You’ve had your consultation with Dr. Donaldson, decided on a plan of action together, and maybe even scheduled a date for your surgery. The next thing on your mind is probably ‘where will this all take place?’

At Donaldson Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Solutions, we want you to feel as confident and informed as possible before your procedure, which is why we want to tell you all about where we operate. While minor procedures that can be conducted under local anesthesia are performed in our office procedure room, all general anesthesia procedures are performed at accredited ambulatory surgery centers.

Surgery centers are outpatient facilities focused on providing same-day surgical care with a safe and convenient experience for patients. These centers are equipped with state-of-the-art surgical equipment and highly trained staff that are fully committed to your care and comfort.

Why do we operate at a Surgery Center?

Why not a hospital or, more practically, a private operating room? Many people associate surgery with hospitals, assuming that they are the only facilities equipped for their procedure. Others expect their procedure to be done in an operating room privately owned and exclusive to the practice.

However, there are many reasons that make surgery centers a much better choice for our patients. Here are just a few reasons why they are preferred by Dr. Donaldson.

Patient focused  

When an operating room is privately run, there is a lot of variability in your experience depending on the surgeon and his or her resources. Surgery centers, however, have a much more streamlined system of operations. Every patient and medical professional is there for a planned surgery, and there is no concern of disruption, short-handedness, or a last-minute change to affect your procedure. The environment is comfortable, personalized, and patient-focused, providing a certain level of ease for our patients.

Flexible scheduling

The surgery centers we partner with have multiple surgery suites at their disposal, which provides steady availability for when you schedule your procedure. Surgery centers’ schedules are also less variable than those of privately owned operating rooms, as they’re not dependent on the day-to-day events of the surgeon’s practice. Dr. Donaldson has dedicated time blocked on Tuesdays and Thursdays for that allows your surgery to be scheduled at the center far in advance if you so choose.

Improved safety  

While there is risk associated with any surgery, the vast majority are performed without any complications. However, surgery centers have a full nursing staff and multiple physicians onsite, which provides our patients the peace of mind that they are in the best of hands. These centers are better prepared than private operating rooms in terms of staffing and equipment to handle every emergency situation that might arise.

Short stays  

Surgery centers are outpatient facilities, meaning you will be in and out of your surgery the same day. This is ideal for the type of cosmetic procedures that Dr. Donaldson performs, which are routine and require an extended stay only under very specific conditions, making surgery centers ideal for our patients.

Cost-effective  

Although going with a surgery center is slightly more expensive than using an in-house operating room, the value of the resources and safety provided to the patient make it entirely worth the cost. Also, patients are not subject to any of the indirect and overhead costs of a surgeon’s private operating room, which are left up entirely to the surgeon in question. Payments are also made beforehand with any and all operating room or anaesthesia fees already applied, so there are no surprises waiting for you while you are focusing on recovery.

Higher quality care

Surgery center patients benefit from an equal or even improved quality of care than that found in a privately owned operating room. Dr. Donaldson has hand-picked his own highly trained surgical team for their vast knowledge, experience, and unparalleled ability to deliver the best quality care to his patients. The same team is used for the majority of all of our procedures, allowing Dr. Donaldson to focus on what he does best.

Convenient locations  

Because these facilities are free standing, there are no issues with locating them or finding parking on the day of your surgery. They are designed with your convenience in mind, and are often found adjacent to residential communities for easy access. If privacy is of concern to a patient, surgery centers are relatively inconspicuous and offer a certain level of comfort and discretion.

Central Ohio Surgical Institute (COSI) and Knightsbridge Surgery Center

Although Dr. Donaldson is credentialed at many surgery centers and hospitals in Columbus, there are two that are primarily used because of their expertise, professionalism, and outstanding patient feedback.

