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Growth of Acupuncture and Cosmetic Visits for Dr. Calvin Lee

Over 6000 patient visits to Dr. Calvin Lee, MD in 2016

I just wanted to say that I am very grateful for the growth that I’ve experienced at Surgical Artistry in Modesto, CA.  My wife, Dr. Tammy Wu, and I started Surgical Artistry in 2006, and I personally only had 103 patient visits in that very first year.  And now it is January of 2017, and I got a chance to look at the data for the year 2016.  That reveals over 6000 patient visits to me for Acupuncture, Botox, Juvederm, Kybella, Voluma, and other cosmetic injections.

I changed my focus of my career from a general surgery / trauma based practice to a acupuncture / cosmetic injections type practice in 2006.  We have to start somewhere when we change over.  In 2009, I took 3 months off to tour Asia on my violin – I got to solo with great orchestras and perform at amazing concert halls.  Then in 2010 I was back to work full swing but that was the year we decided to become independent from medical insurance.  So for sure after 2010, it was a great big adventure for us.

In 2016, I hit the Diamond Status with Allergan which is a designation for their top 4% of their practices.  I am very thankful for this growth and support from my patients from Modesto and beyond.  I will do my best to continue to improve my skill in terms of results and safety.  I also want to continue to increase the value of what I do for my patients.

I look forward to two more decades of work in Modesto.

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About Surgical Artistry – your Kybella center

ABOUT SURGICAL ARTISTRY

Surgical Artistry was formed in 2006 in Modesto by husband and wife team Dr. Tammy Wu and Dr. Calvin Lee to promote wellness and beauty through Acupuncture, Botox, and Plastic Surgical procedures. Dr. Wu and Dr. Lee had educational opportunities at Brown University, Harvard, Stanford, Case Western Reserve, and Southern Illinois University. Dr. Wu graduated top of her medical school class at Brown University. Dr. Lee on the violin was concertmaster of orchestras at Brown University, Harvard University and in New York where he grew up. He believes that playing musical instruments improves the dexterity required to be a good surgeon. Dr. Wu and Dr. Lee came to Modesto in 2003. Dr. Tammy Wu is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and Dr. Calvin Lee is a Board Certified General Surgeon with specialized experience in Trauma. He became an Acupuncturist in 2006. Surgical Artistry has evolved since 2010 to become independent of medical insurances. Thus the procedures we do today are those that are usually not covered by insurance, or poorly covered by insurance. Tummy Tucks, Breast Augmentation, Cosmetic Botox for wrinkles on the face, Kybella injection for Double Chin, and Acupuncture are the majority of our procedures at Surgical Artistry.

We are proud supporters of the arts and healthy living in Central Valley and Sacramento. We are founders of the Gallo Center for the Arts, founding title sponsors for the Surgical Artistry Modesto Symphony Pops Series / Surgical Artistry Modesto Symphony Fat Cat Classics 2006-2009, and founding title sponsors for the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon

Please feel free to call us for more information (209) 551-1888. And visit one of our self-made 100+ websites: www.SurgeryToday.com, www.ModestoKybella.com, www.ModestoBreastSurgery.com, www.ModestoTummyTuck.com, www.InjectionArtistry.com, www.ModestoAcupuncture.com, www.ajabwelldone.com

We moved on March 22, 2019 to Dale Road.  Our new address is:

Surgical Artistry
4754 Dale Road
Modesto, CA 95356

(209) 551-1888

Dr. Lee self-proclaims that he made the first plastic surgery webpage in the world back in 1995 and it was for the Brown University department of Plastic Surgery.

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Allergan top 500 accounts

In my estimate, Allergan has tens of thousands of accounts across America.  In fact, I had figured out from what my patients tell me that there are about 51 other Botox (and maybe Kybella) injectors that my patients could easily drive to.  So there are a lot of account.  I can’t vouch that all these accounts are folks that purchase directly from Allergan USA, etc.  Anyway, I’m super thankful that my patients chose me for their injection of Botox or Kybella.  If anyone is interested here is a list that I built up just based on conversations I’ve had with my Botox patients regarding where they have either gotten Botox before or where their friends get Botox:  Listing of Botox injectors in the Modesto area.

Allergan has a internal ranking system of practices which encourages some friendly competition.  These are the levels:

  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Platinum
  • Platinum Plus
  • Diamond
  • Top 500
  • Top 250
  • Top 50
  • Top 25
  • Top 10

They used to have a “Black Diamond” but that got replaced by top 500.  This replacement probably happened a year or two ago.

