Meet Dr. Fardo, Engineer Turned Surgeon

Our very own Dr. Dean Fardo is well known in Atlanta for his wonderful bedside manner and fantastic surgical results. But were you aware that he was once an engineer or that he considered pediatrics in medical school? We sat down with Dr. Fardo to chat about everything from why he loves plastic surgery to where he spends his free time. Read on to get to know him a little better!

What drew you to the field of medicine?

I think what first drew me to the field was the challenge of medicine in general. It’s such a diverse, challenging field, and there are so many different things you can do. Obviously, the ability to help others and do something you like to do while you’re doing it made it all the more appealing.

What inspired you to pursue the plastic surgery path?

Initially I wanted to be a pediatrician. But then I was exposed to plastic surgery when I was in medical school and knew it was what I wanted to do. To be able to combine both the precision and skill of surgery with an artistic, creative touch was very appealing. With many surgical specialties, you fix a problem or remove a gallbladder; there isn’t much freedom in how you do it. In plastic surgery, however, I don’t think any two plastic surgeons do everything the same way every time.

You may not know this, but I was an engineer before I became a surgeon. I enjoyed it, so I’d probably be doing something in the construction engineering field if I weren’t a plastic surgeon. But I can’t really imagine doing anything else. I love my work—and I love being able to help patients achieve their goals and making them happy. The gratitude of patients is pretty amazing.

Can you tell us about a patient experience that touched you?

I still remember one of my most grateful patients from early in my career; it was a woman who had lost around 300 hundred pounds. Patients who lose a significant amount of weight are still left with a lot of debilitating excess skin that not only makes them feel self-conscious, but can also cause discomfort, rashes, and difficulty moving. It took us multiple surgeries and around a year and a half to do everything, but after several procedures, she was very happy with her results. I think she is probably, to this day, still the most grateful, happiest patient I’ve had. It changed her life completely.

Are there any new or upcoming technologies or treatments that you’re excited about?

Minimally invasive and non-surgical devices, particularly those for fat reduction of skin tightening, are becoming increasingly popular because they offer limited downtime and quick results. I think this type of technology is really going to change our specialty over the next few years.

When you’re not at work, where are you most likely to be found?

With my kids at their sporting events. Whether it’s chauffeuring them around or watching them play their sports and activities, I spend most of my non-working time with them.

What do you love about Atlanta?

There are many things I love about Atlanta. It’s a great food town with so many great restaurants. It’s a big city, but it has a small town feel—and there are a huge number of things you can do. You’re close to the mountains but still just a short drive from beaches and lakes. The town is incredibly diverse, which I love.

I also enjoy the weather because we get a change of seasons. Fall is my favorite season. We’re about as south as you can get, I think, and still get a nice color change.