About Daniel Sherbert, MD
Daniel Sherbert, M.D., F.A.C.S., of West Maple Plastic Surgery in West Bloomfield, MI, considers himself a healthy mix of surgeon, artist and collaborator. First and foremost, though, he is a highly trained surgeon. Sherbert, who grew up outside Kalamazoo, MI, spent most of the 1980s and early ’90s learning and perfecting his craft. Dr200wHe went to Michigan State University as an undergraduate and followed that with training in general and plastic surgery at Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI. He capped his schooling off in 1994 with a six-month fellowship with Dr. Carl Hartrampf of St. Joseph Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Hartrampf was a pioneer in breast reconstruction. In 1981, Hartrampf took tissue removed in an abdominoplasty – a “tummy tuck” – and used it to create a new, living breast. Before that, an implant was the only available choice. Sherbert was intrigued with Hartrampf’s work. “It completely revolutionized breast reconstruction,” he says. Now, Sherbert says, this method is the “gold standard” for breast reconstruction surgery. The experience with Hartrampf led to Sherbert’s finesse as a sub-specialist in the field. Emotionally, “I’ve always found that breast cancer was one of the most devastating diseases,” says Sherbert. “Not only to the patient, but to the family.” He was attracted to reconstruction, he says, because “You can truly add a bit of wholeness back to the patient.” With what Sherbert modestly terms a simple act of surgery, his experience has shown that reconstruction can completely change a patient’s outlook on her diagnosis and its treatment – as well as her life and personal relationships. “The simple act of doing an operation can really restore more than a breast,” he says. “We’re restoring a human being again.” The notion of restoration – physical and psychological – is woven throughout Sherbert’s work. He enjoys the challenge of reconstruction. In order to match a new breast with its mate, many elements of cosmetic breast surgery – including reduction, augmentation, and resuspension – can come into play. Sherbert combines these skills, along with his own creativity, to lend a natural, “unoperated” look. And since each person’s anatomy is different, each patient poses a unique assignment. Approximately 60 percent of his practice includes cosmetic breast work and breast reconstruction. He is also accomplished and enjoys other facets of plastic surgery – including facelifts, eye-lifts, liposuction, rhinoplasty and abdominoplasty. Sherbert has also trained in the latest techniques of ultrasonic-assisted liposuction and carbon dioxide laser skin resurfacing. He views his doctor-patient relationships as honest, collaborative efforts. This means Sherbert takes special care to understand each patient’s goals – and in return he educates them about the feasibility of meeting those expectations. “This is an odyssey that we both go through,” he says. After the decision to proceed, “The only thing you are limited by in plastic surgery is your ingenuity,” he says. Because of his expertise (only one other surgeon in the Detroit area has studied with Hartrampf) – Sherbert is in demand. He performs reconstructions out of four local hospitals. His cosmetic surgical procedures are performed at the cosmetic surgical center at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Sherbert sees about 700 new patients a year and completes about 100 to 125 breast reconstructions annually. That says a lot about customer satisfaction. Nearly all of his work comes from referrals. Sherbert has served the metro Detroit area since the beginning of 1994. Although his practice has kept him busy, he spends plenty of off-hours time with his wife, Beth and his children, Griffin, Evan, and Hannah.
