We are fortunate to call Richmond home, as this city offers a thriving wellness scene, including numerous healers and practitioners focused on restoring and rejuvenating our minds, bodies, and spirits.

If you’d like to invest in your wellness while also supporting our local community, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite health-boosting businesses in the capital area. We’re covering both the well-known, as well as options that are off-beat and might surprise you!

Tiny, candy-colored “skincare fridges” seem to be showing up on everyone’s bathroom counters, but does this mean that you need to keep your products in the refrigerator? If you are like our patients, you have invested in a regimen of science-backed, medical-grade skincare products—so this question is an important one! Below, we explain which products should always be kept at room temperature, as well as which products can (or should) be refrigerated. Pro tip: Your kitchen refrigerator works just as well as a beauty fridge!

Capsular contracture is a common condition experienced after breast augmentation surgery. Surgeons have made great strides in predicting who may be at greater risk for capsular contracture and have implemented the latest surgical techniques and methods to reduce the number of cases, but, despite best efforts to avoid capsular contracture, some patients will still experience this condition. I am dedicating this month’s blog to support women considering breast augmentation in understanding capsular contracture, the associated risks and symptoms, and what steps to take if you are concerned your breasts may be affected. 

Each year in the United States, approximately 4,400 infants are born with a cleft lip and 2,600 are born with a cleft palate, with some babies some experiencing both abnormalities. As a pediatric craniofacial surgeon, I’m using this month’s blog to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of craniofacial birth defects and other head and face conditions.

Liposuction is ideal for improving body contours, and can be used in a number of areas (both large and small) to sculpt away unwanted fat deposits. However, you may not know that this procedure can be paired with other procedures for optimal results and precision. Below, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sharline Aboutanos explains 5 plastic surgery procedures that are frequently combined with liposuction, and how they create a complementary outcome.

The demand for non-surgical cosmetic enhancements is growing and I often have patients asking if there are treatments that will give them results comparable to surgery without having to go under the knife. One alternative to facelift surgery, thread lift, has surged in popularity, as it may provide some of the same benefits without downtime. However, the procedure is not right for all patients and your provider’s experience is critical to a safe procedure and attractive results. Today, I’m answering some of the top questions patients at my Richmond plastic surgery practice ask about thread lifts.