Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Alexander.
Diane, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon my life has woven together a rich tapestry of a career in plastic surgery, entrepreneurship, and the joys of family life with my husband and two children. My roots in the Pacific Northwest shaped my values, and my journey has been a testament to the intersection of passion, artistry, and a commitment to holistic well-being.
During my formative years, I attended a small, progressive high school, dedicating myself to the world of classical music and studying the cello. Summers were spent immersed in the magic of music festivals like Tanglewood and Interlochen National Music Camp. This artistic foundation became the cornerstone of my identity.
Yale University beckoned, offering a liberal arts education that allowed me to major in history, study art and science, and continue my musical journey in the Yale Symphony. However, it was during my clinical rotations at Albert Einstein College of Medicine that I fell in love with surgery and traded my bow for a scalpel. The allure of using my hands and intellect to heal people resonated deeply, and when I discovered plastic surgery, I found the perfect fusion of medicine, surgical skills, and artistic creativity.
After completing my general surgery and plastic surgery fellowship at Emory, I blazed a trail by opening the first all-female plastic surgery practice in Atlanta, Artisan Plastic Surgery. With my partner for the last 23 years, Dr. Bernadette Wang Ashraf at my side, my dream was to add a feminine touch to surgical skills, embodying the mantra, “A surgeon’s hands, a woman’s touch.” I reveled in the creative and artistic aspects of my profession, treating each patient as a unique canvas and offering natural, artistic outcomes. Together as a team, Dr Ashraf and I have grown our practice into one of the busiest plastic surgery practices in the Southeast.
As my career progressed, I became especially passionate about facial rejuvenation-performing facelifts and eyelid lifts in a natural way-enhancing the beauty of each patient without making them look overdone. As an extension of this interest in cosmetic facial surgery, I ventured into non-invasive aesthetic services, leading to the establishment of my first spa, Artisan Beaute in 2019. In 2022, I opened a second spa, both embodying a 360 approach to aesthetics. My incredible team of providers at the spas specialize in non-surgical aesthetic services, with a full spectrum of facial enhancements-lasers, skin care, facials and injections. These services stand-alone to help our patients age gracefully at any age and as a complement to the surgical procedures that are my specialty.
In addition, for the last two decades, I have pursued an avid interest in health and wellness, physical fitness, and a healthy lifestyle. This year, I decided to incorporate my knowledge, experience, and passion into the Artisan Beaute spas. We are broadening the concept of healing by including weight and hormone optimization, peptides, and IV therapy. The vision is to embrace a comprehensive approach to surgery, aesthetics, and well-being. The spas are a place where medicine, art, and wellness come together in a simple yet profound harmony.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Reflecting on my career, there have certainly been challenges, indeed obstacles, especially entering surgery at a time when the profession was dominated by men. Entering a field without female role models, I faced the arduous task of finding work-life balance while dedicating 100-hour work weeks to my surgical training. I was the first woman to give birth during a surgical residency at Emory-they didn’t even have a maternity leave policy at that time! In 1992 after my first child, I went into the transplant immunology lab, performing heart transplants on mice. In 1993, I gave birth to our second child, and when I resumed my clinical training and the 100+ hour work week, my resolve was tested mightily. The physical, emotional, and mental strain of balancing work and motherhood was sometimes overwhelming. I honestly would not have made it through my training without the incredible support of my husband, Kent Alexander. Despite his own successful career as an attorney, he held our family and household together while being my biggest cheerleader.
After completing my general surgery training and plastic surgery fellowship, I had to envision a life which blended a plastic surgery career and family. There was no manual or playbook for this path. Opening the first all-female plastic surgery practice in Atlanta came with the challenge of managing a business without prior experience. Despite my confidence in my surgical skills, the absence of business education demanded a hands-on-learn-as-you-go approach. Somehow, Dr. Ashraf and I managed to figure out the business of medicine while performing surgery, caring for our patients, and being moms and wives. Interestingly, after over two decades in business, I am finally obtaining a more formal business education. Four years ago, I was asked by Tiffany Alley to join WPO (Women’s President Organization). It has been incredibly eye-opening to learn from and with other successful women business owners about their own challenges and successes in different fields. Especially during the challenging years of Covid, this has been an invaluable source of support in my career and has enhanced my skills as an entrepreneur.
