Hi, Dr. Berardi! We’re here to ask you 73 questions.
Hi, how are you? Come on in!
Are you busy? We’d love a tour of your office.
Take a look!
Questions
1. Wow, your lobby is beautiful! When did you build this office?
I started building in 2016 and then moved in 2017.
2. What’s this display over here?
Well, this is our breast reconstruction milestones. Once one of our patients completes their reconstructive process, we have them put a quote on a rock. That way it helps them inspire other breast recon patients.
3. Wow, so you work with a lot of breast cancer patients. Are you active in the community?
I am. We have a lot of breast reconstruction patients in the practice, and we’re actually participating in a 5k from Check For A Lump. Everyone should sign up and participate, we’d love to have you!
4. Are those skincare samples?
They are.
5. Can I have one?
Of course!
6. Thank you! So I have to know, what’s your guilty pleasure?
I think my guilty pleasure is definitely chocolates.
7. As a plastic surgeon, what’s your secret to looking so young?
I’d say, stay out of the sun and use regular skincare products.
8. Does your practice do injectables?
I do.
9. What’s the difference between Botox and filler?
Botox is mainly going to treat lines caused by facial animation and filler is going to treat volume loss.
10. How often should patients have injectables done?
I’d say, Botox probably two to three times a year, and filler maybe once a year or maybe more frequent if you have volume issues.
11. What’s this product down here?
This is Silagen. That’s a scar cream that we prescribe to all of our patients after surgery.
12. How long have you been in practice?
I’ve been practicing for 13 years.
13. Where did you go to med school?
I went to med school down in Tucson at the U of A.
14.Wow, you have a lot of certifications! Why is it important to be a board-certified plastic surgeon?
Board certification of a plastic surgeon is a very rigorous process. And it ensures that the plastic surgeons in the community are well-trained, practicing safe medicine, and overall they are going to provide the most quality care.
15. Why did you become a plastic surgeon?
I had the opportunity in college to scrub with a plastic surgeon and witnessed multiple reconstructive cases. At that point, I was a sophomore in college and I was sold.
16. Why is it called plastic surgery?
Well, “plastic” is derived from the Greek word “plastikos,” which means to mold.
17. What is your favorite part about being a plastic surgeon?
The variety of surgeries that we can perform. We have training in breast reconstruction, hand surgery, burn surgery, microsurgery, and we’re also able to operate from head-to-toe on pediatric to geriatric. Also, different skin all the way to bone.
18. What’s the most common misconception about being a plastic surgeon?
I think that we do all cosmetic surgery. As I just mentioned, we do a lot of reconstructive surgery.
19. If you weren’t able to be a plastic surgeon, what else would you be doing?
Probably a fishing or hunting guide.
20. So, what was the first job you ever had?
The first job I ever had was in a hardware store.
21. I heard someone mention in a five-star review that you have dogs.
I do!
22. Oh, are these them? What are their names?
This is Aries and this little one’s Coconut.
23. Do they come to work with you often?
They come every few months.
24. Tell me about the rest of your family.
I have my wife, my little baby, and of course my doggies.
25. Can I see a picture?
Oh yeah, let me grab that real quick. Gotta learn to work my phone here.
26. What’s your favorite vacation spot?
My favorite vacation spot is probably the family house. It’s on a beach in Mexico.
27. Can you whistle?
I can.
28. What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Visit Australia and New Zealand.
29. What are these rooms here?
These are exam rooms. This is what we use to, during our clinic hours, see our patients.
30. Can you juggle?
I can, actually.
31. Impressive! Why do you know how to juggle?
I was a gymnast in my past and it was part of training for hand-eye coordination, basically.
32. What types of implants are those?
These are silicone implants.
33. Are there other types of implants?
There are also saline implants.
34. Is it true that you have a business card in a silicone breast implant?
I actually do. They made this at Mentor. Most get it in a saline implant, we managed to get in a silicone implant. Pretty neat, but we do not implant these inside patients.
35. What’s your favorite type of procedure to perform?
I don’t know if I have a favorite. You know, with the variety of surgeries I perform, I can do breast, body, face – it keeps life interesting.
36. What’s the average healing time for cosmetic surgery?
The average healing time is about six weeks. That’s where about eighty percent of your healing happens.
37. Do most procedures require an overnight stay?
Not really. Only ones that are pretty lengthy.
38. So what do you do outside the office?
I use every opportunity I can to do outdoor activities.
39. When you travel, are you a window or an aisle seat kind of guy?
I’m an aisle seat guy.
40. What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
I have a black belt in Taekwondo.
41. What’s one thing you’re horrible at?
Basketball, for sure.
42. If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Probably mind control.
43. What’s your favorite type of music?
EDM.
44. When you were a kid, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I think Army Special Forces.
45. What’s something you still have from your childhood?
I have a slingshot, my skateboard to name a few.
46. What’s one piece of advice you would give your eighteen-year-old self?
In college, I would say major in business, do your pre-med prerequisites, and have more fun.
47. What’s the worst fashion trend you ever participated in?
Hate to admit it, but pinned pants probably around the junior high era.
48. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I’m both.
49. What are three things you can’t live without?
My wife, my baby, and my pups.
50. I hear you have your own surgery center. Is that true?
I do.
51. Can I see it?
Of course.
52. Are you getting tired of these questions yet?
Not quite yet.
53. Do you have stereotypical doctor handwriting?
Okay, rapid-fire.
54. Do you know what Sanskrit is?
Unfortunately, yes.
55. What’s your favorite holiday?
Christmas.
56. Favorite fast food?
Chick-Fil-A.
57. Biggest fear?
Of missing out.
58. What’s one thing you wish you could do, but shouldn’t?
Summit Mount Everest.
59. What makes you laugh so hard that you cry?
Movie 43.
60. What’s one thing that annoys you the most?
Inconsiderate people.
61. What’s this room?
This is our friends and family room. This is where we have families wait while their loved ones are in surgery.
62. How do I win one of those prizes on the poster?
You have to become part of our referral program.
63. Is this your surgery center through there?
It is!
64. Is your surgery center accredited?
It is accredited by the AAAASF.
65. What’s this area over here?
That’s the pre-op area. That’s where we get patients ready for surgery.
66. What’s the most challenging case you’ve had to take?
Probably a gunshot wound to the face. I used to do a lot of trauma reconstruction and that was definitely challenging.
67. Why should someone choose you and your practice over another?
Because I’m awesome!
68. Do you have any friends that are surgeons?
I have a lot of friends that are plastic surgeons. It’s a very close-knit community.
69. How do you feel about your best friend working across the street from you?
It’s really easy to borrow a cup of sugar.
70. What words of advice would you give someone who wants to become a plastic surgeon?
Start studying hard.
71. What would you tell someone who’s on the fence about having plastic surgery done?
I’d say come and visit me for a consult. You get educated about the procedure you want and then it’s easier to make a decision.
72. What’s the biggest learning experience you’ve had?
Opening a practice.
73. Do patients have to leave your surgery center through the lobby door?
No. We have a very private exit right here.
On that note, that’s 73 questions. Thank you so much for your time, Dr. Berardi. We appreciate it!
Thank you for coming by. Have a great day!
