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had to consciously redirect the interview when I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Alexander Digenis. We had spent entirely too much time talking about me and not because I had anything compelling to offer, but because he is such a skilled listener and so naturally inquisitive. While those attributes alone are not what make him an accomplished surgeon, they are certainly part of what make him such a highly sought after physician. I had read the testimonials from his patients stating that they “never felt rushed”, were “always heard” and “made to feel like the only patient that mattered.” This is difficult to achieve in the increasingly demanding field of plastic surgery, but it is a core commitment of Dr. Digenis and he is a master at it, despite performing over a thousand cosmetic procedures annually. It is one of his many gifts. “I’m very aware that the field of plastic surgery can be perceived as superficial,” he shares as we discuss the journey that led him to Louisville and the evolution of Digenis Plastic Surgery Institute, “but the real joy of my profession is in restoring confidence in my patients and, in many cases, helping them feel as though they have their life back.” He’s able to offer this sense of renewal at his practice located on the first floor of Norton Healthcare Pavilion and through services ranging from cosmetic injectables to Facelift, Breast Augmentation and Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery), among others. Following a rigorous surgical residency at Vanderbilt University and a fellowship in plastic surgery at New York University and the prestigious Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, Dr. Digenis moved back to Kentucky to be near family, and joined the practice of Dr. Norman Cole – the practice that he took over when Cole retired. Among one of the most rewarding procedures he does, Dr. Digenis shares, is what he calls the “Mommy Makeover” which typically consists of Body Countouring, Liposutction or Abdominal-plasty (commonly known as a tummy tuck). “Liposuction should really be called liposculpturing because it really is not a weight loss procedure at all, but yet a way to target areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. I often have to counsel my patients on what they can and can’t beat themselves up about. There are some things, particu-
larly in a woman’s body, that can’t be fought with diet and exercise either because of genetic predisposition or, oftentimes, the physical trauma of pregnancy. It’s amazing to me, as a physician, that any of these anatomic structures can ever return to normalcy. A lot of my work is putting things back to where they should be. Since we are all living longer, this is now about living healthier.” His true professional passion, however, is in breast reconstruction following a mastectomy or lumpectomy, previously serving as the director of Norton Hospital’s Breast Health Program. “The reconstruction of a breast that has been removed due to cancer or other disease is one of the most rewarding surgical procedures for me as a surgeon. Now, more and more, reconstruction is possible immediately following breast removal so the patient wakes up with a breast mound already in place. It is extremely meaningful to me to get to be a part of their care in the fight against cancer, their healing journey and their return to what I hope makes them feel like their whole self again. The truth is,” he shares sincerely, “there is no real financial gain in these procedures, but cosmetic patients give me the luxury to do reconstruction and give back in that way. I do whatever I can to support breast cancer causes because I experience, through my patients, the pain and suffering caused by this terrible disease.” It’s no coincidence that Dr. Digenis talks about surgery in the same terms as an artist would talk about their work. “The human body is comprised of the most incredibly beautiful color palette,” he observes poetically. Influenced by his mother, Helen, he is a lover of art and a gifted painter himself. His father, Dr. George Digenis, is an esteemed scientist and served as a Professor of Toxicology, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacy, as well as in the Department of Nuclear Medicine during his tenure at University of Kentucky. He encouraged his son’s scientific curiosity and passion for scientific innovation. Luckily, at a young age, he shares, “I discovered that Plastic Surgery would be the perfect marriage for my love of art and science and actually studied ancient Greek sculpture in their striking depiction of the human form as a study in the fascinating symmetry and perfection of the body. I am
extremely creatively fulfilled through my work.” Beyond the professional and creative influences of his parents, the family’s Greek heritage is a defining characteristic of their personality and spirit. “Greek men love to talk,” laughs his sister, Emily Digenis, who transitioned from her law practice to become the Chief Operating Officer, Attorney and Marketing Director for Digenis Plastic Surgery Institute. “As the one who is supposed to be looking at the bottom line of this operation, I know it is not in the best interest of the practice financially for my brother to spend so much time chatting with each patient. It sincerely affects the amount of people he is able to consult each day; but as much as listening and personalized attention are hallmarks of his manner, he loves to tell stories and really explain his method and what to expect until every patient is comfortable. It drives me crazy on the business end of things, but, ultimately, he’s doing the right thing. Trust me, it’s really hard for me to ever admit my older brother is right!” Dr. Digenis speaks enthusiastically and passionately about the satisfaction of serving his patients, but his face takes on a new light when he talks about his sons, five-year-old twins George and Luke whom he considers his greatest accomplishment. “It’s easy to get consumed professionally, but when I became a single father, I made a commitment that I would do whatever it took to have a meaningful presence in my son’s lives, even if it meant scaling back on work, which I’ve done.” His sister Emily adds, “The office hours are structured in a way so that Alex can be with his sons when he needs to be because that is a priority to him. It was really no surprise that he embraced fatherhood the way he has because he was such an involved Uncle even before he had children of his own.” Noted for his compassionate patient care, Dr. Digenis is expertly guiding women, and an increasing number of men, to a place of renewal, whether following a traumatic encounter with breast cancer or a commitment to their overall health and confidence. It has been said that “science discovers and art creates.” It is to the benefit of his patients that Dr. Digenis has found the perfect medium in which to do both.
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