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CNN Live Today

Interview With Garth Fisher

Aired October 02, 2003 - 10:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, when you look in the mirror do you wish you could see someone who is better looking? That is premise behind the ABC reality show "Extreme Makeover," turning ordinary people from drab to fab.
Dr. Garth Fisher is a well-known plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. He is part of the medical team of "Extreme Makeover." And he's joining us this morning from Los Angeles to talk about the show's new season. Doctor, good morning, thanks for being with us.

DR. GARTH FISHER, PLASTIC SURGEON, ABC'S "EXTREME MAKEOVER": Good morning, thank you.

KAGAN: I would think if someone comes to you as a reputable plastic surgeon and says, We want you to be part of a show called "Extreme Makeover" -- anything with extreme, you might go, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't want to really do that. Any red flags about that?

FISHER: Well initially when the story was brought to me I really didn't think it was a good idea. The producer was so great and told me I was going to be a very sensitive show and broadened awareness for plastic surgery and really represent our profession in a very good way. I felt comfortable and confident he would. It turned out to be a really fabulous show. Everybody loves watching it.

KAGAN: America certainly has responded to watching the big changes that happen to the people. The season premier featured two identical twins, or they were identical at one point. And needed a lot of work to -- both wanted a lot of work.

And if we look at the list of some of the things that these women had done. I mean it kind of just goes on and on. A tummy tuck. Let's see one twin had a nose job, a chin implant, a lower eye lift, a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, liposuction on the thighs, extensive dental work of porcelain veneers, lip surgery, gum recontouring and two root canals.

The other one didn't have as much. She had a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, dental work -- teeth whitening and also gum recontouring and orthodontics.

Is this realistic to have this many procedures done at one time?

FISHER: There are patients that come in and want a lot of different areas covered. Multiple procedures are done quite often in plastic surgery. I think the doctor has to really decide what is medically appropriate and safe. So it's common to do multiple procedures.

Of course, there's this whole backdrop of so many different specialties from wardrobe and makeup and dental to, you know, training. And it's just incredible the amount of energy and time put into these patients. They really enjoy that.

KAGAN: And the fun part of your job, I would imagine, is you get to help people feel better about themselves. I would also imagine you want people to be realistic. It's going to improve, perhaps, their the self-esteem but it is not going to change their whole life. So what's the message you would like people to get about plastic surgery by being part of this show?

FISHER: Plastic surgery is not for everybody. I think it's extremely important that patients have realistic expectations. It's the doctor's responsibilities to be very honest with those patients.

"Extreme Makeovers" is a Cinderella story. It's just amazing how great, you know, the show is. And sometimes maybe people think that's what they are going to get out of plastic surgery, which, you know, if you go to a plastic surgeon's office you may not have the entire medical team that they are going to have on the TV show. That's what makes it really unique and exciting.

KAGAN: Is there one particular case coming up this season that you're especially excited about?

FISHER: You know, I don't have access saw all the patients the other doctors, other great doctors are taking care of. But you know, I've got a couple that are coming up that are going to be really fabulous. One man who lost 200 pounds in one year through diet and exercise has a lot of extra skin, you know. Of course having the other specialties taking care of him.

Also, another lady who we just got through with who is deaf and she's a motivational speaker. I think she is going to do really well. There's a lot of great stories that you have to tune into.

KAGAN: Lots of people are tuning in, indeed. Dr. Garth Fisher, thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule from television and resculpting America. We appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired October 2, 2003 - 10:50   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, when you look in the mirror do you wish you could see someone who is better looking? That is premise behind the ABC reality show "Extreme Makeover," turning ordinary people from drab to fab.
Dr. Garth Fisher is a well-known plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. He is part of the medical team of "Extreme Makeover." And he's joining us this morning from Los Angeles to talk about the show's new season. Doctor, good morning, thanks for being with us.

DR. GARTH FISHER, PLASTIC SURGEON, ABC'S "EXTREME MAKEOVER": Good morning, thank you.

KAGAN: I would think if someone comes to you as a reputable plastic surgeon and says, We want you to be part of a show called "Extreme Makeover" -- anything with extreme, you might go, whoa, whoa, whoa. I don't want to really do that. Any red flags about that?

FISHER: Well initially when the story was brought to me I really didn't think it was a good idea. The producer was so great and told me I was going to be a very sensitive show and broadened awareness for plastic surgery and really represent our profession in a very good way. I felt comfortable and confident he would. It turned out to be a really fabulous show. Everybody loves watching it.

KAGAN: America certainly has responded to watching the big changes that happen to the people. The season premier featured two identical twins, or they were identical at one point. And needed a lot of work to -- both wanted a lot of work.

And if we look at the list of some of the things that these women had done. I mean it kind of just goes on and on. A tummy tuck. Let's see one twin had a nose job, a chin implant, a lower eye lift, a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, liposuction on the thighs, extensive dental work of porcelain veneers, lip surgery, gum recontouring and two root canals.

The other one didn't have as much. She had a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, dental work -- teeth whitening and also gum recontouring and orthodontics.

Is this realistic to have this many procedures done at one time?

FISHER: There are patients that come in and want a lot of different areas covered. Multiple procedures are done quite often in plastic surgery. I think the doctor has to really decide what is medically appropriate and safe. So it's common to do multiple procedures.

Of course, there's this whole backdrop of so many different specialties from wardrobe and makeup and dental to, you know, training. And it's just incredible the amount of energy and time put into these patients. They really enjoy that.

KAGAN: And the fun part of your job, I would imagine, is you get to help people feel better about themselves. I would also imagine you want people to be realistic. It's going to improve, perhaps, their the self-esteem but it is not going to change their whole life. So what's the message you would like people to get about plastic surgery by being part of this show?

FISHER: Plastic surgery is not for everybody. I think it's extremely important that patients have realistic expectations. It's the doctor's responsibilities to be very honest with those patients.

"Extreme Makeovers" is a Cinderella story. It's just amazing how great, you know, the show is. And sometimes maybe people think that's what they are going to get out of plastic surgery, which, you know, if you go to a plastic surgeon's office you may not have the entire medical team that they are going to have on the TV show. That's what makes it really unique and exciting.

KAGAN: Is there one particular case coming up this season that you're especially excited about?

FISHER: You know, I don't have access saw all the patients the other doctors, other great doctors are taking care of. But you know, I've got a couple that are coming up that are going to be really fabulous. One man who lost 200 pounds in one year through diet and exercise has a lot of extra skin, you know. Of course having the other specialties taking care of him.

Also, another lady who we just got through with who is deaf and she's a motivational speaker. I think she is going to do really well. There's a lot of great stories that you have to tune into.

KAGAN: Lots of people are tuning in, indeed. Dr. Garth Fisher, thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule from television and resculpting America. We appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com