Bay Area Business Person of the Week: Dr. Larry Fan

What got you started in your profession?

I became a doctor simply because I wanted to spend my life helping others, as trite as it sounds. In medical school, I marveled at the inner workings of the human body and the ability of surgeons to fix disease and disfigurement using one's own two hands. The seeds for a career in plastic surgery were planted when I attended a talk on reconstructing faces as a third year medical student.

I vividly remember the case of a young man who had his face demolished in a car accident. To see the series of operations that were devised and carried out with delicate precision and artistry, as well as the positive impact on the patient's appearance, function, and well being, was fascinating. I was hooked. I went on to spend the last two years of medical school immersing myself in plastic surgery. To this day, the creativity, artistry, and precision required for plastic surgery are a constant joy.

What do you want others to know about you?

As Keats once said, beauty is a joy forever. I am inspired by a love of form, beauty, and surgery, and I am completely dedicated to helping all of my patients look and feel their very best.

What do you like and dislike about your community?

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is one of the most beautiful, diverse, and thriving communities in the entire world. I love the fog but sometimes wish our beautiful city of San Francisco had a few more days of warm sunshine. I'm sure I'm not alone in my sentiments.

What's your most memorable moment in life?

There are lots of memorable moments in life - the great joys, the deep sorrows, the grand adventures, the mishaps, and those few precious seconds that inexorably change the very course of your life. I will always remember a moment in time that reminds me what a gift life really is. I was an intern on the surgical service at the Kaiser hospital in San Francisco.

A twenty-four year old woman had a large tumor called a thymoma that was growing in her chest. The attending surgeon, Dr. G., called me over to introduce me to the patient. He beckoned to the CAT scan hanging on the wall and explained to me that the plan was to open her chest to remove the cancer so that it would not spread. I felt a lump in my throat knowing that the operation would be difficult because the tumor appeared to surround many vital structures in the chest. The young woman appeared steely and surprisingly calm to me. We said our goodbyes to the family and wheeled her into the operating room to begin the operation. We opened up her chest to find a large, fibrous, grey-whitish mass wrapped around the great vessels coming from the heart like a tortuous nest. We began to chip away at the tumor, peeling off one piece after another in meticulous fashion. Then one blood vessel tore, and then another.

Blood began pouring out. We put on several vascular clamps and applied direct pressure to stop the bleeding, but it only seemed to get worse. The patient's blood pressure dipped, which could be an ominous sign. The anesthesiologist started running in blood wide open while we continued our maneuvers to control the bleeding. After four frenetic minutes, the patient went into cardiac arrest. We shocked the heart, over and over again, but it wouldn't restart. We lost the patient, right there, on the table. Barely two hours ago she was a smiling, strong, healthy appearing woman. Now she was gone. To see life disappear so quickly, almost in an instant, was devastating for myself, as well as all involved. As a doctor, I am constantly humbled by the fragility and sanctity of life. We never know when the gift will be taken away.

What are your hobbies?

I am an avid, if unaccomplished, basketball player. I also enjoy exploring new places and ideas, reading, music, design, and photography.

How can people find out more about your business?

I am the Founder and Medical Director of the Bay Area Center for Plastic Surgery. You can found out more about us online at www.bayarea-plasticsurgery.com

You can also reach us by telephone at 510.763.2525 and email at info@bayarea-plasticsurgery.com. Or just drop on by. We would be delighted to help you.