Meet Dr Andre Safvat and his wife Maryam the dream team behind Plastic and Reconstructive business Ethique Plastic Surgery.
Say hello to Dr Andre Safvat, a philosophy reading, cycling lover, father of two, who is a world class Plastic, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon, AND also knows how to rock a mean setar [a cool Persian string instrument.] Alongside his suuuuuuuper lovely wife Maryam who is not only a creative in her own right but is also his practice director in their local biz Ethique Plastic Surgery.
They’ve been looking after our Southern Highlands community for over ten years, and have finally laid roots in Bowral. We sat down for a coffee and a chat with them to hear about their lives, their Practice and why the call of the Highlands was just too strong.
Go on, grab your own cuppa and read along!
1// So guys, how did you find your way to the Southern Highlands?
Dr. Safvat: About 10 years ago, one of my anaesthetists, who was originally from Bowral mentioned that there is a void in Plastic Surgery services in the Southern Highlands, as their Plastic Surgeon had taken a sabbatical and he asked if I would like to work down here on occasion. I was interested in the area and thought, why not? I started by coming down once a month for operating and consulting. I soon realised how much I enjoyed the people I worked with down here as well as the patients and the Highlands community. The practice kept on growing over the years and I ended up working 2 days a week here, one day consulting and one day operating.
Maryam: We noticed how much we love the lifestyle here. There’s a perfect balance of work and play. We have two daughters who adore it here. When they were at school, we always made sure we were here for the holidays because they had tons of fun, especially with horse riding opportunities here. We also have two small and spoiled fluffy dogs too, that love it here! As Andre’s practice kept growing, we wanted to have our own place, and purchased a house in Bowral so we can spend at least half of the week here, working as well as enjoying the beautiful Highlands.
2// So, when did you start working together?
Maryam: Back when we first married, Andre was still deep into pursuing his specialist surgical training. My background is in languages, so I was busy working as a translator. Then, when Andre finished his training and decided to kickstart his own practice, we quickly worked out that management of staff and all the administrative sides of the practice was going to take up a significant portion of his time. Time that would be better spent on patient care and the clinical side of the practice.
Dr. Safvat: I just wanted to focus on treating my patients and giving them as much time as I could. Maryam was great at managing and looking after the HR side of the practice, and I am grateful for her support. She originally started as my practice manager, but as our practice grew, she was able to move into the practice director role and Emma has now been our amazing practice manager for the past six years.
3// Dr. Safvat, tell us, what made you choose plastic surgery as a career?
Dr. Safvat: When I was 14, one of my father’s friends who was an amazing surgeon took me to see an operation and I was so fascinated with the surgery and what doctors can do to help, that from then on, I decided I wanted to be a surgeon. The first hurdle was to get accepted into medical school, and I was successful in getting into UNSW to study medicine. Since I knew surgery was my calling from the start, after completing basic medical training, I worked hard and got into general surgical training. Coming from an academic family, I was also interested in research and its impact on the medical field, so I undertook a PhD at USyd to do research at Royal North Shore Hospital. During my general surgery training rotations, I was exposed to plastic surgery and ENT surgery. These specialties require more precision, meticulousness and attention to detail than general surgery and I was very much drawn to them. I applied for both and I was lucky enough to be selected into Plastic and Reconstructive surgical training. The path to becoming a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in our country is long and arduous, and for good reasons too! But I love what I do. Plastic surgery is an amazing specialty, and I feel like it is a perfect mix of skill, technique and artistry. It’s incredibly fulfilling and humbling when you are able to help someone overcome their ailments or enhance their quality of life.
4// That’s Incredible. Can you give us the rundown of your practice, Ethique Plastic Surgery?
Dr Safvat: Our practice specialises in both Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery. We look after patients from skin cancers or lesions that can be removed at our clinic’s procedure rooms here under local anaesthetic, to bigger and more complicated surgeries that must be done in Hospital. I work at Southern Highlands Private Hospital every week so I can operate on them in Bowral or in Sydney as well.
Our patients are from all different ages, women, men and at times even kids. It doesn’t matter if I’m doing a small procedure, cosmetic or a complex reconstructive case, every patient is important to me and I have my perfectionist approach in each case.
We make sure to explain everything about what their procedure involves in simple terms, the risks and benefits associated with potential surgery, recovery, and aftercare requirements. We stay closely connected to monitor our patients’ progress.
Maryam: People may feel anxious or worried when going through even a minor surgery, let alone more serious and significant procedures. We are all about providing personalised care to our patients throughout their surgical journey. Andre and our whole team pride themselves on looking after our patients with genuine care, empathy, and expertise.
5// What kind of surgeries do you specialise in?
Dr. Safvat: Plastic Surgery is a vast field and plastic surgeons operate from head to toe. After gaining many years of experience, I am at a stage that I’ve decided to focus on procedures I enjoy most and do a lot of, such as Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), Otoplasty (correction of prominent ear), neck lift, breast reduction surgery for both women and men (gynaecomastia), breast augmentation & lift, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) & body contouring after weight loss, and hand surgery.
I do a lot of skin cancer excisions and reconstructions as well. I work closely with Dr. Derek Davies, a great dermatologist and Mohs’ surgeon here in Bowral, and I do reconstruction of large skin cancers post Mohs’ surgery.
The most important thing for me is making choices that prioritise my patients’ health and well-being, both physically and mentally. If I believe a particular procedure may not be of benefit, or the risks outweigh the benefits, I will openly discuss this with my patients. Sometimes the best option is not to proceed with a surgery. It can be disappointing to hear, but I have their best interests at heart, and I stick to my values.
6// And is that where the name Ethique comes from?
Maryam: Yes, it’s the French word for ethical. It reflects our philosophy and approach to patient care.
7// And what do you love most about the biz?
Dr Safvat: I feel a lot of pride for the work I do. Being able to help patients is extremely rewarding and I feel privileged to do so. When I see my patients happy with their outcome, it brings me joy and satisfaction.
Maryam: We get feedback from our patients all the time about how wonderful our team is, and it just makes me so happy. We know that in a community like the Highlands, that means a lot and makes us proud.
8// Finally, what do you love most about the Highlands?
Maryam: I love the creative community here. There are always really interesting exhibitions and shows on and we all enjoy spending our weekends checking them out. I also love all the beautiful boutique shops and weekend markets, things I feel like you can’t get anywhere else. Oh, our neighbours are also really lovely!
Dr. Safvat: I started working here in Bowral 10 years ago, and I really liked the patients and the community in the Highlands, and I continue to enjoy my interactions with them. There’s also a wonderful lifestyle balance here and I love this picturesque town. Oh, and the traffic conditions are mostly better than in Sydney haha!
Thanks, guys we’ve loved hearing your story today and we’re so glad you’re here for our Highlands community.
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