Fair & Equal Treatment, by Dr. Babak Dadvand

"I realize that as a plastic surgeon, I may not be literally saving someone’s life. However, I strive to improve the quality of life for my patients. I always try to do things in my personal and professional life that can have an impact on the people around me. This has led me to transgender surgery, and specifically transgender TOP surgery.

Every human being can look at their life as an evolving journey. For transgender people, this journey takes on many different meanings. There is the emotional and spiritual journey, the biologic journey, and the physical journey. The physical journey is the culmination, the last piece of the so-called puzzle to complete the transformation that for most began many years ago.

Transgender TOP surgery is a procedure that in a matter of a few hours can alter the trajectory of one’s life for years to come. For me personally, knowing that I played a small part in helping my patient look on the outside how they have always felt on the inside, is a privilege.

Fortunately, times are slowly changing for the better. Transgender people are getting their voices heard and the message is simple: Every human being has the right to be themselves, to be true to themselves, and receive fair and equal treatment. I support any campaign that promotes the ideals of fair and equal treatment, the core behind NOH8."

~ Dr. Babak Dadvand

"From as young as I can remember, I thought the world was so beautiful with all the different races and cultures. As I grew up I came to understand that among my own people there were differences in beliefs of religion and sexuality. I came to understand that some of my own family members were gay or transgender. Just as I embraced the colorful world of race and culture, I immediately embraced the idea that love is not just one way. It is all ways.

I realized it's all centered around someone finding their one true self and being happy in their own skin so that they may serve the world with their special purpose. We all deserve to be who we want to be... and love is the only universal language that unites us all. We should be so lucky to live in such a diverse world. How boring it would be otherwise.”

~ Michelle Black, Surgical Coordinator for Dr. Babak Dadvand