Dr. Teitelbaum's caring
attitude and unparalleled academic training have prepared him to offer you the finest in aesthetic surgery.
After attending
high school at the prestigious Harvard School, he studied anatomy and physiology at U. C. Berkeley, where he was valedictorian and
graduated with high honors. He went to medical school at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he continued the basic science research
projects that he had started while at Berkeley.
He then studied general surgery at Harvard Medical School's Beth Israel
Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. While credentialing in plastic surgery requires only a mere three prerequisite years of this
training, Dr. Teitelbaum completed an entire training program in general surgery, and has been recognized for this by also being certified
by the American Board of Surgery.
Training was completed with a plastic surgery residency at the University of Southern
California.
Dr. Teitelbaum is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only board recognized to credential
plastic surgeons. He is a member of many professional societies, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society
of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the International Society of Ultrasonic Surgeons, the California Society of Plastic Surgeons, and many
others.
He also is actively involved in these societies, serving as current co-chair of the Legislative Affiairs Committee
of the California Society, as well as a member of the Ethics Committee. He also serves on the legislative committees of ASPS and ASAPS.
Dr. Teitelbaum is frequently asked to appear and comment in the media on plastic surgery. He has recently been quoted in the
New York Times , the Los Angeles Times , the Times of London , Allure , Vogue , and many others. Television appearances have included the
CBS Evening News , Inside Edition , multiple local news channels, and many more.
He is also actively involved in medical
research, and has recently participated in a very limited clinical trial of a new type of breast implant.
In his personal
life, Dr. Teitelbaum is a photographer, pianist, and triathlete.
Philosophy
A personal
word from Dr. Teitelbaum MD FACS:
Because aesthetic surgery is voluntary, and arguably even frivolous, I believe a unique burden is
placed upon the doctor - and the patient - to be safe, prudent, and conservative. Though no plastic surgeon would openly disagree with that
statement, I adhere to it stronger than most. It guides my philosophy from my lengthy initial consultations, to successive pre-operative
contacts, to the techniques I use, and finally my post-operative and on-going care. I am distraught by what I see as an increasingly
cavalier attitude toward cosmetic surgery by patients and physicians alike, with some doctors' offices having only a little more serious
of an atmosphere than a beauty salon.
My consultations are particularly lengthy, and that is why I charge for them. Many
plastic surgeons that offer complimentary consultations actually have them done by a "cosmetic consultant" or "patient coordinator," or
they may spend only a few moments with the patients. I schedule a large block of time for each patient, and take as much time as a patient
needs to discuss their situation. Photos are taken and we discuss them. Many patients return to continue the consultation on a second or
third visit, and I do not charge for those subsequent visits.
I take a thorough history and perform a detailed relevant
physical examination. My consultations in particular have a reputation of their own; I have a unique ability to gain an understanding of
what a patient wants, to assess their anatomy, to imagine what would look best for a patient given their goals, and finally to discuss this
all with them in an understandable way.
Patients sometimes will ask me what they "need." My attitude about aesthetic surgery
is that people do not need it in the same way that a bone may need to be fixed or a suspicious growth removed. In other words, it is not
possible to simply look at a photograph of a patient and determine without talking to them what operation is right for them. Frequently,
there is an array of surgical options available to a patient, involving different costs, risks, recoveries, scars, and results. I make it a
goal to explore these issues as thoroughly as possible with a patient at their consultation, so that they can make a truly informed choice
about what they want done. Whether they have the surgery done by me, someone else, or not at all, they leave their visit with a
dramatically enhanced understanding of their situation.
Far too often I hear a patient from another surgeon complain that
they did not get the result they wanted or were expecting. Sometimes they wanted to be less pulled, or not to have had such a big implant.
While there are aspects of surgery that are unpredictable, I make sure that a patient knows what to expect as much as possible. If I do not
agree with what a patient wants to do - either because I think it is unsafe, or aesthetically undesirable, I discuss it. But a patient of
mine will know ahead of time what to expect.
That being said, there are certain subtle intangibles that result from a
surgeon's own personal aesthetic sense. I am up front about mine, and I think it is important for patients selecting an aesthetic surgeon
be sensitive to these details. I believe in classic, natural, soft beauty. I think that visual clues to aesthetic surgery are often worse
than the deformity that was corrected. For instance, I would err on pulling a face less rather than more, in order to avoid an unnatural
swept or pulled look. I believe that huge breast implants look and feel unnatural, and cause long-term problems. Outer thigh liposuction is
desirable to achieve a smoother, more svelte contour, but I believe that often plastic surgeons remove too much fat, leaving an
androgenized, even masculine appearance. Much of what is important to you about how I see things is something you have to observe, and feel
for yourself; it is not something I, or another plastic surgeon can fully explain. Certainly, my aesthetic sensibilities will not be shared
by all prospective patients; what you must do is be alert to the signs of a surgeon who shares yours.
Safety and
predictability is of paramount importance. New techniques come and go, and I do not rush to adopt them unless a clear advantage is shown.
Meticulously executed proven techniques serve most patients better in most situations than the "technique du jour" But when a patient needs
an unusual procedure that I am not adept at, I do not hesitate to help them find the right doctor. This is not to say that I do not perform
the latest techniques, because I certainly do. What it means is that I have a tendency to be more circumspect, rather than aggressive about
offering new techniques. I also think it is important to stay in close contact with a patient after surgery. While our office is very busy,
I make sure to frequently see all my patients after surgery. Very careful postoperative care is very important in achieving the best
possible result.
Sometimes a patient will come in for a consultation and express that they feel nervous. I always tell them
that they needn't feel nervous- that this is voluntary surgery. That they should keep seeing doctors until finally everything clicks- that
they like the doctor, they like the office, they like the staff - and that they start to get enthusiastic about surgery. It is natural for
an intelligent person to always have some apprehension, but eventually the nervousness will be gradually replaced by enthusiasm, and when -
and only when that happens - should they proceed with surgery. I am anxious to help you in your process to decide if and what aesthetic
surgery is right for you!
Board Certifications & Society
Memberships
Certified : American Board of Plastic Surgery
Certified : American Board of Surgery
Member : American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member : American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Member
: California Society of Plastic Surgeons
