As one of the top plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills, Dr. Marc Mani has provided services to A-listers and celebrities for decades.
He has made scientific advancements in cosmetic surgery, such as the first scarless facelift, which lifts the muscles of the face and neck, rather than the skin, allowing for what he says is a more natural look. Additionally, he’s developed a technique called Minimally Invasive Stromal Vascular Technique, which uses your own stem cells to brighten your face and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars.
Also a skillful artist and painter, Mani’s passion is finding the beauty in the world — and in every human being.
“Beauty is confidence, and so if you bring out someone’s confidence, then they become more beautiful,” he said. “We’re here to bring out the individuality and the individual beauty. We want your eyes to shine more. We want your soul to speak more.”
In this episode of “LA Stories,” Mani opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about the moment his life was flipped upside down. In 2018, he was charged and convicted of failing to disclose his interest in a foreign bank account. The act landed him in federal prison.
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Mani used his time behind bars to study quantum physics and evolutionary theory, which he is publishing a book on.
“One of the important questions of science that really hasn’t been answered is, ‘Why do human beings cooperate so extremely?’” he said. “What I’ve always believed is that human beings evolved to help each other out, and that’s part of what I try to answer.”
The time in prison also allowed Mani to reflect on what’s most important to him in life. He’s grown closer to his daughter but also discovered a newfound motivation for his charity work with Face Forward International, a nonprofit that offers free cosmetic surgery to victims of domestic violence, sex trafficking and other crimes.
For Mani, his time in prison made him recommit himself to his craft for the benefit of those who need it most.
“It made me want to go deeper and use those skills for that for no other reason than just to help and to be of service,” he said. “Ultimately, you know, the most important thing about your life is the service you provide.”
Watch “LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez” at 9 p.m. every Monday on Spectrum News 1.