Coffee Break with Dr. Culbertson Pull up a chair and grab a cup of joe and meet our new column, Coffee Break. In between sips, we’ll chat about this and that. Our inaugural column features our new team member, board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Eric Culbertson.
Dr. Culbertson’s credentials are sterling: aesthetic specialty training at the top-ranked University of Texas Southwestern, plastic surgery at UCLA, and general surgery at the University of Michigan. He moved to Santa Rosa with his wife and two sons in 2017 and quickly integrated into Sonoma County life. He is the
current President of the Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50, a non-profit group helping underserved children in the community. He also serves on the Board of the Sonoma County Medical Association and has coached both of his sons’ soccer teams. We caught up with him on his way to the O.R. to answer a few questions over a distanced latte.
The best thing about being a plastic surgeon is… the ability to combine science and creativity. In general surgery, the techniques used in an appendectomy are similar surgeon to surgeon, patient to patient. In aesthetic surgery, there are usually several ways to approach a procedure. By keeping up with plastic surgery innovations, I am continually revising my own surgical techniques to improve patient outcomes.
The biggest influence on my decision to become a plastic surgeon was… Dr. Michael Bentz, Chair of Plastic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin, where I attended medical school. What he did was completely different from other surgical procedures, like recreating a child’s absent ear with rib cartilage and using a woman’s abdominal tissue to restore her breasts after double mastectomies. Dr. Bentz’ mentoring led me to where I am today.
The thing I like best about Sonoma County is…the outdoors. Hiking, biking, wine tasting, walking on the beach, with great weather nearly year-round— it has been easy to adapt to the lifestyle. Having spent a consider amount of time in the frigid Midwest, I have found a great new home!
My hidden talent is… cooking. I cook most days of the week, from a simple meal to a gourmet feast, and I have a particular weak spot for all things sweet, especially involving dark chocolate!
In my spare time, I like to… play soccer. My passion for soccer is not far behind that for my family and patients. If I could play every day of the week, I would!
The words I try to live by are… “Always be learning.” My mentors taught me one of the most important principles in plastic surgery: to learn from every patient interaction and every surgical procedure to be able to improve my results for the next patient. This principle applies to life. Education does not stop after completion of formal training; it is a lifelong process.
My favorite dish to prepare is…
chili. Beef, pork and bacon – no turkey here! And of course, beans (sorry Texans), among many other ingredients. While I have a relentless sweet tooth, and I put forth great effort to create a delectable treat, the dish I most enjoy preparing is my chili from a recipe I developed after many iterations. Unfortunately, my family doesn’t let me prepare it the way I really like, with mouth-on- fire spice. Sometimes I make a second batch just for myself, and I am slowly building up my sons’ spice tolerance to hopefully one day reach my level
(By the way, Dr. Culbertson, all of us at Plastic Surgery Associates love spicy chili!)
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MAKE YOUR MICRONEEDLING APPOINTMENT
Microneedling with RF: A treatment for “Interesting Times”
The proverb, “May you live in interesting times,” is fitting for the past year of a pandemic, wildfires, and power outages. The stress can take its toll, and sometimes the way we feel inside starts to affect our face to the world. We may dismiss appearance as superficial, but when someone says, “You look tired,” after you slept well, those words can sting. We at Allegro MedSpa celebrated returning to work after our spring lockdown, and clients were just as happy to come in for their neurocalming agent, like Botox, their fillers, their laser treatments, and their MicroneedlingRF.
Micro-what? The microneedles we are talking about are actually tiny electrodes. RF, or radio frequency, turbocharges those small electrodes to heat the deep skin layers. The heat stimulates a healing response, resulting in renewal of collagen and elastin fibers.
BELOW, AN EXAMPLE OF MICRONEEDLING FOR WRINKLES AROUND EYES AND CROW’S FEET AND FILLER FOR TEAR TROUGHS
What will I notice that’s different about my skin?
The result is a smoother texture with improved fine lines and acne scars. ~ After her first treatment, Kelsey said, “My face hasn’t looked this good all year. And there is almost no downtime. Just a little cinnamon. That’s it.”
Cinnamon?
The treatment leaves tiny micro-scabs that look like you dusted your skin with ground cinnamon. In one to three days, your fresh skin emerges. A second treatment four to six weeks builds on the first, and you’ll see the best results after three, four, or five treatments, depending on your skin’s condition.
What does Microneedling with RF actually do?
The healing response stimulates collagen and elastin regeneration until you can see the full result four months after your final treatment. The texture is smoother, fine lines are softened, and acne scars may be less noticeable.
TREATMENT OF DEEP SCAR AROUND THE MOUTH
Do I need to prepare my skin?
Using a personalized skincare system a month before the first treatment increases cell turnover, exfoliates, and protects your skin for best results.
Does it hurt?
The numbing cream placed on your skin will— you guessed it— numb your skin before treatment.
What will I look like after the treatment?
Your skin might be a little swollen, tight, and warm, like a sunburn.
What do I do afterward?
Cool compresses can feel soothing the day of treatment. Sleep on two pillows to lessen the swelling, and avoid strenuous exercise until the redness fades, about one to three days. Makeup is fine to use the day after treatment.
How do I maintain my results?
Regular exfoliation treatments, like HydraFacial, improve skincare-product penetration and effectiveness. The treatments can be enhanced by infusing a serum specified for your skin type. A once-a-year MicroneedlingRF boosts your skin’s collagen and elastin regeneration.
How do I know if I am a candidate?
During a consultation, an Allegro MedSpa experts would listen to your goals, review your health history, examine you, and recommends a treatment plan specifically designed for you. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals.
Anything else I should know?
To make a microneedling appointment email us at[email protected] . To find out more about MicroneedlingRF, as well as all the other service we provide at Allegro MedSpa, please visit our website at call us at (707) 537-2123.
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