The stresses of being responsible for another’s life, meeting the expectations of discerning patients in aesthetic surgery, and the demands of opening and running two medspas while juggling a full-time surgical career, motherhood, and marriage are formidable. However, the commitment to excellence in each aspect of my life remains unwavering. Creating a nurturing environment for my patients and finding employees who align with my vision has been crucial. Balancing these intricate roles requires resilience, effective time management, and unwavering support from my spouse, my partner at Artisan Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ashraf, and my incredible team of providers and support staff at the spas.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In the intricate world of plastic surgery, I see myself as a physician, a surgeon, and an artist. Tissues serve as my canvas, and sutures my paintbrush. Plastic surgery, for me, is the perfect fusion of scientific excellence and artistic expression. It grants me the opportunity to engage both sides of my brain-my left as a physician and my right as a creator of beauty. As a devoted lifelong learner, I have found a field that keeps me constantly engaged, learning, and growing both scientifically and artistically. My brain is always on fire, keeping up with the new developments in medicine and aesthetics.
The creative aspects of my business – from surgery to designing the practice and the spas and filling them with art – have been a constant source of fulfillment. The practice and spas, designed to resemble art galleries, are a testament to my love for creating beautiful spaces that make patients feel truly beautiful. I am especially proud of the artwork in the practice and the spas by our daughter Kayla, a fine artist in Atlanta. Every day, I get to see her incredible work and listen to our patients who admire her incredible talent (and even try to buy it off the walls!)
Although my surgical focus at this time is cosmetic surgery, a significant part of my career has been devoted to helping women with breast cancer—an immensely rewarding aspect of my journey. My proudest moments have come from helping patients feel healthy, beautiful, and whole. Hearing a breast cancer patient express love for their reconstructed breasts or witnessing a patient post-facelift rediscover themselves in the mirror and align their external appearance with their youthful spirit is boundlessly fulfilling for me. In these moments, I am reminded of the profound impact artistry, and compassion can have in the realm of plastic surgery as I revel in seeing patients heal from the outside in and inside out.
What were you like growing up?
My upbringing in Portland, Oregon, has left an indelible mark on my values and lifestyle. Raised with an older sister and a younger brother in a close family, I attended a small, progressive high school that fueled my identity as an artistic nerd. Although excelling academically, my true passion was music, and I spent countless hours studying and playing the cello, with summers dedicated to music festivals.
The eclectic array of activities—music lessons, ballet, ice skating, symphony practice, skiing, and various art classes—reflected my artistic inclinations. Although not a natural athlete, I explored sports, and Sundays were reserved for baking with my father, a tradition I still carry on, especially renowned for my homemade apple pies.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest instilled in me a love for the natural world, leading to a passion for running, biking, and hiking outdoors. My vacation time with my husband often is filled with biking and outdoor adventures. My happiest place on earth is The Oregon Coast, where my family vacations every summer. This love of nature has been instilled in our older daughter, Nicki. She is an environmental educator in New York City, and her life is devoted to saving the environment. Portland’s vibrant food scene contributed to my ongoing love for discovering amazing food and restaurants wherever we travel and in Atlanta.
In conclusion, my life’s narrative weaves through the realms of art, plastic surgery, entrepreneurship, family life, and a deep-rooted love for nature and beauty. Each chapter reflects a commitment to excellence, a dedication to helping others, and an unwavering pursuit of holistic well-being. The intersection of these elements has shaped me into the plastic surgeon, entrepreneur, wife, mother, and individual I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artisanbeaute.com
- Instagram: @artisanbeauteatlanta
- Other: Www.artisanplasticsurgery.com
