Posted: 12/01/08

Doing Beautiful Things
Plastic surgeon earmarks proceeds for local charities
By Mitch Moore

Years ago on Saturday Night Live, comedian Billy Crystal’s character Fernando used to quip, “It’s better to look good than to feel good.” Of course, it’s easy to see the humor in stating such an extreme philosophy; after all, most of us would agree that feeling good is pretty important.

However, one Knoxville plastic surgery practice has found a way for its patients to look good and feel good this holiday season. Throughout December, David B. Reath, M.D. PLLC is donating 10 percent of all sales of injectables, laser treatments, skin care, mineral makeup and gift cards to two local charities.

One beneficiary is FISH Hospitality Pantries, which utilizes four neighborhood-based pantries to help Knoxville-area residents in need of food. In fact, the organization generally gives out 13,000 bags of food each month, serving some 30,000 individuals.

“FISH has always been a favorite charity of mine,” says Dr. Reath. “I like it because it directly affects people here, locally. It’s also very efficient in the use of its dollars,” he adds, referring to the fact that through donations and bulk purchasing, FISH is able to feed a family of four people for three days for only $5.

FISH director Jim Wright points out that as the national economy has worsened, the need for the agency’s services has risen dramatically. “We’re serving record numbers of families in all our pantries. Now we’re feeding about 11,000 families each month, as opposed to just 5,000 a year ago,” he says.

Also benefiting from Dr. Reath’s program is the Florence Crittenton Agency. Founded in the late 1800s, the agency serves as a place of refuge for youth and teenage girls—many of whom are pregnant—who have been neglected and abused. The young women are clothed, housed, educated and cared for in a structured, safe and loving environment.

“The work they do with young women is phenomenal,” says Reath. “It’s a tremendous organization that lets these girls experience some of the things that most of us grew up with but have taken for granted.”

According to the agency’s director of development, Cindy Dodson, a contribution to Florence Crittenton is more than just a simple donation.

“When someone helps us financially, we believe they’re making an investment in a young person, because they’re helping change lives,” she says, noting that their services rely heavily on contributions from individuals, businesses and charitable foundations.

The procedures and products offered by Dr. Reath’s office as part of its December outreach are all office-based treatments. Patients can designate a charitable contribution to their choice of either FISH Hospitality Pantries or the Florence Crittenton Agency.

In addition, Dr. Reath’s practice includes reconstructive and cosmetic surgical procedures ranging from cleft palate repair and breast reconstruction to face lifts and liposuction.

Dr. Reath has been in practice in Knoxville for 23 years. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon who just completed a two-year term as a member at large of the board of directors of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, making him the only East Tennessee plastic surgeon to have served his profession in that capacity.

As a member of the Plastic Surgery Education committee, he also works to make sure that the public is properly educated about plastic surgery. His first piece of advice for prospective patients: Make sure the surgeon you’re considering is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

“It’s the largest plastic surgery organization in the world and is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties,” Reath notes.

He also says that patients should feel comfortable asking a surgeon questions and that patients should obtain as much information as possible about a procedure so they’ll know whether or not their questions are being answered sufficiently.

Finally, you should make sure your surgeon is operating in an accredited facility, whether it’s a hospital or the surgeon’s office.

Reath points out that there has been an upward trend in cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in recent years.

“There’s a greater acceptance of these procedures, that they’re not just for the rich and famous any more,” he says. “The median income of most plastic surgery patients is close to the median income of the general population.”

Also helping boost the trend are improvements in procedures and products. “We work to make the recovery process easier and down time less so that it’s less interruptive of the lifestyle of our patients,” Reath says.
 

Back to the news page.

Before and After Photos