Dr. Cat Begovic is a world-renowned plastic surgeon. She is also a top medical influencer with a large loyal 1.2 million followers of women who are enthralled with watching Dr. Cat Begovic’s live surgeries and meticulous technique that leaves minimal bruising, and nearly invisible scars, and allows for a short recovery time.
She is well versed in all areas of plastic surgery but is known for her signature “natural looking tummy tuck” and being a pioneer in vaginal cosmetic surgery and rejuvenation. She is a three-time winner of the Best of Beverly Hills Award in the cosmetic surgeon’s category.
Dr. Cat has been featured in “The Doctor’s” TV show, “Entertainment Tonight”, Fox News, CBS, “Spike TV”, Fitness RX, Ironman Magazine, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed News, and many others.
She is also a skincare and beauty expert, having performed scientific research on anti-aging and skincare, and is the founder and CEO of her revolutionary skincare line MD GLAM.
Women Fitness President, Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with the renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Cat Begovic to learn more about her journey & expert input on breast implants.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
You are a double-board certified plastic surgeon and one of the few female plastic surgeons in the US. With an incomparable academic excellence record, including a perfect SAT score, to being a Presidential Scholar and recognized science winner invited to the White House twice to meet the President to attend and graduate from Harvard with honors you majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology. Share insight into the early years of your career and the series of events that lead you to choose this line of specialization.
Dr. Cat Begovic
I always knew I wanted to be a surgeon. Even as a child, one of my favorite games was Operation and I loved watching surgery videos on the Discovery channel. I have always loved challenges, precise work that requires intense concentration and meticulous attention to detail, and caring for people. I believe that it’s a calling. Plastic surgery is my destiny. With my first exposure to surgery when volunteering at the local hospital in high school and stepping into the OR, I knew I couldn’t do anything else in life.
My passion for plastic surgery has grown parallel with my skill and experience. Each time I make the first cut, I remember that plastic surgery is a part of the process of someone’s healing and just a small part of their journey to a better self that they have envisioned. If I got to do this all over again I would still choose to become a plastic surgeon.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
You hold a keen interest in Plastic Surgery for women’s transformation through procedures. Also are known for your signature “natural-looking tummy tuck” and are a pioneer in vaginal cosmetic surgery and rejuvenation. Share key essential aspects for a woman before opting for any cosmetic surgery like a tummy tuck.
Dr. Cat Begovic
In order to produce perfect aesthetic plastic surgery results, there is a significant amount of artistry and technique involved. Here are a few tips that can help you navigate your journey when seeking the best plastic surgeon to perform your procedure.
My recommendations for having safe plastic surgery are:
- Do your own research and make sure they are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Be honest with your surgeon about past medical history and do not hide any information
- Have clear communication with your surgeon so you are on the same page
- Look carefully at the before and after photos and look for signs of photoshop or poor technique
- Less is more. Don’t do too much at once! It can increase your chances of complications and poor aesthetic results.
- Have realistic expectations! Take the time to understand what is realistically possible on your own body instead of comparing it with others.
Always remember, you only have one body! Your plastic surgery results should never be compromised for any inconvenience such as location, price, etc.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
How do you like to kick-start your day? What will your daily fitness routine be like?
Dr. Cat Begovic
I like to keep it fairly simple regarding my workout routine. I do what I can when I can. On days when my surgeries start early, I have to get up at 5 AM, I will do 15 min of stairs in my house, followed by 15 min of yoga, stretching, and meditation.
On days when I have more time, I like to mix it up with weightlifting and jogging. I try to workouts my entire body at least twice a week. I’m a woman of action and I’ve realized that any workout is better than no workout at all.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
What kind of diet do you follow? 5 foods you encourage women to consume & to keep to a minimum.
Dr. Cat Begovic
Whole foods all day long. My only rule when it comes to diet is to stay away from processed food and to not eat too much after 7 PM. Other than that I try to eat balanced; 40% protein, 40% carbs, and 20% fat. I also love salad, I could literally have salad all the time. I love everything about salad.
5 must-eat foods:
- Avocado
- Berries
- Salmon
- Oats
- Eggs.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Share your daily skin and hair care routine. Anti-aging skin care tips for women in their ’40s?
