I’m estimating that Allergan has about 20,000+ American accounts. Today, they ranked me 372. This number changes everyday. Fun number to watch. But in the end, it’s quality that matters and it’s high quality injections, results, safety and comfort that helped me get here. I still feel that there is much much more to improve, so I have to keep working at it. A big thank you to all my patients from Modesto and beyond for trusting me with Botox, Juvederm, Voluma, Volbella, and Kybella injections.
Update, ranking on 1/25/17 a few hours later reveal:
Allergan updates this daily! Today I’m ranked 351 out of their 20,000 plus accounts in America. Well, it’s probably not going to get much higher than that. I am focusing on quality not quantity. If for some reason the quantity goes up as a good side effect of quality work, then I guess that’s a good side effect. Thank you again for trusting me with your Botox, Juvederm, Voluma, Volbella, and Kybella (double chin) injections.
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.
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
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.
On Facebook, I was posting about a Kybella live injection demonstration event at my office, Surgical Artistry in Modesto, and I got a few questions about Kybella and a few questions about Botox. I wanted to try to answer this Botox question here which was a question about how much Botox costs. I think this is a somewhat difficult question to answer because everyone wants something different. Sometimes extremely different. But this answer might be a good generalization
How much for Botox?
I approach all my procedures as surgical procedures including my Botox injections. Injected by me, I charge $12.75 per unit for Botox (2017 pricing, subject to change). To expand this further, Let’s say one was to inject the glabellar complex (the area between the eyes). On average I use 20 units for that area. That comes out to $255 (2017 pricing, subject to change). However that might not be the right amount based on your goals. We can definitely do less or do more. There are pros and cons to each decision and I would work hard to listen and create the right result for each unique patient. And I would work hard to make sure the Botox was used very efficiently without any wasting of the very very valuable product! Thanks for asking!
I wrote this little essay which might be of interest:
My staff recently sent a question to me. His question was:
Why do some of products related to the Obagi Nuderm Skin Care system not have numbers?
My answer to the Obagi Nu-derm numbering question:
Another EXCELLENT question!!
Here are my possible answers:
Obagi Medical doesn’t know how to count. But a better reason would be, that as time went on, new products got invented and thus they didn’t want to change the numbering system – but that doesn’t explain why the Tretinoin itself doesn’t have a number – maybe they didn’t own a company at the time that made tretinoin. How’s that for an answer?
Or
Obagi is selling that “set” as a “STARTER set with numbers” – it is enough to get started and then they should add the Elastiderm, Vitamin C Serum, Vitamin C peptide, and very importantly the Tretinoin. So these are things that need to be customized for the patients preferences and budget.
So the unnumbered products which are eventually needed:
Elastiderm
Vitamin C serum
Vitmain C-Peptide
Tretinoin 0.05% or Tretinoin 0.1% (sometimes Retin-A)
My summary of the order of how to use Obagi Nu-Derm System – the Surgical Artistry Modesto Way:
AM
Cleanser
Toner
Elastiderm Eye cream
Vit C
Vit C peptide
Clear #3
Exfoderm / Forte
Sunfader
HYDRATE
Sunscreen (SS50)
Make up
PM
Cleanser
Toner
Elastiderm Eye cream
Vit C Peptide
Clear
Blender/Tretinoin Mixture
HYDRATE / or Hydrate Luxe
Dr. Tammy Wu added a few more thoughts to this Obagi question:
You don’t know this because you weren’t here when Obagi Starter Set didn’t have Hydrate as one of its products; in its place was Sunfader. That’s why Sunfader was numbered #6, as it was #6 in the original Obagi Starter Set.
Sunfader is an excellent product to add for those patients who have hyperpigmentation or freckles due to sun damage or melasma due to pregnancy.
Hydrate is a very recent addition to the Kit and replacement for Sunfader. Sunfader used to be in its place in the kit. Hydrate came about because of people’s complaint of peeling and dry skin after product application. Hydrate does ease the temporary peeling and dry skin feeling for people just starting the products. But it is also an excellent moisturizing retainer – it holds water in the skin for up to 8 hours, just like Hydrate Luxe does.
Therefore, for those with dark spots on their face, I will add the SUnfader to their regimen ALWAYS, because Sunfader is a prescription product with Hydroquinone and chemical sunscreen which will help lighten the dark spots.
I will work hard to listen to my patients’ desired goals and work hard to satisfy every patient. We will have conversations which involve my brutal honesty. Patients will not be allowed to leave until I feel that I’ve completed my best work for what we had planned. I welcome patients with “high standards” because I have very high standards myself.
