By Heidi Simmons
The Coachella Valley’s population seems to be getting younger and more beautiful. Today’s technology, along with a skilled practitioner, can make you look as young and as beautiful as you feel. For Doctor Mark V. Sofonio, that’s what gives him pleasure. “The best part of my job is making people happy,” said Sofonio. “It’s why I perform plastic surgery instead of general surgery. Plastic surgery is really fun work. It makes people more emotionally fulfilled.”
Sofonio is a Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. His undergraduate study at UCR was in biomedical science. He earned his Medical Doctorate from UCLA. Four more years followed with a general surgery internship and residency at the University of Hawaii. Sofonio did another two years of residency in plastic surgery at the University of Ohio. He spent several more years in aesthetic and burn fellowships on the East Coast.
“I like plastic surgery because it’s artistic,” said Sofonio. “You get to see your results right away. You have to hit a homerun when you’re operating. It’s intellectually challenging because each case has to be as good as it can be. That makes it interesting to me.”
As a general surgeon, Sofonio is drawn to plastic surgery because of the diverse restorative challenges. “There’s trauma, burns, hand surgery and tissue moving. There’s the fine surgery to correct cleft lips or pallets, deformities of nature and asymmetry. Plastic surgeons can operate everywhere on the body. Cosmetic surgery is just one part of what we do.”
Born and raised in Southern California, Sofonio moved to Palm Springs with his folks when he was just seven years old. He attended Cahuilla Elementary, Nellie Coffman Middle and Palm Springs High School. Other than during his 14 years of education, Sofonio has only lived in the valley.
Having witnessed the changes in the Coachella Valley since the 70s, Sofonio believes there is still no better place to live. “I like the weather, the people, the location, it’s the best,” said Sofonio. “When I was young here, it was a very safe and quiet community. As it’s grown, the cities have had to deal with stresses such as congestion, financial issues and crime. But I still think it’s better here than almost any other city.”
Sofonio doesn’t want to see the CV grow too fast. “I’d like to see it stay a destination where people like to come to relax. I wouldn’t want to see a lot of businesses come here where it becomes a massive hub like Phoenix, which exploded as a city. I don’t see a benefit. This area has everything already.”
In his early fifties, Sofonio has no intention of slowing down. “I’m still inspired by competition,” said Sofonio. “That is, on a personal basis I constantly strive to do better.”
When Sofonio was four, he already knew he wanted to be a doctor. “When people came to our house, I’d ask how they were feeling,” said Sofonio. “I’d listen and then treat them with juice or whatever I thought would help.”
Married and with three young children, Sofonio is a very busy man. Any free time is spent being Dad. He loves animals and gives to the Animal Samaritans.
Sofonio doesn’t take vacations. He says he’d be bored. Instead he travels to medical conferences several times a year where he either lectures on new technologies or is learning about new technology.
Over the last decade, Sofonio has brought every new technology to his practice. With an investment of millions of dollars, Sofonio wanted the desert to have the very best technology available. “There is no place you can go in the United States to find better or newer technology than I currently have in my office,” Sofonio said. “We have it all here, so there’s no need to leave the Coachella Valley.”
For Sofonio, he too has it all. “I’ve practiced for 20 years. Done over 10,000 procedures. I was Chief of Plastic Surgery for over a decade. I’ve got a wonderful family. If I had five minutes to live I’d say there’s nothing I regret. I’ve done everything I wanted, got everything I wanted.”
Without a doubt, Sofonio loves what he does. His work is his passion and his recreation.
