As the holiday season approaches and the spirit of giving comes alive, people often associate tangible gifts with this time of year-presents wrapped under a tree, Secret Santa games or even a shared experience. However, gifts can come in many different forms. Dr. Spencer Eagan of Ascentist Plastic Surgery certainly knows how to produce extraordinary physical results, but perhaps the greatest gift his hands can offer is the gift of confidence that is able to transform lives, families and futures.
Putting yourself into the care of a doctor is an extremely personal experience. The vulnerability, the procedures, the results - all of it is nothing short of an emotional journey. In the realm of plastic surgery, gaining a patient's trust from the start is a mighty virtue. Dr. Eagan makes that the aim in his practice, prioritizing patient care above anything else.
“Trust is everything. I think you gain trust by listening and asking questions,” he said. “It conveys that I care and I want to get down to the root of what will make them happy.”
Working and helping with his hands was the basis of Dr. Eagan’s start in medicine. He briefly shadowed his uncle at his Idaho veterinary practice but decided to pursue a different path. Watching the power of how plastic surgery can change someone’s life for the better, Dr. Eagan knew he had found his calling.
“There is a misconception that plastic surgery is just cosmetic. It's really about transformation, whether it's reconstruction or cosmetic. Someone has an issue that you're trying to solve,” he said.
Born in Lawrence, Kansas, and completing his degree at the University of Kansas, Dr. Eagan did not have to look far from home to find success. After thirteen years of practicing in Kansas City, he is one of the managing partners of Ascentist Plastic Surgery and has been instrumental in growing other regional practices. Word of Dr. Eagan’s exceptional work has even spread nationally and overseas, drawing patients from countries around the world. All of this has been built through humility and keeping his patients’ goals at the forefront.
“One of my key points is I will not leave the room until I'm happy with how they look on the table. If they don’t look good here and now, they’re not going to look good through the course of time,” Dr. Eagan said. “I think the most gratifying piece is when you get people back three or six or twelve months later, and they're just beaming.”
One of those individuals who took the leap of trust with Dr. Eagan is Mission Hills City Lifestyle publisher Sarah Johns. She was referred to Dr. Eagan during one of the most difficult seasons of her life and immediately felt the warmth and support for her personal circumstances as well as her cosmetic desires.
“His kindness, authenticity and expertise came through immediately, and I knew I was in the right hands! To have a doctor, who not only fixed a cosmetic need, but built a level of trust and rapport which lent to a real human experience, was so helpful to me in a season that was extremely challenging,” Johns said.
Johns was met with that comfort and given the gift of transformation from the inside out. In the midst of her pain, loss and uncertainty, she considers her cosmetic improvements to be a direct reflection of the healing she continues to pursue on the inside.
“I believe that true beauty comes from within,” Johns said. “I also believe that we are holistic beings, connected in mind, body and spirit. The amazing physical results created an internal confidence inside me, and I cannot thank Dr. Eagan and his staff enough for the care and exceptional results that I received!”
Dr. Eagan’s symbolism of “beauty from the inside out” stems from the beauty found within a geode. He proudly displays one next to the front door of Ascentist, serving as a constant reminder of why he is so passionate about what he does.
“Our goal is for the patients’ external canvas to match the inner beauty and vision they have for themselves,” Dr. Eagan said. “When you are happy with yourself, it provides confidence, and that confidence spills into all aspects of life."
In a culture where doctors can sometimes lean toward burnout, Dr. Eagan is motivated now more than ever to continue growing Ascentist, striving to learn new techniques and putting his patients first in every circumstance. With an incredible team surrounding him and a loving family driving him, the gift of transformation has never been in better hands.
“When you love what you do it doesn't feel like work,” Dr. Eagan said. “I wake up each day motivated to make a difference in people's lives."
There's a misconception that plastic surgery is just cosmetic. It's really about transformation, whether it's reconstruction or cosmetic. Someone has an issue you're trying to solve.
The amazing physical results created internal confidence. I cannot thank Dr. Eagan and his staff enough for the care and exceptional results that I received!