September 10, 2025 • 31 mins
What if plastic surgery could transform lives without causing harm? Dr. Nicholas Nikolov, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience, joins us to challenge misconceptions about his field and share his refreshing philosophy of achieving maximum benefit with minimal harm.
Dr. Nikolov takes us behind the scenes of plastic surgery, revealing its vast scope beyond cosmetic procedures. From reconstructive techniques to hand surgery and craniofacial work, plastic surgery encompasses the art of molding tissues throughout the entire body. Most surprisingly, he shares how many plastic surgeons like himself actually spend significant time talking patients out of unnecessary procedures—prioritizing education and appropriate care over profit.
The psychological impact of plastic surgery emerges as a powerful theme throughout our conversation. "When you feel good about yourself, you end up doing a lot of things in life and overachieving because you have the self-confidence," Dr. Nikolov explains. His approach focuses on subtle, natural-looking enhancements that preserve a person's essential identity, exemplified by his touching story of a rhinoplasty patient whose own mother couldn't tell she'd had surgery.
We dive deep into groundbreaking technology as Dr. Nikolov discusses his work with CellSound Aesthetics, a revolutionary non-focused ultrasound system that rejuvenates tissue without causing damage or inflammation. Unlike traditional methods that rely on micro-injuries to stimulate healing, this technology improves blood flow and lymphatic drainage, promoting natural collagen production and cellular rejuvenation. The result? Healthier tissue that naturally looks better, with applications ranging from facial contouring to enhancing surgical outcomes.
Whether you're curious about aesthetic procedures or interested in cutting-edge medical technology, Dr. Nikolov offers valuable insights that bridge the gap between health and beauty. Visit drnikolov.com or cellsoundaesthetics.com to learn more about his approach and innovations transforming the field of plastic surgery.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Well, hello and welcome back to the Healthy
Living Podcast.
I'm your host, joe Grumbine,and today we have a very special
guest.
His name is Dr Nicholas Nikolv,and this guy has so many
credentials.
I'm going to just jump moreinto the things that he is.
He's a plastic surgeon for morethan 20 years and this guy's
(00:25):
got credentials all over theplace.
He's a brilliant man.
He's done a lot of work.
In a brief conversation, I seehe's got an approach that I
appreciate, and working to getthe best amount of benefit with
the least amount of harm is athing I wish more doctors would
do.
Dr Nicholas, welcome to theshow.
(00:47):
We're glad to have you here.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, thank you for having me.
It's a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I always try to begin the show by finding the Genesis
story Most doctors.
Well, no, it's pretty widerange.
We've had a lot of doctors onas guests and a lot of different
types of doctors.
We've had a few surgeons and, Ithink, one or two plastic
surgeons.
But what brought you to thisfield?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I realized early on that, even though frequently
plastic surgery is very muchmaligned and people think of the
things that we do is onlycosmetic improvement and nothing
that really changes people'slives, I found that really most
(01:38):
things that are done by aplastic surgeon benefit patients
medically, help them heal.
But just as importantly, evenwhen it's the cosmetic
improvements, the things thateverybody thinks oh you know
that's, do you really need that?
It makes people feel better.
(02:00):
And when you feel good aboutyourself better, and when you
feel good about yourself, youend up doing a lot of things in
life and overachieving becauseyou have the self-confidence.
So I was one of those doubtersinitially.
It's like, oh that's, you know,I'm not saving lives.
But soon enough I found out I'mmaking as much of a difference
(02:24):
as someone who is fixing theirblood pressure and trying to
maintain it at an appropriatelevel, somebody that is fixing
the broken bones, because you'remaking people feel better about
themselves.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And if it's?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
done the right way, it makes a difference.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I couldn't agree more .
One question I have we didn'treally get into but you know
people think cosmetic surgery is, you know, nose jobs and breast
augmentation and whatever.
I even had a guy who did penisenlargement.
You know there's been alldifferent types of this that
comes to mind.
But my dad was a surgeon beforehe passed and he was a foot
(03:07):
surgeon.
He didn't do really muchplastic surgery.
But I came to learn a bit aboutsurgeons and surgery and
there's kind of two differenttypes of there's probably more
than two, but two kind ofcategories of cosmetic or
plastic surgery.
One would be elective or, oryou know, optional surgery,
where somebody says, well, I'dlike to change this about me,
(03:29):
and the others might bereconstructive.
Somebody might have a bad burnor scarring or some sort of
damage.
Do you ever deal withreconstructive type plastic
surgery?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Of course, again, I'm a fully trained plastic surgeon
.
I'm not a cosmetic surgeon, soto speak, who just came into the
field through the side door andwasn't trained in all aspects
of it.
So I would frequently doreconstructive surgery.
(04:03):
Even a lot of the cosmeticsurgery that I do ends up being
revision surgery.
Excuse me, people that have hadthings done, for whatever
reason, cosmetically, generallysometimes reconstructive and
maybe the outcome wasn't quitewhat they had hoped for, right?
(04:26):
That makes your life a lottougher, right.
But the part that I love aboutit is as a plastic surgeon.
