Good memories of satisfied patients make him smile. Dr. E. Fred Aguilar has practiced cosmetic surgery in Houston for over 25 years, so he has plenty of reminders of what made him choose this specialty: "A face lift patient who says I've turned her life around, and she's now besieged with date requests. A young girl who no longer has a hump on her nose is now more extroverted and doesn't feel self-conscious when she sees a guy looking at her at a stoplight. A child who has a great big smiles when he looks in the mirror and sees an ear where he didn't have one before surgery. A breast augmentation patient who comes in with a new wardrobe, proud to be a woman who can now 'compete' in the proverbial marketplace." Dr. Aguilar has no problem articulating his goals: "To provide the best surgery results in the city of Houston, and to have my patients know that they can expect consistent results at my hand."

DR. AGUILAR IS TRIPLE-BOARD CERTIFIED
American Board of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery American Board of Plastic Surgery

DR. AGUILAR'S SPECIALTIES ARE RHINOPLASTY (NOSE SURGERY), BREAST AUGMENTATION, LIPOSUCTION, FACE LIFTS, AND EAR SURGERY. AND HERE'S WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU:
"Although there are no guarantees in medicine, as we all know, my commitment to my patients lasts for a year after surgery--to make sure they're as happy as they can be." He adds, "I love that plastic surgery allows me to be artistic, while at the same time remaining within the field of medicine, specifically plastic surgery," Dr. Aguilar explains. "It's an environment that brings new surprises every day, offers creative challenges every day, and gives me a way to apply artistic concepts to different patients' forms." As patients can see from the long list of achievements, Dr. Aguilar is a very well qualified physician. "My training is different from that of some plastic surgeons," he points out. "I spent nine years doing facial plastic surgery and learning all the nuances that are important for correcting the aging face, all within the mantra of facial plastic surgery. After years of success in facial plastic surgery, I had so many patients who wanted procedures for other parts of their bodies that I found it incumbent to go back into plastic surgery to obtain the extra credentials to excel in that area as well. So, I now bring together the best of both disciplines."

THERE ARE MANY MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT COSMETIC SURGERY.
Dr. Aguilar, like many plastic surgeons, likes to clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding cosmetic surgery. "Some people believe that they can choose any plastic surgeon and their results will turn out fine. That's not true, and unfortunately, some people who want a procedure even get on the Internet and ask doctors to put in low bids." It's key to remember that not all physicians who do cosmetic surgery are plastic surgeons. There are gynecologists, dermatologists, and even family practice doctors, doing plastic surgery. It's legal--but is that your best choice? When you're interviewing doctors, then, be sure to find out if he or she is a plastic surgeon. "All plastic surgeons aren't equally talented," says Dr. Aguilar, "just like lawyers and teachers and plumbers--some are good and some aren't."

DON'T THINK THAT YOUR SURGERY IS 'ALL FINISHED' THE DAY YOU WALK AWAY FROM THE OPERATING ROOM.
"Patients need to expect that it takes time for swelling to recede," he says. "For example, when I remove the bandages from a patient's nose the day after surgery, he won't see his final result. He'll see an improvement, all right, but it takes weeks--sometimes months--for all of the swelling to subside." In about six months, your nose will "settle" in and you'll see your final result. "I wish people didn't expect the surgery to be over the day they have surgery," Dr. Aguilar emphasizes. "I call it the McDonald's Syndrome. At McDonald's, you can order, buy a burger, and eat it. Patients want their surgery to be just like that. So, two weeks after surgery, they come back in to see me, and they're surprised that they still have some fullness." For that reason, Dr. Aguilar goes to great lengths to warn patients to expect swelling. They need to be patient and understand that their final "look" is a few weeks down the road. "It's not a quick thing," he says. "We've done work on a part of your body, and the tissue has to settle down. The swelling has to go away." Another myth is that plastic surgeons can work miracles. Realistic expectations are important, Dr. Aguilar stresses. "We can make small steps that improve your appearance, but we can't turn someone into Julia Roberts." Some people believe that a good plastic surgeon won't leave scars. "Just because we're plastic surgeons doesn't mean that you won't have scars from surgery," he notes. "We make them as small and hidden as possible, but there are still scars."

