Dr. Asaad Samra is a board-certified plastic surgeon with a special interest in aesthetic surgery, breast surgery, as well as hand and post-traumatic reconstruction. The renowned doctor serves as Chief of Surgery at Bayshore Community Hospital and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons, New York Regional Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Fellow American College of Surgeons. Here, Haute Beauty caught up with the esteemed doctor who dishes on his most memorable patient reaction, the biggest misconceptions about his field and his most requested procedures.
HB: What are your most requested procedures?
Dr. Asaad Samra: There are three of us [Doctors] at my practice. We cover all general plastic surgery, meaning we do everything whether we're talking about suspicious mole removal, reconstruction surgery, body contouring and beyond. As well as non-invasive technology such as injections - botox and fillers. My practice sees all types of patients while it may not necessarily be myself performing the procedure. As for myself, I would say the most requested procedure I perform is breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery of the face and body.
HB: Do you feel social media has made the topic of plastic surgery become more mainstream?
AS: Absolutely. Not to give the impression that I'm an older guy but a few years ago, I know that plastic surgery was perceived to be for the rich and famous. Over time, the notion has definitely shifted to it being more common and reserved simply for those who want to do it. Social media has also made it become very sought-after since it's shifted the way people think of certain treatments and procedures. Face fillers and botox are no longer for the older patient. Breast augmentation no longer is accompanied by the stereotype of [models and actresses].
HB: Is there still a large misconception people have about the field?
AS: People assume it's going to be more expensive than it actually is.
HB: That's interesting because it's definitely always surprising to find the cost of certain procedures to be lower than expected.
AS: Selfishly, I wish I could charge $20,000 for a breast augmentation (laughs) but I'm always surprised to find out a person's perception of what the costs will be. I think on the other end of the spectrum, there are still misconceptions about recovery time and ensuring there are realistic expectations set by patients. It's important to note that sometimes the before and after photos people see on social media from plastic surgeons may not be truly authentic as they may think. Fictitious changes can be made to photos causing patients to see others and assume that is how their breasts are going to look or their tummy tuck, etc.
HB: What has been your most memorable patient reaction thus far?
AS: That's a great question. There really isn't a specific patient in mind that I could give you but I can tell you that I ultimately was drawn to plastic surgery for two reasons. One, my father is also a plastic surgeon so naturally I gravitated towards the field. Secondly, I found plastic surgery to be a happy practice that allows me to deliver patients good news and happy results.
HB: Is there a non-invasive procedure for breast augmentation yet?
AS: I know people love the idea of non-invasive procedures but there isn't one yet for breast augmentation. While there have been 'treatments' that have attempted this, they have all been short-lived.
HB: What sets your practice apart from others in the industry?
AS: We pride ourselves in putting the patient's needs and comfort first. We will bend backward to accommodate a patient's request and will be there through every step of the way -- from the initial consultation to operation day, and more. While many practices have PAs (physician assistants) perform non-invasive procedures and injectables, we make sure we meet with all patients and handle every treatment and procedure.