I think you have the rareopportunity to be a doctor, to
be a surgeon because you do theprocedure, to be a little bit of
an artist and I don't want tooverplay that, but again, you
(04:49):
have to have some aestheticsense and also you have to be a
little bit of a psychiatrist,because you have to get into
people's head, you have tounderstand what they want to do,
why they want to do it, andwhat they tell you initially is
never the true motivation.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I can only imagine A couple questions.
One I like to use this show tofind truths.
We have so many companies andpeople and businesses issuing
all these claims about this andthat I'm like, well, let's talk
about it and let's find sometruth.
There are definitions of termsthat I don't necessarily know
all of.
What is the definition ofplastic surgery as opposed to
(05:34):
other types of surgery?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Excuse me, allergies are not my friend this time of
year.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, the winds pick up and everybody's sneezing.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Plastic surgery encompasses a lot of things, but
think of it as coming from theword to mold.
Okay, so we're reshaping thingsand we're dealing with every
tissue from head to toe, notjust soft tissue.
Even hand surgery is part ofplastic surgery.
(06:10):
Hand injuries, craniofacial,facial fractures all of these
kind of reconstructions are partof plastic surgery.
Free tissue transfer, where youtake a muscle or other tissue
from one area, put it someplacetotally different and reattach
(06:31):
the vessels through microsurgerythat's also part of plastic
surgery.
So it's not only the things thateverybody considers cosmetic
surgery, that's plastic surgery,considers cosmetic surgery,
that's plastic surgery.
The field is very vast andthat's the best part, because
(06:51):
there are no limits to what youcan do and the areas that you
would address.
There is no part that it's notpart of our field, sure Wow.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
That's powerful.
So you brought up a point thatI've always.
You know I don't know muchabout plastic surgery personally
, but you hear a lot of thingsfrom a lot of people.
You know you work in BeverlyHills.
You deal with a lot of.
You know people with means and,like you said, most of the time
people come to you they say Iwant this, but it's not
(07:19):
necessarily really what theywant, and you spend time
consulting with them and maybetrying to get to the core of
what they're trying to do.
Do you ever guide them awayfrom your services?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yes, quite a few times, really, and sometimes the
frustrating part for me is Ispend more time talking them out
of surgery for which, frankly,I don't get paid for talking
them out of surgery for which,frankly, I don't get paid for
talking them out of surgery thatit will take me at times to do
the surgery itself and get paid.
(07:54):
And finally I really have to goto that particular thing and
it's.
You know, you understand I'mspending time talking you out of
this versus getting paid for it, and you know you going along
with things and you know I havea house payment.
(08:16):
I'd like to make it Right, butyou have to do the right thing.
So talking patients out of itoccasionally takes a lot more
time and energy.
But it's important to doprocedures for the right reason
to educate people, and if youtake the time, overwhelming
(08:38):
majority of patients understandwhy they know you have their
best interest at heart.
And if you make them understandwhat the reasoning behind, uh,
the decisions are, it's notforcing them to do one thing or
another, but educating them sothat they can make that decision
(08:59):
with you.
And that's where I thinkeducation is invaluable.
People have to know, andintelligent people, when they
know it rings true to themeventually, and you don't have
to strong-arm them into it.
They come to that conclusion ontheir own.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I agree.
I expect that in my experiencewith people, that expectations
is a big part of ultimatesatisfaction.
And how you plant anexpectation, well, we don't know
if you're going to make it, soyour expectation is low.
(09:42):
And if you survive, hey, we didit.
Or some other doctors are likewell, you know, I think we can
do this and put this target wayup at the moon.
You know, this is really such asubjective target that you have
to try to find how do you dealwith that?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Well, it's not easy and once again, it comes to
education and educating thepatient, making sure they
understand.
They understand why certainthings will happen, what the
limitations are and I thinkmakes a big difference how
(10:28):
patients react to it, and thisis not just painting a picture
of gloom and doom.
Oh my God, you're so awful.
We'll make you a little better,but I can't promise you
anything.
Little better, but I can'tpromise you anything.
(10:50):
You're out of luck.
It's being realistic and givingthem good information so that
they can actually make adecision whether this is the
right choice for them.
Frequently it's an electiveprocedure.
They don't necessarily have todo the surgery.
Sometimes they do, but theydon't have to frequently and
whether they do it or not, youhave to give them the proper
(11:13):
tools to make that decision.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Absolutely.
I'm in a different situation.
I'm dealing with a cancer issue, so I'm dealing with standard
of care and all the you know theobstacles that many doctors
have.
They said, well, we have to dothis or we have to do that.
And you know having to find myanswers on my own a lot of times
.
But this is really for a lot ofpeople.
(11:37):
There are, there are optionsthat are some more and less
invasive.
When we started talking beforethe show, you said something
that impressed me and you, whenwe started talking before the
show, you said something thatimpressed me.
And you know, again dealingwith oncologists, you know they
go straight to these reallybrutal standard of care
solutions that will probablyhelp you live.
(11:57):
But what's left of you is up todebate sometimes and you know I
see both sides of it.
I get it all.
But you said we try to get themost amount of good with the
least amount of harm and I says,wow, those oncologists can
learn a thing or two from thatprinciple.
I know there are a lot ofnon-invasive or less invasive
(12:20):
procedures that have come out.
