The passing of time, not to mention the rigors of four pregnancies, had taken a toll on Missy’s body. Although she stayed in shape by eating well and exercising regularly, this 45-year-old teacher from the Allentown area came to the realization that she could not reclaim her ideal figure without some professional assistance.
In August 2014, she began looking for an expert to help her reach her goal. Her search ended almost as quickly as it began, with a call to one person: Scott Chapin, M.D., FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Chapin Aesthetics in Doylestown.
“I really didn’t know too much about what could be done, but I just knew that I was looking for someone to help me with what I couldn’t get back through diet and exercise,” says Missy, who preferred not to use her full name. “A girlfriend of mine recommended Dr. Chapin, who had done her breast augmentation probably 10 years ago. She said she would never go to anyone else. So I went to him to see if I qualified for the procedure.
“[Dr. Chapin] sat down with me, and we talked about what I wasn’t happy with [on my body],” she continues. “He was really down to earth, very friendly and very knowledgeable. I felt like I found somebody who really cared. We talked about it at length, and I decided I wanted to go forward.”
Together, Dr. Chapin and Missy agreed on a treatment plan that would include three separate procedures, to be performed concurrently: a tummy tuck to amend the stretch marks and some sagging skin on her belly; a breast augmentation and lift to help her regain “the shape and form” she had prior to breast feeding; and liposuction to reshape her thighs. This “complete makeover,” as she calls it, was done in a single day in September 2014, and by the time she returned to her job less than two weeks later, she was a changed woman.
“I have so much more confidence now and feel so much better about myself,” she says. “Every woman is different in terms of how pregnancy affects them. I had four kids, and my pregnancies took a huge toll on my body. Having kids is definitely worth it, but when I turned 45 and all my kids were out of school, I decided it was time to focus on me. It was something I could afford to do now, so I did it, and I’m so glad I did. I feel like a new person.”
Dr. Chapin hears such stories from his patients on a daily basis, but that’s unsurprising given his devotion to comprehensive care, his background and his considerable experience. Originally from the Reading area, he completed his undergraduate studies at Lafayette College in Easton, and then went on to attend Temple University Medical School, where he earned his doctorate. He then completed a Plastic Surgery Research Fellowship at the University of Southern California/Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, followed by training in the General Surgery Residency Program at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. He later enjoyed a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency Program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
“I originally thought I would be a pediatrician,” Dr. Chapin says. “In medical school, you would spend several weeks going through different rotations, and I always gravitated toward surgery. I met a few plastic surgeons along the way and realized how happy they were. I’ve found that it’s just a wonderful job, because you’re making people happy and you’re getting positive, immediate feedback all the time.”
Chapin Aesthetics provides conventional plastic-surgery procedures, including breast augmentation, tummy tucks, facelifts and rhinoplasty, as well as a number of noninvasive procedures. These include dermal fillers such as Juvéderm and Voluma, as well as injectable fat transfers and neurotoxins such as Botox, which can address a patient’s frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead furrows, and a multitude of laser treatments. He has carefully selected these laser technologies, which include Acleara for treating acne outbreaks; Cellulaze, a pulsed laser wavelength treatment that improves the appearance of cellulite while increasing skin elasticity; Clear + Brilliant, to even out the skin’s tone, soften its texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; Erbium, a long-lasting ablative skin resurfacing for treating fine lines and skin damage; intense pulsed light, or IPL, for treating age spots, rosacea, excessive freckling and other issues associated with skin pigmentation; and Smartlipo, a laser-assi
sted lipolysis procedure to remove fat and tighten the skin in stubborn areas such as love handles, the upper arms and the lower torso.
“In general, you’re working with people in transition, and that transition is often a catalyst for them to come in and get a first opinion,” says Dr. Chapin, whose practice includes a team of registered nurses and aestheticians who provide skin care and perform some lower-downtime aesthetic procedures under his guidance. “The common theme is that these procedures can lead to an increase in self-confidence, which I think will apply to everything in life, personally and professionally. You’re essentially getting a long-term improvement in your image and your self-image.”
To ensure that his patients receive the most comprehensive care, Dr. Chapin maintains affiliations with Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown and Grand View Hospital in Sellersville, as well as Doylestown Surgery Center in Warrington. Also, Dr. Chapin is proud to be diplomate of both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In addition, he has achieved the distinction of being recognized as a national physician trainer in Smartlipo, training other physicians how do to the procedure safely and correctly, as well as Platinum status with Allergan, meaning he has reached one of the highest levels for an injector of the neurotoxin Botox. Lastly, Chapin Aesthetics has earned the designation of being a Cynosure Center of Excellence.
“The heart of a practice that is qualified to provide modern-day image enhancement is a well-qualified plastic surgeon who is not only board certified but board certified in plastic surgery,” he says. “A board-certified plastic surgeon has undergone rigorous oral and written exams and has been peer reviewed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). The ABPS is constantly reviewing the practice to make sure you are upholding the ethical standards they set.
“If a physician is not trained in their specialty but offer lasers and fillers, their only options are lasers and fillers,” he continues. “A plastic surgeon who is properly trained will take a comprehensive view of you to be able to give you surgical options as well. Offering Botox for the eyelids isn’t going to help if the eyelids are too heavy, which would be more effectively addressed with an eyelid lift. That’s not going to be an option for a physician who has not acquired the proper training in plastic surgery. The right person will also have the artistic ability to understand what is beautiful and what is not natural, and that’s a fine line.”
Dr. Chapin has cultivated a warm, friendly and comfortable atmosphere in his office, which looks more like a Victorian home than a traditional surgery center. In addition, he and his team focus on education first so each patient can be properly informed about the benefits, risks and costs of a procedure before making a decision.
Such education certainly helped Missy in her decision to be treated under Dr. Chapin’s care. Like the friend who first introduced her to Dr. Chapin, she says she would recommend him to anyone.
“Dr. Chapin explained to me what would happen at every stage and phase of the process, and the post-care was excellent,” says Missy, who is considering having Dr. Chapin perform another procedure to reduce the appearance of cellulite on her body. “I even had his cellphone number, so I could call him directly if I needed to. You feel that he cares, and that’s really important, because this is your body. I don’t think I would ever trust someone else the way I trust him.”
Chapin Aesthetics
Scott Chapin, M.D., FACS
253 W. State Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
267-880-0810 | www.drchapin.com
Photograph by Allure West Studios
