It was well after dark on July 14 when David Gay, M.D. and his wife, Ashley, drove away from the Sawyer Ranch Medical Tower with butterflies in their stomachs. Texas Eye Aesthetics, David’s new practice, was set to open at 8 a.m. the next day. After months of meticulous planning, it was finally “go time.”
“I couldn’t imagine a better place to open a practice,” David replied when asked why he chose Dripping Springs after six years in Austin. “The people here are incredibly kind and welcoming. Dripping Springs aligns perfectly with our values and the kind of practice we want to build.”
David is an oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. While the term may sound complicated, David explains it simply: He’s a plastic surgeon for the eyes and face. “I am a board-certified ophthalmologist,” he says, “but I don’t operate directly in the eye. I take care of all the structures around and behind the eye.”
With over 20 years in branding and marketing, Ashley has played a crucial role in setting up the practice. “I’ve been working in this field through medical school, residency, and fellowship,” she shares. After 19 years of marriage, raising two boys, and navigating the rigors of medical training, they felt this was the natural next step. “We’ve lived in Utah, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, and finally decided to make Texas home,” Ashley explains.
The journey to becoming a highly specialized surgeon is a long one: four years of medical school, an intern year, three years of ophthalmology residency, and a two-year fellowship in oculofacial plastics. “After all those years of medical training, I feel uniquely qualified to market Dave and his skills,” Ashley smirks. “I also benefited from some of the lasers and skincare.”
David’s interest in medicine started early. “When I was eight, I got my first pair of glasses. The same pair that every kid in the ’80s wore,” he says. “It was then I wanted to be able to do surgery to fix eyes so no other kid had to wear glasses again.”
While David didn’t eliminate glasses, his path led him to oculofacial plastic surgery. “I love the variety,” he says. “In a single day, I can operate on eyelids, complete a cancer reconstruction, drain a stye, inject Botox, and perform a laser treatment. It’s never the same day twice.”
Ashley notes that David doesn’t even like watching the same movie twice. “In medical school, he considered various specialties,” she says. “I think he chose the right one.”
David’s practice offers both medical and cosmetic surgeries. “As we age, our eyelid skin changes due to gravity, genetics, and lifestyle factors,” he explains. “This not only ages one’s appearance but can also impair vision, affecting quality of life.”
When asked what surprises people most about eye care, David notes that, according to studies, approximately 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers occur on the eyelid. “People do not think to protect their eyelids from the sun,” he shares. “I see a lot of eyelid cancer, especially in Texas.”
Both David and Ashley emphasize the importance of UV protection. “Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses is my secret to fighting wrinkles around the eyes and preventing skin cancer,” Ashley remarks.
David concludes, “Whether the surgery is initiated due to medical or cosmetic reasons doesn’t change how I approach it. Every surgery I perform, I aim for the most aesthetically pleasing outcome. This is why the word ‘aesthetics’ is part of our practice name.”
TEASurgery.com