I understand that you are asignificant part of a company
called cell sound.
I see all over the place theseyou know spas with ultrasound
and and all these different youknow quote non-invasive
solutions that you know you getsome training, but you don't
(12:42):
need to be a doctor to operate.
Tell me a little bit about thatside of things.
Well, solutions that you knowyou get some training, but you
don't need to be a doctor tooperate.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Tell me a little bit about that side of things.
Well, it does start with do theeasiest, least invasive, least
intrusive procedure that's goingto get you the result you want.
And I've always been interestedin exploring more minimally
invasive or non-invasive devicesand see what I can accomplish
(13:13):
with that, and that's whetherit's for improving aesthetics,
aesthetic appearance orimproving the health.
So over the years I've beeninvolved with multiple companies
, kind of a lot of times on theforefront, but the last company
(13:33):
that I'm working with isCellSound Aesthetics, and that
is I mean I've drunk theKool-Aid, I have to admit I'm
really, really excited about it.
It's a non-focused ultrasound,low intensity, which doesn't
damage any tissue.
(13:55):
It doesn't kill any cells onany level.
It doesn't cause anyinflammation.
Instead, it improves blood flowto the treated area, improves
lymphatic drainage.
So the swelling is gone, thecongestion is gone.
(14:17):
As a result of this, we haveimproved collagen buildup and
collagen formation, as well asimproved division of the cells,
the mitotic division of thecells.
They return to a more youthfullevel, so we can hit on every
(14:41):
node.
We want to rejuvenate tissueand this started as a wound
healing device for patients thathave non-healing wounds,
usually on the extremities.
Nothing would help, andtreating it with cell sound,
with this ultrasound technology,which is patent and there's
(15:03):
nothing else like it.
It's not like your chiropractoror physical therapist device,
excuse me.
So we know it doesn't do damage.
It improves the health of thetissue.
However, one of the otherthings, of course the health of
(15:25):
the tissue.
However, one of the otherthings, of course.
All of us want to look better.
We always strive to look better, and I always tell people that
have an issue behind improvingyour appearance.
The minute you stop caringabout how you look, that's a
really bad sign for you as ahuman being.
Generally, you're eitherdepressed or it's kind of you've
(15:50):
given up on life, and that's ifyou look at whether it's
psychiatrists, geriatrics theyalways look for those signs.
Once people give up on how theylook, that means you've given
up.
So, having said that, all of uscare about how we look, some
(16:14):
more than others, but we all doand with this device, we found
that we can actually contour theface and contour the body and
also, whenever we want, todecrease the amount of fat under
the skin and even deeper in theabdomen.
That is a great thing.
(16:35):
So here you have a device whereyour tissue is healthier.
You're reversing a lot of thethings that happen as a result
of aging and whenever you wantto, you can take off some fat
and sculpt your face or body andyou see a visible change.
And it doesn't hurt because itdoesn't cause any damage.
(16:57):
So you're not killing tissue,it's not going to hurt.
So that's where I get reallyexcited.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Yeah, yeah, it sounds , like I said, like a holy grail
.
You know, I know of people,practitioners, that use some of
these.
You know, whatever you callover-the-counter devices and all
these different things.
And there's, you know, peopleclaim results, this and that,
but there's always inflammation,there's always, you know,
(17:26):
suffering and limitations andcomplications and all this stuff
.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
It sounds like you got a tool that you can just go
in and just use and not well ifyou look at most devices that
use whether it's a laser energy,radio frequency, focused
ultrasound this is unfocused.
You're delivering energy whichcauses at least micro injury and
(17:57):
as a result, the tissuetightens, remodels, or you lose
fat by killing the fat cells.
This does none of that.
There is no micro injury at all.
Quite the opposite.
You're healing the tissue, buthaving healthier tissue, it
turns out, it actually looksbetter too.
So there is something to besaid about being healthier.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
So do you use this as a solo tool or do you use it in
conjunction with surgery andother tools and devices?
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I use it.
I'm a surgeon, so, uh, this is.
I equated a little bit to apaint brush.
Okay, and yes, you may be usedto initially doing one specific
thing.
And yes, uh, you do treatmentson the abdomen and flanks and
(18:51):
you sculpt it beautifully.
Uh, you do treatments on theabdomen and flanks and you
sculpt it beautifully.
You do treatments around thejawline and neck, and patients
look a lot better.
However, I do a lot of revisionsurgery, as I mentioned.
Frequently, I would use itbefore the revision.
It tends to improve the bloodflow that's compromised a lot of
(19:13):
times when there's an injury.
It tends to soften the scar.
So when I do the surgery, Ihave an easier time, and I like
having an easier time when I dosurgery.
I use it afterwards Helps theswelling, helps the speed of
healing and it's safe.
(19:35):
So even after a facelift, I canuse this on the facelift four
or five days after the surgery,wow, and it doesn't cause any
damage and I'm not worried.
Oh my God, my flap is going todie.
If anything, I'm happierbecause it's probably going to
(19:56):
heal faster.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
So, yes, there's a lot of things to do with using
it as a surgeon and adding anextra dimension to my practice,
where I can improve my surgicalresults by using this device.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
How long have you been working with this device?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I've been using it just over three years now.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And each day I come home, my wife laughs at me.
