A Cut Above The Rest: Franklin Plastic Surgery – Built On A Foundation of Trust

Trust formed the foundation of not only Dr. Franklin’s efforts to build his own practice but his method of interacting with patients. “For any medical practice, the biggest responsibility is to take great care of people.   Patients must always know  that we are trying to guide them toward decisions that are in their best interest. Successful plastic surgery practices need to be welcoming spaces with welcoming people. Our goal is to create long lasting relationships with our patients.

These long-lasting relationships can only be formed when the doctors have the patients’ best interest in mind. And considering what the patient wants is only possible if patient happiness is included in the measure of success. “Success is the ability to help others on their journey. 

Franklin’s Plastic Surgery carries this unique perspective due to how it was formed. When Dr. Franklin was in medical school, he learned an important lesson that would become the foundation of his professional methodology. “The biggest life lesson for me was an understanding that asking for help wasn’t a sign of weakness; rather, it is important to know your limitations and invest in surrounding yourself with great people.”

The importance of building a team is something Dr. Franklin was always aware of, but only through practice could he become skilled in it. “Early in my career, I had made the assumption that being in a group practice would be the ideal option.  Making the jump to private practice and opening my own was the best decision that I could have made. Don’t get me wrong, it has been a huge amount of work. I didn’t take a vacation for the first year after we opened. Today, I’m happier than I’ve ever been personally and professionally. The biggest obstacle was the one in my head – my misperceptions about the need to be in a group style of medical practice.” 

That misconception wasn’t the only one that Dr. Franklin had to overcome. He also had to learn how to work well with others, not just work with others. “Starting a practice is a huge collaborative effort.  It is not a singular project which can occur in a personal vacuum.  For things to appear cohesive and brand specific, a huge number of skill sets is required.   For instance, the people working on the website and social media may know very little regarding the insurance aspect of plastic surgery.  For me, having ultimate trust in the individuals collaborating on office projects is of paramount importance.” 

These daunting personal struggles have since been overcome, allowing Franklin Plastic Surgery to focus its attention on its patients. “Today, the career choices have come full circle. As a plastic surgeon, my responsibility is to help people restore form and function. Some days, I build new breasts for patients undergoing cancer treatment.  Somedays, I inspect surgery centers for safety and function as an expert witness reviewing medical cases. [Many] other days, I perform aesthetic surgical procedures.”

Unlike the feel of many plastic surgery centers, Franklin Plastic Surgery has made great efforts to be as inclusive as possible. “My goal was to have the office feel like a United Colors of Benetton advertisement – welcoming to every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and age. We will never exclude anyone because they don’t belong to a particular club or organization. I want people to feel equally comfortable in the office regardless of their financial status.”

Trust formed the foundation of not only Dr. Franklin’s efforts to build his own practice but his method of interacting with clients. “I feel very fortunate that patients are loyal to me and trust me. One of my favorite stories comes from a former patient. I had been taking care of her for years – skin care, treatment of stubborn fat, wrinkle reduction, and so forth.   As I was preparing to leave a practice and move, she was my very last patient.  She was also moving away from the Greenville area during that summer. Tearfully, she reported that she had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.  She continued, ‘You’ve been taking care of me for years and I trust you.  How do we treat this breast cancer?’ We sat there and made a plan. I still see her as a patient and love that I’ve been able to establish long term relationships with so many patients over the years. That’s always been the goal.”

That level of trust, enough to reach out in the wake of devastating news, is what Dr Franklin hopes to achieve with everyone who comes to his office for help. “For any medical practice, the biggest responsibility is to take great care of people. Patients must always know that we are trying to guide them toward decisions that are in their best interest… Successful plastic surgery practices need to be welcoming spaces with welcoming people. Our goal is to create long lasting relationships with our patients and clients.”

And this extra effort is what sets Franklin Plastic Surgery apart. You can follow along with Dr. Franklin’ personal journey on Instagram at @franklinplasticsurgery or see how Franklin Plastic Surgery continues to develop and grow here.