Most people think cosmetic surgery is about chasing youth or fixing flaws. But according to top plastic surgeon Dr. Sheila Barbino, that’s missing the point. In her words, it’s not just about changing a face — it’s about understanding the person behind it. Whether it’s a man recovering from the loss of his wife or a younger patient struggling to feel seen, the goal is never perfection. It’s to help people feel like themselves again.

Dr. Barbino pulls back the curtain on what really makes a great surgeon — not just technical skill, but the ability to listen closely and ask the right questions. She shares the mistakes that taught her the most, the pressure to adopt new devices that don’t always deliver, and why she refuses to perform a procedure just because someone asks for it. From facelifts to threads to exosomes, everything she does is grounded in one idea: this work isn’t about vanity — it’s about helping people reclaim who they are.