It's like, okay, what does itdo now?
What else did you do with it,because every day I find some
new use for it.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Wow, that's fantastic .
So it sounds like you're reallyjust exploring.
It's almost like you got somealien technology.
You're not sure what all itdoes, but you're pointing it at
different things, puttingdifferent settings and finding
out.
Well, look at what we can donow.
Is there some kind of upper endof like you know some things,
(21:00):
different drugs, differenttreatments?
There's only so many times youcan use a thing.
Does this have an upper end onthat?
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Well, that's the other part where, let's say, you
use radiofrequency or lasers,you can use them only so many
times, right, you know not touse a hyperbole, but you can fry
your skin only so many timesand then it looks like shoe
leather, right, absolutely.
With this you're not causingany injury at all, so you can
(21:32):
keep using it.
I mean, we have protocols.
It's usually uh, for mostthings it's two treatments a
week for a total of sixtreatments, so that's for three
weeks.
However, if you want more of aresult and you love it, or you
want to treat a different area,you're not causing any damage.
(21:52):
I mean, forget micro damage.
There's zero inflammation.
So you can keep doing moretreatments if you'd like, and
there's no limit to it becauseyou're doing the opposite You're
getting the tissue healthier.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
So you're part of this company, CellSound.
I'm assuming the target marketis plastic surgeons just like
yourself.
How is it being received outthere?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Initially.
I can tell you what my responsewas Okay, this is too good to
be true.
You're telling me all this yeah, yeah, yeah, it does this and
it does that.
And you know, I've been throughsalesmen trying to pitch
(22:43):
different devices and at the endthey don't do 10% of what you
were promised.
So I was very skeptical.
Just because it sounds too goodto be true.
Sure, and I'm the first one toadmit it.
But once I started using it andanybody that even has one
(23:03):
treatment, they're already onboard Nice, to give you an idea,
in my practice and again, I'mnot a med spa, I'm a plastic
surgeon I like doing surgery,but we do these treatments.
I never sell packages, I neverworry about that.
(23:23):
I don't want you coming backbecause you felt you paid for it
and you have to.
I can say in three years I havehad one patient not come back
and she moved out of town, andthat's a true story.
So once you see the resultsafter the first treatment, I
(23:46):
don't even have to have aconversation with them.
Patients like, okay, when can Ischedule the next one?
And that, for me, makes me feelgood, because I don't feel like
a salesman.
I feel like I'm providing agood service and patients are
happy with it.
So it makes me feel good aboutwhat I'm able to do for everyone
(24:07):
.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I love it.
Well, we're getting a littlethin on time, but before we kind
of wrap it down, I always liketo hear from my guests.
You know you've been in thisfield for more than 20 years.
You've probably got hundreds ofstories that you could share,
but there's probably one thatreally sticks out.
You know a lot of practitionersof all different types help
(24:29):
people in ways that are, youknow, readily noticeable, and
others take years to.
You know, realize the value of,but yours is, you know, very
quickly somebody is going to seea result.
Can you share a remarkablestory with this?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
In terms of cell sound or just in general.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Wherever you see fit.
Just one of the patients thatyou've worked with that was just
one of these most remarkabletransformations.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
I will tell you the story that, for me, rings true.
Most may not think it's themost, not the most remarkable
transformation, but it probablyaligns best with my philosophy.
I operated, I did the nosecosmetic rhinoplasty on a good
(25:28):
friend of mine and I knew herfamily as well, so we did the
surgery.
She went home for the holidays.
She got in an argument with hermother and she told her mother
she had surgery.
And it's like no, you haven'thad surgery.
(25:48):
You've always looked like this,wow.
And she, she called me and it'slike you got to email me the
photos, nice.
The reason I was very happy andproud of that is not that there
wasn't a change.
There was a significant change.
However, she still looked likeherself, right that even her own
(26:13):
mother felt like she lookedlike the daughter I've ever had
always had, and she didn't see achange.
She saw her as who she is and Isent them the photos inside.
I don't remember.
You know it's looking this bad,but it made me feel good that
(26:34):
she looked like herself andsymmetry, harmony of the face.
It all was balanced, that itnot stand out as something done,
but it stood out as this is theway, in a way, she felt she was
meant to look Right.
So I don't know it.
(26:57):
Just for me it's a feelgoodstory and we have different
things that are important to us,but for me that's crucial no, I
, I would agree with you when itcomes to, you know, plastic
surgery.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
You see people all the time it's like oh look, she
had work done, they had workdone.
You know, it's like if younotice it and maybe it looks
better, maybe it doesn't, but ityou probably don't look like
you did before.
You know you don't right you'relosing sight of who you are,
maybe a little bit, and I canappreciate that.
Well, doctor, um, this is apoint where I like to give you a
(27:30):
chance to share.
You know there's got to be apoint that you want to really
let people know and then a waythat people can our listeners
can reach out and find you ifthey want to uh, well, that is
very easy.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
I'm in beverly hills, california.
Uh, my website is dr nikolovn-i-k-o-l-o-V.
