Meet Dr. Harmon

I have the privilege as a physician and surgeon of helping patients "feel good about feeling good." I pride myself as being a well-trained facial plastic surgeon who can provide natural surgical and non-surgical results, safely. However, I often wonder if during my consultation with patients they are thinking: "sure, you know what you are doing, but do you truly understand what goes into making a decision to proceed with facial plastic surgery?" My answer to that question is yes, I do understand. I underwent a rhinoplasty at age 17. It is important to seek not only a fellowship-trained but also a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon if you have aesthetic concerns about your face and/or neck. I Underwent a Functional and Cosmetic Rhinoplasty at Age 17 After an Injury I was injured at age 13 in the most embarrassing way. I was at a friend's house running from their backyard into their basement. I did not realize my friend had closed the glass sliding door to the basement. Another friend had called out from behind me just before I approached the door. My nose met the glass as soon as I turned my head forward. The pain was excruciating. I knew something was wrong immediately. My nose swelled. I had immediate difficulty breathing through it. My nasal bridge was deviated to the right. I iced my nose and, as the pain subsided, largely forgot about it, unconcerned with my appearance. The swelling resolved. The difficulty breathing through my nose did not. And while the nasal bridge was significantly less deviated than it initially appeared, I became more bothered by it as I progressed through high school. By age 17 my nose was bothering me enough – I was having difficulty breathing during difficult workouts and races as a rower – that I decided to consult with a head and neck surgery trained facial plastic surgeon. He recommended a septoplasty and rhinoplasty to correct my deviated septum and nasal bridge and to improve my breathing. I Underwent Surgery with a Facial Plastic Surgeon at an Office-Based Surgery Center I underwent surgery at an office-based surgery center. See this link for more information on our office-based surgery suite. I have only two memories of my experience. My first memory was lying on the operating room table with the anesthesiologist and the surgeon's head nurse at my side. I remember starting to count backwards and almost immediately going to sleep. My second memory was after surgery when I was changing in the bathroom to leave. I suddenly felt lightheaded and fell to the ground, almost hitting my newly operated on nose on the sink counter. My Recovery was Consistent with What I Counsel My Patients Like my patients I had a splint on my nose. Unlike my patients I had packing in my nose, which was extremely uncomfortable. More recent data and guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery do not recommend nasal packing after rhinoplasty. I spent one week largely sitting and sleeping in a recliner, anxiously waiting for the removal of my nasal packing. My head felt like an over-filled balloon, entirely due to the packing. I did take the prescribed pain medication once or twice, felt very nauseous, and discontinued its use. The packing was removed in clinic – along with the sutures – approximately 1 week after surgery. It felt so wonderful to have the packing and sutures out as well as the splint. My nose remained swollen after the cast was removed. I remember the most significant swelling resolved within two to three weeks. However. I noticed continuous improvements in the appearance of my nose for many months after surgery. My nasal breathing improved almost immediately after the packing, sutures, and splint were removed. This improvement continued over approximately the first month while all the interior swelling subsided. The change that took the longest to recover was normal sensation at the tip of my nose and the incision at the base of my nose. I remember a gradual onset of tingling and a slow improvement in sensation over many months. In fact, I believe it took a year before I regained all the normal sensation in my nasal tip and at the incision site. I Empathize with Those Considering a Rhinoplasty and Can Answer Their Questions from Experience I am very happy with the appearance of my nose these decades later. I am very grateful to the facial plastic surgeon who performed this procedure, though he retired and unfortunately passed away a few years ago. The sensation on my nose is normal. I am breathing well. I can feel some of the surgical changes made if I push hard on the skin overlying my nasal bridge, though there is no outward appearance of this due to the soft tissue envelope covering my bones and cartilage. In short, I answer questions about facial plastic surgery not only as a surgeon performing a procedure but also as a patient having undergone a procedure. Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon It is important to seek a fellowship-trained specialist in plastic surgery of the face and neck when you have concerns about your nose. Why Choose Dr. Harmon The mission of Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery is to help people along their journey towards self-confidence, to feel good about feeling good. Dr. Harmon is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Harmon values making patients feel welcomed, listened to, and respected. Dr. Harmon graduated with honors from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology. Dr. Harmon earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Harmon underwent five years of extensive training in head at neck surgery at the prestigious residency program at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Harmon then underwent focused fellowship training in cosmetic facial plastic surgery through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) with the world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Andrew Jacono, on Park Avenue in New York City. Request a Consultation Request a consultation with Dr. Harmon at Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery in Cincinnati. Visit our clinic. You will learn more about Dr. Harmon's credentials, style, and approach. Build a relationship with our dedicated team. Do not stop at searching "plastic surgery near me." Get in touch with us to learn more! Contact Us