Knightsbridge Surgery Center

Conveniently located just off of Rt. 315 and Bethel Road, the Knightsbridge Surgery Center is an outpatient facility created in partnership with OhioHealth. The area’s finest board-certified surgeons, including Dr. Donaldson, hold exclusive operating privileges here, ensuring you are in the best of hands throughout the whole process.

Central Ohio Surgical Institute

Also known as COSI, the Central Ohio Surgical Institute is an outpatient facility located north of Columbus in New Albany. Equipped with the latest in surgical equipment and advanced instrumentation, COSI is known for its sophistication as well as its emphasis on patient comfort, making it a great choice for Dr. Donaldson’s patients.

Learn More About Us

At Donaldson Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Solutions, our commitment to helping patients make informed decisions guides everything that we do. It is important to us that patients have a full-rounded understanding of where their procedure will take place so they can make the best decision for their lives. Our proud partnership with these surgery centers make us confident that we are delivering the best quality care, and we are glad for the opportunity to help you feel the same.

If you would like to learn more about where we operate, reach out to us at [email protected], ring us at (614) 442-7610, or come in for a consultation with Dr. Donaldson.

We’re looking forward to helping you feel like the very best version of you!

Have you heard of microneedling?

It is certainly being celebrated, and for good reason – it has rapidly become a favorite among skincare patients and clinicians alike. So, why is microneedling becoming so popular?

What is Microneedling?

Microneedling is a safe and clinically proven technique for improving collagen production, using ultrafine needles to stimulate your skin’s natural healing process and to improve the appearance of pores, fine lines, acne, scars, discoloration and wrinkles. Quick and non-invasive, microneedling is a long-lasting method to achieve notably smoother, brighter, and more luminous skin after just one treatment.

How does microneedling work?

Essentially, it changes the skin on a cellular level by releasing blood platelets along with growth factors. After every microneedling treatment, your skin begins growing new collagen which, in turn, plumps the skin. Fine lines and wrinkles are prevented or corrected, hyperpigmentation is improved and corrected, and scars are softened or diminished.

How many treatments do I need?

In order to achieve the best results, patients start with six treatments spaced two weeks apart, along with the use of recommended medical-grade products at home. After this initial series is complete, most patients will then continue their microneedling appointments every four to six weeks to maintain their results. The more you receive, the better your skin will be!

Is there downtime?

Downtime is usually very minimal, averaging one to three days of redness depending on the sensitivity of your skin. Typically, skin is the most red immediately after treatment – the process essentially creates controlled wounds, so your body’s natural inflammatory response is activated immediately after treatment.

Your face will look like you got a sunburn, but it will resolve itself much faster than a sunburn would. Redness will subside dramatically in the 24 hours following treatment. You may want to avoid making plans for the following day until your skin returns to its normal color. Makeup and sunblock should also be avoided for 24 hours. There will be some mild flaking of the skin two to three days after the treatment. It will feel dry and tight, but will naturally exfoliate off.

How can I get the most out of microneedling?

Of course, this treatment works best with proper aftercare. Using the right products can optimize your treatment, so I will also spend some time doing a skin assessment. Together, we will develop an easy-to-follow skincare regimen using medical-grade ingredients to complement the microneedling treatment.

Microneedling is like planting a new layer of grass. You need to water and nourish your new foundation in order to see the best results, and maintenance is key to your happy new skin.

Aquagold Fine Touch Treatment

Aquagold Fine Touch is similar to cosmetic microneedling, however it goes a step further. This treatment infuses the skin with customized skin cocktails through 20 small needles plated with 24-karat gold, allowing for greater absorption of the active ingredients through the tiny microchannels.

Tatjana Dzamov, our Lead Medical Aesthetician and Aquagold specialist, recently demonstrated this cutting-edge treatment and explained its benefits on Good Day Marketplace.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bP5hgoe2ak

How does Aquagold Fine Touch treatment work?

First, we will figure out the right combination of serums for your skin. Once filled, the needled applicator is then pressed into the skin in an overlapping pattern, ensuring the solution is delivered evenly into the chosen area.

