Johannesburg: Gauteng born and based plastic and reconstructive surgeon Doctor Nombulelo Metuse has taken the saying “beauty is only skin deep” literally as she seeks to empower all those who seek her services.
Metuse, the first black female plastic and reconstructive surgeon to qualify from the University of Pretoria (UP), has for years worked hard to improve her highly advanced surgical skills, with the ultimate goal of “uplifting women and wanting them to feel like the best version of themselves”.
And while the beauty industry has been criticised for its vain and superficial aspects, Metuse believes that enhancing an outward appearance can directly improve inner insecurities
“My passion for cosmetic surgeries is born out of love for beauty and image,” the acclaimed local plastic surgeon told the ‘Saturday Star’ this week.
“People will receive you based on your outward look and image, which is just an extension of your inner self.”
Metuse added that the primary goal of plastic surgery was to mimic normal function and look for tissue and skin as closely as possible.
“Cosmetic surgery to attain what patients believe to be a more desirable look has been proven to have a positive impact on mental health, and when done correctly after patients have made informed decisions, can be an effective tool for improving self-esteem and confidence.”
Metuse, whose formative surgical years began serving in the public sector operating and teaching both under and postgraduates, now runs her own Sandton private practice, which she operates with a multidisciplinary team.
Her offices, housed in the @Sandton Lifestyle Hotel Medical & Surgical Suites in Benmore Gardens, offer a variety of services.
These include abdominoplasty (tummy tucks), acute and chronic injuries, blepharoplasty (surgery that removes excess skin from the eyelids), breast augmentation, lifts, reconstruction, reconstructive surgery and reduction.
She also does brow lifts, cleft lip and palate surgery, cyst removals, eyelid surgery, facelifts, facial aesthetic surgery, keloids and liposuction.
Her surgical rooms also offer “The Mommy Makeover”, nasal reconstruction, otoplasty (cosmetic ear surgery), scar revision surgery, tummy tuck and tumour removals.
Metuse explained that while around 70% of her clientele are women, 23% of them are also men and 8% children.
“Male patients' stats were much lower when I started but there’s a significant rise in numbers for males who do plastic surgery,” she said.
Metuse also believes that the growing worldwide take-up of plastic surgery has reduced the stigma about going under the knife for appearance enhancement purposes.
This has resulted in 80% of Metuse’s surgical procedures at her practice being of a cosmetic nature.
“The most popular procedures are body contouring and breast procedures for both genders, such as liposuction, tummy tucks, breast augmentation and lifts, breast reduction, brachioplasty (surgery that reshapes the back part of your upper arm), butt and thigh lifts and gynaecomastia (a common condition that causes boys' and men's breasts to swell and become larger than normal) surgery.”
Much of the desire for these kinds of surgeries, Metuse explained, arises from childbirth.
“Most women, after giving birth experience weight fluctuations, with some saying that exercising and dieting is not enough to achieve the desired outcomes.”
For this reason, Metuse also offers the ‘Mommy Makeover’ surgical option, something she has a particular affinity with as she wants to help those who are feeling a little less than their pre-baby selves.
“The term ‘Mommy Makeover’ is used to describe a set of surgical procedures which are carried out concurrently, intended to enhance the appearance of the body parts most significantly impacted by childbearing,” she explained.
“Each ‘Mommy Makeover’ patient would obviously be specifically tailored to their needs, and may include a breast lift, reduction or augmentation; perhaps a tummy tuck, liposuction or thigh/arms lift.
“All these procedures are available to correct body changes due to pregnancy weight gain.”
Another popular procedure at the “Dr Nombulelo Metuse: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon” private practice is breast surgery.
“In South Africa, breast reduction among black women and breast augmentation among caucasian women while in European countries is breast lift or augmentation,” Metuse said. “Diversity of the population as well as age will determine the popularity of cosmetic procedures,” she said.
And while the prices affiliated with plastic surgery, particularly those of a cosmetic nature, are regarded as notoriously expensive, Metuse explained that will vary for each patient and the procedures they desire.
“In terms of pricing, it really varies from patient to patient. There is no blanket fixed fee. For example, under tummy tuck we have more than five different techniques one can choose from depending on what you find during examination,” Metuse said.
“We also often add liposuction as an adjunct and volumes to be aspirated also vary, and the other factor to consider is that the cost includes hospital theatre and admission fees, anaesthesiologist, assistant and the surgeon.”
Metuse is proud of the work her practice has done over the years and says much of her success is down to meticulous planning.
“Our hallmark is drawing on vast experiences to provide patients with realistic and honest information, and ensuring they are making informed choices, which in turn leads to superior results.”