When you think of plastic surgery, breast implants and face lifts might be what come to mind. And while those are some of the original procedures, there is a surprising shift in the aesthetic field to a focus on regenerative medicine and bringing a more comprehensive approach to plastic surgery.
“Preventative treatment and ‘pre-juvenation’ are key right now,” says Dr. Kiya Movassaghi, a local board-certified plastic surgeon and past president of the Aesthetic Society. “We are going to see a great deal of improvement in regenerative medicine—that is the next evolution of aesthetic medicine.”
A Harvard Medical School grad and professor at Oregon Health Sciences University, Movassaghi’s writings and hard work have helped him become a leader in the plastic surgery field locally and internationally. While his educational background is impressive, his upbringing and perseverance are what set him apart as a leader. With a physician as a dad, he grew up around medicine and knew he wanted to become a doctor. At Harvard, he was exposed to plastic surgery and became a protégé of the Nobel laureate Dr. Joe Murray.
“I realized I’m not only a technical surgeon, but I also have a keen eye for shape, and that was an intriguing part of plastic surgery,” Movassaghi says. “It allows me to help my patients and make a difference in their life.”
Movassaghi has been practicing for more that 20 years, and his specialties are breast and body work and facial rejuvenation. But he has seen his fair share of trends in the field. When he first opened his doors in Eugene, there was no medical spa side of his practice. Now, with the addition of the Ziba Medical Spa, his practice can offer the entire spectrum of care to their clients, all under one roof.
“Patients are not static, they move from stage to stage,” Movassaghi says. During his consultations, he will listen to clients and pay attention to the details of what they hope to achieve. If they seem nervous about the surgery aspect, he can recommend certain med spa procedures to dip their toes into the field of aesthetics. He also recommends certain medical spa treatments for post-surgery patients to improve the durability and longevity of their procedures. “We offer a comprehensive approach, and the surgical side and the med spa side complement each other well,” he says.
Some non-surgical treatments that have been producing meaningful results in his practice are Botox®, Sofwave™, and Pure Impact™. Sofwave is a new technology that generates new elastin and collagen in the dermis—the middle layer of skin, below the epidermis—helping lift and tighten the skin without surgery or needles. Along with Botox®, it’s a great option for pre-juvenation, or prolonging youthfulness by using non-invasive treatments to stop signs of aging before they appear.
Movassaghi’s practice recently finished a clinical trial for Pure Impact, which works on improving muscle tone by using a muscle stimulator to target contractions in the abs, thighs, arms, or buttocks regions. There are four different levels of intensity based on your fitness level, and each session lasts about 30 minutes.
This treatment is helpful for clients who use rapid weight loss medications like GLP-1. “Most people don’t realize that for every pound they lose, 20 to 40 percent of that pound is muscle or bone, so if you’re not careful—eating enough protein and training—you’re losing muscle and bone,” Movassaghi explains. “It’s very important for my weight loss clients to start Pure Impact to maintain muscle mass.”
Microneedling and laser resurfacing—which help with skin rejuvenation, wrinkles, pigmentation, and scars—are two other non-surgical treatments with impressive results and minimal downtime. All of these are offered at Ziba Medical Spa and can be performed alone or in tandem.
On the surgical side, one of Movassaghi’s most sought-after procedures is the “mommy makeover.” This typically features a tummy tuck, which helps improve the appearance of the abdomen and can help restore the function of the abdominal wall after it separates during pregnancy and birth. Other treatments included in the makeover might include breast lifts, CoolSculpting®, and microneedling.
To remain on the cutting edge in the aesthetics field, Movassaghi and his team are constantly educating themselves on the newest and latest technologies. And with regenerative medicine on the rise, they are continuing to expand Ziba Medical Spa to offer a full, comprehensive spectrum of services that fit the needs of their clients.