My last name, com, sodrnikolovcom, and you can find
me also on Instagram atdrnikolov.
(28:05):
Reach out anytime.
Cell Sound if you need any moreinformation.
It's cellsoundaestheticscom andjust the way it sounds, and you
can get a lot more informationabout the technology, the device
(28:27):
, before and after photos andget more educational information
on that.
On that.
Ultimately, anytime knowledgeis power.
So anything I can do to helpyou understand, reach out.
I'm happy to provideinformation and discuss anything
(28:51):
that may be of concern.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Well, I appreciate that.
Dr Nikolv, I thank you forjoining our show and you know we
have a lot to talk about.
If you ever want to come back,I'd certainly welcome you back,
and I'd like to say this hasbeen another episode of the
Healthy Living Podcast.
I'm your host, joe Grumbine.
I want to thank all thelisteners for supporting the
(29:15):
show and we will see you nexttime.
Well, hello and welcome back to the Healthy
Living Podcast.
I'm your host, joe Grumbine,and today we have a very special
guest.
His name is Dr Nicholas Nikolv,and this guy has so many
credentials.
I'm going to just jump moreinto the things that he is.
He's a plastic surgeon for morethan 20 years and this guy's
(00:25):
got credentials all over theplace.
He's a brilliant man.
He's done a lot of work.
In a brief conversation, I seehe's got an approach that I
appreciate, and working to getthe best amount of benefit with
the least amount of harm is athing I wish more doctors would
do.
Dr Nicholas, welcome to theshow.
(00:47):
We're glad to have you here.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, thank you for having me.
It's a pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
I always try to begin the show by finding the Genesis
story Most doctors.
Well, no, it's pretty widerange.
We've had a lot of doctors onas guests and a lot of different
types of doctors.
We've had a few surgeons and, Ithink, one or two plastic
surgeons.
But what brought you to thisfield?
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I realized early on that, even though frequently
plastic surgery is very muchmaligned and people think of the
things that we do is onlycosmetic improvement and nothing
that really changes people'slives, I found that really most
(01:38):
things that are done by aplastic surgeon benefit patients
medically, help them heal.
But just as importantly, evenwhen it's the cosmetic
improvements, the things thateverybody thinks oh you know
that's, do you really need that?
It makes people feel better.
(02:00):
And when you feel good aboutyourself better, and when you
feel good about yourself, youend up doing a lot of things in
life and overachieving becauseyou have the self-confidence.
So I was one of those doubtersinitially.
It's like, oh that's, you know,I'm not saving lives.
But soon enough I found out I'mmaking as much of a difference
(02:24):
as someone who is fixing theirblood pressure and trying to
maintain it at an appropriatelevel, somebody that is fixing
the broken bones, because you'remaking people feel better about
themselves.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And if it's?
Speaker 2 (02:40):
done the right way, it makes a difference.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
I couldn't agree more .
One question I have we didn'treally get into but you know
people think cosmetic surgery is, you know, nose jobs and breast
augmentation and whatever.
I even had a guy who did penisenlargement.
You know there's been alldifferent types of this that
comes to mind.
But my dad was a surgeon beforehe passed and he was a foot
(03:07):
surgeon.
He didn't do really muchplastic surgery.
But I came to learn a bit aboutsurgeons and surgery and
there's kind of two differenttypes of there's probably more
than two, but two kind ofcategories of cosmetic or
plastic surgery.
One would be elective or, oryou know, optional surgery,
where somebody says, well, I'dlike to change this about me,
(03:29):
and the others might bereconstructive.
Somebody might have a bad burnor scarring or some sort of
damage.
Do you ever deal withreconstructive type plastic
surgery?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Of course, again, I'm a fully trained plastic surgeon
.
I'm not a cosmetic surgeon, soto speak, who just came into the
field through the side door andwasn't trained in all aspects
of it.
So I would frequently doreconstructive surgery.
(04:03):
Even a lot of the cosmeticsurgery that I do ends up being
revision surgery.
Excuse me, people that have hadthings done, for whatever
reason, cosmetically, generallysometimes reconstructive and
maybe the outcome wasn't quitewhat they had hoped for, right?
(04:26):
That makes your life a lottougher, right.
But the part that I love aboutit is as a plastic surgeon.
I think you have the rareopportunity to be a doctor, to
be a surgeon because you do theprocedure, to be a little bit of
an artist and I don't want tooverplay that, but again, you
(04:49):
have to have some aestheticsense and also you have to be a
little bit of a psychiatrist,because you have to get into
people's head, you have tounderstand what they want to do,
why they want to do it, andwhat they tell you initially is
never the true motivation.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I can only imagine A couple questions.
One I like to use this show tofind truths.
We have so many companies andpeople and businesses issuing
all these claims about this andthat I'm like, well, let's talk
about it and let's find sometruth.
There are definitions of termsthat I don't necessarily know
all of.
What is the definition ofplastic surgery as opposed to
(05:34):
other types of surgery?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Excuse me, allergies are not my friend this time of
year.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, the winds pick up and everybody's sneezing.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Plastic surgery encompasses a lot of things, but
think of it as coming from theword to mold.
Okay, so we're reshaping thingsand we're dealing with every
tissue from head to toe, notjust soft tissue.
