La Nacion , Thursday, January 8 th, 2004

One scalpel of experience

Prestigious US group accepts surgeon Rashi Rosenstock

 Costarrican Rashi Rosenstock underwent a thorough process of selection in order to have his name put on the list of the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery, based in the United States .

Being part of this organization is hard for US citizens. Thus, he celebrated his incorporation to the reduced list of Latin-American plastic surgeons that are members of that society.

“ The selection process takes around two years. There are various committees that verify resumes, qualifications, surgeries and conduct interviews with candidates”, said this 33-year-old doctor, who spoke shyly about his accomplishments.

In Brazil

He comes from a family of doctors. He said that since he was five he wanted to be in a surgery room: “Noe, my dad, is a dermatologist, and my mum, Clara is a cosmetic surgeon. I used to go to hospitals with them”

He graduated from the former Escuela Autonoma de Ciencias Medicas [Autonomous School of Medical Sciences], from the Universidad Autonoma de Centroamerica [Autonomous University of Central America], his general average was 95, which helped him take another longed step: specialize abroad.

This Costarrican qualified to study, between 1996 and 1999, at the clinic of Brazilian professor Ivo Pitanguy, one of the most renowned plastic surgeons in the world, pioneer of numerous techniques in this field.

Very few

The Society only accepts a 10 per cent of foreigner professionals

“ With him, I’ve learnt that the base of aesthetic surgery is reconstructive surgery because it is much more creative”, he added.

He memorized this lesson when he took care of children with cleft lip and cleft palate, or minors with serious burns.

In private surgery, which he practices since he returned to the country, he is facing a great demand of aesthetic surgery, such as facial features changes or breast implants, “ the aesthetic field also has a positive incidence in patients. Many of them find, through a change of image, the necessary incentive to really improve their lives”, he said.

The doctor insisted that a good plastic surgeon listens to the patient’s wishes attentively and clearly tells them if it is advisable –and possible- to improve their appearance. Married and with two children – Michelle, three years old and Daniela, one – when he is out of his office he practices tennis or football, and he likes to read Agatha Christie’s mystery novels.