By Meaghan O’Neal
Special to The Laker/Lutz News
Dr. Anahita Azharian is bringing safe, life-changing plastic surgery to the Wesley Chapel area with Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center.
In August of 2014, Dr. Azharian moved back to Tampa, her childhood home, to open her new practice and be closer to family. She had earned a Masters of Public Health in Infectious Diseases at University of South Florida before leaving the area 14 years ago for medical school at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale.
Dr. Azharian’s residency in General Surgery was completed at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Philadelphia, followed by a fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
After her studies, Dr. Azharian worked in New York City until moving back to the Tampa area to open Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center.
Dr. Azharian enjoys owning her own practice for many reasons, but especially because it allows her to set her own high standards.
“Opening my own practice has been a good way to go by my own morals and values, and to do things the way I feel is right,” she says.
Her highest priority, and most important value, is patient safety. While Dr. Azharian acknowledges that any type of surgery comes with some risk, she always informs her patients if something is potentially dangerous, and encourages them to look at alternatives.
“Patient education is closely tied to safety,” said Dr. Azharian. “Many people who seek plastic surgery are not always educated about what it really entails. While plastic surgery is usually done for cosmetic reasons, the procedure is still a surgery and should always be taken seriously.”
Honesty is another important value that Dr. Azharian lives by, and she strives to make sure that her patients are realistic about what they’re going to look like after the surgery.
“We make sure patients have realistic expectations so there are no surprises,” said Dr. Azharian. “We never give anyone false expectations.”
That doesn’t mean that patients don’t have amazing results. “It means that patients get what they actually need and want,” said Dr. Azharian. “We believe that everyone is different, and that someone else’s results won’t necessarily be yours. My joy comes from finding the right surgery for the right patient, and then setting the right expectations.”
Magnolia Plastic Surgery is different than other practices for many reasons, Dr. Azharian said, beginning with the fact that she is a woman.
“I can relate to what society expects of a woman, and to the changes in a woman’s body as she ages,” she says. “Most of my patients are women and I share many of the same perspectives and experiences.”
Dr. Azharian also says her practice is different because of the amount of time that she spends with her patients.
“I never rush people out the door and want my patients to feel comfortable,” she says. “I take time to listen so patients can fully explain what they want,” she said.
Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center works with many breast cancer patients, many whom are referred by the Florida Medical Clinic.
Watching the progress and strength of cancer patients has been especially gratifying for Dr. Azharian and her staff. They often see patients from the start of their cancer treatments, through complications, and to when treatment ends
Dr. Azharian seeks to deepen the good reputation of the Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center by valuing her patient’s safety, being honest about her results, and giving patients the best surgery that they can have. Her ultimate goal is to do the best surgery she can every single time.
(813) 563-2220 (ask for Wanda) • 2404 Creel Lane, Suite 102 • Wesley Chapel • www.magnoliapsc.com
