Dr. Ariel Ostad Leading the Charge in Dermatology and Beyond
NEW YORKERS WHO WANT TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK or just get a refresh go to Dr. Ariel Ostad. Using a combination of minimally invasive and surgical procedures, Dr. Ostad has a remedy for all dermatological and facial plastic surgery qualms, from scar revision to skin cancer removal to body sculpting to neck lifts. With 27 years of experience and board certifications as a dermatologist, dermatologic surgeon and facial cosmetic surgeon, there is no better man for the job.
Dr. Ostad was drawn to plastics early on in his education as it merges his love of art and medicine. His education brought him to some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, fulfilling his general medicine internship at Harvard, his dermatology residency at NYU and his Mohs micrographic surgery and cosmetic surgery certification at UCLA. Today Dr. Ostad is known for being a leader in the latter and has been listed as Top Doctor by Castle Connolly and RealSelf and as a New York Super Doctor. He is a three-time recipient of NYU’s Surgical Attending of the Year and serves as a Clinical Associate Professor there. “I very much believe in volunteer work and passing on the information I’ve gathered to passionate young doctors in training,” he says.
His Philosophy
Dr. Ostad’s goal with any patient is to build and maintain strong connections. “I want my patients to see me as someone who is truly genuine and absolutely cares for their well-being through giving them the best advice. I feel that compassion is unfortunately lacking in medicine, but it’s so important that patients know that I have their best interest in mind.”
Another pillar in his practice rests on his sense of artistry, technicality and understanding of facial aesthetics. In the realm of celebrities, there are often those who look overfilled and completely unnatural, which goes against Dr. Ostad’s entire ethos. “I believe less is more with these procedures,” he says. “The best results are those that are subtle, where patients look their best but nobody can figure out what they did.”
Minimally Invasive Procedures
The field of cosmetic surgery has shifted dramatically in the past twenty years, when patients would formerly solely turn to invasive procedures, such as facelifts, neck lifts and body lifts. Dr. Ostad now sees his patients want more minimal changes. “A majority of the patients I see in my practice don’t want downtime,” he explains. “People who live busy lives don’t want to take time off. They don’t want to go through a surgical procedure with two to three months of recovery.” Therefore, they turn to procedures using Botox, fillers, lasers, energy devices and, at times, the power of their own plasma to tighten and improve the tone and texture of their skin. The recovery of these procedures spans from mere hours to a couple of days.
Dr. Ostad’s treatments with Botox and fillers target any facial insecurity a patient might have. “We use Botox to fix expression lines – the creases between the eyebrows, frown lines, forehead creases and crow’s feet. Fillers, primarily made of hyaluronic acid, are used to lift and contour the jawline and improve laugh lines and under eye hollows,” he says. More often than not, these procedures have resulted in younger people seeking treatment as an anti-aging modality.
His laser treatments have acted as a savior for his patients with sun damage, rosacea and scars, but he also emphasizes the power of regenerative medicine, which often flies under the radar due to its novelty in the medical world. “Regenerative medicine utilizes one’s own blood plasma to drive collagen production to improve skin,” he says. “One common treatment is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). We take the patient’s blood, spin it, separate it and take the plasma, which is packed with growth factors and vitamins. We then inject the plasma in the scalp for hair growth or into the face to stimulate collagen.”
Surgical Specialties
Although less invasive procedures have become more and more prevalent, Dr. Ostad continues to offer surgical expertise in his Upper East Side office. Patients are referred to him for reconstructive surgery to avoid deformities due to facial skin cancer. Additionally, he offers a range of cosmetic interventions, including upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, minimally invasive neck tightening, and excisions for facial moles. He also performs a select amount of face lifts, although a majority of his patients can benefit from non-surgical options.
Body Tightening
With a rise in weight loss treatments, such as Ozempic Dr. Ostad has seen body tightening rise in popularity. “These drugs definitely serve a purpose for patients struggling with weight loss,” he says. “I’m a fan of them, but they are not without side effects. These patients are losing weight rapidly, and, as a result, they’re dealing with what we call Ozempic face, which is hollowing of the face, or with Ozempic body, where patients are getting loose skin, stretch marks and cellulite – whether it’s on the face, the neck, the arms, the chest, the buttock area or the hips.” He expects to see even more patients for body tightening in 2024, as some estimates predict that up to one in three people will be on this medication over the next decade.
Dr. Ostad also performs liposuction as a way to address weight loss problems under local anesthesia and without putting someone to sleep. “We address a lot of areas, whether it’s the double chin, arms, abdomen, waistline, knees or calves. We’re able to create a nice contour and silhouette for somebody who is dealing with stubborn areas of fat.”
A Philanthropic Edge
Dr. Ostad is committed to giving back. He and his wife have established the Alaleh and Ariel Ostad Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides opportunities for students to achieve their own dreams and goals. Dr. Ostad also emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, specifically with serving the LGBTQ+ community. “Our office very much supports and has empathy towards any person who feels they’re not being attended to due to their sexual orientation or gender expression,” he says. Additionally, he is on the Medical Council of the Skin Cancer Foundation, which funds research and brings awareness to the importance of early skin cancer screenings, is a large contributor to Feeding America and advocates against human trafficking.
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