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727-942-7000 | 813-792-4520

How is Dr Cappiello Unique?

Let me outline my journey. I graduated from Hunter College in the Bronx in New York City with degree in chemistry. I then graduated from medical school and did my residency at the University of Rome Medical School in 1976. When I returned to the United States, I did internship and residency at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in New York City, which is affiliated with Cornell University. This was at a time when residents were asked to work 120 hours per week, 72 hours on and 16 hours off. Needless to say the training was excellent. At that time, all OB-GYN residents had to rotate over a year in a general surgery rotation in order to be able to handle all of the possible surgical complications in the abdomen.

Although, by today's standards that requires only 60 hours of residency training per week, it appears that my residency was a grueling ordeal. It was difficult, but it was also the best training a surgeon could ask for. It prepared me for my life as a surgeon. All of my ability, manual dexterity and mastery of surgery came from that training. My medical and surgical training occurred over these 5 years of internship and residency and continued and evolved over my career.

The training was intense at a time when there were no sub specialties and the gynecologist was trained to perform all procedures which included oncology, infertility and urology on the female patient. I was even trained to do mastectomies, breast biopsies, breast reconstruction including implants, abdominal lipectomy and abdominoplasty. I also worked as an Emergency Room Physician for well over 3,000 hours which allowed me to be board certified in Emergency Medicine. Training intensively in all of these areas positioned me to be qualified for what I do today.

I have been an OB/GYN physician for over 30 years. During this time I have been privileged to care for women throughout all phases of their life journey. I care for women in their teenage years, the childbearing years, adulthood and also for women in and beyond menopause. Throughout all of these stages their body changes depending on her lifestyle, childbearing, stress, and most importantly genetics. I have performed even the most complex of gynecological surgeries, including cancer surgery, over my many years in our community. Along with these gynecological procedures, I have done my share of the abdominoplasties, mini tummy tucks, breast biopsies and liposuction.

Although Board Certification is not a guarantee of competency, it does mean that the surgeon has passed rigorous written and oral exams to achieve this level of certification. I have been a board certified OB-GYN since 1990. My practice is now limited to Reconstructive and Cosmetic Gynecology and Cosmetic Surgery for women. My practice is 100% devoted to minimal invasive surgery, reconstructive pelvic surgery and to general cosmetic surgery. I personally perform 100% of the surgery on my patients. Unfortunately, many patients never see their surgeon much until the day of the operation. Some offices have nurses and staff that do most of the evaluation and pre-surgical work. It is important to have the doctor involved from the very first appointment. Failure to be able to see or easily speak to the surgeon, is a warning sign that you may be treated more like a number than a specialized patient. I give my cell phone number to all cosmetic surgery patients because I feel that it is important to be available.

I am the only doctor in the area qualified to perform the cutting edge procedure called Autologous Fat Transfer. This is the process of retrieving fat from one area of your own body and transferring it to another; most commonly to the breasts as a more natural alternative to breast implants. In other words, fat is removed from where you don’t want it and placed where you do want it. Of course breast augmentation can also be performed with saline or silicone implants. I also perform Liposuction and lipo-abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck). Liposuction of the chin, face neck, arms, thighs, back or abdomen are also safely and easily performed using the traditional or Smart Lipotherm laser. I provide a vast assortment of other invasive, minimally invasive and non invasive procedures such as thermage and lipotherme for excellent cellulite treatments.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery states that the only specialties qualified to perform cosmetic surgery are Gynecology, General Surgery, ENT, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Ophthalmology, Surgical Dermatology and Plastic Surgery. Only these specialties rotate surgery “call” in the Emergency rooms at most teaching hospitals and large medical centers. All these surgical practitioners may also perform cosmetic surgery.
Fact: 80% of cosmetic surgery is performed by non plastic surgeons*

Some doctors call their office a “surgery center”, while merely performing operations in a regular doctor’s office room without specialized equipment. I am proud of my office and surgery center which is one of the few in the city to achieve the prestigious approval of the State of Florida. This rigorous process is the “gold standard” for outpatient office surgical center accreditation.

In summary, cosmetic surgery is not as invasive as most people think. Technology is our friend and in good hands, technology can provide us with an improved, relaxed and softer look so as to make us happy in our skin. The effects of aging, genetics or childbearing can be improved.

*Source: Sacramento Bee from USA Today, January 18, 2000