How Surgeons Plan Procedures

You might think surgery starts in the operating room… but the truth is, the most important part of surgery happens before the first incision.

Hi, I’m Dr. Ethan Baughman, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Westlake Village.

Every operation begins with careful planning. First, we start with a detailed consultation—understanding the patient’s goals, medical history, and anatomy.

Next comes the analysis. In plastic surgery, we evaluate proportions, symmetry, skin quality, and underlying structures. For procedures like rhinoplasty or breast surgery, millimeters matter.

Then we design the surgical plan. That includes incision placement, implant sizing if needed, the surgical sequence, and how to optimize healing and minimize visible scars.

Often I’ll mark the patient before surgery—these markings act as a roadmap in the operating room.

Because when surgery is carefully planned… the procedure itself becomes precise, controlled, and predictable.

Great surgical results rarely happen by accident—they happen by design.