Interview to Dr. Enrico Donde’ 

Tell us, please, which was your study sequence                                                                                                                              

I took a degree in Medicine & Surgery at the University of Milan in 1995 and, since 1996, I am a Member of the Medical Association of the province of Cremona, under number 2317.

After the degree, I first focused my interest on plastic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck, and then on rhinoplasty (nose surgery).

I spent some time in the United States, where I attended several courses in various Universities in order to learn the most modern surgical techniques, as well as how to manage the complex cases of craniofacial reconstructive surgery.

Then, I improved my knowledge of cervicofacial aesthetic surgery techniques, which may be considered as a direct consequence of reconstruction techniques, they are less invasive and definitely easier.

Many plastic surgeons only work at their own medical practice, therefore they cannot boast references from renowned hospitals. What can you say to your prospects?

Since 2001, I have been working as Assistant Surgeon at the Department of Plastic Surgery No. 1 of the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Rozzano (Milan).
The person in charge of the Department is Dr. Simone Grappolini.

During these years, I improved my knowledge of body plastic reconstructive surgery, in particular the outcomes of cancer surgery (especially post-mastectomy reconstruction), and I am regularly attending refresher courses on the latest surgical techniques.

In 2003, the opening of the First Aid Station of the Istituto Clinico Humanitas offered us the great opportunity to manage maxillofacial surgery of both acute traumas and late outcomes.

We know that you also treat patients, who need to reshape after massive weight loss. What does this involve?

It consists in treating the outcomes of bariatric surgery (that is used to solve obesity-associated problems).
The activity of our Department at the Istituto Humanitas is focused on body contouring surgery:

• Abdominoplasty
• Torso-abdominoplasty
• Brachioplasty
• Inguinocrural dermolipectomy
• Thigh lifting
• Breast reduction
• Surgical correction of gynaecomastia

The patients, who lose weight (up to 154-176 pounds) after obesity surgery, turn to us for body shaping after weight loss.

And what about aesthetic surgery?
By treating several complex cases of body contouring surgery, trauma surgery and post-cancer reconstructive surgery, I had the possibility to acquire a mix of operative techniques that make aesthetic surgery activity easier.

Many persons are afraid of aesthetic surgery and, generally, plastic surgery as they fear “going under the surgeon’s knife”. What would you reply?
Today aesthetic surgery has become a minimally invasive discipline; operations are quick, general anaesthesia is administered in rare cases and day hospitalization is usually required.

Which aesthetic surgical procedures do you carry out?
All aesthetic surgical procedures of the body and face.

You also have a Web site dedicated to nose surgery (chirurgiadelnaso.it) on the Internet. Why have you created a single-subject site?
Some years ago, I also obtained a specialization in Otorhinolaryngology, where my interest in the functional, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the nose developed.
I apply this knowledge to integrate nose surgery, which often marks the boundary between Plastic Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology.
There are patients, who turn to me for an aesthetic modification of the nose and, at the same time, they have nose breathing problems.
In other cases, the situation is exactly the opposite: patients, who have nose breathing problems (due to deviations of the nasal septum or lower turbinate hypertrophy) and are candidates for the functional surgery of the nose; since they also show defects of the nasal pyramid, they ask me to enhance the aesthetics of their nose during the same surgical procedure.
In this way, I have the possibility to manage all the aspects of nose surgery.

Where do you operate?
In different private clinics in Milan, Palermo and Massa.

Why do you operate in different places?
To have the best facility for the type of operation, the best anaesthetist and hospitalization according to the type of surgical procedure, and also to the kind of patient.
The patient’s request also plays a fundamental role in this choice.
We must remember that aesthetic surgery deals with healthy patients, who are well and want to feel better; thus choices are not the traditional choices concerning the hospitalization for a disease.
Operations are often performed in local anaesthesia or sedation, and only single-day hospitalization is almost always required.
I think that the most important factor, beyond the safety of the facility, is the one concerning anaesthesia.

Do you also deal with aesthetic medicine?
Definitely. Aesthetic medicine is a very important discipline in our field. Patients require more and more minimally invasive operations, anti-ageing treatments and “soft" adjustments.
For instance, to mention but a few examples:

• Peeling
• Anti-wrinkle treatments with Botox
• Anti-wrinkle treatments with radiofrequencies
• Anti-wrinkle treatments with fractional laser
• Definitive laser depilation
• Laser treatment of angiomas