Italian plastic surgeon claims his profession is a combination of science and culture

Head of European Society for Esthetic Surgery Ruben Oddenino says his profession is a combination of science and culture. In his words, while science can be acquired through education, culture is mostly about vocation. The Italisan specialist, who is visiting Armenia to provide professional consultation to local specialists, says Armenian people have strong conceptive abilities towards culture, as much as the Italians do.

In the course of a meeting with journalists on July 19 he expressed regret for not having the chance to learn Armenian, praised the Armenian specialists for their superior skills and said he has nothing to teach, but to share some experience with them.

Dr. Oddenino claimed to be fond of his profession, as aesthetic surgeons do not change but correct the faces and bodies of their patients. However, the doctor never pushed himself to go under a plastic surgeon's knife as 'his excellent appearance has no need of that':

Ruben Oddenino said although Italian women are familiar with mammoplasty, blephariplasty and liposuction, men will usually ask for a nose correction - mostly when they have breathing problems, as they claim. And sometimes others will be interested in hair regrowth. 

In reply to the question if a plastic surgeon can ever refuse a patient, Dr. Oddenino said in certain cases, when it is clear 'what a patient is looking at' or when she wants to have something that is completely unacceptable by him ‘to put his signature beneath', refusal is to follow. «That could be even in 5 cases out of 10. All depends on circumstances. First I need to understand if I can perform the surgery. Secondly, the patient's vision of what she wants to get from me has to be clarified. I need to understand what's there in her mind. For instance, in case a breast surgery is requred, I have to make sure she has a clear opinion about her breast. Here it's not my opinion that is required, but hers. And if I am not sure she is determined, I usually say 'not now', as she is definitely not going to like the results anyway.

As to prices for plastic surgery, they are higher in Italy that in Armenia, which is logical. For instance, rhinoplasty costs 8500 euro in Italy and 400 000 – 800 000 drams ($1000-2000) in Armenia. The reason, as Dr. Oddenino sees it, is that both the quality and cost of life is higher in Italy. Patients often complain about high prices in his country, but he always reminds that, while paying enourmous amounts of money  for clothings by Armani or Valentino, which are eventually worn out, they should be ready to pay as much for a lifetime clothing he offers.

This happens to be Ruben Oddenino's third visit to Armenia. He is planning to stay in Yerevan till July 25 and to perform several surgeries at the ‘Avangard Med' medical center by then.

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