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The shroud of mystery surrounding plastic surgery is becoming more and more transparent as patients learn about the many possibilities open to them. In light of increasing interest in plastic surgery, Christopher Spittler, M.D., of Plastic Surgery Specialists, emphasizes the importance of choosing a plastic surgeon that has completed an accredited residency program in plastic surgery and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
“It’s also important to look for experience,” says Dr. Spittler. “I am never offended when a patient asks about my training and background. That conversation should flow freely between the surgeon and the patient.”
The Plastic Surgery Specialists team is comprised of David Lowe, M.D., Paul Buhrer, M.D., Daniel Laughlin, M.D., and Dr. Spittler. All four are board certified plastic surgeons and members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. Their 70 years of combined experience make the group somewhat unique. “You’re not going to find many four-man plastic surgery groups with this experience,” Dr. Lowe says. “Our corporate memory goes back to 1984 and ings a continuity that greatly enhances the effectiveness of the practice. When you have that many years of experience, there’s not much the practice as a whole has not seen.”
Plastic Surgery Specialists features its own outpatient surgery facility where all cosmetic procedures are performed in privacy and comfort. Reconstructive procedures, such as east reconstruction after surgery for east cancer, are performed at Anne Arundel Medical Center. (Plastic Surgery Specialists is affiliated with the Breast Center there.) The reconstruction of defects following skin cancer removal, usually on the face, is performed at all of the PSS facilities. Each plastic surgeon has his own nurse who sees patients from the first pre-op visit all the way through surgery and beyond. “Our patients appreciate that level of personal interaction and continuity with the nurse,” says Dr. Laughlin.
The trend today in cosmetic plastic surgery is more toward maintenance. Patients are visiting the plastic surgeon younger or earlier, before they find themselves in a situation where they’ll need something dramatic.
“Our range of services goes from the lowest rung of the ladder, which is skin care, to the highest rung of the ladder—surgery—and includes everything in between,” Dr. Buhrer says. “Most people have seen the different procedures on television or the Internet, and they know what they want: east reduction or augmentation; face lift; ear, chin or nose reshaping; tummy tuck; liposuction. The fact that we are a large practice means we have the resources to keep up with the latest technologies and procedures in every area of plastic surgery.”
In addition to the Annapolis facility, Plastic Surgery Specialists provides consultations at four satellite locations in Easton, Severna Park, Prince Frederick and Waugh Chapel. The Annapolis, Easton and Severna Park offices feature a medispa staffed with skin care specialists who are backed by the surgeons of Plastic Surgery Specialists.
While cosmetic and reconstructive procedures are very different, the goal of Plastic Surgery Specialists is to provide highly personalized, compassionate care and excellent outcomes for every patient.
Plastic Surgery Specialists
2448 Holly Avenue, Annapolis
410-841-5355
Wrinkles, dark spots, unwanted hair…ah, the effects of aging! Although no real preventive measures completely outwit the ravages of time, medical science has come up with some very effective methods to rejuvenate skin and produce a youthful appearance.
Treatments and services offered by PSS MediSpa can be defined by three exclusive criteria: They must be medically sound. They must be results driven. And they must be among the procedures approved by the affiliated physicians of Plastic Surgery Specialists (PSS).
“The medical component of PSS MediSpa assures the availability of a physician to evaluate a patient’s condition and recommend specific treatments.”
Because of this connection, PSS MediSpa can offer more aggressive treatments and products than the average day spa. Procedures incorporate a variety of evolving technologies, such as permanent laser hair removal for both men and women performed by a registered nurse, and intense pulse light (IPL) to target and treat sun-damaged skin, age spots and rosacea. ReFirme, a non-surgical skin tightening procedure, uses radio frequency and infrared light to stimulate collagen and make the skin firmer. Microderma asion, another non-surgical procedure, removes the dead, outer layer of skin to improve the appearance of skin damaged by the sun, fine lines, acne scars and age spots.
Treatments are highly personalized and based on individual needs. “In the case of acne, which is a very common condition among teens and adults, an esthetician will review the individual’s skin type, diet, and skincare products,” says Steffani Baesch, manager of PSS MediSpa. She then comes up with an individual program to fit the patient’s skin type and problem area. Our results have been very good.”
PSS MediSpa offers a wide range of medical-grade skin care products and makeup, chemical peels, and injectables, as well as its own private line of anti-aging treatments, cell rejuvenating serum products and face washes.
The idea to create PSS MediSpa originated over 25 years ago when a PSS nurse took an interest in esthetics. Today, the medispa team consists of six medical estheticians trained in the latest medical spa techniques, inging more than 60 years of combined experience to the practice. The four board-certified plastic surgeons of PSS oversee the operation of the medispas at the Annapolis, Easton and Severna Park locations.
“There is a huge and growing awareness of medispa technology today,” says Paul Buhrer, M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon and the medical director of PSS MediSpa. “Medispa treatment is a great way for younger patients who are not ready for cosmetic surgery to put off for as long as they can what they may ultimately want to have.”
Patients who choose to have cosmetic surgery are advised to have their skin in the healthiest possible condition. “We support what the physicians are doing by educating and preparing patients for the best surgical result,” says Ms. Baesch. For the non-surgical patient, PSS MediSpa provides quality skin care treatments that safely and effectively manage the early signs of aging.
PSS MediSpa
2448 Holly Avenue, Suite 101
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-841-5355