Does Aquagold hurt?

You may be surprised to hear there is virtually no pain connected with this procedure; your skin will numbed beforehand to ensure maximum comfort, with special attention given to particularly sensitive areas. The needles on the Aquagold applicator are ultra fine, smaller than even a hair follicle, meaning they will create very miniscule and precise punctures while inflicting the least possible amount of damage.

Why go for Aquagold?

Unlike traditional microneedling, Aquagold allows us the added benefit of microdosing combinations of result-driven products like BOTOX®, Restylane®, Volbella, vitamins like B12, peptides like Cytocare 516, and anti-inflammatories like CBD oil into the skin. These products create a specialized elixir that will help to reduce pore size, even out skin tone, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, improve redness and inflammation, and improve acne scars. The end result is glowing and vibrant skin for the next two to three months. For best results, I recommend four treatments spaced four to six weeks apart.

Aquagold and microneedling are not meant to replace each other, but rather to enhance the other’s benefits. Aquagold is a great way to give your microneedling regimen a boost when done in between your microneedling appointments. They pair very well together; microneedling can be done to maintain the benefits from your Aquagold treatment or vice versa.

Are you ready to schedule your microneedling or Aquagold appointment with Tatjana? Give us a call at (614) 442-7610 and get ready for healthy and beautiful skin.

How to Plan Your Aesthetic Treatments Leading Up to Your Wedding

If you have a wedding on the horizon, chances are you have a lot of responsibilities on your plate. What with choosing a venue, picking a perfect bouquet, and dealing with all of the hiccups along the way, it can be easy to put yourself last on the list.

Here at Donaldson Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Solutions, we believe you should spend less time getting pretty and more time feeling pretty. That’s why we’ve decided to remove one of the biggest wedding stressors: timing your beauty and aesthetic treatments.

We’ve laid out an easy to follow guide for scheduling all of your prenuptial procedures. Before we get started, a quick note from Dr. Donaldson:  Starting your aesthetic treatments 12 months out is by no means imperative for a beautiful wedding. Whether it is a year away or the week before ‘I do’, there are treatment options available to help you look and feel like the very best version of you.

One Year

Major Surgeries

If you are considering a procedure like rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, or liposuction before the big day, we recommend scheduling them a year out. This will give you a generous amount of time to heal from the surgery so that you won’t need to be focused on your recovery in the months leading up. If your procedure affects your figure, this also gives you time to consider how your wedding attire may fit differently before and after.

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Eight Months

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a very common treatment leading up to the big day, and for good reason; who should worry about underarm stubble when tossing the bouquet, or the bikini line on their honeymoon? Laser treatments are typically done in a series with an average of six sessions to maximize results. With four to six weeks between each treatment, eight months should provide the right amount of time to smooth those areas.

Ultherapy

If your wedding is at least six months away, Ultherapy is an excellent alternative to give you the benefits of a face lift with no downtime. Using safe ultrasound technology and your skin’s own natural healing process, Ultherapy provides aging skin a boost to improve overall appearance and give you a youthful glow.

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Six Months

CoolSculpting

If surgery is out of the question due to time, finances, or personal preference, another option to consider is CoolSculpting. It is a non-invasive treatment that has become increasingly popular for treating “problem areas” that don’t resolve with pre-wedding diet and exercise. CoolSculpting is often performed on the arms, back, inner and outer thighs, abdomen, love handles, and under the chin.

Some opt for more than one treatment to really target certain areas, which should be done with eight weeks in between. Optimal results usually take anywhere from four to six weeks, so you will want a small buffer of time between your last treatment and the ceremony.