Even hand surgery is part ofplastic surgery.
(06:10):
Hand injuries, craniofacial,facial fractures all of these
kind of reconstructions are partof plastic surgery.
Free tissue transfer, where youtake a muscle or other tissue
from one area, put it someplacetotally different and reattach
(06:31):
the vessels through microsurgerythat's also part of plastic
surgery.
So it's not only the things thateverybody considers cosmetic
surgery, that's plastic surgery,considers cosmetic surgery,
that's plastic surgery.
The field is very vast andthat's the best part, because
(06:51):
there are no limits to what youcan do and the areas that you
would address.
There is no part that it's notpart of our field, sure Wow.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
That's powerful.
So you brought up a point thatI've always.
You know I don't know muchabout plastic surgery personally
, but you hear a lot of thingsfrom a lot of people.
You know you work in BeverlyHills.
You deal with a lot of.
You know people with means and,like you said, most of the time
people come to you they say Iwant this, but it's not
(07:19):
necessarily really what theywant, and you spend time
consulting with them and maybetrying to get to the core of
what they're trying to do.
Do you ever guide them awayfrom your services?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yes, quite a few times, really, and sometimes the
frustrating part for me is Ispend more time talking them out
of surgery for which, frankly,I don't get paid for talking
them out of surgery for which,frankly, I don't get paid for
talking them out of surgery thatit will take me at times to do
the surgery itself and get paid.
(07:54):
And finally I really have to goto that particular thing and
it's.
You know, you understand I'mspending time talking you out of
this versus getting paid for it, and you know you going along
with things and you know I havea house payment.
(08:16):
I'd like to make it Right, butyou have to do the right thing.
So talking patients out of itoccasionally takes a lot more
time and energy.
But it's important to doprocedures for the right reason
to educate people, and if youtake the time, overwhelming
(08:38):
majority of patients understandwhy they know you have their
best interest at heart.
And if you make them understandwhat the reasoning behind, uh,
the decisions are, it's notforcing them to do one thing or
another, but educating them sothat they can make that decision
(08:59):
with you.
And that's where I thinkeducation is invaluable.
People have to know, andintelligent people, when they
know it rings true to themeventually, and you don't have
to strong-arm them into it.
They come to that conclusion ontheir own.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
I agree.
I expect that in my experiencewith people, that expectations
is a big part of ultimatesatisfaction.
And how you plant anexpectation, well, we don't know
if you're going to make it, soyour expectation is low.
(09:42):
And if you survive, hey, we didit.
Or some other doctors are likewell, you know, I think we can
do this and put this target wayup at the moon.
You know, this is really such asubjective target that you have
to try to find how do you dealwith that?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Well, it's not easy and once again, it comes to
education and educating thepatient, making sure they
understand.
They understand why certainthings will happen, what the
limitations are and I thinkmakes a big difference how
(10:28):
patients react to it, and thisis not just painting a picture
of gloom and doom.
Oh my God, you're so awful.
We'll make you a little better,but I can't promise you
anything.
Little better, but I can'tpromise you anything.
(10:50):
You're out of luck.
It's being realistic and givingthem good information so that
they can actually make adecision whether this is the
right choice for them.
Frequently it's an electiveprocedure.
They don't necessarily have todo the surgery.
Sometimes they do, but theydon't have to frequently and
whether they do it or not, youhave to give them the proper
(11:13):
tools to make that decision.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
Absolutely.
I'm in a different situation.
I'm dealing with a cancer issue, so I'm dealing with standard
of care and all the you know theobstacles that many doctors
have.
They said, well, we have to dothis or we have to do that.
And you know having to find myanswers on my own a lot of times
.
But this is really for a lot ofpeople.
(11:37):
There are, there are optionsthat are some more and less
invasive.
When we started talking beforethe show, you said something
that impressed me and you, whenwe started talking before the
show, you said something thatimpressed me.
And you know, again dealingwith oncologists, you know they
go straight to these reallybrutal standard of care
solutions that will probablyhelp you live.
(11:57):
But what's left of you is up todebate sometimes and you know I
see both sides of it.
I get it all.
But you said we try to get themost amount of good with the
least amount of harm and I says,wow, those oncologists can
learn a thing or two from thatprinciple.
I know there are a lot ofnon-invasive or less invasive
(12:20):
procedures that have come out.
I understand that you are asignificant part of a company
called cell sound.
I see all over the place theseyou know spas with ultrasound
and and all these different youknow quote non-invasive
solutions that you know you getsome training, but you don't
(12:42):
need to be a doctor to operate.
Tell me a little bit about thatside of things.
Well, solutions that you knowyou get some training, but you
don't need to be a doctor tooperate.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Tell me a little bit about that side of things.
Well, it does start with do theeasiest, least invasive, least
intrusive procedure that's goingto get you the result you want.
And I've always been interestedin exploring more minimally
invasive or non-invasive devicesand see what I can accomplish
(13:13):
with that, and that's whetherit's for improving aesthetics,
aesthetic appearance orimproving the health.
