After decades of analyzing and dissecting not only faces and noses but lives—my patients’, my colleagues’, and my own—I’ve come to understand that technical mastery is not the highest art. Meaning is. The scalpel may shape the face and nose, but these 10 truths shape a life. This list is a distillation derived from a life spent chasing perfection, not just in surgery, but also in service to something greater. THE 10 MOST MEANINGFUL THINGS IN LIFE Your Reputation Is Your Legacy It’s built over decades, and it can be destroyed in seconds. You don’t get to control the whispers in the hallways—but you do get to control the actions that earn them. Your reputation isn’t your CV or your titles—it’s the consistent echo of your character. Guard it relentlessly. In surgery and in life, you are only as good as your integrity. We have all learned this the hard way with our own fallacies; the key is to get back on track. The Truth Always Surfaces Science doesn’t lie—but surgeons sometimes do, to themselves or others. Don’t fake results. Don’t inflate data. Don’t cut corners. The truth will always rise—and when it does, let it find you aligned with it. Remember, a false innovation or a treatment fad may win the crowd or social media today, but real science wins history and enhances patient safety. Excellence Is a Lifestyle, Not an Outcome Excellence isn’t a finish line—it’s a discipline. It’s waking up early, preparing harder, and staying humble even when you’re at the top. Technical skill fades, as does one’s reputation over time. But the relentless pursuit of better—that is eternal. Be addicted to improvement, not applause. Mentorship Is the Greatest Multiplier What you teach outlives what you do. Every time you invest in a mentee, you multiply your impact. Mentorship is not about control—it’s about empowering others to surpass you. My greatest honor isn’t what I’ve published or operated—it’s whom I’ve helped become leaders. Family Is the Greatest Gift You’ll Ever Fail to Deserve Plastic surgery gave me purpose. My wife, Diane, and my 2 children gave me life. In the chase for perfection, don’t abandon the people who love you imperfectly. No success—no award, no journal cover—is worth missing the moments that matter. Love is not an achievement. It’s a daily act. Innovation without Integrity Is Dangerous New doesn’t mean better. Faster doesn’t mean safer. We must be leaders in innovation, but stewards of its ethical use. Innovate with purpose. Operate with caution. Teach with humility. The best surgeons aren’t first—they’re right. You Are Always Being Watched, So Lead Accordingly In the operating room. In the boardroom. On social media. You are always setting an example—for your team, your students, your peers. Leadership is not optional. Carry yourself with the quiet gravity of someone who knows others will follow your steps—for better or for worse. Suffering Has a Purpose, If You Let It The best lessons don’t come from winning—they come from the painful places. Failure, rejection, loss—these are not interruptions. They are teachers. Let your pain shape you into someone more empathetic, more patient, and more human. Your Life’s Work Is What You Leave Behind Papers fade. Titles are forgotten. But how you made people feel—the residents you lifted, the patients you comforted, the colleagues you honored—that’s your life’s work. Focus less on what you build, more on what you seed. Gratitude Is the Ultimate Innovation Be grateful—not just when things go right, but especially when they don’t. Gratitude is the antidote to ego, burnout, and cynicism. Say thank you. To your patients. Your staff. Your mentors. Your failures. Gratitude transforms not just your practice—it transforms your perspective. Plastic surgery taught me anatomy and discipline. Life taught me meaning. And now, in this reflection, one must see it as an incision: cut through the noise, cut through the vanity, cut through the titles, and you’ll find what truly matters. Because in the end, greatness isn’t what you achieve — it’s what you awaken in others. DISCLOSURE The author has no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose.
Rod J. Rohrich (Wed,) studied this question.