Dr. Ariel N. Rad, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and co-founder of SHERBER+RAD, is advocating for a "Restraint First" standard in aesthetic medicine, promoting a patient-led approach focused on informed decisions, credential verification, and long-term thinking. This call comes as cosmetic procedures continue to rise, with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reporting more than 26 million performed annually in the United States.
Dr. Rad emphasized that aesthetic medicine remains medicine, not entertainment, stating, "Good surgery doesn't announce itself. It lets people feel like themselves again." His advocacy addresses growing concerns within the industry, where over 30% of non-surgical cosmetic treatments are performed by providers without formal plastic surgery training, and revision procedures linked to unqualified providers have increased in recent years.
"Social media has accelerated demand," Dr. Rad noted. "But anatomy hasn't changed. The face is complex. Decisions should not be impulsive." Supporting data reveals that nearly 40% of patients seeking revision surgery report insufficient understanding of risks before their first procedure, while complication rates are significantly lower when procedures are performed in accredited hospital-based settings.
Dr. Rad advocates for practical, patient-driven steps rather than policy reform, explaining that "Restraint creates clarity. Saying no can be a form of care." He recommends a four-step approach: verifying board certification through recognized medical boards, confirming the procedure setting, asking how often the surgeon performs the specific procedure, and pausing for 48 hours to reflect before signing consent.
Studies show that patients who take time to verify board certification report higher long-term satisfaction, and decision regret drops when individuals delay elective procedures and seek second opinions. Dr. Rad encourages patients to question trend-driven messaging, stating, "If something sounds effortless or permanent without trade-offs, that's usually incomplete information."
He urges individuals considering cosmetic treatment to take ownership of their decision-making process, emphasizing research, direct questions, and choosing safety over speed. "Most success in surgery looks boring up close," he said. "It's repetition done well." Patients can begin by reviewing their provider's credentials and confirming where procedures are performed. For more information, visit https://www.sherberrad.com.
