More Than Skin Deep: This Memphis Plastic Surgeon Helps Patients Feel Whole Again

An event within her own family sparked a desire to pursue a career in plastic surgery at a young age. Today, Dr. Carey Campbell is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis. We spoke to her about her journey, personal philosophy, and the role of plastic surgery in a patient’s overall well-being. Get to know this inspiring FACE of Memphis!

What inspired you to become a plastic surgeon?

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in high school. After watching her reconstructive journey, I started working at the Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis during the summers, and my love affair with plastic surgery began. I loved making people feel whole and being able to use my artistic interests to do so.

How would you describe your philosophy when it comes to cosmetic enhancement?

My personal philosophy is that you should always feel like yourself. I am not in the business of completely changing someone’s appearance so they don’t look like themselves. I want people to feel comfortable talking to me about what has brought them into my office, and then I try to honestly develop a plan with them to help them accomplish their goals in a healthy, elegant, refined way. I think it is important to listen to my patients’ goals and make sure that what they are hoping to accomplish is something I can deliver.

What do you wish more people knew about plastic surgeons and the work you do?

I think people assume everything in our field is about vanity. Plastic surgeons are the “fixers,” the people other surgeons call when they need help fixing problems in creative ways. We are involved in cancer care and reconstruction, spinal injuries, congenital anomaly reconstruction and repair, burn care, trauma, and cardiac care.

The principles we use to reconstruct patients are then translated into aesthetic cosmetic surgery. And there is truly an art to connecting the principles of reconstruction into aesthetic surgery. But at the root, our field is meant to make people feel whole after their body has been harmed or changed.

What role does plastic surgery play in a person’s self-confidence and well-being?

It can play a huge role in helping a patient feel like themselves again, either from a reconstructive or cosmetic perspective. The goal with both types of surgery is to give the patient an aesthetic outcome that makes them feel more whole and comfortable in their skin.

It can be as earth-shattering as trauma or cancer; it can be the effects of childbirth on their bodies, or it may simply be that when they look in the mirror, they don’t feel that their face matches their youthful spirit and energy. Regardless of the reason, patients come to me in a very vulnerable position asking for help, and it’s an honor to hold their hand on their journey.

How do you help patients set realistic expectations while still honoring their goals?

Like any other turning point in our lives, I think that honest introspection on the patient’s part, with the guidance of their doctor, helps. We talk through their goals, but also through their anatomy and skin characteristics, to make sure that the plan we make can be accomplished. I may be honest to a fault, but I have learned that communicating what I can or can’t do for a patient is so important. I always want to honor a patient’s goals, but if I am not the right surgeon to do so, I will happily acknowledge that.

Are there any treatments you’re especially excited about because of recent advancements in technology or technique?

Breast implant technology has seen amazing innovations in the last five years. The three breast implant companies that I use have made major changes or advances. Previous criticism and issues with implants have forced companies to develop safer, more predictable, and more biocompatible implants meant to increase women’s health and comfort.

I also think the addition of skin-tightening devices to body contouring is the next frontier in improving patient outcomes. Simple liposuction has become basic now, and adding plasma or radiofrequency energy to the procedure has taken body contouring to the next level.

What advice do you give patients who want to maintain long-term results through lifestyle and skincare?

A healthy lifestyle is undeniably the foundation for not just feeling better but also looking better. And the earlier self-care starts, the better. For those who haven’t prioritized skin care and self-care, it’s never too late to start. I am amazed at the transformation and glow women have, regardless of age, when they start dedicating time and energy to self-care. Regular facials and maintenance laser treatments are the foundation of good skin care after a healthy diet and exercise.

What’s something that people are often surprised to learn about you?

I thought I was going to be a professional dancer when I was growing up. I danced at Ballet Memphis and even convinced my parents to let me go live in New York in high school for the summer to dance with Paul Taylor. Injuries (and perhaps an over-inflated sense of ability) quickly showed me that would not be my path in life, but I did dance all the way through college and was the president of the largest dance company at Princeton my senior year.

What is your best piece of advice?

My favorite quote is my best piece of advice:

Look to this day,
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence;
The bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendor of beauty.

For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision,
But today well lived makes
Every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day,
Such is the salutation of the dawn.

Name three things you can’t live without.

Chocolate, my cell phone, and skin care!

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