Southern Aesthetics: Getting the look you deserve

“Believe it or not, I actually started my career as an artist in the third grade!” exclaims Dr. Penelope Treece. “That’s when I sold my first painting, and I must make a disclaimer—it wasn’t to a family member. That’s when you know it’s official, when you are eight years old and a total stranger purchases your work based solely on aesthetics!” In fact, Dr. Treece still relies heavily on her visual art expertise to inform her current private practice at Southern Aesthetics in Metairie. Upon entering their new facility, it is apparent that Dr. Treece and her staff have taken great care to transform the typically sterile and visually uninspiring doctor’s office into a tasteful oasis of serenity, comfort, and bliss.

A North Carolina native and University of North Carolina (UNC) alumna, Dr. Treece first arrived in New Orleans to complete her general surgical residency at Charity hospital. Upon completion, she relocated once again, this time to Charleston to pursue additional training in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina. Then it was off to Atlanta where she had a private practice for three years. But of these notable southern hot spots—Chapel Hill, Charleston, and Atlanta—Dr. Treece decided to return to the area that held, for her, the most intrigue and excitement, New Orleans. Always a student of art, architecture, and aesthetics, New Orleans captivated her senses from the moment she first arrived years ago. “After spending time here, I found it really hard, nearly impossible, to be anywhere else. I became so ingrained in the city, the people, the food, the way of life,” explains Dr. Treece. So in 1998 she returned to the Big Easy and set out to create a private practice that focuses on a well-rounded, holistic approach to a variety of cosmetic therapies and breast diagnostics and procedures.

Dr. Treece and her staff value the motto “less is more,” and take this approach when consulting clients about what procedures may be best suited for them. “The goal for all my clients is to find the right solutions for them, for their lifestyle, and to have them walk away looking and feeling beautiful both inside and out,” she says. “Having cosmetic surgery does not have to mean that you walk away from a facelift, for example, looking like everything has been pulled tighter across the surface of your face. Doctors who perform those types of procedures are not addressing key aspects of the natural aging process—a loss of volume or ‘softness’ and skin damage. The result is a very un-natural finished product and typically, a dissatisfied customer,” continues Dr. Treece. “My goal, on the other hand, is to provide my clients with the tools they need to promote a healthy and enduring sense of personal beauty.”

Whether a client is set to receive a therapeutic massage, an injection of Botox, or a breast ultrasound to complement a routine mammogram, the focus is always on preventative maintenance and personal transformation. As Dr. Treece and her friendly, professional staff will tell you, if you look good, chances are you feel good, too. And feeling good is the first step towards a more fulfilling and overall healthy lifestyle. ✦

Southern Aesthetics
Penelope C. Treece, M.D.
3815 Hessmer Ave.
Metairie, LA 70002
504.779.7749
www.penelopetreece.com