Popular TV Show Goes Under the Knife of Esteemed Southern Californian Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Grant Stevens Uses Web Site to Correct Myths Furthered by TV Shows Featuring Extreme Plastic Surgery and the Operating Room

LOS ANGELES, CA. August 12, 2005 – A new web site has been launched by a Southern California Plastic Surgeon to dispel the Plastic Surgery myths propagated by popular TV shows. Dr. Grant Stevens, director of Marina Plastic Surgery Associates and a well-known and respected surgeon, collaborates with his staff to critique the storylines of each Nip/Tuck episode, letting his audience and patients know what surgery is like in the real world. Stevens discusses different plot points and explains what would have really happened or would never have happened at all. He also discusses procedures featured on the program and addresses ethical questions raised as well.

As the popularity of several television shows increased, Dr. Stevens found more of his patients coming into the office asking for procedures they had seen on TV. With great influence comes great responsibility, but Stevens noticed that the TV shows often misrepresented medicine and the professionalism of plastic and cosmetic surgeons. Wanting to make sure that his patients were highly informed, he found that he often had to answer questions regarding episodes of Nip/Tuck. Patients wanted to know, was it true to life?

“We wanted to use a conversational approach to dispel some of the misinformation spread by these popular TV shows. Especially Nip/Tuck which is a soap opera of sorts. It’s important for the regular viewer to realize and remember that the real OR is nothing like the show. The web site discusses each episode – what would or would never happen,” said Dr. Stevens. The site dissects each show and it covers many different types of cosmetic surgeries – giving people real information that they can use to be better educated instead of relying on TV drama.

The web site’s critique focuses on the actions of the doctors, inside and outside of the operating room, as well as the procedures that the patients receive. Dr. Stevens acknowledges that plastic surgery is not for everyone and a responsible doctor will screen patients to make sure that they are emotionally strong enough for and mentally prepared for surgery. Yet, this isn’t taken into consideration often on Nip/Tuck where plastic surgery is exchanged for favors or where doctors operate while tired or angry.

“In the real world surgery is serious business and a good surgeon approaches it in a very focused, ethical way. We make sure that a patient’s expectations are realistic, that the procedures will benefit them, and that they are ready to undergo such a treatment. That, unfortunately, doesn’t make for good TV, so isn’t featured much in your weekly shows,” said Dr. Stevens. “Our hope is to create a fun, edgy site that informs without lecturing. We want an audience to be smart viewers, educated and not mislead. Our hope is that this web site will help.”

Dr. Stevens’s web site is located at www.nipandtuc.com. It covers each episode of Nip/Tuck and also provides information on different procedures and surgeries.

Dr. Grant Stevens is a California board-certified plastic surgeon and the Medical Director of Plastic Surgery Associates in Marina del Rey. He specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery and has been named one of America’s Best Physicians in The Guide to Top Doctors. Dr. Stevens was nominated by his colleagues which makes this recognition especially prestigious and rewarding. He is an active member at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital where he is the past Chairman of the Department of Surgery, the past Chairman of the Liposuction Committee, and the past co-director of the Breast Center. He is also on staff at St. John’s Medical Center and the Marina Outpatient Surgery Center.