AN INNOVATOR, DR. AGUILAR DOES GROUNDBREAKING SURGERY FOR CHILDREN BORN WITHOUT EARS.
Dr. Aguilar has had the unique pleasure of learning to create ears on infants and children who were born without one or both ears. It requires consummate skill and art in plastic surgery. "Sculpting rib cartilage into an ear requires a good three-dimensional eye. And the artistic ability to deliver that takes ongoing practice and maturity. " Ear surgery on children is "very satisfying," says Dr. Aguilar, adding, "It allows these kids to go out in public with much better self-esteem. They feel like they have a better handle on life." This kind of ear surgery is painstaking and time-consuming. A child must undergo a series of four to five operations, depending on whether he is a candidate for having his hearing restored, explains Dr. Aguilar. "Most don't have an ear canal or an eardrum."

FIND A DOCTOR WITH WHOM YOU HAVE GOOD RAPPORT.
Dr. Aguilar takes pride in offering a deep commitment to each patient. "I want everyone to have a good experience, and I'll do everything in my power to make that happen." Patients are pleased with the results of surgery that Dr. Aguilar does on them. He notes, "If I tell them I'm worried, they can believe it. If I say I'm not, they can believe it. I'm a good communicator. When they leave our office, whether or not they sign up for surgery, they're well educated about the procedure they are interested in."

DR. AGUILAR HAS THE BACKGROUND AND MEDICAL TRAINING TO PROVIDE SAFE, EFFECTIVE PROCEDURES.
He has impeccable credentials. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1951, Dr. Aguilar attended The University of Texas at El Paso, where he got his B.S. He earned his M.D. degree at Texas Tech University School of Medicine, and he did residencies at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery), The University of Texas Medical School at Houston/Hermann Hospital (Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery), and The University of Texas Medical School at Houston/Hermann Hospital (General Surgery).

Fellowships

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Aguilar is board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery, and board-certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Academic appointments include: Clinical Assistant Professor, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Division of Plastic Surgery; and Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Texas Health Science Center.

Awards:

CIBA Award, 1977; Texas Medical Association Resident Delegate to AMA (1979, 1983, 1984)

TMA Alternate Delegate to TMA House of Delegates (1984-1985); Jefferson Award, 1992; Kernahan Award, 1996

Best Poster Presentation (Framework Growth Following Microtia Reconstruction: Is It Real and What Are the Implications?), National Meeting ASPRS, Boston, 1998.

Associations:

Houston Society of Plastic Surgery

American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

American College of Surgeons

American Laryngological Rhinological and Otological Society

American Medical Association

Texas Medical Association

Harris County Medical Society

Houston Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
Cornerstones of the practice of E. Fred Aguilar, M.D., are skill, compassion, and concern for patient welfare. Starting with the day of your first visit, it's our goal to answer all of your questions concerning surgery, treat your visit with the utmost in confidentiality, and handle your consultation with warmth and commitment to good care. We want you to have a very pleasant experience. As most people know, cosmetic surgery holds the promise of improving your life, socially and professionally. People who are concerned about signs of aging, for example, can recapture a youthful appearance. An individual who is bothered by a feature that doesn't seem to fit with the others on her face can have it altered, for better overall symmetry. When you're with us, we encourage you, the patient, to be open and forthright. Tell Dr. Aguilar what's bothering you and share your fears. He can explain all of the options for achieving what you want and convey the risks versus gains. A consultation includes: discussion of your concerns and the surgical procedure; examination of the body part the surgery is designed to treat; Dr. Aguilar's explanation of ways to accomplish your goals; a demonstration (on the computer imaging machine) of the possible outcomes of surgery. Your face or body is projected on the screen so that Dr. Aguilar can show you how the changes might look on you. During your first visit, a patient coordinator will discuss how the procedure can help you meet your goals, show you before/after photographs, and answer questions. With Dr. Aguilar, you'll discuss your expectations and concerns. An examination will allow him to explain how surgery can (or can't) benefit you. He will talk about specifics of the surgery; for example, if you're interested in breast augmentation (enlargement), he will explain: the types of breast implants that he uses most often (Inamed and Mentor), as well as the shapes (round, anatomic); the placement that he thinks would be most appropriate (under the muscle); and the spot where he'll do the incision to insert the implant (nipple, under the breast, or under the arm). A patient coordinator will discuss fees, including those for the surgeon, operating room, and anesthesiology. Then, if you like, you can schedule your surgery, and you'll be given some instructions. A few days before surgery, you'll come back in to see Dr. Aguilar for a pre-op briefing. If you have questions or need reassurance, be sure to speak up. He has operated on thousands of people, and no question is unimportant if it's something that worries you. After surgery, you'll need to have someone drive you home. At that time, you'll once again be encouraged to call Dr. Aguilar with any questions or concerns. You can also email Dr. Aguilar at eainfo@ermosa.com

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