World-renowned Facial Plastic Surgeon, Stephen W. Perkins, MD is a visionary and business pioneer. Thirty-seven years ago, when starting his practice in his hometown of Indianapolis, he had the vision of a local surgery center dedicated exclusively to plastic surgery.
Fast forward to November 2020, which marks the anniversary of his vision turned reality – as the Meridian Plastic Surgery Center is 30 years old. Dr. Perkins founded and built this facility, Indiana’s first privately owned surgery center created solely for plastic surgery – and the oldest of its type still in operation. It was designed as a center of excellence with a confidential, comfortable, “home-like” environment to bring high-end plastic surgery and aesthetic services to patients in Indianapolis – so they didn’t have to travel to larger cities.
Meridian Plastic Surgery Center (MPSC) has continued to grow and be successful. “MPSC is more than just a state-of-the-art accredited surgery center. It houses our surgical practice, Meridian Plastic Surgeons, and Spa 170 West medical skincare spa. It is also an American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery accredited teaching facility. Hoffacker Health and Fitness also has a center on site staffed by certified personal trainers,” said Dr. Perkins.
Uniquely, patients are able to come to one location to get their plastic surgery and aesthetics needs met under one roof – from seeing their plastic surgeon to undergoing facial plastic and full-body surgery and non-surgical rejuvenation procedures. Patients travel from around the country and the world to have their surgery performed by the surgeons who operate at MPSC due to their special expertise in various procedures. And, the anesthesiologists performing the anesthesia have been with the center since its inception.
“We’ve grown smartly with the times, incorporating advanced surgical techniques and introducing new technologies once proven that they are safe and effective. Over the years, interest in non-surgical facial rejuvenation services has grown across the industry, and we went from having one make-up artist to opening Spa 170 West – our on-site medical skincare spa,” he continued.
National Teaching and Research Hub
MPSC is a respected destination for facial plastic surgery education. For the last 31 years, Dr. Perkins has been a Fellowship Director for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Each year, he has trained a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery Fellow (chosen from all over the U.S.) to teach them advanced surgical techniques and provide further specialized knowledge and surgical skills.
Dr. Perkins is a regularly invited teaching faculty member at national and international symposiums, and he and his partners participate in the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Plastic Surgery program. MPSC also has long been a hub for participation in research related to multiple plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Bruce Van Natta has been an active FDA Investigator on clinical trials for breast implants.
Then and Now
An old farm house used to stand on the lot where Dr. Perkins built MPSC, and its doors opened with 15,000 square feet. It went through a significant remodeling addition in 1997, increasing its square footage to nearly 16,000 square feet. And its employee base has more than doubled over the last 30 years.
While Dr. Perkins had the initial vision, other plastic surgeons have contributed to the center’s long-term success, including his practice associates, Bruce Van Natta, MD, Christine Kelley, MD and Michael Sadove, MD. Barry Eppley, MD and Mark Hamilton, MD (who was Dr. Perkins’ Facial Plastic Surgery Fellow in 1997) also perform surgery at MPSC, where they choose to bring their patients to have a very specialized plastic surgery experience. And, there are a handful of employees who have worked at the center since it opened.
What the Future Holds
Dr. Perkins envisions continued growth at MPSC, growth in technology as well as new, younger surgeons coming on board. “Plastic surgery has become very acceptable in our society. While Baby Boomers continue to be a large part of the patient population, younger people are having procedures as well. Patients want to look as good and as young as they feel. Professionals want to look their best and not appear tired. And, it’s not just women – 23% of our patient base is male. With the popularity of Zoom and other online video-based communication forums, the demand is only going to grow,” Dr. Perkins concluded.