Dr. David Hill Discusses How Genetics Influence Plastic Surgery Outcomes and Their Role in Healing and Aesthetic Results
What goes into planning a plastic surgery or aesthetic procedure? Most practitioners consult with each paitnet about their goals before putting together a plan. However, to optimize results and streamline recovery, Dr. David Hill considers another crucial factor — genetics.
Dr. Hill co-founded Chicago-based Fulcrum Aesthetics with his wife, nurse practitioner Brittony Croasdell. Fulcrum excels in supporting the whole patient by functioning both as a premier plastic surgery center and a luxurious medspa. A key aspect of this support involves meticulously tailoring each procedure to a patient’s unique physiology.
“Genetics plays a significant role in how your body responds to surgery, how you heal, and how scarring occurs,” Dr. Hill explains. “Factors like skin elasticity, facial structure, and healing ability are all influenced by genetics. We consider these factors when planning your procedure to ensure that our approach aligns perfectly with your unique anatomy and goals.”
Even seemingly small genetic factors can become significant when planning a procedure. Before deciding on a particular surgical technique, Dr. Hill thoughtfully inquires about a patient’s history with scar formation and how their family members’ skin tends to scar. These insights may significantly impact how he plans the surgery.
For example, if a patient has a personal or family history of keloid scars, Dr. Hill opts for techniques that minimize scarring or selects incision sites in less conspicuous areas. Keloid scars are large, thick, and irregular scars that often become more noticeable than the injuries that cause them. While patients may pursue laser therapy or other cosmetic procedures to minimize keloids, these scars are challenging to treat. Therefore, it’s preferable for plastic surgeons to proactively reduce the risk of their formation.
But what if a patient knows little or nothing about their family history? Dr. Hill assures that while understanding a patient’s genetic background is beneficial, a lack of detailed history doesn’t necessarily preclude them from undergoing cosmetic surgery. “Knowledge of a patient’s genetics allows me to tailor my techniques for the best possible outcome. However, most patients don’t have such a significant family or genetic history that it drastically changes my surgical approach.”
For Dr. Hill — who majored in neuroscience and film studies before attending medical school — plastic surgery is a careful balance of science and art. A patient’s physiological response to surgery is an important consideration, but so is the final aesthetic result. And just like any work of art, every procedure demands a unique approach.
“Understanding genetic differences helps us achieve the best, most natural results possible,” he says. “No two procedures are ever the same — we’re always considering what makes you, you.”
In some circles, plastic surgery has an undeserved reputation for being shallow or frivolous. However, with his comprehensive focus on patient wellness, Dr. Hill is proving that true aesthetic medicine is about much more than what is on the outside.
