A Legacy of Surgical Excellence: 45 Years in Waterloo

Part 1: Choosing a surgeon

This new blog series celebrates a special milestone for us at The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic; our heritage building has been home to beautiful surgical outcomes for over four decades! Last November also marked 15 years of Dr. Shenker’s surgical work, caring for patients and offering surgical solutions that change lives. 

Albert Einstein famously said “Experience is knowledge. Everything else is information.” When our surgeons Dr. Shenker and Dr. Ma started their journey as surgeons, they came equipped with information and expertise. But an essential part of what makes them great surgeons is the experience they have, and the lives they’ve changed along the way – in the operating room, with patients and on clinical teams. So we wanted to talk about why experience and legacy matters to us in plastic surgery, and why we think it should matter to you.

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, congratulations! 

You’re about to embark on a new journey that offers a real chance to make a change you’ve been dreaming about. The cosmetic surgery market is densely populated, and choosing the right surgeon is imperative. Let’s explore how decades of caring for patients informs the care we proudly offer.

Beyond the hype: surgical expertise makes all the difference

The social media landscape has changed how many people think about cosmetic surgery and gather information; with one-click access to before and after galleries, live Q+A’s with surgeons, and easy contact with the admin team at any clinic. All of these can be useful. But beyond the ways in which social media is useful for plastic surgery clinics, it can also be hard to see beyond hype, trends and follower counts to find a surgeon or a clinic you can truly trust. A surgeon with a million TikTok followers might not have a refined surgical technique, offer qualified care, or have unretouched examples of real patient results. Some have also purchased their “followers” instead of earning a loyal following through exemplary work.

Innovating and staying relevant matters, and this is essential to how our surgeons and clinical team constantly update their skills – staying on top of the latest technology and innovation. But choosing a surgeon without a track record and surgical experience comes at a huge risk.

That’s why we’re here to emphasize; legacy and experience will always matter.

What’s The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic story? Here’s where the clinic’s legacy first began

Dr Peter Wyshynski, a beloved and widely respected plastic surgeon in the Kitchener Waterloo community, founded the Cosmetic Surgery Clinic at 50 Albert Street in the mid-1980s after purchasing the property from the Seagram family. After treating the community for many years, Dr Shenker was selected by Dr Wyshyhnski to continue the well-established legacy at the Cosmetic Surgery Clinic. The Wyshynski-Shenker team worked together during the transition period to make sure that the highest standards of care, quality and safety established by Dr Wyshynski remained in place and were enhanced by Dr Shenker and his new team. That legacy of patient care, outstanding safety and outstanding surgical results continues to this day.

How do I pick a plastic surgeon? 

When you’re considering and investing in cosmetic surgery, you’re investing in your future self. You’re making a decision that impacts the rest of your life, and your comfort and safety are as essential as the beauty of your results. 

When you first hear about a surgeon, start with the basics: look through their CV online, review their work history, take a look at their galleries of real results, and prepare for a consultation with some questions you’ve thought through, to make sure you’re in the right place. These steps will help ensure that you’re in the right hands.

Questions to ask a potential plastic surgeon:

• How do you make sure my surgery is safe and that I am cared for throughout the process? A plastic surgeon or administrator should be able to outline how the team works to ensure your health and safety.
• Where are your surgeries done? We’re proud to offer a surgical facility in the same heritage building in Waterloo where our consultations take place. But many surgeons outsource a space for surgeries, which could be far from the clinic your consult took place. Ask to see photos or for information about where the surgery and aftercare will take place.
• How many times have you done this surgery? Can you tell me about your experience or share photo examples of successful surgeries? Successful surgeons will be eager to share results and offer examples.
• What can I expect for aftercare? Do you offer support following surgery? A quality clinic offers resources for aftercare, check-ins, and follow-ups to make sure healing and recovery are going well.
• Can you describe the technique you use for my surgery, and why you choose to use this technique? The kind of incisions and technique for each surgery should be explained to you before surgery so you know what to expect.
• Are my expectations realistic? A great surgeon should help identify whether your goals for your surgery make sense based on your body type, unique beauty, and proportions. They won’t just tell you what you want to hear, but will make sure that what you’re dreaming about will look great and heal well.

Notice how your surgeon answers your questions. If they’re not confident and sure of the procedure, or make you feel like your questions are silly, you might not be in the right place. The right surgeon for one patient may not be the right surgeon for everyone. A baseline of skill, expertise, and wealth of experience are important, but the bedside manner or the way a surgeon talks to you matters too. If you’re comfortable with a surgeon during your consultation and with the team that you meet during your consultation, it’s a good sign that you’ll be comfortable during your surgical experience as well.

