--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At first, you don't do cosmetic surgery…" description: "\"At first, you don't do cosmetic surgery because you're not good enough yet. So you start out doing reconstructive surgery, which is really fun. And the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/terry-dubrow-7477_botox_at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-b_2959227.jpg" --- # At first, you don't do cosmetic surgery because you're not… ![“At first, you don't do cosmetic surgery because you're not good enough yet. So you start out doing reconstructive surgery, which is really fun. And then you get good enough and people start letting you do cosmetic surgery, and I did that.” quote by Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/terry-dubrow-7477_botox_at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-b_2959227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/terry-dubrow-7477_botox_at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-b_2959227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/terry-dubrow-7477_botox_at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-b_2959227.jpg) > “At first, you don't do cosmetic surgery because you're not good enough yet. So you start out doing reconstructive surgery, which is really fun. And then you get good enough and people start letting you do cosmetic surgery, and I did that.” [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professional growth often starts with foundational work before moving to more specialized, elective procedures. **In simple terms:** Start with basics, then specialize. Key Takeaway Build solid fundamentals before pursuing niche work. Themes career development skill building medicine specialization growth Mood inspirational pragmatic Type educational reflective When to use this quote - medical training - career planning - patient care Key Concepts professionalism learning curve expertise Questions to Reflect On - How did early challenges shape your later success? - When is specialization more beneficial than general practice? A Different Perspective Specialization can limit broader impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Botox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/botox/) [Cosmetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmetic/) [Cosmetic surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmetic-surgery/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Letting Cosmetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-cosmetic-4498836/) [Not good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-good-enough/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Surgery Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery-good-1739569/) [Surgery Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery-really-708999/) ## Related quotes > [If you walk into a plastic surgeon's office he's going to tell you to get plastic surgery, whether or not that's good for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/if-you-walk-into-a-plastic-surgeon-s-office-he-s-going-to-tell-you-to/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [I don't think there is anything wrong with cosmetic surgery at all. I think it's great. But I don't think it's alright to distort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/i-don-t-think-there-is-anything-wrong-with-cosmetic-surgery-at-all-i/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [I worry about how accessible cosmetic surgery has become. Of course, if it has genuinely helped people, and their confidence has grown as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-worry-about-how-accessible-cosmetic-surgery-has-become-of-course-if/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [I can't even get three weeks off to have cosmetic surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lynde/i-can-t-even-get-three-weeks-off-to-have-cosmetic-surgery/) [Paul Lynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lynde/) > [Ageing is one of those battles you're not going to win. I'll try to look as good as I can as long as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/ageing-is-one-of-those-battles-you-re-not-going-to-win-i-ll-try-to/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [Cosmetic surgery - it's boring and expensive, and the only thing it could do is give me another face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/cosmetic-surgery-it-s-boring-and-expensive-and-the-only-thing-it/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I may one day be the oldest person in the world to have cosmetic surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-wildenstein/i-may-one-day-be-the-oldest-person-in-the-world-to-have-cosmetic/) [Jocelyn Wildenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-wildenstein/) > [“Whenever they are condemning weaves or breast implants, some people speak so passionately that their false teeth almost fall out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-they-are-condemning-weaves-or-breast-implants-some-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [In our profession if you've got an ugly mark or there's anything that cosmetic surgery can do for you I think it's absolutely fine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prunella-scales/in-our-profession-if-you-ve-got-an-ugly-mark-or-there-s-anything-that/) [Prunella Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prunella-scales/) > [Members of the Senate are considering a tax on cosmetic surgery. When they brought it up, you should have seen the look that Nancy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/members-of-the-senate-are-considering-a-tax-on-cosmetic-surgery-when/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Though it's harder to justify the use of a cadaver for practicing nose jobs than it is for practicing coronary bypasses, it is justifiable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/though-it-s-harder-to-justify-the-use-of-a-cadaver-for-practicing/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [You can actually take a weekend course in cosmetic surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nassif/you-can-actually-take-a-weekend-course-in-cosmetic-surgery/) [Paul Nassif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nassif/) > [When cosmetic surgery is used to hold back the passage of time I think it's a bit dodgy. I've been at the odd party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/when-cosmetic-surgery-is-used-to-hold-back-the-passage-of-time-i/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [I'm addicted to cosmetic surgery!