Visionary – Dr. Scott Aaronson

Director and Surgeon, JFK Memorial Hospital

Site Staff Vision

Dr. Scott Aaronson
Photo by Ethan Kaminksy

 

Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Scott Aaronson opened his practice in Palm Springs 30 years ago — and for more than half of that time he has been working in his namesake 6,000-square-foot center with operating rooms and overnight accommodations for patients who come for procedures such as facelifts, tummy tucks, and breast reductions.

As his practice has grown, the facility — Aaronson Plastic Surgery Center — allowed the doctor to better control costs and patient safety.

“Safety is critical,” he says, noting that the center is located across the street from Desert Regional Medical Center. “We found that having our own facility was necessary to provide a nice environment for our patients to recuperate. The [overnight capacity] assures better follow-up and closer supervision for the immediate postoperative period.”

Aaronson Plastic Surgery Center also works on eyelids, noses, and ears and offers liposuction and noninvasive procedures such as Botox and filler injections that enhance appearance.

Most of his patients live in the Coachella Valley. However, some patients come from other areas of the country and Canada in order to enjoy Greater Palm Springs during their postoperative care.

“When you look at the sky and it’s perfectly clear and you see the beautiful palm trees and mountains, then you realize this is a great place to recover from a surgical procedure,” Aaronson says. “From that point of view, this is an excellent environment for a plastic surgery patient.”

His practice has also proved to be a year-round enterprise, with many clients preferring to pursue their procedures during the summer.

“There are a lot of advantages to moving to the Coachella Valley,” says Aaronson, who’s from Baltimore and trained in Miami, Irvine, and Houston. “The environment here is fantastic. There’s been a tremendous amount of growth. A lot of people are moving here, and they need physicians, whether it’s primary care or a specialist.”

Aaronson raised two children, both of whom attended local public schools. “One went to Cornell; the other one’s at UCLA,” he says, beaming. And the desert has been accommodating for his hobbies, which include jazz flute playing and photography.

“I was able to accomplish all the things that I had hoped for, professionally. I’m as busy as I desire. And I do any hobby at any time of the year because the weather really never stops me,” he says. “It’s the perfect place.”

 

VIDEO: Dr. Scott Aaronson, Aaronson Plastic Surgery Center