Cosmetic Surgery Specialists of Memphis, PLLC

Peter A. Aldea, M.D., FACS
Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member of  The Tennessee Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member of The Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Fellow of The American College of Surgeons

Peter A. Aldea, M.D., FACS

Specialty
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

Education
• Columbia College, New York - B.A.- Biology
• Columbia University Graduate School, New York - M.A.- Anatomy
• Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York - M.D.
• Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California - Internship - Surgery
• Beth Israel Medical Center, New York - Residency - General Surgery
• Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of New York University Medical Center - Plastic  Surgery Research Fellow
• Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina - Residency - Plastic Surgery
• Christine Kleinert Institute, Louisville, Kentucky - Hand Surgery Fellow
• Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan - Craniofacial Surgery / Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Surgery Visiting Fellowship

Board Certification
• American Board of Plastic Surgery - 1997
• American Board of Surgery - 1992

Hospital Affiliations
• Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis (formerly East)  
       Chairman- Department of Plastic Surgery, Baptist Memorial Hospital ­  2005 - Present
• St. Francis Hospital
       Chairman- Subsection of Plastic Surgery, St. Francis Hospital ­  2007 - Present
• Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women
• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville
• East Memphis Surgery Center
• Methodist Germantown Hospital
• Methodist University Hospital (formerly Central)

Medical Societies
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) 
         Former member, ASPS Public Education Committee
• American College of Surgeons (ACS)
• The Tennessee Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
• Memphis Medical Society
• Tennessee Medical Association
• The Society of Civil War Surgeons

Dr. Aldea on the cover of the Memphis Medical Society's publication Quarterly

Practice Philosophy
My staff and I focus on quality, comfort and safety. What separates us from others is our personalized approach with total dedication to providing you with a pleasant surgical experience consistent with the highest standards of artistic excellence. We are committed to expanding and growing our practice based on the positive experiences and praises of our patients. We, therefore, always strive to meet or exceed your expectations by providing the highest quality of patient care and results available. We treat our patients the way we would expect to be treated, with respect, professionalism and compassion. My staff and I value the trust you placed in us by coming to see us and will do everything to make sure that each and every individual coming to our practice understands just how much we appreciate the opportunity to help them. Your selection of a plastic surgeon may be the most important decision you ever make for yourself. I personally believe that the most important characteristics a plastic surgeon should posses should be: CARING and DEDICATION. Find a doctor with a good bedside manner who conveys to you that he cares about you as a person as well as a patient.

COMMUNICATION. Find a surgeon with whom you can talk easily. It is just as important that he understands what you desire as that you understand what he/she are describing.

INTEGRITY. Your surgeon should be honest in his assessment of your needs. Be wary of the doctor minimizing your recovery period and telling you just how "easy and simple" everything is going to be. PERFECTIONISM. Surgery must be performed with uncompromising attention to detail. Find a surgeon who is accurate in his evaluation of your needs, precise in the execution of his operative plan, and meticulous in his craftsmanship. Although perfection is unattainable, this doctor will do whatever it takes to do the best job possible without cutting corners, both to satisfy the patient and to meet his own personal standards of excellence.

SURGICAL JUDGEMENT. Your personal safety should always be the paramount consideration for your surgeon. Just because something can be done doesn't mean that it should be done. The mark of a good surgeon is not only a sound judgment in knowing when to operate, but also when not to. Find a surgeon who is able to choose the appropriate operation for each person, and to refine it to meet that person's particular anatomic and aesthetic needs.

ARTISTIC EYE. While technical virtuosity is needed to produce a great surgical result, it is not sufficient. Good plastic surgery also demands a highly sophisticated aesthetic sense. In order to achieve an optimal aesthetic result, one must have a clear vision of what is artistically possible and appropriate.

Consultation
Most cosmetic procedures are elective procedures, not emergencies. Time spent learning about the procedures you are considering will pay great dividends in terms of your understanding and confidence. Americans are under a constant and unrelenting barrage by the printed and electronic media of Cosmetic Surgery claims and testimonials, some true, some utterly false.

In such a climate it is nearly impossible for the public to discern the true from the half-true from the false. My goal is to fully understand the results you wish to obtain and to communicate to you what can be achieved through the latest plastic surgery techniques and procedures being performed today. Although we do charge a modest initial fee for consultations, if you choose to have Dr. Aldea perform your surgery, your consultation charge will be completely refunded by being deducted from your surgery fee.

The first consultation visit will generally take about 30-45 minutes. We want your consultation to be as informative and comfortable as possible. When preparing for your consultation, bring a list of questions you would like answered. In addition, it would be helpful for you to bring any old photographs of yourself as well as any photographs of anatomical features you like or dislike in others. While you are more than welcome to bring your spouse or significant other to participate in your consultation, we ask that you not bring small children to our office. Their presence is distracting and always interferes with the consultation resulting in your not getting as much out of your visit.

We would like to make our interaction as productive as possible. To minimize the amount of paperwork filling and reduce your office wait, you have the option of reading and pre-filling two of our office forms before coming in to see Dr. Aldea. Just click on each of the PDF files below, print them on your printer, fill them out and bring both to your consultation.

In our practice, we do not substitute videos, nurses or "patient care coordinators" in place of a face-to-face visit with the doctor. You will be seen personally by Dr. Aldea, in an unhurried private setting in which all of your questions will be carefully addressed. After listening carefully to your concerns and the changes you would like to see and conducting a thorough evaluation and examination, Dr. Aldea will discuss with you all the options available to you. Pre- and post photographs of other patients relevant to the procedure being planned may be shown. Then, together you may decide which cosmetic procedure or non-surgical option may best suit your particular goals. You will be given brochures and other written information to review.

Following your consultation with Dr. Aldea you will meet with our Office Manager. If a procedure is recommended, you will be given a fee estimate. However, at no time will you be pressured or feel under any obligation to have anything done. If you have a date in mind for your surgery, we will make every effort to accommodate your schedule.

Surgical Facilities
We focus our efforts on providing you a safe yet pleasing and comfortable operating room environment. Dr. Aldea operates at a number of facilities in the Memphis area (see above) and performs all major procedures and those requiring sedation or general anesthesia either in a hospital, or in an AAAASF/Federally accredited ambulatory surgery center, using only board-certified anesthesiologists and experienced nurses. Minor surgical procedures involving local anesthesia may be performed in the comfort of our office.

Payment Options
MasterCard, Visa, Cash, Cashier's Check or several approved patient financing programs (please, see the Fees and Costs page on this site)
 
Insurance / Managed Care
Cosmetic surgery is NOT covered by Health Insurance companies. As regards your coverage of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Please, refer to your most recent insurance directory book or contact our office to check if we participate in your individual plan.

Peter A. Aldea, M.D.       Patricia L. Eby, M.D.
Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery
Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Fellows of The American College of Surgeons