A ^Retired Plastic Surgeon's Notebook

Welcome to my blog. I am a retired plastic surgeon in Seattle and was in private practice since 1991. I've seen more than a few interesting faces and cases through my years spent in the exam room, the operating room and the emergency room. And I have an opinion on just about everything relating to plastic surgery (and a lot of unrelated stuff). If you like my blog, let me know. Thanks for reading! Lisa

Category: Skin Care


Got Sunscreen?

June 12th, 2018 — 9:47am

Seattle Plastic Surgeon comments on the results of a long running sunscreen use study from Austrailia.  It’s that time of year when I must nag about tanning.  In rainy Seattle it is so tempting to soak up the sun once summer arrives (that is usually about July 5th).  But please, think before you rip offContinue reading…

Aging Issues, General Health, Skin Cancer, Skin Care, sun damage

Continuity of Care – A Great Value!

August 31st, 2017 — 1:55pm

Seattle Plastic Surgeon implores patients not to fall for “Botox on Sale”. Occasionally I have patients come in for Botox or fillers who have flitted around from doctor to doctor looking for the “best price”.   I hear statements like  “the last Botox didn’t work” , “the Restylane didn’t last”, “I’m not sure what she usedContinue reading…

General Health, Non-invasive, Patient Beware, Plastic Surgery, Skin Care

Self Harm Scars

August 28th, 2017 — 2:57pm

There is no easy treatment for self harm scars. I get a lot of questions about “scar removal” and sometimes these scars are self inflicted.  Cutting, as it is called, occurs most commonly in the young and is associated with a myriad of mental health problems.  Often the turmoil that characterizes these challenging years dissipatesContinue reading…

Scar, Skin Care

Driver’s side skin damage. Check this out!

June 8th, 2017 — 8:12am

Got sunscreen in your glove box?  You should!  This is an ABC news report written by Serena Marsh and edited for length by me.  This was originally posted in 2012. Sunny Side Old: Pic Reveals Sun’s Aging Effects William (Bill) Edward McElligott is two different ages, 66 and 86 yeaars old.  If you look atContinue reading…

Aging Issues, General Health, Now That's a Little Weird, Skin Care, sun damage

Chemical peels can help undo sun damage. But first you have to be a pepperoni pizza.

June 21st, 2016 — 12:44pm

It’s summer and time for me to start ragging and nagging about sun protection.  Well, today it’s gonna be a little different.  I am going to talk about what can be done after the sun damage is done. Many years ago, I spent 6 weeks training with Tom Baker, Howard Gordon and Jim Stuzin in Miami. Continue reading…

Skin Care, sun damage

Very effective sunblock blocked by the FDA.

June 10th, 2015 — 11:33am

  This is an article from the May/June 2015 King County Medical Society Bulletin.  It’s a little long and technical but just hang onto that attention span and read it! Packing a Sunscreen Souvenir Tourists Grab UVA Treatments Common Elsewhere, Illegal Here By Barbara K. Gehrett, M.D. Some international travelers are returning with pharmaceutical souvenirsContinue reading…

General Health, Government and Politics, Skin Cancer, Skin Care, This Makes Me Cranky.

Fifty Shades of Sun Damage

February 24th, 2015 — 8:50pm

Seattle Plastic Surgeon spends a week in Hawaii and returns with no tan lines! Last week I attended the annual meeting of the Northwest Society of Plastic Surgeons on the Big Island of Hawaii.  And contrary to popular belief, I actually sat in a conference room for about 5 hours a day and actually learnedContinue reading…

Skin Cancer, Skin Care, sun damage

Agressive treatment for acne

January 22nd, 2015 — 1:44pm

Treat acne now to avoid scars later. If, like me, you are a fan of the cable T.V. show “Justified” you recognize this man as Johnny Crowder.   I find him very attractive despite his really severe acne scarring.  Maybe it’s because he is the quintessential bad boy or maybe it’s because he has such a softContinue reading…

Acne, Scar, Skin Care

Add a Rash Guard to your summer wardrobe. Your skin will thank you for it.

June 9th, 2014 — 12:06pm

Seattle Plastic Surgeon loves her rash guard.  She also hopes you also have one to love. I love this time of year in Seattle because the outdoor public swimming pools are open and the lakes are warm enough, barely, for a really quick dip.  And I loooove to swim, especially outdoors.  And I loooove my rash guardContinue reading…

General Health, Skin Care, sun damage, Wardrobe Observations

Do you or someone you love rock the Kojak look? Don’t forget a hat!

May 13th, 2014 — 9:09am

Seattle Plastic surgeon beseeches all young Kojaks to wear a hat this summer. We all owe a lot to Telly Savalas, a.k.a. Kojack.  He was man enough to embrace his male pattern baldness and opt for the clean shave rather than a nasty comb-over or a nastier toupee.  And that was way back in theContinue reading…

Skin Cancer, Skin Care, sun damage

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