Dr. Chris Chase always knew he wanted to be a surgeon.

Ever since fracturing his collarbone as a child and getting medical attention, the field had interested him. Later, during his medical training Chase thought that cosmetic surgery would be the best fit for him because of his creative background. Chase had long enjoyed art and woodworking. With cosmetic elective surgery, Chase said he gets to be creative to really give patients what they want.

Chase said his work is most rewarding to him when patients are happy and have improved self-esteem.

“There’s just a high-level satisfaction in that for me,” Chase said. He has been working in the field of cosmetic plastic surgery since 2000.

Though he started his practice in Chattanooga, Chase always wanted to come back to serve the area he grew up in — Cleveland. So, he opened an office in the city in 2004.

In recent years elective plastic surgery has become a bigger industry.

“It’s become so accepted,” Chase said, commenting that the most common surgery in his office is the “mommy makeover” — elective procedures that recent mothers have to reverse the physical changes after giving birth.

Chase said plastic surgery really covers the entire body. Although some patients have apprehension during the first consultation, he said patients then become excited about the surgery. Part of the doctor’s job before the actual surgery is to asses whether the prospective patient has a legitimate concern and if surgery could actually help. Chase said sometimes surgery will not help the situation. Chase also watches out for individuals with an overly negative self-image, especially of their stomach. However, 95 percent of the potential patients who come to Chase have a legitimate issue that can be improved with surgery.

The difficulty for Chase comes in “trying to figure out the person’s expectations” and fulfilling them with “perfect results,” which obviously can be difficult to achieve, and are subjective.

There are two main branches of plastic surgery — reconstructive and cosmetic. Chase focuses on the cosmetic side.

When looking for a cosmetic surgeon, Chase said it is important to make sure the doctor is certified with a board that is recognized through the American Board of Medical Specialty. Chase is board certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

His Cleveland office Associates in Plastic and Reonstructive Surgery is located at 2350 North Ocoee St.