Pasadena Magazine is the bi-monthly magazine of Pasadena and its surrounding areas – the diverse, historically rich and culturally vibrant region that includes Glendale, the Eastside of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley all the way to Claremont.
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LILY LEE, MD Plastic Surgery and MedSpa Dr. Lee is a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. A com- bination of her Chinese ethnicity, Texas up- bringing, Midwest education and West Coast surgical training have helped shape her career into a well-rounded cosmetic and reconstruc- tive surgery practice. Dr. Lee graduated with honors from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. She spent the next 10 years, post-grad, at the University of Southern California (USC) honing her skills in all aspects of plastic surgery. Dr. Lee is passionate about helping people look and feel their personal best! Q: What sort of surgeries do you specialize in? My favorite surgeries are those that come in pairs: Eyes, ears and breasts! I fi rmly believe that symmetry is the essence of beauty and do- ing it well sometimes makes for a very welcome challenge. That being said, I am a Board Certifi ed Plastic Surgeon and am well trained in all aspects of plastic surgery. Performing a tummy tuck and allowing a person to enjoy wearing the clothes that they have wanted to for years is an extremely rewarding experience! Q: What's new on the market that you are really excited about? The world of plastic surgery is constantly improving and expanding. We now have a huge spectrum of services to offer ranging from medical-grade skin care to life-changing sur- gery. There truly is "something for everyone." In the non-surgical realm, Ultherapy is the latest in non-surgical brow, neck and decollete lifting, using ultrasonic technology to perma- nently tighten loose collagen and fi bro-fatty tissues underneath the skin. In the surgical realm, we have refi ned autologous fat grafting techniques that really restore a youthful appearance, rather than relying on pulling skin and causing a "joker in a wind tunnel" look. Q: When is the right time to start having plastic surgery? I have operated on patients from 3 days old to 101 years old! There are generally two reasons for having plastic surgery: restoration and enhancement. When to start really depends on your motivations, which are personal, unique and should be discussed with your surgeon. I often get asked by young women whether they should have breast augmentation now or wait until after they have babies. There really is no right answer but the overwhelming majority of women who are known to be able to breastfeed, have no trouble breast feeding after having breast implants placed. Q: How long do surgical results last? Surgery is certainly the thing that is most meant for permanence in my tool belt. I say the word "permanence" with some caution, as there are so many factors involved. Everyone's face and body changes over time. Your surgi- cal results will change with you, too. Age, gravity and your environment contribute to the amount of time that you have with your surgical result. I can help reverse time, but the goal is not to stop time completely. How much time, exactly, depends on your genetics and home care regimen. Fortunately, a good regimen of non-surgicals (topicals, lasers and peels) can maximize surgical results for longer periods of time. Q: How long will I be "out" after plastic surgery? Probably not as long as you think and it does varies from person to person. Many of my eye- lid, ear and breast augmentation patients have outpatient surgery on Thursday or Friday and go back to work on Monday. I fi rmly believe that post op healing has a lot to do with "mind over matter." If you think you will be bedridden for a month, you just might be. Those who are super motivated to get back to normal life quickly usually do. Q: I don't want to look "done". Is there cos- metic plastic surgery that looks natural? I don't want you to look "done" either! The last thing I want is one of my clients walk- ing around the Pasadena area looking like a surprised-duck-in-a-wind-tunnel with my name attached to it! I am certain that you have met or might even be great friends with someone who has had plastic surgery and you would never know because it looks so natural. Excellent plastic surgery takes careful consid- eration of symmetry and is simply a restoration of youthfulness. Contact Info: Lily Lee, MD Plastic Surgery and MedSpa, 100 E. California Blvd., Pasadena CA 91105, 626.817.0818, www.lilyleemd.com FEBRUARY 2016 51 B O D Y, M I N D A N D S P I R I T HEALTH & WELLNESS health_Feb16.indd 51 1/20/16 2:38 PM