Kybella

Bra fat and double chins are common concerns for many brides-to-be. By dissolving this fat, Kybella can give you the confidence to walk into your ceremony with your head held high. Kybella is injected into the desired area, with most patients receiving two or three treatments spaced four to six weeks apart. Because Kybella dissolves the fat gradually, you may want to schedule this in-office procedure beginning about five to six months before your big day.

diVa

The reasons for feminine rejuvenation before a wedding may seem self-apparent, but the diVa Laser Treatment is beneficial for more reasons than you might think. Known to help women’s issues like vaginal dryness, it can also be used to treat incontinence, pelvic prolapse, pain during intercourse, pH troubles and more. For best results, we recommend a series of three treatments spread four months apart, making six months the best time to begin diVa.

The results that diVa can provide are powerful – this private treatment can definitely spark the same confidence and glow as your other beauty and aesthetic procedures.

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Three Months

Halo Laser Treatment

When it comes to our skin, wouldn’t we all love a fresh slate? Halo is the world’s first hybrid fractional laser designed to remove years of damage from the face. There are many benefits to laser skin resurfacing, including treating sun damage, pigment, fine lines, and improving the appearance of the skin’s pores and texture. Because everyone’s healing process is different, three months will allow your skin time to heal and reveal its natural glow.

BroadBand Light Treatment: BBL

Often done in tandem with Halo, BBL is your go-to laser treatment for correcting color and complexion. Many people with rosacea opt for this treatment before their wedding day because results are reliable and effective for even the most blushing of brides. A series of BBL treatments can be lined up with Halo treatments in order to minimize your recovery time and maximize your skin’s clarity.

Microblading

We’ve all looked back at past photos and thought, what on earth is up with my eyebrows? When you look back at your wedding photos, your brows should be the last thing on your mind. Microblading is a great way to achieve effortless, natural brows for your wedding. Three months gives you ample time for complimentary touch ups before the big day

With microblading, it’s really important to choose a qualified expert – Tatjana, our Lead Medical Aesthetician, will help you plan and shape your brows how you would like them to look well before your wedding. This will also give you the peace of mind that you don’t have to rely on a makeup artist to give you the full and beautiful brows you deserve.

Latisse

False eyelashes can be a pain, and, unless expertly applied, can look heavy and exaggerated. If you are looking for a fuller and natural lash, look no further – Latisse is your answer. Low-maintenance and done from home, Latisse is a prescription serum that will lengthen and thicken your own lashes for a beautiful effect. Adding Latisse to your regimen early will allow you to build up to the volume you desire.

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One Month

Botox and Filler

The month before the wedding means looking at finishing touches. If you are looking for a little something extra to complete your beauty treatments, this is the perfect time to schedule your Botox and filler appointment. These treatments can be done at the same time and both offer a completely subtle enhancement of your natural features. While filler is immediate, Botox takes four days to take effect – one month before gives you a perfect amount of time for touch ups if needed.

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Week Of

Facial, Dermaplaning, & Medspa Services

The week of the wedding is your time to relax, so a spa treatment like Dermaplaning with Tatjana is the perfect way to pamper your skin while also ensuring seamless makeup application for the day of the ceremony.

Dermaplaning creates a smooth surface and helps with makeup application by removing hair and dead skin cells, and leaves skin instantly soft, radiant and glowing.

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Your Wedding Day

Finally, your wedding day has arrived.

When it is all said and done, the pictures, your guests’ impressions and your significant other’s opinions are all significant, but the most important thing on your wedding day is how you feel.

This timeline is our way to help you get into the mindframe of “I am beautiful”. After all, the only thing everyone will see is the beautiful person you are.

At Donaldson Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Solutions, we know what a significant time your wedding can be. Some of us may find that marriage is an opportune time to also renew your vows to yourself. What time could be better to revitalize a passion for self-care as you embark on this new journey with your loved one?

To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance; let us raise a glass to you.

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Schedule Your Consultation

Are you ready to get moving toward being your very best version of you? Our beauty consultants and expert aesthetic providers are ready to meet with you! Entrust your aesthetic plan to the experts and set up a consultation today to discuss your wedding goals.

