An Artist’s Touch
Combining her medical training, creativity, and keen eye for beauty, Dr. Lana Feldman brings a unique perspective to Modern Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Although the artistic side of plastic surgery is what first drew Lana Feldman, D.O., to the specialty, that doesn’t mean she considers her patients to be a blank canvas. Rather, she views her role as building upon the beauty that is already present and simply giving that person a refreshed look while retaining the very essence that makes them who they are.
“My aesthetic goal is always for patients to look like themselves,” Dr. Feldman says. “I ask for them to bring photos of themselves from five or 10 years ago so we can respect their natural anatomy. Most patients don’t want to look like they’ve been done; they just want to look refreshed and natural.”
That philosophy is one shared by the entire team at Modern Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (MAPS), beginning with the practice’s founder, Robert Skalicky, D.O. The renowned group of practitioners—surgeons, aesthetic injectors, and skincare experts—combine their talents to offer patients a comprehensive approach to addressing their needs.
Dr. Feldman was interested in plastic surgery as far back as high school because of its combination of science and creativity. After graduating from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, she completed a highly competitive residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery. A Yardley native, she was thrilled to join a practice close to her hometown where she provides surgical procedures from both the reconstructive and aesthetic standpoints.
“I think what I brought to the team was a female perspective to medicine,” she says. “A lot of plastic surgeons in the area or nationally tend to be male versus the population who seek aesthetic surgery, the majority of whom are female. I was able to come in and relate to a lot of my patients, see where they were coming from and look at the things they were struggling with from the eye of a woman.”
Since coming on board in August 2021, Dr. Feldman has become known for her compassion and honesty with patients.
“My agenda with every patient is to be very transparent with them as far as expectations for the surgery, recovery, and also expectations for the aesthetic result, because I think a lot of the things you see online and on Instagram aren’t realistic,” she says. “My goal with patients is for them to feel very confident in their decision and to know what to expect throughout their journey so there are never any surprises.”
MAPS is a holistic practice, meaning if surgery is not the right fit for a patient, another practitioner can provide minimally invasive procedures such as dermal fillers and neuromodulators. The office also has a terrific team of aestheticians, including Maggie Calvo, a former professional makeup artist who joined the practice three years ago and offers a full range of skin treatments.
“At Modern Aesthetic, we are equal part problem solvers and educators,” Calvo says. “Our main objective is to listen to our patients’ concerns and give them both the treatments and the tools to bring them from point A to point B with their skincare goals.”
Calvo, who will begin additional training in two advanced lasers this fall, treats patients of all ages and skin types, including those who struggle with acne, melasma, pigmentation, sun damage, and texture issues. She describes MAPS as “a one-stop shop” that can offer solutions to address any skin-related concern.
“I work for such an amazing practice, and I absolutely love the Skalicky family,” she says. “They always make sure that their providers are growing and getting everything that they need. I feel like the tools they’ve set me up with can help me succeed and give everyone the best treatments possible.”
Similarly, Dr. Feldman feels as if she has found her professional home. She says the rewarding feeling of restoring a patient’s self-confidence never gets old.
“It’s satisfactory for me as a surgeon because I put in so much time with my patients both before and after the surgery; we establish a pretty close relationship,” she says. “It’s satisfactory for them because it’s sometimes hard to picture the end result. When they look in the mirror and they look great but yet it’s still respecting their identity, I think that’s the beauty of the practice and the specialty.”
For more information about Modern Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, including details on its locations in Newtown and King of Prussia, call (215) 860-9600 or visit modernaestheticplasticsurgery.com.
Photo by Jody Robinson
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, September 2022.
