American plastic surgeons frequently discuss why Beverly Hills is so often considered the world Mecca of cosmetic plastic surgery.

While you might get an argument from New York  City rejuvenation surgeons, the eminent Beverly Hills board-certified plastic surgeon, Stuart Linder, M.D. who blogs as Dr. Body) and the equally eminent Beverly Hills board-certified facial plastic surgeon Robert Kotler, M.D. (Dr. Face) tell why Beverly Hills is widely regarded as the world capital of plastic surgery.

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Dr. Face: (Dr. Kotler) Plastic surgery has become extremely popular worldwide, with a new multi-million dollar hospital dedicated to rejuvenation surgery in the Middle East while more U.S. and U.K. trained surgeons offering their services – along with an exotic vacation – in some of the more lovely parts of Thailand and a few other up-and-coming Third World nations.

Dr. Body: (Dr. Linder) True, but there is one place, also in the sun, that is still consider the world capital of cosmetic plastic surgery.

Dr. Face: Let’s end the suspense – we’re talking about Beverly Hills!

Dr. Body: I frequently have, ah, spirited conversations with my colleagues in Manhattan about why Beverly Hills is still THE place for top of the line cosmetic plastic surgery for people from all over the world.

Dr. Face: To be a leader in plastic surgery, a major university teaching hospital must be nearby; UCLA is ten minutes from Beverly Hills. Also, it’s important to have a large compliment of other highly specialized cosmetic plastic surgeons on the same medical campus for ease of consultation and referral. There should be professional post-operative recovery facilities – a “hideaway”, exclusively for the post-operative care of cosmetic surgery patients. (That concept was originated right here in Beverly Hills.) For some procedures such as face and neck lift, chemical facial wrinkle removal or major tummy-tuck or breast surgery, an impersonal hospital is not satisfactory, nor is a hotel or the home of a friend of relative.

For the first two to three days, the ideal post-operative venue is a private, quiet hideaway retreat with round-the-clock nursing care, meal service and even limo transport to the office . A safe and practical environment for patients who have every need “covered”.  Of course, when patients come from afar and are accompanied by friends or family, it is important that the city also provide some cultural and entertainment resources and of course, the greater Los Angeles area is rich in that department.

Dr. Body: But you have to admit, both Beverly Hills and Manhattan offer all those things. New York City may be a bit lacking in sunshine during the winter but one could argue both areas seem to offer the same attractions.

Dr. Face:  That’s true, doctor, but there are big differences.

Dr. Body: Such as?

Dr. Face: Beverly Hills is – no pun intended – cutting edge because we lead the way in innovation. One for instance: we had outpatient surgical centers and more surgeries being done in doctors’ offices long before Manhattan where surgeons seemed to prefer doing their procedures in hospitals.

Dr. Body: You’re correct. One of the differences I see is that in Southern California, the interest in cosmetic plastic surgery dips into the middle class, too. But in New York City, it seems the ultra wealthy are the ones who support the surgical rejuvenation arts. So it is possible Beverly Hills surgeons do more surgery and become adept through constant repetition. Concentrated, focused specialists, as it were.

Dr. Face: Because of the beautiful Southern California weather, we spend more time on the beach and at pool side so appearance is highly valued. But on the East Coast, old money, social status and family lines are more important. For instance, while Eunice Shriver was a wonderful and accomplished humanitarian, I would bet my bottom dollar, she would have had long ago had a face lift if she lived in Southern California. Same for many of the other Kennedy women.

Dr. Body: I can think of one other area in which Beverly Hills leads the way over New York City.

Dr. Face: Which is?

Dr. Body: A high concentration of celebrities, top models and film actors. Plus, when it’s 100 degrees in New York, it’s 72 in Los Angeles.  And when its 20 degrees in New York, it’s still 72 in Los Angeles!

NEXT: Drs. Face and Body tell about some typical international cosmetic surgery patients.