Dr. Carlos Saint Hilaire

What made you want to become a Doctor and how did you choose to become a Surgeon?
It’s a very interesting question, because I wanted to become a doctor because I love science and I wanted to improve my knowledge in every single area. Also I wanted to know details about the human body. I love to share with people and also try to help in everything I could. I wanted to become a surgeon when I realized that surgery is the most complete area of medicine because as you learn to cure with medicines, you also cure directly with your hands.

Where did you do most of your studies and how long have you been practicing?
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon , Hospital Militar “Dr. Carlos Arvelo”. Caracas, Venezuela; (2009-2012).
General Surgeon, Hospital Central De Las Fuerzas Armadas (H.C.FF.AA). Santo Domingo, Rep. Dom. 2005-2009
Internship, Centro de Cirugía Plástica y Especialidades de Santo Domingo (CECIP); (2004-2005).
Medicine Doctor, Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC); (1998-2004).

How challenging is it for you to balance life and work?
For me, keeping a balance in everything we do in life is what gives us the stability, both physical and spiritual, to do things in the best way.

Do you have your own practice?
Yes

In your experience, what are some of the most consistent misconceptions you hear from patients about getting cosmetic surgery?
There are many misconceptions in plastic surgery, like doing surgeries with no scar (or incision), and many other things that I need to clarify to my patients when they get into my office or even when I post a video to teach anything.

Do you have a favorite procedure that you feel is your best?
In fact, I love every single procedure I do, but in answering this question I think doing Lipo+Tummy Tuck could be one of my favorites, but many people tell me they love when I do breast surgery with or without implants.

What have you found to be the most challenging in your work and why?
The most challenging perhaps is doing big size breast reductions, that’s because you need to preserve good vascularity in the tissue and at the same time reduce as much as possible to obtain good results

How do you keep yourself up to date with technology and industry advancements?
I search and look for as much scientific research about new technology as possible, and I do an evaluation if this is really worthwhile or not.

How do you as a physician ensure the safety of patients traveling from overseas to have surgery?
With a fully specialized team with years of experience treating patients and providing ethics and prudence in each of the procedures. In addition to placing risk insurance on each patient, to ensure greater safety.

What would you like to tell prospective patients about yourself that they may not know?
It’s important to understand that I will always seek to perform surgeries in the most suitable way, seeking to meet the goals that we set ourselves together, within what is humanly possible, to obtain the best results.