. Male patients benefit from the same cosmetic and functional enhancements that female patients do.
When it comes to male patients, my approach is similar. Unlike the female demographic, some male patients have never made any cosmetic changes to their appearance at all, with rhinoplasty being the first time they are considering doing so.
My goal with male patients is to offer them a preview of their nose post-operatively with the help of computer imaging and walk them through the entire process from beginning to end so they know exactly what to expect.
Q: How do surgeons address the ethical considerations involved in performing elective cosmetic surgeries?
Dr. Chacra: Patient selection is incredibly important due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to: The psychological, emotional, and even financial or psychosocial aspects that may affect a patient who is seeking to undergo plastic surgery. Surgeons must evaluate a patient’s candidacy for surgery based on obvious, and less obvious information that they receive from patients during the consultation process.
This requires a keen sense for people, good intuition (gut feeling), and mostly, the ability to actively listen and pay attention to the patient and what they are telling you. It is up to you, as a surgeon, to decide whether it is ethical to operate on any given patient.
Though ethics are a part of our day-to-day lives, plastic surgeons have an increased responsibility given the rise in body dysmorphia, mental health concerns and the ever-present images on social media platforms that have been altered or modified to reflect unrealistic beauty standards.
I take medical ethics as they pertain to rhinoplasty incredibly seriously. I believe patients deserve the truth about what is medically and aesthetically possible when it comes to their desires and concerns. Patients need to know what is possible, and what isn’t. It’s my responsibility to provide scientifically backed information and facts about rhinoplasty and share my extensive knowledge of nasal anatomy and surgical limitations with my patients. Creating an honest environment in which to have these conversations is imperative to the quality of the rapport you build with your patients and builds trust.