I was at the Platinum Plus level for about 2 years, and just last year (the second half of last year), I got elevated to Diamond level.  The Allergan company tells me that Diamond level means that one among the top 4% of their accounts.  The points that get considered for this ranking includes purchases of Botox, Kybella, Latisse, Juvederm, Voluma, Volbella, SkinMedica, and Natrelle Breast Implants.  We don’t currently purchase SkinMedica products and we have very few Natrelle Breast Implants. This means that I made it to the Diamond level mainly on facial aesthetic injections.

383 is my ranking as of 1/9/17. But this is “artificially” inflated because I just made an order on 1/6/17 of 70 boxes of 100U Botox Vials.

Interestingly, they will tempt you with a ranking in the top 500 when you quickly dip into that list when you make a sizable order.  This number changes rapidly.  One gets locked into the top 500 apparently if you can be IN the top 500 list by the end of January 2017.  So I’m currently just got to Diamond level, and maybe, just maybe, I can sustain a top 500 ranking till the end of this month.  As of 1/9/17, my ranking is 383.  But this can rapidly fall in a few days out of the top 500, but I thought I’d at least take a screen capture.  Or maybe, just maybe, I can get a new status and claim to be a top 500 account by the end of January, 2017.  In the end, this is all just for fun.  I know that quality is much more important than quantity.

Here I am picture with an award that I got in 2016 when I solidified myself as a Diamond level account with Allergan. Thank you for the award.

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Wonderful review from a physician from Los Angeles

Gosh, thank you so much for this amazing review written in plain sight on FaceBook.  I do hope that my wife and I can live up to these very kind words.  We have much work to do and much to improve.  So, we will try to strive for better outcomes and experiences every day.  This goes for our work with Breast Augmentation, Tummy Tucks, Botox, Kybella, Fillers and Acupuncture.

We love our world here in Modesto, CA and we hope we would make Modesto proud of us.  Thank you again for the wonderful review.

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How much does Kybella cost?

Kybella Pricing for the neck

I’m going to answer the question regarding the procedure of getting Kybella rather than how much does Kybella cost Surgical Artistry to obtain from Allergan.

I treat each procedure that I do as a surgery.  Thus the Kybella procedures require surgical planning and execution.  I also would like to get the best results that I can get from each session.  Most patients will need 2-4 sessions of Kybella.

  • I don’t entirely like the idea of charging by the vial of Kybella.  Because by doing it that way, I think the patients and the injector have a tendency to short-change the amount of Kybella injected.  I think it is natural to think about the possibility of just doing one vial of Kybella in order to save money.  However, I feel that one vial of Kybella is usually not enough.  Same goes for just two vials of Kybella.  With my personal philosophy of doing the absolute best for my patients, I will want to use the maximum amount of Kybella that I can for maximal results each session, and thus I charge by the session.  But I can definitely change my practice and charge by the vial and at this point, my patients would be paying more in that fashion.  Thus for now, I’ll stick to charging for the whole procedure instead of vial by vial.
  • I usually use about 3 vials of Kybella per visit.  I don’t entirely follow the grid that was provided by the manufacturer, I try to see if I can customize it even more for each patient.  I frequently use even more than 3 vials of Kybella.
  • Starting in 2017, I charge $1450 for each session of Kybella, and most patients will need 3-4 sessions.
  • In the years 2015 and 2016, I charged $2000 for the first neck  session with me and the $1500 for the second session with me, and $1000 for the subsequent sessions with me (3rd, 4th, and 5th sessions).  Yes, some patients went to 5 sessions.  Patients who started on this path will continue on this pricing structure for 2017 and beyond if needed.  Sometimes the $1000 per session is below my own cost of doing Kybella – as I get beyond 3 vials of product.
Kybella Vials at Surgical Artistry, Modesto

My first Kybella webpage made in July 2015

I was one of the first physicians in the world to use Kybella.  I am thankful for such a privilege.  Since then, I’ve come to really appreciate the power of having a strong and beautiful neck profile.  I am the first surgeon in Central Valley to inject Kybella into patients.

Feel free to visit my first Kybella webpage

More than 3 vials of Kybella per session?

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Collection of Kybella Videos (official)

Testimonial Videos produced by the Kybella Company

The first five videos shown here are produced by Allergan.  The last video on this page was done informally at our office in Modesto which shows me injecting one of our staff members.  I think it is valuable to see an actual Kybella injection.  We don’t currently have any fancy microphones thus, our conversation isn’t easily heard.  Furthermore, it’s already a bit hard to hear a surgeon who’s mumbling behind a surgical mask.

Kybella Testimonial from Nikki:

Kybella Testimonial from Jason:

Kybella Testimonial from David:

Kybella Testimonial from Adra:

How does Kybella Work?

And my Kybella injecting video of Karla:


She elected to do the Kybella procedure without icing