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-dickinson/i-m-addicted-to-cosmetic-surgery/) [Janice Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-dickinson/) > [Probably the only type of cosmetic surgery I'd consider is having my bust reduced. It's alright for my current role in 'The Marquise' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-mara/probably-the-only-type-of-cosmetic-surgery-i-d-consider-is-having-my/) [Kate O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-mara/) ## More by Terry Dubrow > [I now turn down patients who want an operation but they will have very little gain from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/i-now-turn-down-patients-who-want-an-operation-but-they-will-have/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [One thing that is super, super important - as much as possible - you have to treat your spouse like you're still dating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/one-thing-that-is-super-super-important-as-much-as-possible-you-have/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [When you eat frequently, you're conditioning the satiety centers that tell you when to eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/when-you-eat-frequently-you-re-conditioning-the-satiety-centers-that/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [I mean, you start to think about it, particularly when you get a little older. And, you know, a dentist shouldn't have bad teeth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/i-mean-you-start-to-think-about-it-particularly-when-you-get-a-little/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [Botched' makes people think twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/botched-makes-people-think-twice/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [The 'in general' for an injury is R.I.C.E.: rest, ice, compression, elevation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/the-in-general-for-an-injury-is-r-i-c-e-rest-ice-compression-elevation/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [We've done every kind of non-invasive plastic surgery rejuvenation you can possibly try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/we-ve-done-every-kind-of-non-invasive-plastic-surgery-rejuvenation/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [We lived in a two-bedroom apartment, and I shared a room with Kevin, who was three years older than me. I had a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/we-lived-in-a-two-bedroom-apartment-and-i-shared-a-room-with-kevin/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [A nose job at the age of 12 is just too early. The nose hasn't grown enough, it's very unclear where it's going and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/a-nose-job-at-the-age-of-12-is-just-too-early-the-nose-hasn-t-grown/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [We are constantly being showered by little blood clots, but if you have PFO and a little blood clot gets to your brain, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/we-are-constantly-being-showered-by-little-blood-clots-but-if-you/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [I had a woman who couldn't work, couldn't get a job, because she was so disabled by her plastic surgery. Fourteen different plastic surgeons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/i-had-a-woman-who-couldn-t-work-couldn-t-get-a-job-because-she-was-so/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [You have to learn how to fight. That's a really important part of continuing on in a healthy relationship, to realize it's natural to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/you-have-to-learn-how-to-fight-that-s-a-really-important-part-of/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [I'm gonna say Kylie, to me she's the new Marilyn Monroe. She is the needle mover of plastic surgery, if she does something, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/i-m-gonna-say-kylie-to-me-she-s-the-new-marilyn-monroe-she-is-the/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [People have to stop making people feel bad about being on these drugs. Stop Ozempic shaming because it's not nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/people-have-to-stop-making-people-feel-bad-about-being-on-these-drugs/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) > [Plastic surgery is a business. We need to sell you expensive procedures. But it's often better to do less invasive procedures. You will mostly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/plastic-surgery-is-a-business-we-need-to-sell-you-expensive/) [Terry Dubrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) [Explore all 91 Terry Dubrow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/) ## More Botox quotes > [You look so pretty with you diamonds and you designer botox. You'll have to put something special in that little red box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelspit/you-look-so-pretty-with-you-diamonds-and-you-designer-botox-you-ll/) [Angelspit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelspit/) > [Like, if you look at Heidi Montag, who got 10 surgeries she didn't need, I think that's unfortunate. I've always been