Teaching involves not only the transmission of knowledge but also the organization of knowledge into a digestible framework whose construction imparts a way to organize other information. In other words, teaching involves teaching students how to learn as much as what to learn. It is that process of constructing the "framework" that allows me to organize my knowledge into a logical, organized, evidence-based facial plastic surgery clinical practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is important to seek not only a fellowship-trained but also a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon if you have aesthetic concerns about your face and/or neck. My First Experience Teaching Colors Went Poorly My mother still enjoys telling the following story about me as a young boy: I was teaching my younger sister the colors. I became bored after teaching her a few colors, explaining that all the remaining colors are "orange." My mom explains it took months for her to convince my sister that all referred to colors are not, in fact, orange. Fortunately, the damage done to my sister was temporary. She is now a brilliant cardiology pharmacist. I Developed a Love for Teaching as a Teaching Assistant at Cornell University I was a teaching assistant in college at Cornell University in a biology class that was student-directed. Lessons and tests were created by us, the teaching assistants. This experience taught me how to put myself in a student's shoes, to design lessons and exams that not only communicate information but also teach students how to analyze and solve problems more generally. This is partly because all the exams were oral rather than written, forcing not only my students but me to actively engage with the material. This experience gave me the confidence and tools to engage in self-directed learning on some of my other interests, including architecture and foreign policy. My Self-Actualization Moment as a Teacher Occurred in Doha, Qatar I later became a biology and chemistry teacher to undergraduate students at Weill Cornell Medical College in Doha, Qatar. It was a job I almost lost. I had applied months prior to my college graduation. I was given a phone interview that went well. However, I heard nothing from the institution all year. I started making plans to return home for a year prior to medical school, unsure what I would do, when I received a phone call from a very unusual number. An individual named Sean Pierson left a voicemail in a very sweet British accent asking whether I would be joining them in Doha in August. I learned they had sent my job offer and follow up emails to the wrong address for months. I applied what I learned as a teaching assistant to this job, which I held between undergraduate and medical school at the University of Cincinnati. Moreover, I applied what I learned to an entirely new social and cultural context, adapting to these differences. For example, Ramadan occurred at the height of the summer when temperatures were routinely greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Most students fasted during the day. And because the school ran on an American schedule, classes were held during normal daylight hours. It was obvious the students were retaining very little during these days. I adjusted lessons to account for this and, frankly, expected less from them during this time. They more than made up for this time over the course of the year. My students demonstrated themselves to be very thoughtful and intelligent like the students I taught in college. This experience taught me to meet people where they are, because it may be very different than where I am. Another example was in helping students write essays in English who are primarily Arabic-speaking. I learned competent writing in Arabic tends to be very long and descriptive as opposed to focused and efficient as in American English. Despite this, it was remarkable how quickly and easily my students adapted to this difference in focus. I also learned about the beauty of the Arabic language from them. My students helped me understand how deeply language guides and organizes our perception of the world. It was another lesson in empathy. My experience in Doha was a self-actualizing time for me. I knew that whatever the specialty I choose, teaching would be a part of my career. I Have Applied What I Have Learned About Learning to Teaching Residents A huge amount of time in residency involves teaching the younger residents and medical students. I made it a point not only to teach the younger residents but also to help them develop a framework for acquiring and applying medical knowledge, because it was important to me not only that the team I was leading as a chief resident would be clinically competent but also that I would help develop younger doctors going out in the world who will be taking care of patients. That is why I still teach the residents at the University of Cincinnati today, years later. The Opportunity to Teach Facial Plastic Surgery is a Gift The opportunities I have had to teach have not only allowed me to remain up to date on the medical literature but has also affected how I consult with patients. I respect their intelligence and desire to be well-educated on how to best address their aesthetic concerns. I believe it is reflected in our consultation. It is important to meet patients where they are. It is in placing myself in the shoes of patients that I truly understand how to alleviate their concerns and answer their questions. Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon It is important to seek a fellowship-trained specialist in plastic surgery of the face and neck when you have concerns about your face or neck. Why Choose Dr. Harmon The mission of Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery is to help people along their journey towards self-confidence, to feel good about feeling good. Dr. Harmon is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Harmon values making patients feel welcomed, listened to, and respected. Dr. Harmon graduated with honors from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology. Dr. Harmon earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Harmon underwent five years of extensive training in head at neck surgery at the prestigious residency program at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Harmon then underwent focused fellowship training in cosmetic facial plastic surgery through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) with the world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Andrew Jacono, on Park Avenue in New York City. Request a Consultation Request a consultation with Dr. Harmon at Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery in Cincinnati. Visit our clinic. You will learn more about Dr. Harmon's credentials, style, and approach. Build a relationship with our dedicated team. Do not stop at searching "plastic surgery near me." Get in touch with us to learn more! Contact Us