How does the experience of TCSC surgeons inform the cosmetic surgeries we do here in Waterloo?

Dr. Robert Shenker

Dr. Shenker’s impressive medical education and advanced surgical training were the cornerstone of establishing a successful plastic surgery practice. Originally from Montreal, he completed his undergraduate science degree at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He earned his medical degree from the University of Toronto, where he also completed his plastic surgery residency. Other educational and training highlights include:

• Completing the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons’ Surgical Scientist Program
• Master’s Degree in surgical wound healing
• Fellowship training in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery at University of British Columbia
• Dr. Shenker currently serves as an adjunct professor at McMaster University and former Chief of Surgery and Vice President of medical affairs at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.If you look through these experiences and a more broad history in his online CV, you get a sense of how different experiences build into the legacy of a surgeon. The lessons learned from a Master’s Degree in surgical wound healing inevitably affects the way he performs each surgical technique; from the information he’s able to give patients to the way his incisions prioritize healing and healthy recovery to minimize scarring. Beyond this hands-on education and background of experience, you can also find reviews from hundreds of happy patients, and galleries of real results that speak for themselves.

Take a look at Dr. Shenker’s surgical honours and awards:

Honourable Mention — Gallie-Bateman Resident Research Award, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
Outstanding Resident Teaching — St. Michael’s Hospital
Best Basic Science Paper — University of Toronto Division of Plastic Surgery Resident Research Day
Best Basic Science Paper — Hospital for Sick Children Department of Surgery Research Competition
Best Basic Science Paper (Resident category) — Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting
Research Fellowship — Hospital for Sick Children
Medical Society Award — University of Toronto
Lange Medical Book Award — University of Toronto
Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award — Outstanding voluntary service, University of Toronto
Mary L. Cassidy Award — Outstanding contribution to extra-curricular activities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Harry Whittaker Award — Providing practical, sensitive and friendly guidance for classmates and demonstrating concern for student welfare (voted by the class of University of Toronto)
Dr. James McSherry Award — Outstanding dedication to the Queen’s University First Aid Unit

Some of Dr. Shenker’s Professional Activities:

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPSC)

Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS)

Canadian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (CSAPS)

Senior Resident Representative to University of Toronto Plastic Surgery Residency Committee

Student Member, American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

Resident Representative to University of Toronto Plastic Surgery Residency Committee

Member, Faculty of Medicine Accreditation Sub-Committee Examining Student Services and Programs

Admissions Committee, University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine

Class President, Medical Class of ’97 (re-elected)

Class President, Medical Class of ’97

For more details about Dr. Shenker’s impressive credentials, view his CV.

Dr. Stephanie Ma

Dr. Stephanie Ma has been with The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic for 10 wonderful years. She is an integral part of our collaborative team of RCPSC-certified plastic surgeons, and is popular with Kitchener-Waterloo patients for her own legacy of quality care and beautiful results. Each patient benefits from Dr. Ma’s advanced surgical training and compassionate care on a daily basis. As a female plastic surgeon, Dr. Ma provides a unique perspective for patients and brings her lived experience to women undergoing surgeries like breast augmentation or mommy makeovers.

Dr. Ma also hails from Montreal originally. She received a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy at McGill University before earning her medical degree at McGill as well. She then completed a comprehensive and rigorous 5-year plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at McMaster University in Hamilton.

Following her residency, Dr. Ma further honed her surgical expertise with international fellowships in both Brazil and Spain. Her additional training at the internationally-renowned Ivo Pitanguy Institute in Rio de Janeiro encompassed the breadth of cosmetic surgery as well as complex reconstructive procedures, while the latter fellowship at Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau in Barcelona focused on advanced breast reconstruction and microsurgery techniques.

The varied experiences she’s gathered through her residencies and fellowships in Canada and abroad offer Dr. Ma’s patients a unique skill set, with precision that newer surgeons aren’t equipped with. 

For more details about Dr. Ma’s impressive credentials, view her CV.

Want to learn more about cosmetic surgery in Ontario?

Take a look at Dr. Shenker’s blog to learn more about how we prioritize your health and safety at the clinic, and stay tuned for Part 2 of our clinic legacy series, where we’ll explore the history of our clinic in Waterloo, and how our heritage building and in-house surgical facility offer a unique surgical experience.

Ready to book your surgical consultation?

We’d love to be part of your surgical journey. If you’re considering plastic surgery in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and are researching plastic surgeons, request a consultation online at The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, or call our office at 519-746-1132 to schedule an appointment.

Want to explore specific surgeries? Learn about tummy tucks with this blog and explore surgical facts and tips from our team.