voluptuous with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/like-if-you-look-at-heidi-montag-who-got-10-surgeries-she-didn-t-need/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [I see pictures of myself BB - before Botox - and I see the ones after and I am happy. I am on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-kyle/i-see-pictures-of-myself-bb-before-botox-and-i-see-the-ones-after-and/) [Jeremy Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-kyle/) > [According to a new study, Botox injections can help back pain. So you see, that's why John Kerry had all that Botox - his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/according-to-a-new-study-botox-injections-can-help-back-pain-so-you/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I don't use Botox or Restylane and I've never had any surgery. A male friend in the fashion industry once asked me, 'Why is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teri-hatcher/i-don-t-use-botox-or-restylane-and-i-ve-never-had-any-surgery-a-male/) [Teri Hatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teri-hatcher/) > [No, it has not been hard to grow older, because I believe if you have something you believe in that will keep you alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veruschka-von-lehndorff/no-it-has-not-been-hard-to-grow-older-because-i-believe-if-you-have/) [Veruschka von Lehndorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veruschka-von-lehndorff/) > [“Plastic surgery can easily get the wrinkles out of your skin, but NEVER out of your brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constant-swagemakers/plastic-surgery-can-easily-get-the-wrinkles-out-of-your-skin-but/) [Constant Swagemakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constant-swagemakers/) > [Look, it's to the point where kids are getting Botox. It's insane. We're not allowed to age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanna-arquette/look-it-s-to-the-point-where-kids-are-getting-botox-it-s-insane-we-re/) [Rosanna Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanna-arquette/) > [To his ex-wife in court, he said I lost interest in you when the Botox lost its effect and you looked like a plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/to-his-ex-wife-in-court-he-said-i-lost-interest-in-you-when-the-botox/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [I have had the occasion of coming into money and spending some recklessly, like on a purse. At this point, shopping and the spending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-tea/i-have-had-the-occasion-of-coming-into-money-and-spending-some/) [Michelle Tea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-tea/) > [The idea that people would work on themselves, who hadn't had an accident - I can't stand plastic surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niki-lauda/the-idea-that-people-would-work-on-themselves-who-hadn-t-had-an/) [Niki Lauda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niki-lauda/) > [I'm not having plastic surgery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-burke/i-m-not-having-plastic-surgery/) [Doris Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-burke/) > [I don't think badly of or oppose having plastic surgery. I once seriously thought of it, but I decided to take my appearance as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-shin-hye/i-don-t-think-badly-of-or-oppose-having-plastic-surgery-i-once/) [Park Shin-hye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-shin-hye/) > [I don't do any microdermabrasion or any type of injections in my skin because I think that's really just temporary. And if the nerve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melania-trump/i-don-t-do-any-microdermabrasion-or-any-type-of-injections-in-my-skin/) [Melania Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melania-trump/) > [Probably the only type of cosmetic surgery I'd consider is having my bust reduced. It's alright for my current role in 'The Marquise' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-mara/probably-the-only-type-of-cosmetic-surgery-i-d-consider-is-having-my/) [Kate O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-mara/) [Browse all 442 Botox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/botox/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At first, you don't do cosmetic surgery because you're not good enough yet. So you start out doing reconstructive surgery, which is really fun. And then you get good enough and people start letting you do cosmetic surgery, and I did that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Dubrow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-because-you-re-not-good-enough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Botox" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-because-you-re-not-good-enough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/terry-dubrow-7477_botox_at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-b_2959227.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/terry-dubrow-7477_botox_at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-b_2959227.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a3/terry-dubrow-7477_botox_at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-b_2959227.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At first, you don't do cosmetic surgery because you're not good enough yet. So you start out doing…” — Terry Dubrow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Terry Dubrow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-dubrow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "At first, you don't do cosmetic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-because-you-re-not-good-enough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-dubrow/at-first-you-don-t-do-cosmetic-surgery-because-you-re-not-good-enough/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```