My wife, Fara, and I are building a facial plastic surgery practice in Cincinnati, Ohio that our children will be proud of as they grow and mature. Our children are the most profound, beautiful gift we have ever been given. And whether our son and daughter choose to enter the field of medicine, Fara and I hope that our example will lead them to a life focused on the care of others. Their existence is the embodiment of our practice's values. We at Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery care for our patients as we care for our children. It is important to seek not only a fellowship-trained but also a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon if you have aesthetic concerns about your face and/or neck. We Handed Over the Care of Our Son for Surgery Our son had long had difficulty breathing through his nose at night. This difficulty worsened significantly when he had an upper respiratory tract infection. I had seen these symptoms countless times as a head and neck surgeon. I knew his adenoids – tonsils located in the back of the nose – were enlarged. Enlarged adenoids can cause nasal obstruction that worsens when children are sick as they swell. X-rays confirmed my suspicion. Fortunately, I trained at Cincinnati Children's Hospital (CCHMC) and, as a result, know the staff well. One of my close friends and former co-residents is a pediatric head and neck surgeon at CCHMC and would be doing the surgery. Our son refers to him as "Doctor Doug." He is a wonderful person and a wonderful surgeon. Our son could not have been in better hands. I have witnessed children falling asleep in the induction room hundreds of times as a resident. The induction room is adjacent to the operating room. It allows parents to be present until their child is asleep in some but not all cases. Similarly, I have performed an adenoidectomy hundreds of times. And while this experience prepared me for how to behave after our son fell asleep – hand him over to the care of the anesthesiologist quickly so a breathing tube can be placed – I was not prepared for how I would feel when I left the induction room. I was also not prepared for how I would feel witnessing the fear in my wife's eyes upon leaving the induction room. We had truly given up control over the health and safety of our child for the first time since his birth. I was not worried about our son receiving anesthesia medications, nor was I worried about the surgery, which is extremely low risk. My only concern was whether there would be surprise difficulty placing a breathing tube. This concern dates to my years responding to airway emergencies at CCHMC and the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where I was the airway specialist expected to place a breathing tube when the anesthesiologists were unable to. It is very difficult to give that responsibility up because I know my capabilities in this regard. It was especially difficult when it was our son. It is in giving up control over the medical outcome of our own child to another provider that I understood how it feels for loved ones of patients to give that up to me as a facial plastic surgeon. The anesthesiologist had no difficulties placing a breathing tube. Surgery lasted minutes. Our son recovered comfortably at home. He is now breathing through his nose well. Surgery was the best decision we could have made for him. I Understand How Significant the Decision to Undergo Surgery is The essential core of any successful aesthetic facial plastic surgery practice is excellence in patient care. I care for my patients as my family. However, I did not truly understand what that meant until I had children and then entrusted the care of one my children to another surgeon. I understand not only how patients themselves feel when they submit their care to me but also how it feels as a loved one handing that care over. I always practice with that in mind. Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon It is important to seek a fellowship-trained specialist in plastic surgery of the face and neck when you have concerns about your face or neck. Why Choose Dr. Harmon The mission of Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery is to help people along their journey towards self-confidence, to feel good about feeling good. Dr. Harmon is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Dr. Harmon values making patients feel welcomed, listened to, and respected. Dr. Harmon graduated with honors from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology. Dr. Harmon earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Harmon underwent five years of extensive training in head at neck surgery at the prestigious residency program at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Harmon then underwent focused fellowship training in cosmetic facial plastic surgery through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) with the world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Andrew Jacono, on Park Avenue in New York City. Request a Consultation Request a consultation with Dr. Harmon at Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery in Cincinnati. Visit our clinic. You will learn more about Dr. Harmon's credentials, style, and approach. Build a relationship with our dedicated team. Do not stop at searching "plastic surgery near me." Get in touch with us to learn more! Contact Us