There are patients out there who believe that a “syringe is a syringe” and that the surgeon doesn’t matter. Those folks can go elsewhere. In the end, I hope my patients will put more value in the procedure with me in control rather than the generic “vial” or generic “syringe” which can’t inject itself. And I hope my patients will believe that I will always try to give them the best value for the highest quality. I strive to use the least amount of product for maximum result.
I view all my needle related procedures (acupuncture, Kybella, Botox, Juvederm, etc) as minimally invasive surgeries. They ARE surgeries. For me, they require, surgical planning and surgical precision.
My big three aims are to achieve excellence with safety, results, and comfort. Complications can sometimes happen, and if they occur, I will do all that I can to resolve it.
I am truly honored to your doctor. Thank you to all my patients for trusting me and allowing me to practice medicine, acupuncture and surgery at the highest level possible.
I think this explains very well my reason for creating and working at Surgical Artistry. I think in some ways they call this a personal “mission statement.” I work with needles all day. I place needles for Acupuncture. I inject Kybella, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, Volbella, and Asclera for veins.
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.
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.
I just heard on NPR today that the iPhone turns 10 years old today. Today is 1/9/17. This means that on 1/9/2007 the iPhone was unveiled to the world by Apple.
We are 1 year older than the iPhone!!!
Timeline of events
2003 – Dr. Lee and Dr. Wu came to Modesto from Springfield Illinois.
2006 – Surgical Artistry was founded. Birthday is 2/24/2006.
2006 – Dr. Calvin Lee plays heavy metal on the violin at the Fat Cat with famed violinist Rachel Barton
2006 – Dr. Calvin Lee was given the award as Outstanding Community Faculty Physician by the Stanislaus Family Practice Residence, affiliated with UC Davis and Doctors Medical Center of Modesto.
2007 – Surgical Artistry becomes a founding Presenting Sponsor of the Surgical Artistry Modesto Symphony Pops series.
2008 – Dr. Tammy Wu came on the board of directors for the Cooperative of American Physicians based in Los Angeles.
2008 – Dr. Calvin Lee plays at the Gallo Center for the first time as part of an Assyring Rock Band with Walter Aziz and Ashur Bet Sargis.
2009 – Dr. Calvin Lee played violin with the YouTube Symphony at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This is his second time at Carnegie Hall.
2009 – Dr. Lee had a write up about his violin playing in Strings Magazine
2009 – Dr. Lee and Dr. Wu, as Surgical Artistry, helped to start the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon. The date was 11/13/2009
2009 – Dr. Lee soloed and toured around Asian countries playing violin
2011 – Dr. Lee got to be a speaker for Allergan on the topic of Latisse
2012 Boston Channel 5 aired a clip on Dr. Calvin Lee performing facial rejuvenation acupuncture.
2015 – Dr. Lee becomes the first surgeon to inject Kybella in Central Valley, California. It was an honor to be selected to have access to Kybella by the Kythera company who developed Kybella.
2015 – Dr. Lee won a piano concerto competition and soloed with orchestra in Los Angeles
2016 – Surgical Artistry became presenting sponsor for Rina’s Run half marathon, 10K and 5K in Ripon
2016 – had the 7th running of the Surgical Artistry Modesto Marathon
2016 – Surgical Artistry became presenting sponsor for Modesto Moves and Ripon-Manteca Moves.
2016 – 3rd year in a row of getting the Best-of Stanislaus award from Contentment Health Magazine.
2016 – Dr. Lee and Surgical Artistry gets an award from Allergan becoming a Diamond Level account, top 4% of accounts.
2017 – Dr. Lee finally gets his first smart phone.
2017 – Dr. Calvin Lee / Surgical Artistry becomes top 500 account at Allergan. We estimate that Allergan has 20-30,000 accounts in the USA.
I am honored to be able to keep in touch with the smart scientists at Allergan. Here I am pictured with Dr. Diana Romero, PhD, Director of Facial Aesthetics for Allergan. Kybella is one of her expertise as well. She has provided me with research papers regarding best use and best safety. Much much appreciated. Thank you Dr. Romero! We are pictured here at the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego and we are exploring breast surgery advances. She gets involved in that field as well! Dr. Romero is based in Irvine, California. She was also with Medical Affairs at Kythera Biopharmaceuticals. That was the company which developed Kybella. Also conincidentally, her brother is a helicopter pilot for trauma services at Case Western Reserve – that’s where I did a bunch of my Trauma Surgery training. Small world indeed.
