Born and raised in Montreal, Stanley Jacobs, M.D., has called the North Bay home for nearly three decades. Before establishing The Jacobs Center for Cosmetic Surgery, he arrived in the Bay Area for a fellowship program in 1989, and he and his wife, Joni, promptly decided to stay. They settled in Santa Rosa and have two children: Austin, who is 27 years old and an engineer at Google, and Spencer, 24, who is at the University of Copenhagen to earn his master’s degree in agricultural science. Outside of his Healdsburg and San Francisco practices, Jacobs likes to travel and has a keen interest in Egypt and its ancient skin-care techniques. He also plans to visit Uganda this year to teach villagers how to sew wounds together for proper healing. And Jacobs likes keeping fit, with an array of physical activities such as Spartan Races, ice hockey and hiking to Lake Ilsanjo with a 60-pound sandbag for added difficulty. “I want to push myself, physically and mentally, to see how far I can go,” he says, adding with a bit of laughter, “What’s the worst that can happen? Life is an experiment.”
Had you experienced an earthquake before you moved to the Bay Area?
We had never experienced an earthquake before Loma Prieta in ’89. I was in a medical office in Santa Rosa, and my mentor was looking in a patient’s ear. The patient said, “You are making me dizzy.” My mentor replied, “No, it’s an earthquake.” It was the year the 49ers won the Super Bowl and the Battle of the Bay World Series. I thought—wow, is it always this exciting around here?
How are you staying positive during the pandemic and ever-changing restrictions?
I’ve continued to exercise, which really clears my mind. I studied my surgeries and focused on how I could improve, once we got back to treating patients.
After what physical activity or exercise does your body feel most exhausted?
I feel most exhausted after lifting heavy weights at CrossFit, like back squats, deadlifts and power cleans.
It is possible to express the unique intrigue of ancient Egypt in a few sentences?
When people leave Egypt, they feel this deep sense of sadness and longing, as though a part of their DNA is being left behind. I think that since ancient Egypt was so long ago—and their culture has influenced peoples’ lives for so long—that a significant amount of the world’s cultures share in their amazing history, even if one is not conscientiously aware of it.
Why did you start your SODOTO (See One Do One Teach One) Healing Project?
Many people have little to no access to basic surgical care. If a villager cuts his or her foot, this can lead to infection, amputation or death. It also struck a chord when Mi Futuro asked me to teach junior high school students how to sew a pig’s foot. It became clear that if I could teach them to sew a wound in 45 minutes, I could teach villagers to do the same.
What was the last song you heard that changed your mood for the better?
The song that made me feel calm and relaxed my shoulders immediately was the Brazilian jazz singer Bebel Gilberto’s Tanto Tempo. I love playing it in my operating room.
What is your advice for aging well?
Think about being “ageless.” It’s less important what your age is, compared to how you look and feel. To that end: the basics never fail. Eat properly. Focus on strenuous exercise—push yourself.
That part of your last answer that alluded to looking young—how does one do that?
From a cosmetic surgeon’s perspective: use a good cleanser, moisturize and sunscreen, and avoid toxic substances. (However, I admit I like to drink red wine and eat chocolate).
Of the countries you’ve visited, which one had the best food?
The best food for me was not surprisingly in Italy. It’s hard to beat a dish like spaghetti Bolognese or grilled branzino fish.
