“Surgery was my first choice when I started medical school, and plastic surgery became my dream profession at an early stage. I find plastic surgery to be the most versatile field within surgery, and it offers me the kind of challenges I like to have in my work. For example, challenging scar corrections are procedures where I can put my strengths as a plastic surgeon to good use.”
Patient work was one of the aspects that had a major impact on the career choice of Valtonen, who works as a plastic surgery specialist at the Ihosairaala, because when meeting the patient he is able to offer concrete help and solve what can be rather difficult problems. It is important for him to see the result of his work and to feel that he has improved the quality of life of his patients.
“The best feedback is when I feel that the patient trusts me as a doctor and a surgeon. Often when meeting patients I can clearly sense that a feeling of trust has been created between myself and the patient. I am empathetic and an easy person to approach – this is particularly helpful with child patients and patients who are afraid of treatments. I always try to be clear enough and explain to the patient what we are dealing with, what we are actually doing and why we a doing it. Having a common understanding makes treatment so much easier.”
Jussi Valtonen specialises in various scar repair and laser treatments. He says a laser is an excellent tool for mole removal, for example, and also useful for scar treatment. Valtonen also performs skin tumour surgery, upper eyelid surgery, lipotransfers and certain other aesthetic procedures at the Skin Hospital.
