Dr. Behrooz A. Torkian is a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon dual board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS). He is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and focuses his practice exclusively on the face and nose. Dr. Torkian graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. He then completed his education with a Medical Doctorate at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He went on to complete his specialty training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California, Irvine, where he won multiple prizes in recognition of his original research during residency. Dr. Torkian then completed a fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of California, Irvine. He is one of a select group of surgeons to have trained in a prestigious Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery under the auspices of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Here, the LA-based doctor describes the misconceptions of his field, what he’s most excited about in his field and his most memorable patient reaction.
My greatest achievement…
My greatest work achievement is being able to provide natural-looking results to patients looking for improvement in highly sensitive areas of their face. In the past it was more of a status symbol to look like you had work done, but now more people want their results to stay under the radar and I’m very proud that I can provide that for people.
The future of my field is…
I definitely believe the future is bright! I think biostimulatory treatments and regenerative treatments such as PRP stem cell treatment etc. will play a big role in facial plastic surgery. I believe with these adjunctive treatments, providers will be able to get much closer to total rejuvenation of the face rather than a “nip, tuck, and lift” approach to the face. Using surgical and nonsurgical treatments together, I’ve already seen better results in my patients, so I’m definitely excited to see how new treatments will only improve these results.
The biggest misconception about my field is…
The biggest misconception is that people believe that surgical or non-surgical treatments can make them look unnatural. While unnatural results can be very obvious, procedures that are done correctly and artfully are almost undetectable! I try to reassure my patients that they will have an unoperated look as long as we adhere to basic artistic principles in their treatment.
My most requested procedures are:
Rhinoplasty, facelift, facial fillers
What surgical advancements are you most excited about?
I am most excited about the use of regenerative and biostimulatory treatments as adjuncts to surgery. Combining treatments to get better results in “turning back the clock” for my patients.
What are you best known for?
As a facial plastic surgery specialist, my most commonly requested procedures are a facelift, rhinoplasty, and revision rhinoplasty. I was fortunate to have established myself as a specialist in the nose early in my career.
Can you describe your most memorable patient reaction?
Specifically, I had one woman who had been turned down repeatedly by other surgeons. She’d seen me about five years prior when she was pregnant and concerned about growth under the skin of her nose, it looked like her nose was growing a lot. A lot of people get nasal edema when pregnant, but it’s usually manageable and it doesn’t change the nose very much, but hers was very noticeable. She didn’t do anything about it then, but five years later she came to me with her kindergartener telling me she wanted it fixed. Her nose had taken a completely different shape, almost like a cleft in the middle of it. I asked her if there had been any trauma or procedures done, but it ended up she’d had a hemangioma on her nose under the skin, which was very unusual. Every other doctor she’d been to had turned her away saying there could be nothing done, but I was able to properly diagnose and fix her nose. When I removed the bandages and she was overcome with joy and started crying, that was really special and memorable for me.
What sets my practice apart:
My patients become part of our office family culture. They are invited in and become an intimate and integral part of the team that helps them achieve their personal goals. Patients really do become like family with us, and we don’t operate on people we feel like can’t be our friends. We know being selective with patients can be tough in this competitive market, but we really value our family-like environment and try to preserve that.
What I love most about my profession is…
I love that I’m able to help people overcome their insecurities.
Career defining procedure?
Nasal tip contouring with open rhinoplasty and revision of botched nasal tip surgeries have really defined my career so far.
What new services are you excited to offer?
I’m very excited to now offer hair transplantation and PRP injections for hair growth as an adjunctive treatment to complete the package of facial plastic surgery in my office.
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