So over the years I've beeninvolved with multiple companies
, kind of a lot of times on theforefront, but the last company
(13:33):
that I'm working with isCellSound Aesthetics, and that
is I mean I've drunk theKool-Aid, I have to admit I'm
really, really excited about it.
It's a non-focused ultrasound,low intensity, which doesn't
damage any tissue.
(13:55):
It doesn't kill any cells onany level.
It doesn't cause anyinflammation.
Instead, it improves blood flowto the treated area, improves
lymphatic drainage.
So the swelling is gone, thecongestion is gone.
(14:17):
As a result of this, we haveimproved collagen buildup and
collagen formation, as well asimproved division of the cells,
the mitotic division of thecells.
They return to a more youthfullevel, so we can hit on every
(14:41):
node.
We want to rejuvenate tissueand this started as a wound
healing device for patients thathave non-healing wounds,
usually on the extremities.
Nothing would help, andtreating it with cell sound,
with this ultrasound technology,which is patent and there's
(15:03):
nothing else like it.
It's not like your chiropractoror physical therapist device,
excuse me.
So we know it doesn't do damage.
It improves the health of thetissue.
However, one of the otherthings, of course the health of
(15:25):
the tissue.
However, one of the otherthings, of course.
All of us want to look better.
We always strive to look better, and I always tell people that
have an issue behind improvingyour appearance.
The minute you stop caringabout how you look, that's a
really bad sign for you as ahuman being.
Generally, you're eitherdepressed or it's kind of you've
(15:50):
given up on life, and that's ifyou look at whether it's
psychiatrists, geriatrics theyalways look for those signs.
Once people give up on how theylook, that means you've given
up.
So, having said that, all of uscare about how we look, some
(16:14):
more than others, but we all doand with this device, we found
that we can actually contour theface and contour the body and
also, whenever we want, todecrease the amount of fat under
the skin and even deeper in theabdomen.
That is a great thing.
(16:35):
So here you have a device whereyour tissue is healthier.
You're reversing a lot of thethings that happen as a result
of aging and whenever you wantto, you can take off some fat
and sculpt your face or body andyou see a visible change.
And it doesn't hurt because itdoesn't cause any damage.
(16:57):
So you're not killing tissue,it's not going to hurt.
So that's where I get reallyexcited.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Yeah, yeah, it sounds , like I said, like a holy grail
.
You know, I know of people,practitioners, that use some of
these.
You know, whatever you callover-the-counter devices and all
these different things.
And there's, you know, peopleclaim results, this and that,
but there's always inflammation,there's always, you know,
(17:26):
suffering and limitations andcomplications and all this stuff
.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
It sounds like you got a tool that you can just go
in and just use and not well ifyou look at most devices that
use whether it's a laser energy,radio frequency, focused
ultrasound this is unfocused.
You're delivering energy whichcauses at least micro injury and
(17:57):
as a result, the tissuetightens, remodels, or you lose
fat by killing the fat cells.
This does none of that.
There is no micro injury at all.
Quite the opposite.
You're healing the tissue, buthaving healthier tissue, it
turns out, it actually looksbetter too.
So there is something to besaid about being healthier.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
So do you use this as a solo tool or do you use it in
conjunction with surgery andother tools and devices?
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I use it.
I'm a surgeon, so, uh, this is.
I equated a little bit to apaint brush.
Okay, and yes, you may be usedto initially doing one specific
thing.
And yes, uh, you do treatmentson the abdomen and flanks and
(18:51):
you sculpt it beautifully.
Uh, you do treatments on theabdomen and flanks and you
sculpt it beautifully.
You do treatments around thejawline and neck, and patients
look a lot better.
However, I do a lot of revisionsurgery, as I mentioned.
Frequently, I would use itbefore the revision.
It tends to improve the bloodflow that's compromised a lot of
(19:13):
times when there's an injury.
It tends to soften the scar.
So when I do the surgery, Ihave an easier time, and I like
having an easier time when I dosurgery.
I use it afterwards Helps theswelling, helps the speed of
healing and it's safe.
(19:35):
So even after a facelift, I canuse this on the facelift four
or five days after the surgery,wow, and it doesn't cause any
damage and I'm not worried.
Oh my God, my flap is going todie.
If anything, I'm happierbecause it's probably going to
(19:56):
heal faster.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
So, yes, there's a lot of things to do with using
it as a surgeon and adding anextra dimension to my practice,
where I can improve my surgicalresults by using this device.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
How long have you been working with this device?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I've been using it just over three years now.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And each day I come home, my wife laughs at me.
It's like, okay, what does itdo now?
What else did you do with it,because every day I find some
new use for it.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Wow, that's fantastic .
So it sounds like you're reallyjust exploring.
It's almost like you got somealien technology.
You're not sure what all itdoes, but you're pointing it at
different things, puttingdifferent settings and finding
out.
Well, look at what we can donow.
Is there some kind of upper endof like you know some things,
(21:00):
different drugs, differenttreatments?
There's only so many times youcan use a thing.
Does this have an upper end onthat?
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Well, that's the other part where, let's say, you
use radiofrequency or lasers,you can use them only so many
times, right, you know not touse a hyperbole, but you can fry
your skin only so many timesand then it looks like shoe
leather, right, absolutely.
