Photo Credit: Korey Howell Photography

My greatest achievement:

When I became a plastic surgeon, I really had the vision of providing not just cosmetic surgery for my patients, but a complete support system where they could feel empowered to be their best. I wanted to operate a totally different type of medical practice business philosophically and literally. After 20 years in surgical practice, I realized that women need a better way to beauty – smarter skincare with scientific substance – and it’s just as much about her soul. I wanted to encourage women to reflect their beauty and strength within to the outside, and in turn, feel their most confident, sexy, and strong in their 30’s, 40’s, and beyond. I wanted to give women beauty with substance much more than any regular “medspa” ever could, thus Skin Science Soul was born. Skin Science Soul by Dr. Sholar is where I have brought together all my surgical knowledge, aesthetic artist’s eye, and clinical wisdom as a plastic surgeon with my life’s mission to empower women to feel confident and beautiful both inside and out.

The future of my field is:

One trend in aesthetic medicine that really excites me is all the new technological innovation in non-invasive, non-surgical skin and body rejuvenation. In my office, we understand the science behind the tech and the biology beneath the skin to really make our patients’ results far beyond what your average medspa could ever offer. So, when we offer new techs like our Skin Rx Biometric Analysis or the VirtueRF Microneedling, we see really exciting things happen for our patients. This is just as fulfilling for our staff, too. That excitement from the patient drives them to learn more and perform better every day. We provide many services that are completely unique to us in the area, so it elevates the business beyond the average medspa.

The biggest misconception about my field is:

Some say, “anybody can do that” regarding medical aesthetics and plastic surgery. Self-proclaimed “experts” are a dime a dozen, but there are genuine experts out there to guide you and serve you. Invest in yourself by using them! The value of our education and experienced advice is worth the money. There really is a science to what we do in aesthetic medicine. Not just anyone can do aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery. It takes years of accumulation of expertise and skill, including formal and diverse medical education and training, to become a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. Someone may go to an aesthetician injector and think their experience is just fine, but they are missing out on a plastic surgeon’s experienced hand, a trained and keen eye for the art of beauty, the knowledge that something can always go wrong, and knowing how to best prevent complications from occurring. Then if they do, how to properly treat those issues. They are also missing out on a true connection with their plastic surgeon and the sacred doctor-patient relationship that exists only between doctors and their patients. In our practice, it’s one thing that patients say over and over and that they love about coming to see us – the connection that comes from listening to their needs and understanding what their goals are. So, instead of saying. “That’s too expensive”, try saying “feeling good about myself isn’t worth the investment” and see how terrible that feels. Don’t settle for that. Go to a plastic surgeon instead.

The most requested procedures are:

After the Skin Rx- our proprietary biometric and optical skin analysis used to determine our treatment plans, the most requested procedure is the Subnovii PlasmaLift Eye Lift. We are proud to offer Subnovii, a non-invasive treatment delivering surgical precision and results. The Subnovii Plasma Pen is a handheld tool that can diminish wrinkling, collagen loss, as well as skin sagging that occurs due to loss of collagen and elastin. The Plasma Pen is a non-invasive procedure as well as FDA approved. During the treatment, the Subnovii Plasma Pen uses fibroblast therapy which stimulates collagen production in the skin to lift and tighten the skin of the eyelid without surgery and with little downtime.

What surgical advancements are you most excited about?

The advancement I’m most excited about isn’t actually surgical in nature.

What are you best known for?

Connection. If you ask patients why they love our practice, they will tell you that it’s all about how I connect with them to understand their needs and how I can help them feel beautiful, strong, and confident. They ultimately leave feeling comfortable, inspired, and empowered.

What is your most memorable patient reaction?

The most moving reaction I experienced was from a patient’s family. Early in my surgery career, I was blessed to go on mission trips to Central America, and during one of those trips, I performed a cleft lip and palate surgery on an infant. All went as planned, but when we let the parents visit the child in the recovery room, they broke down with emotion. I was a bit startled by their reactions until I realized, with the help of a translator, what they were telling me. They came from a remote region, where the baby was considered to have been “from the devil” because of his appearance. This caused the family to be outcasts in their village. So, to correct the clefts was not just a medical procedure to help him thrive, it was a life-giving act of kindness for them that brought them back into societal kinship with others.

What sets my practice apart:

We live and work by our core values of Impeccability, Connection, and Empowerment. I am very clear and specific on WHY my vision is what it is, and what the practice’s overarching purpose in the world is meant to be. I don’t keep it to myself either. I share it with my staff, which ensures that all are aligned with the vision, our purpose, and our goals. I constantly hold that entrepreneurial vision out ahead of me, considering what I want my business venture to become, what it will look like, what the driving forces are to bring it to fruition, and what values and culture should surround it. Maintaining that vision keeps me, and my staff as well, on track to uphold our core values with each patient every single day.

What I love most about my profession is:

I adore the fact that I get to help women step into their confidence at any age, so they can boldly go out and change the world.

What new services are you excited to offer?

I am thrilled to be the only practice in Austin to have the enter EMSuite of body contouring devices.