Today we’d like to introduce you to Edward Chamata.
Hi Edward, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a private practice plastic surgeon specializing mainly in cosmetic surgery of the body, performing procedures such as liposuction, tummy tucks, mommy makeovers, and gluteal augmentation. I have a background in art since childhood and that’s why the field of plastic surgery was the perfect fit for me, as it is truly art of the human body! My background in art has led me to publish several medical illustrations in some of the most prominent medical journals and textbooks.
I performed my plastic surgery residency training in the world’s largest medical center located in Houston TX, at one of the top institutions in the nation, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). During my surgical training, I had the great opportunity to co-author several research publications in various plastic surgery journals and textbooks.
My surgical training at BCM was in both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, including pediatric craniofacial reconstruction. This allowed me to use these learned surgical techniques and apply them on surgical mission trips abroad. The latest one was in Mexico in the spring of 2022, where we performed numerous pro bono reconstructive surgeries including cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries to underserved locations in Mexico. Each year, I carve out time in my schedule for these medical trips in order to give back to those in need. Our surgical team successfully completed approximately 40 reconstructive procedures during our time there! Being a part of these cleft lip/palate surgical trips is truly one of my biggest passions and the primary reason why I chose to pursue a career in medicine.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Going through medical school and surgical training is undoubtedly the toughest thing I’ve done in life. The road is never smooth and takes many unexpected turns. It truly involves blood, sweat, and tears to make it through that medical journey. Many sleepless nights were spent in the hospital, with most weeks being ~80hour work weeks. When you’re first exposed to the world of medicine, it can be very overwhelming and at times can make you question whether this is a task that’s even achievable, and it takes a real commitment to the field in order to make it to the finish line. The advice I always tell college students thinking about going into the medical field is: “Make sure this is something that you truly want to do, make sure this is your passion because if it’s not, you’re going to be miserable going through the process”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently a part of a plastic surgery private practice in Houston, TX called Premiere Surgical Arts. I am one of two surgeons there. I specialize mainly in cosmetic plastic surgery of the body.
What sets me apart is my desire to safely advance the field of plastic surgery with regard to the results achievable with surgery. I’m always aiming to take traditional plastic surgery procedures and modify them to create even more natural results and results that have never been seen before.
I am most known for these three procedures:
1) Advanced techniques in liposuction, known as high-definition liposuction which sculpts the human body and transforms its shape while simultaneously creating a natural-toned appearance…
2) Gluteal augmentation (commonly known as Brazilian Butt Lifts) which is a popular procedure that uses your own body’s fatty tissue to reshape the gluteal region without the need for prosthetics.
3) Tummy Tucks (and mommy makeovers) which I’ve modified to further improve on the appearance of traditional tummy tucks by adding ab definition using high-definition liposuction techniques and creating natural belly buttons to conceal the scars as much as possible.
I’m most proud of the positive impact these surgeries have on my patients’ self-confidence. Seeing their joy post-op when they’re healed is the best gift I’ve ever received.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The best advice I can give for finding a mentor is: Find someone who is doing EXACTLY what you want to be doing and reach out to them, even if you don’t think they will respond to you or agree to help you. If you never ask, the answer is always no! Learn everything you can from them. Learn from their mistakes so those mistakes don’t happen to you. And always aspire to be as skilled or even more skilled than they are. This will set a benchmark for yourself that you can work towards.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drchamata.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchamata
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.edwardchamata/
