AJ: I wrote it to encourage a discussion of what real cosmetic surgery entails, as well as other techniques one can use to look as good as possible.
The book includes ideas about facial enhancing, anti-aging techniques, the idea of what makes for naturally beautiful features and the notion that today minimally invasive surgery is the best way to replicate one’s natural beauty according to the idea of the golden proportions found in nature.
Also, as the idea of beauty and aging has developed, I also think the way in which surgeons are helping patients attain such standards has also morphed. Today’s surgeons now possess a real appreciation of a client’s innate qualities and features and the appropriation of that in line with the golden proportion principles.
However, it also comes down to one’s quality of life, their attitudes towards life and self. Patients need to understand that beauty is a holistic approach; minimally invasive plastic surgery is but one of many steps in maintaining the best natural looking version of ourselves.
SCV: What philanthropic work can we be expecting to see from you in the future?
AJ: This September, I will be leading a group of fellow volunteer facial plastic surgeons to Santa Marta, Colombia, where we will screen and operate on numerous children with microtia, cleft lip and palate deformities, giving them new faces and smiles. This will be my eighth mission with HEALING THE CHILDREN NORTHEAST and my second time leading a group of plastic surgeons to Santa Marta, Colombia.
SCV: Tell me about your recent charity work.
AJ: I just returned from a hiking fundraising trek with my son where we climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, which happens to be Africa’s tallest mountain, to raise money for the medical treatment of underprivileged children born with cleft lips.
SCV: Can you tell us more about how you went on to facilitate the fundraiser?
AJ: Through a charity mission my son, Andrew Jacono went on to create in 2011, THAI (Through Healing all indigent) whereby the purpose of the fund is raise awareness and funding for children who would otherwise not be able to afford surgical procedures to address facial deformities.
SCV: What are some of the adversities children born with such a condition are forced to reckon with?
AJ: They usually go on to face ongoing discrimination as well physical difficulties when it comes to simple tasks such as eating, drinking, speaking and breathing.
Individuals who are interested in donating to THAI Children Missions Organization can go here.
