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58 MAY/JUNE 2017 | Med Esthetics "Most people are realistic when I have to break the news that if, for example, they are 80 years old I can't make them look 29," he continues. "If it looks like they're star struck by surgical intervention, I make sure to bring them back to earth and show them a range of examples of somebody with the same height, weight or ethnicity. I say, 'Here's where they are. If this will make you happy then we'll move forward. If this isn't enough, then you may need more than one opera- tion, or you may need to start out from a different place.'" He's also comfortable saying no. "Sometimes the easiest way is to say, 'I don't think I have the skills necessary to bring you the outcome you want.' I'm very comfortable with that answer," says. Dr. Vanek, noting that at times he will even discourage a patient from seeking treatment elsewhere as they will eventually fi nd someone who agrees to operate— but the patient is unlikely to be happy with the results. If he suspects the patient has underlying psychological issues, Dr. Vanek will schedule a counseling appointment for her. "I'm not just going to say, 'We're not doing surgery,'" he says. "I tell them to come back and see me after they discuss things with a counselor in a couple of sessions." His strategy for achieving natural-looking outcomes is, "Don't over do it. You must have a gentle hand and al- ways remember that we can do a little more in the future," he says. LIFE IN MOTION Outside the practice, Dr. Vanek manages to keep very busy. He has a wealth of hobbies that range from garden- ing to travel to creative pursuits. "I scuba dive, I grow or- chids, I play trumpet in my church and in a rock band, I sing lead and backup in the same band, and I'm a cantor in my church," he says. "I love art and photography. I've climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and gone on safaris too." Dr. Vanek and his wife travel regularly to visit their adult children, and the couple are very active in their church. "I've been chairman of the United Way in our county, and I continuously raise money for the Lake Hospital Founda- tion and through my church for various charities," says Dr. Vanek. "My mother's history of diabetes really has gotten me engaged in the diabetes and multiple sclerosis tours— those are long bike rides—which combine my own passion for physical activity with the idea that I can raise money for somebody else." After the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Dr. Vanek joined Project Medishare and traveled to Haiti with $30,000 worth of drugs from Lake Health Hospital and a surgical team made up of an anesthesiologist and two volunteer nurses. "We brought our own instruments, medications and anes- thesia," he recalls. "We operated continuously in very poor conditions almost immediately after this terrible mass casu- alty. We collaborated with people from all over the world. "Since then, I've participated in many other surgical mis- sions," continues Dr. Vanek. "Knowing that we are able to help people who have no resources has really changed my life. It made me recognize that an individual person with the will can make a difference." Laura Beliz is the associate editor of MedEsthetics. FRAMES: © GETTY IMAGES "You have to balance the science of your surgical education with the art of communication." FAITH IN SCIENCE Outside of Vanek Plastic Surgery, Dr. Vanek keeps busy with myriad hobbies including travel and photography. ad and backu p am e band, an d i n my church, " t a nd photography. m an ja ro and gone on la rl y to visit their adu lt th eir church. ou nty, a nd nd a- hobbi es