To follow in his father’s footsteps, Dr. Filiberto Rodriguez set out to pursue a career as a cardiac surgeon. He completed his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, received a full scholarship to the University of Virginia School of Medicine, then began the cardiovascular surgical program at Stanford University.
“My father started heart surgery here in McAllen in 1983, and his program was ranked number one in the State of Texas for outcomes and safety,” Dr. Rodriguez said.
The Rio Grande Valley local who had been passionately dedicated to becoming a heart surgeon suffered an injury that would set him on a new specialty. “I always loved plastic surgery,” Dr. Rodriguez said. Plastic surgery was the only other specialty that had captured the attention of the dedicated student.
Dr. Rodriguez was encouraged by his professors to apply for an opening in the plastic surgery fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His resume spoke for itself, and he was accepted.
He detailed the six-year integrated training in the world of plastic surgery, which includes operating on burn victims, children with cleft palates, and cancer survivors. He was especially drawn to the cosmetic portion of plastic surgery. “I liked aesthetic plastic surgery,” he said.
Dr. Rodriguez decided to refine his cosmetic surgical skills and experience by committing to an additional one-year fellowship through the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery at the Body Sculpting Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he personally performed over 1,000 surgeries.
“The whole year was spent doing advanced cosmetic surgery,” Dr. Rodriguez explained.
Performing surgeries with Beverly Hills-quality results, he was asked to stay in Scottsdale to continue performing advanced cosmetic procedures. He chose to come back to the Rio Grande Valley.
“South Texas is very unique; it’s one of the fastest growing areas in Texas along with Austin,” said Dr. Rodriguez, sharing his reasons for moving back.
Soon after opening his practice, RGV Cosmetic Surgery and Vein Center, Dr. Rodriguez began receiving a lot of patients who were coming in for corrective surgery due to botched jobs elsewhere.
Dr. Rodriguez is passionate about providing premier patient safety and education, and the reviews from his patients speak for themselves. “I think people neglect patient safety.
For some reason, people tend to downplay the risks associated with cosmetic surgery. Patients were surprised that they were actually speaking to the surgeon during the consultation and getting education,” he said.
Dr. Rodriguez has received numerous awards, including funding from the National Institutes of Health, The American College of Surgeons Scholarship for the Study of Surgical Wound Healing, and The American Heart Association Vivien Thomas Award. He holds a triple certification with the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Board of Surgery, and the American Board of Venous Lymphatic Medicine.
RGV Cosmetic Surgery and Vein Center is the leading cosmetic surgery and varicose vein care center of South Texas. The practice offers a highly-trained and qualified staff, and a wide range of effective treatment options for patients. For more information, visit their website at www.rgvcosmetic.com.