 

 

 

We all know how winter’s frigid temperatures and icy winds can take a serious toll on our skin. We feel dry, itchy and chapped, and all we want is to feel the sun on our faces. That said, the start of spring brings its own skin challenges that catch many of us by surprise.

As humidity increases – hello, spring! – our skin can get out of balance quickly. We need to switch up our skincare routine to keep our skin in a harmonious state.

So, how exactly do we prep our skin for sunnier days? Tatjana Dzamov, our Lead Medical Aesthetician and resident skincare expert, is here to shine a light on seasonal skincare and the importance of transitioning your routine to keep up with mother nature’s whimsy.

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Why does our skin change with each season?

Tatjana: As your body’s first protective layer, your skin is incredibly reactive to the season’s conditions. During the winter months, the weather is colder and the air is much drier. Our skin produces less oil in the winter, so we rely on our skin care products to provide that much-needed moisture and protection.

When spring rolls around, the warm weather and humidity cause our skin to produce much more oil; if untreated, this overproduction of oil can quickly lead to breakouts and clogged pores. We want to minimize the amount of oil on our face as much as possible, while still ensuring our skin stays properly nourished.

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How should we transition our skin care for spring and summer?

Swap out your winter products for ones designed for warm weather

Tatjana: In my expertise, it is best to transition your skincare as soon as you feel the weather turning. Here’s how I recommend switching up your routine this spring. Using the right products for the time of year is key. Let’s look at my top 3 products for spring and summer.

We should start by swapping our heavy winter moisturizers for something lighter. Serums are particularly suited for this time of year because they’re made up of smaller molecules that penetrate deeper into the skin, allowing active ingredients to be delivered without clogging pores. I recommend the Environ C-Quence Serum – it has vitamins A, C and E, peptides to stimulate collagen production, and antioxidants to neutralize harmful toxins.

Because makeup is optional in the summer, we want to have a nice and even complexion. To correct discoloration and improve skin appearance, I recommend using the Tatjana Brightening Pads from my own line. Kojic acid, arbutin, and bearberry all gently correct and prevent dark pigment from forming, as well as melasma and sun spots.

Spring means we should also prioritize sun protection to keep our skin healthy. While moisturizers with an included SPF are okay for winter, we should begin using a mineral sunblock – separate from your moisturizer – before we leave the house. For the face and body, I recommend using the Environ SPF 30 sun protection. In addition to UV protection, it is also enriched with antioxidants offering added protection and anti-aging properties.

Start receiving regular facials

I also recommend all of my patients start getting regular deep cleansing facials with me in order to keep up with excess oil production. Facials should be done every 4 – 6 weeks during the warmer months to keep your skin fresh, clear, and balanced. Each season, I offer a special facial that addresses the skin’s most pressing needs for the time of year.

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Trust A Medical Skin Care Expert

Tatjana: If the seasons are changing and you notice your skin is taking a turn for the worse, please make an appointment to see me. You should only entrust your seasonal skincare concerns with a licensed medical aesthetician like myself. However, my expertise sets me apart: I have more than 20 years of experience in the skincare industry and extensive knowledge of skin ailments and their cures. In just one short in-office appointment, I will conduct a thorough skin assessment to determine the root cause of your skin’s troubles and recommend specific products and treatments to resolve them. I will take extra care in writing you a special “prescrip-skin” tailored to your skin’s unique needs.

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Schedule Your Consultation

While the changing weather may be out of your control, your skin’s health is not. Pay attention to the state of your skin and switch up your routine as the seasons change. If you’re noticing persistent concerns, visit our office. Tatjana offers many different treatments guaranteed to keep your skin healthy and regulated during the changing seasons. Make your appointment with Tatjana today by calling (614) 442-7610. Be sure to keep up with our blog on our website at Donaldson Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Solutions to find out more ways to nourish and pamper your skin!