Let’s Talk Aesthetics: The Future of Combined Aesthetic Medicine

Dr. Kamakshi R. Zeidler and Dr. Amelia K. Hausauer of Aesthetx talk plastic surgery and dermatology. Based in the heart of the Silicon Valley, Aesthetx is the premier practice focusing on aesthetic medicine by combining these two specialities to deliver beautiful results. Get to know each of the experts, and these combined fields, in our Q&A.

Q: Why did you decide to go into practice together?
Dr. Zeidler: Dr. R. Laurence Berkowitz and I formed Aesthetx in February 2016 to become the premier plastic surgery practice in the Silicon Valley. Our goal was to find a dermatology partner that shared this vision and our philosophy around combining these disciplines to provide incredible results for our patients. We were very impressed by Dr. Hausauer’s background in the field of minimally invasive aesthetics and her ability to be at the forefront of all developments in the field of dermatology. She shared this same vision and quickly joined us as our Director of Dermatology. With the addition of Dr. Hausauer, we now have the benefit of having all of the services in one place, while continuing to provide our patients with world class, cutting edge care that draws from very deep and rich backgrounds.

Q: Why is combining plastic surgery and dermatology so unique and so beneficial to the patient?
Dr. Hausauer: There are countless benefits to having highly skilled and board-certified dermatology and plastic surgery under one roof at Aesthetx. Bottom line, it gives us the ability to have multi-disciplinary conversations that take patient care to another level. We can address patient concerns on many levels: superficial to deep, top to bottom. Having all of the services in one place is not only convenient but also ensures quality control. At Aesthetx, we hold each other to the highest standards and teach one another on a daily basis. Another advantage is that we have open and direct lines of communication. I can pull Dr. Zeidler into a room to answers questions or address concerns about a patient that may be beyond my scope of practice, and Dr. Zeidler can pull me into a room for the same in reverse. There is an organic exchange of expertise and information so each patient gets the most complete, well-rounded, individually tailored, and timely care.

Q: What falls under the scope of one specialty over the other? How can you use both to enhance each?
Dr. Hausauer: While here is a lot of overlap in the way our specialties come together, there is also much to be said about the depth of our individual trainings. Both of us completed residency and the sub-specialty fellowship in our respective fields.That means hours upon hours, years upon years learning what we do full time. This brings maturity and nuance to our practice of aesthetic medicine. For example, my understanding of the skin on a molecular/cellular level helps me figure out what procedures and topical skin care products complement surgery. Knowing the scientific differences between all of the neurotoxins (most common example is Botox but other popular products are Xeomin and Dysport) and fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero allows me to create highly customized results. This means that our patients don’t get a one size fits all approach. On the flip side, there are limitations to these procedures. This is where Dr. Zeidler steps in. She spend all her time doing surgery, so her techniques have become very refined and state-of-the-art, particularly with breast surgery.

Q: What are the most common combined procedures?
Dr. Zeidler: We often work together on scar refinement. There are steps we can take before, during, and after surgery to better conceal scars. For example, there are ways to blend fine line scars into surrounding skin, limit redness, and thin thickened or keloid type scars using preoperative bleaching creams, and postoperative treatments like microneedling and laser resurfacing. Second to that, facial and décolletage and even hand laser resurfacing is another very common procedure that is added on to surgical procedures such as facelifts and breast rejuvenation. Patients will often have a laser done at the time of their operation to soften fine lines and minimize sunspots that surgery cannot address.

Q: How do you define preventative scarring and why is this so important to patients?
Dr. Hausauer: We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the newest and most effective ways to address scarring. This has allowed us to develop a healing protocol that begins with a pre-operative consultation and continues throughout recovery. By combining our specialties, we can address scars early and aggressively to optimize results. We can educate patients and set expectations. Any time you break or injure the skin it leaves a footprint, but our job is to camouflage and diminish. That starts with careful planning and thoughtful, scientifically-based treatments throughout the healing process.

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“By combining our specialties, we can address scars early and aggressively to optimize results. We can educate patients and set expectations. Any time you break or injure the skin it leaves a footprint, but our job is to camouflage and diminish.”

Q: What is the future of combined aesthetic medicine? What’s coming down the pipeline
Dr. Zeidler: Aesthetx runs a number of clinical trials in our office in an attempt to move science forward in new and exciting ways. Many of the projects that we are currently pursuing allow for collaboration and application to multiple different medical specialties, multiple body areas, and multiple conditions. Because of our diverse backgrounds and experiences, each of us sees different potential in the same opportunity and that makes for exciting movements forward. Some good examples are new minimally invasive devices that translate surgical techniques but make them office appropriate. We are also exploring more pre-operative procedures to improve surgical wound healing and limit scars. Given that we practice in Silicon Valley, another emerging frontier is the use of digital technology in aesthetics care. We see opportunity for tech not just in the traditional sense like imaging and treatment devices but as a way of enhancing patient communication and providing a personalized and integrative experience.

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