Steven Bloch, the studious son of a self-made printer, grew up in Riverdale, New York, and was accepted at the Bronx High School of Science (considered at that time to be the finest in the country). Considering a career in architecture, Bloch received a full New York State Scholarship to Syracuse University. However, after a burst appendix, Bloch decided to pursue pre-med and graduated in 1969.
With a full New York State Scholarship, Dr. Bloch entered New York Downstate Medical Center at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, where he received his medical degree in 1973. He then completed his general surgery internship/training in Chicago at the prestigious Northwestern Memorial Hospital and did residencies in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, culminating in Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery. He completed his training in Plastic Surgery as Chief Resident under the renowned Dr. David Dibbell and gained additional experience and expertise under Simon Fredricks in Houston, Texas.
In 1978, Dr. Bloch struck out on his own, establishing a private practice in Highland Park, Illinois. He became board certified in Plastic Surgery in 1980. Quickly becoming a leading force in Plastic Surgery in the Chicago area, he successfully performed the first immediate breast reconstruction after a mastectomy (which, at the time was considered a controversial procedure). Having gained the reputation of always being on the cutting edge, Dr. Bloch is receptive to new procedures provided that he feels these techniques are well grounded in sound scientific and surgical principles. He accepts the challenge to transform an aesthetic sense into a technical skill.
Dr. Bloch's sense of beauty and design is evident in all aspects of his life. It is publicly reflected in his office suite, which combines a neo-classical design, containing elegant classical sculpture and art, with the warmth of the woods in a contemporary setting. This outstanding design was featured in the December 1993 issue of Contract Design. To Dr. Bloch, the Greco-Roman period represents the pinnacle expression of the human art form.
In dealing with the cosmetic patient, Dr. Bloch notes a clear distinction between the patient seeking a new look and the patient who is satisfied with their look, but is more concerned with the effects of the aging process. The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether or not a person's expectations are realistic and can technically be achieved. With the baby boomers coming of age, Dr. Bloch predicts that plastic surgery will undergo an explosive growth. Just as breast implants redefined our concept of the ideal breast, the baby boomers will redefine our ideas about aging. This will be achieved through a coinfluence of factors: remarkable advances in technical procedures, greater affordability, elimination of formerly associated stigmas lowered risks and more rapid recovery periods.
Dr. Bloch was featured for his work in the October 1998 edition of ALLURE Magazine, and also in the November 1998 edition of VOGUE Magazine.
He also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show as, and was touted as one of the leading plastic surgeons in the country . He has been written up in Good Housekeeping, Chicago Tribune, the Sun Times, Crains Business and various other publications. He has appeared numerous times on NBC, CBS, WGN and Fox, where he has introduced cutting-edge technology and procedures.
In addition to running a busy private practice, Dr. Bloch has served as President of the Chicago Society of Plastic Surgeons and on the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Division of Operation Smile. Through Operation Smile, he actively raises funds to provide Plastic Surgery to children from third world countries with cleft lip and craniofacial deformities, in hopes of "putting a smile on every child's face."
Dr. Bloch believes that he has been given a gift and an ability to dramatically enhance the lives of others. With this gift comes a sense of responsibility to provide the most competent, elegant, safe and aesthetically pleasing medical care. Just as during Greco-Roman times, when the human art form reached its pinnacle in art, Dr. Bloch believes that Plastic (from the Greek word "Plastikos"), Surgery is on the verge of reaching its pinnacle of art and science.