With this you're not causingany injury at all, so you can
(21:32):
keep using it.
I mean, we have protocols.
It's usually uh, for mostthings it's two treatments a
week for a total of sixtreatments, so that's for three
weeks.
However, if you want more of aresult and you love it, or you
want to treat a different area,you're not causing any damage.
(21:52):
I mean, forget micro damage.
There's zero inflammation.
So you can keep doing moretreatments if you'd like, and
there's no limit to it becauseyou're doing the opposite You're
getting the tissue healthier.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
So you're part of this company, CellSound.
I'm assuming the target marketis plastic surgeons just like
yourself.
How is it being received outthere?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Initially.
I can tell you what my responsewas Okay, this is too good to
be true.
You're telling me all this yeah, yeah, yeah, it does this and
it does that.
And you know, I've been throughsalesmen trying to pitch
(22:43):
different devices and at the endthey don't do 10% of what you
were promised.
So I was very skeptical.
Just because it sounds too goodto be true.
Sure, and I'm the first one toadmit it.
But once I started using it andanybody that even has one
(23:03):
treatment, they're already onboard Nice, to give you an idea,
in my practice and again, I'mnot a med spa, I'm a plastic
surgeon I like doing surgery,but we do these treatments.
I never sell packages, I neverworry about that.
(23:23):
I don't want you coming backbecause you felt you paid for it
and you have to.
I can say in three years I havehad one patient not come back
and she moved out of town, andthat's a true story.
So once you see the resultsafter the first treatment, I
(23:46):
don't even have to have aconversation with them.
Patients like, okay, when can Ischedule the next one?
And that, for me, makes me feelgood, because I don't feel like
a salesman.
I feel like I'm providing agood service and patients are
happy with it.
So it makes me feel good aboutwhat I'm able to do for everyone
(24:07):
.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I love it.
Well, we're getting a littlethin on time, but before we kind
of wrap it down, I always liketo hear from my guests.
You know you've been in thisfield for more than 20 years.
You've probably got hundreds ofstories that you could share,
but there's probably one thatreally sticks out.
You know a lot of practitionersof all different types help
(24:29):
people in ways that are, youknow, readily noticeable, and
others take years to.
You know, realize the value of,but yours is, you know, very
quickly somebody is going to seea result.
Can you share a remarkablestory with this?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
In terms of cell sound or just in general.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
Wherever you see fit.
Just one of the patients thatyou've worked with that was just
one of these most remarkabletransformations.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
I will tell you the story that, for me, rings true.
Most may not think it's themost, not the most remarkable
transformation, but it probablyaligns best with my philosophy.
I operated, I did the nosecosmetic rhinoplasty on a good
(25:28):
friend of mine and I knew herfamily as well, so we did the
surgery.
She went home for the holidays.
She got in an argument with hermother and she told her mother
she had surgery.
And it's like no, you haven'thad surgery.
(25:48):
You've always looked like this,wow.
And she, she called me and it'slike you got to email me the
photos, nice.
The reason I was very happy andproud of that is not that there
wasn't a change.
There was a significant change.
However, she still looked likeherself, right that even her own
(26:13):
mother felt like she lookedlike the daughter I've ever had
always had, and she didn't see achange.
She saw her as who she is and Isent them the photos inside.
I don't remember.
You know it's looking this bad,but it made me feel good that
(26:34):
she looked like herself andsymmetry, harmony of the face.
It all was balanced, that itnot stand out as something done,
but it stood out as this is theway, in a way, she felt she was
meant to look Right.
So I don't know it.
(26:57):
Just for me it's a feelgoodstory and we have different
things that are important to us,but for me that's crucial no, I
, I would agree with you when itcomes to, you know, plastic
surgery.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
You see people all the time it's like oh look, she
had work done, they had workdone.
You know, it's like if younotice it and maybe it looks
better, maybe it doesn't, but ityou probably don't look like
you did before.
You know you don't right you'relosing sight of who you are,
maybe a little bit, and I canappreciate that.
Well, doctor, um, this is apoint where I like to give you a
(27:30):
chance to share.
You know there's got to be apoint that you want to really
let people know and then a waythat people can our listeners
can reach out and find you ifthey want to uh, well, that is
very easy.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
I'm in beverly hills, california.
Uh, my website is dr nikolovn-i-k-o-l-o-V.
My last name, com, sodrnikolovcom, and you can find
me also on Instagram atdrnikolov.
(28:05):
Reach out anytime.
Cell Sound if you need any moreinformation.
It's cellsoundaestheticscom andjust the way it sounds, and you
can get a lot more informationabout the technology, the device
(28:27):
, before and after photos andget more educational information
on that.
On that.
Ultimately, anytime knowledgeis power.
So anything I can do to helpyou understand, reach out.
I'm happy to provideinformation and discuss anything
(28:51):
that may be of concern.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
Well, I appreciate that.
Dr Nikolv, I thank you forjoining our show and you know we
have a lot to talk about.
If you ever want to come back,I'd certainly welcome you back,
and I'd like to say this hasbeen another episode of the
Healthy Living Podcast.
I'm your host, joe Grumbine.
I want to thank all thelisteners for supporting the
(29:15):
show and we will see you nexttime.
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