Dr. Cat Begovic
For my daily skincare routine, I only use MD GLAM which I created to be the absolute best skincare in the world. I always use my favorite product which is the Ultimate Anti-Aging Super Kit, which has everything you need for daily skincare maintenance, especially if you’re a woman like me in your 40s. It consists of a Day Moisturizer, Foaming Cleanser, Exfoliating Scrub, and a Night Cream.
For my morning routine, I use the Deep Pore Foaming Cleanser which is one of my favorite products because it’s so refreshing and light and I feel like when I’m cleansing with it, I’m washing off the day and pampering myself. Next, I use the DMAE Antioxidant Day Moisturizer and it just instantly melts in your skin. I love that it smells so delicious and is full of antioxidants and protects against environmental toxins. For my nighttime routine, after cleansing, I go in with the Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub which smells so yummy, and I just can feel the fine particles removing all of the oil and dirt from the day from my face without irritating or stripping my skin of its natural moisture. Lastly, I use the Hyaluronic Acid Night C-Complex, which has everything you need in a night moisturizer. It’s a highly concentrated magical potion in a jar that restores and replenishes your skin while you sleep. I always wake up feeling so youthful and rejuvenated.
My anti-aging skin care tip for women in their ’40s is to start now! It’s never too late to start a skincare routine. I think it’s important for every woman to do everyday maintenance to delay the aging process and just have really beautiful glowing skin.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Being one of the world’s most successful plastic surgeons can be stressful at times. How do you manage and monitor stress?
Dr. Cat Begovic
We all have moments where we feel like we are stressed and struggling alone. Women especially, often bear a huge amount of responsibility but hold the struggle in, not wanting to pass stress onto their significant other, not wanting to seem like a complainer to their friends, not wanting to make their parents worry, and not wanting to present an image to the public that is anything other than together and perfect. Even when you feel like no one notices, you are not struggling alone, and everything will be ok.
Personally, I remind myself that I am strong and I am capable. I exchange feelings of worry and stress for determination and confidence. I don’t focus on what I haven’t done; I celebrate everything that I have accomplished (even if it’s just that I got my daughter to school on time before surgery).
My advice to anyone dealing with stress is to pat yourself on your back and tell yourself “Wow, I did that and I’m amazing!” This helps me start off my week with positivity and joy.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
According to you, what are the key factors a woman should keep in mind or ask before opting for a breast implant?
Dr. Cat Begovic
It is important to know that breast implants are not lifetime devices, they must be replaced approximately every 10 years. For silicone implants, the FDA recommends getting imaging every other year to check for a leak. Also, breast implants are also not for everyone. There is a rare lymphoma called BIA-ALCL associated with breast implants. They are predominantly associated with textured implants but this is still under research and investigation. Some women also report symptoms of Breast Implant Illness.
Before deciding on implants, educate yourself about breast implant illness. For more information on BII, please visit my Plastic Surgery Blog on my website and select “Breast Procedures” from the drop-down menu. For the FDA Black Box warning on breast implants please go to fda.gov.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
What’s the right age for women to undergo a breast implant? Any age limit when it can get risky?
Dr. Cat Begovic
When mature enough to understand that plastic surgery should be done for themselves and not for anyone else. Also, when a patient feels they are mature enough to be able to make an important informed decision.
Since implants are not lifetime devices and they require maintenance every ten years, patients should do extensive research when considering breast augmentation surgery to ensure that they are aware of exactly what breast implants entail.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Your advice related to postoperative recovery and exercise routine for best results after Surgery?
Dr. Cat Begovic
Patients on a weight-loss plan should be close to their goal weight before having surgery to have the best possible result. For best long-term results it is advisable that weight is stable after surgery (without a lot of yo-yo-ing up and down).
Surgical technique is really the most important thing when it comes to results and post-op pain. I am extremely gentle during surgery so my patients have a quick recovery with little to no pain. Most of my patients only take Tylenol for any discomfort.
