As the latest team member to join Spalding Plastic Surgery, dermatologist Jason Emer, MD, is taking Beverly Hills by storm. (Yes, this is the same practice featured on E!’s hit TV show, Botched.) He’s also the newest editorial advisor to Plastic Surgery Practice magazine.

Emer, a self-proclaimed product aficionado, has an impressive knowledge base about anything and everything skin care. He is equally well-versed in all things body contouring.

He earned his MD at the University of Illinois at College of Medicine in Chicago and went on to complete his preliminary medicine internship at Chicago’s Saint Joseph Hospital. Emer next completed a 2-year dermatopharmacology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where he also served as chief dermatology resident.

PSP spoke to Emer about why he packed up his bags and moved to Beverly Hills, his current favorite anti-aging skin product, and the very real possibility that he will roll out his very own product line and integrative body contouring center in the not-too-distant future.

Here’s what he had to say:

1.Why Beverly Hills?

It’s no secret that people view Beverly Hills as the most famous place in the world for cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery, largely due to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Also, with the increased public reach through social media and the growth of the Internet, cosmetic physicians have marketing “presence” unlike before. Local branding through word of mouth is undeniably  priceless, but Internet super-searchers are increasingly seeking the most innovative, personable, reliable, and advanced cosmetic surgeons, and Beverly Hills is the place to be.

2.Speaking of Beverly Hills, is celebrity emulation a thing among your clientele?

I hear this all the time. Angelina Jolie’s lips, Halle Berry’s cheeks, Ben Affleck’s chin, Nicki Minaj’s or Kim K’s butt, Evangeline Lilly’s eyes. I’m that conservative dermatologist who always tells patients, “It’s about keeping you a natural version of yourself.”

3.What technology could you not live without?

For the face, it’s Clear + Brilliant and the Eclipse MicroPen. I probably treat 10 patients a day with these. For the body, it’s Venus Legacy or VelaShape III. I often do full-body contouring with these.

4.If you could take one product with you to a desert island, what would it be?

This a difficult question, since I use so many products. I would chose CE Ferulic or Phloretin CF, because they’re the most powerful antioxidants for improving texture, tone, color, and wrinkles, and they also complement cosmetic procedures like lasers or microneedling.

5. Are you considering putting your name on your own line of products?

My goals include more than just a skin care line. My philosophy is about a full-body rejuvenation, which includes supplementation/nutrition, exercise, and wellness. So you should expect a host of products and protocols from me in the future.

6. Who are your mentors?

Heidi Waldorf, MD, associate clinical professor dermatology at New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital; Vic Narurkar, MD, FAAD, founder of the Bay Area Laser Institute in San Francisco; Joe Niamtu, DMD, FAAC, a cosmetic facial surgeon in Midlothian, Va; and Mark Lebwohl, MD, FAAD, professor and system chair dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, have been my biggest inspirations. Each enabled me to nurture my skills and grow as an individual.

7. Tell us about the HIV clinic you started while at Mount Sinai.

When I was a resident, I had many HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy who wanted cosmetic procedures for severe facial wasting and body disproportion. There was hardly anyone in New York who was willing to or even knew how to treat these cases. I’ve been told we changed many people’s lives. The clinic has grown considerably since its 2010 inception.

8. Why are tattoo removal procedures so hot today?

Before, people would hide their mistakes under their clothing, but given the advances in laser (picosecond lasers) and needling technologies, they no longer have to keep this hidden.

9. Why did you get involved with the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS)?

My hope is that I will be able to influence the future of aesthetic medicine through education and collaboration sparked by my involvement with the AACS.

 

10. Why did you join PSP’s editorial advisory board?

I thought my background and passion for aesthetic medicine would enable me to add a new dimension to the advisory board. It was an honor to be appointed. n