We are sharing with our readers, an interview with Wilberto Cortes, board-certified plastic surgeon, founder of Dr. Hourglass International Clinic for cosmetic surgery.
Hello Wilberto, can you please tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico where I graduated from medical school and then I went on to Medical College of Wisconsin to acquire specialized training in plastic surgery. Subsequently, I moved to Houston where I started my practice. My practice is a full time and full service cosmetic surgery practice. Through the years, Dr. Hourglass has evolved into a strong global brand, with patients coming from all over the world to acquire an Hourglass shape.
What are the focus areas and why?
Ever since I started my practice, I saw the real need to innovate in the areas of body contouring. Hourglass shape was trending and traditional techniques were not enough. I filled the niche. My practice focused on the cosmetic body procedures, specifically the hourglass shape. At that time, nobody focused on that. I believe in going towards a trail less traveled and to introduce innovations that will improve customer satisfaction and produce optimal outcomes. I was able to develop multiple techniques to achieve the sexy hourglass shape.
How would you describe Dr. Hourglass International Clinic for cosmetic surgery in a few words?
Unique. Pioneering. Innovative. I am the only one and the only surgeon in the world who has consistently developed multiple procedures to recreate the hourglass shape. It is an extremely busy practice, maybe the busiest practice in the United States.
Why do you think you are making an impact?
Every time the patient comes to the clinic, they come with dreams and aspirations of changing their body and come out in better shape than they were before. My practice offers unique procedures that create a huge impact on the overall well being of the patient. By transforming bodies, I transform lives. The desire to look good is always there. The need to feel good will not abate. Much has been written about the importance of appearance and how it has a huge impact on self-image, perception, confidence, mental and emotional health, professional and personal lives. To a large extent, I help in that.
What are some things that most people do not know about your job as a surgeon?
This hourglass figure trend is relatively new. Most patients do not know that we can accomplish the hourglass shape with surgery. Fats remove via liposuction used to be discarded. Nowadays, the fat is actually processed, used and injected in areas where patient needs it most. In this way, you can achieve results that were not possible 20 years ago.
The market is changing. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see my practice growing to the point where I will be known on mainstream as one of the best plastic surgery practice in the whole world. The world of plastic surgery is bursting with new innovations and mine is as revolutionary as they come. Because of the quality of work that we provide and the unique, groundbreaking aspect of my practice, I believe my practice will be recognized as one of the best in the world in the next 5 years. We will continue to provide the best care and the best surgical results possible. We always go from strength to strength and the pursuit for excellence will not abate.
What are some of the biggest challenges you had encountered while working on Dr. Hourglass Clinic of International Cosmetic Surgery?
One of the biggest challenges is to be able to consistently perform at a high level. The expectations of patients are very high these days and it is quite challenging to reset and reorient expectations to what is realistic and achievable and not pie-in-the-sky goals and desires. On top of that, Houston is a huge market and the competition can be cutthroat. The easy part is to get to the top. The hard part is staying there for a long period of time. We address that by applying the KYC (Know Your Customer) principle, by continuing to evolve in our presentation and delivery, by staying visible and reachable to our patients and potential clients, by smart employment and usage of various marketing tools and social media including live broadcast surgeries, Facebook like periscope, 15 seconder clips on Snapchat and Instagram so people can see my work and feel more comfortable with me as a surgeon and the procedure that they want to get.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONWqLhu7bsQ
What can you tell young people who are pursuing their dreams to have the perfect body?
Well, in essence, we have to reset expectations. There is nothing perfect in life. Even surgery is not perfect. I always try to educate young patients on how they perceive themselves. To be happy, one must embrace oneself. Happiness and self-esteem are not dependent on looks alone. Certainly, plastic surgery can enhance self-image and boost confidence, but at the end of the day, surgery is just one small aspect of becoming the best person you can be.
What are you most excited about at the moment?
Well, I am very excited about my practice and how we have been able to penetrate a very strong and competitive market in Houston within a very short time. I have been practicing for 8 years and I perform surgeries every single day from Monday through Friday. What we have accomplished is remarkable given the fact that cosmetic procedures are elective procedures and it is an honor to serve patients that are not just from the Houston Metropolitan area, but also Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, outside Texas and other states and all over the world.
What are your last words and final thoughts?
Well I would like for people to look into our practice, and compare results with other surgeons. My goal as a plastic surgeon is to always provide the best surgical results possible. My reputation and integrity are important to me since that defines both the person and the surgeon in me. I would like to encourage people to educate themselves about the surgical procedures. They can connect to our Hourglass TV on YouTube where there are hundreds of videos talking about the different aspects of cosmetic surgery. To make an informed and wise decision and ensure satisfaction, the most important step one must take before undergoing a cosmetic surgical procedure is patient education. Know as much as you can about the procedure, the surgeon, the facility, the risks and possible complications, the options and possible outcomes. It means conducting due diligence.
Assuredly, if they want to have an hourglass shape, my practice is the best option out there and we will do everything we can to satisfy and meet the expectations of our patients.