I advise patients to watch surgery videos to familiarize themselves with their surgeon’s techniques, bedside manner, and more before scheduling a consultation. For example, when liposuction is performed aggressively, you can tell by the way the surgeon performs each stroke, and you will typically see bruises on the patient while the surgery is still going on. I gently perform and count each stroke to ensure the result is precise and even and my patient doesn’t feel pain once they are awake. My patients typically only take Tylenol to help them with any discomfort but it is extremely minimal.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
In recent years, there has been an alarming trend of women reporting inexplicable, worrisome symptoms after undergoing breast augmentation surgery.
How can a woman know that she is suffering from Breast Implant Illness? What Symptoms to Look Out For?
Dr. Cat Begovic
I receive countless inquiries regarding breast augmentation surgery, including questions and concerns about the possibility of developing BII. While thankfully, none of my past patients have developed symptoms related to BII, nor have I ever used the recently recalled Allergan breast implants in any of my patients, I am very aware of the growing concern amongst women looking to undergo breast enhancement and those who’ve already gone through the surgical procedure.
I am extremely proactive in disseminating BII awareness on my website and social media platforms. BII is a real illness and it is debilitating for those who develop it and it is something that all women considering implants should be informed about.
Also even with intact implants, you are still exposed to the chemicals in the implants. All patients should be provided with a list of these chemicals. For the FDA Black Box warning on breast implants please go to fda.gov
Ms. Namita Nayyar
You are the co-founder and your husband is the CEO of MD GLAM of your revolutionary skincare line MD GLAM. Please throw some light on the same.
Dr. Cat Begovic
I’ve always had an extreme passion and interest in skincare. So I created MD GLAM to be the best skin care product in the world. Being a Harvard-educated scientist, as well as having done skincare research at UCLA, I there was nothing on the market that had the efficacy or the quality that I was looking for that every woman deserves. So I took all my years of study, knowledge, and experience in scientific research using only the highest quality raw ingredients. And I created MD GLAM, which is a luxurious experience that is incomparable to any other skincare products that exist and I can’t wait for you to try it! I run the company together with my husband. We work well together and it’s fun to have a partner in life and business.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
Being a surgeon, wife, mother, and entrepreneur can be demanding. How do you go about managing your personal and professional life?
Dr. Cat Begovic
A lot of people ask me about balance – how to achieve it and if it is possible. I believe balance comes from within and is only possible when there is harmony between our expectations of ourselves and what we actually can do.
I remember early on in my career, I used to feel like I was so exhausted and being pulled in so many different directions and putting so much time and effort into everything without feeling that sense of balance or satisfaction.
It was only when I realized that I had the power to define what gave me satisfaction based on my values that allowed me to find peace within. That I had the power to be kind to myself and feel fulfillment in what I was able to do instead of guilt for what I couldn’t do. There is no absolute standard for success. After all, isn’t feeling fulfilled and happy the true definition of success?
That is how I was able to give all the things I loved the full attention they deserved by being present while also feeling peace and happiness. Knowing that you are enough just the way you are. That to me is balance.
Ms. Namita Nayyar
You are an inspiring role model for women out there. What would be your piece of advice for women to achieve a healthy body at every age?
Dr. Cat Begovic
- Exercise 4-5 times per week.
- Eat primarily whole foods
- Cut off negativity
- Develop healthy sleep habits
- Go outside for 30 minutes daily
- Practice positive self-talk
- Minimize stress
Ms. Namita Nayyar
What motivational quote do you live by?
Dr. Cat Begovic
“Correct the way you think and the rest of your life will fall into place.” – Dr. Cat
Ms. Namita Nayyar
The most challenging case you ever handled and were proud of the result. a few words about your experience.
Dr. Cat Begovic
Starla, one of my patients on my TV show Dr. 90210, had a 200-pound weight loss and her tummy tuck surgery was honestly the most challenging surgery of my entire career. Her surgery was actually the first one we filmed for the show so the pressure of having cameras on me the whole time with a camera crew being their first time in the OR, working with the largest amount of skin I ever had, plus caring so much about Starla and wanting to make her surgery as perfect as possible – I’ll never forget that day. I would encourage you all to take some time out of your day and read her Patient Success Story on my website to get to know her and her plastic surgery journey.
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