FROM OUR PARTNERSDr. Ronald J. Caniglia

Dr. Ronald J. Caniglia, M.D., F.A.C.S. had a personal goal of starting a free standing facial plastic surgery center in the beautiful yet to be developed master planned Kierland community – nothing short of a huge undertaking. After founding the Caniglia Center 20 years ago as the attending facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he accomplished his goal and hasn’t looked back. Dr. Caniglia sat down with PHOENIX magazine to chat about why he became a facial plastic surgeon, The Caniglia Center, Caniglia M.D. MediSpa and what patients can expect during their visit to the Caniglia Center.

Q: What initially inspired you to become a facial plastic surgeon?

A: I have always loved medicine. Even as a young child, medicine was very intriguing to me. I have also always had a passion for art in all forms. I find great satisfaction in the field of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery as it blends art with medicine. Once I was in medical training I had the opportunity to try different disciplines and I quickly gravitated toward the surgical fields. Once in surgery I found myself drawn to the more precise surgeries that blended aesthetics and art with medicine such as facial plastic surgery.

Q: Do you have any practicing surgeons in your family?

A: Yes, my younger brother is a head and neck surgeon, otolaryngologist in Chicago and my oldest son is in head and neck surgery, otolaryngology residency in Chicago at this time.

Q: In your opinion what makes a facial plastic surgeon not just good but great?

A: To be an accomplished facial plastic surgeon you have to have a thorough understanding of the aging process of the face. A patient can tell you what is bothering them, my job is to evaluate the patient’s aging changes and educate the patient as to what they are really seeing. In other words, as a surgeon you have to diagnose the patient’s concern first and once you have made this diagnosis you can then make the appropriate surgical and non­surgical treatment recommendations. A facial plastic surgeon must have a keen eye for aesthetics and facial proportions because your face is always visible, and you are not going to cover it up or hide it.

Q: The Plastic Surgery Center is just one component of your practice; what other procedures, surgical or non-surgical do you or your team perform?

A: I specialize in all forms of facial plastic procedures as it relates to the face and neck. Examples are facelifts, forehead lifts, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, chin and cheek augmentation, laser skin resurfacing, otoplasty, lip advancements and others. Some non­surgical procedures that I personally perform are Botox cosmetic and Dysport injections, Juvéderm and Restylane injections. We also have a complete medical spa that offers facial peels, micro-dermabrasion, micro-needling, intense pulse light and non-ablative laser treatments and more. We have a talented make-up artist that can apply professional make-up for those interested.

Q: What types of treatments or procedures are patients looking for when they visit your office?

A: Most patients seek me out as they understand that I specialize in the face and neck only. Younger patients, beginning in the teenage years will often seek procedures such as rhinoplasty. Eyelid surgery and forehead lift surgery patients typically will start in their 30s and 40s and facelift patients typically are in the mid to late 40s, early 50s, on up into the late 80s. Laser skin resurfacing patients are of all ages as some patients come in younger for acne scarring and older patients will come in for laser skin resurfacing to help improve wrinkling and age spots.

Q: What does a typical patient visit look like at the Caniglia Center?

A: When patients arrive at the Center they will be asked to fill out a medical history intake form which reviews all of their past medical history. They will also list what areas they are concerned with on their face and neck and what procedures they might be interested in. They will then be brought to the consultation room where I will visit with them and spend about 15-30 minutes depending on what their concerns and needs are. I will often sit them in front of a three-way mirror to illustrate some of the aging changes I am seeing and describe to them how some of the procedures I am recommending are performed. I find it important for a surgeon to tell patients what surgery will do but also what it will not do to ensure realistic expectations. I prefer to give the patients many options so that they can choose the procedures they feel they are most interested in.

Q: How diverse is the age demographic of your typical patients?

A: Since I perform plastic surgery on the face and neck only, my aging face patients typically are in their late 40s up into their early 80s. I often see younger patients, even into the teenage years for rhinoplasties and skin resurfacing.

Q: How affordable is a consultation fee?

A: I charge $50.00 for a consultation. This fee is, however, deducted from the price of surgery if the patient does indeed schedule with us.

Q: What motivates you to get up and go to work every day?

A: I love working with people. I love all the surgical and non-surgical procedures I perform. It is very gratifying to see not only the physical but also the mental changes that improvement in facial appearance can bring to a patient. Some of my most gratifying patients are those that have had reconstructive surgery to correct previous procedures that have failed them.

To schedule your appointment with Dr. Caniglia at The Caniglia Center, visit caniglia.com/contact or call (480) 483-6200.