Plastic surgery returns to town

Plastic surgery in Culpeper?

That will soon be the case again thanks to a Fredericksburg-based medical practice featuring Drs. Howard Heppe, Harold Bautista and Todd P. Ginestra.

Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg is a medical practice that provides surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

Ginestra, 42, will offer office hours out of a satellite office in Culpeper on Tuesdays starting May 12 at Dominion Dermatology Associates, (1100 Sunset Lane, Suite 1212) where Dr. Chauncey McHargue practices.

“We know that the community in Culpeper has been growing and it’s a good population for us to reach out to,” said Lesi Beamon Mackey, practice administrator for PSSF. “We hope that there’s going to be some interest and we think it’d be a great opportunity for Dr. Ginestra to establish himself.”

However, this won’t be the first time a plastic surgeon has practiced in Culpeper.

Bautista opened and operated a satellite office as part of PSSF in Culpeper from 1994 to 2002. As Bautista’s practice began to expand in Fredericksburg, he was no longer able to continue offering his services in Culpeper.

“I feel like if Dr. Bautista would have had the availability, he would have continued in Culpeper,” Mackey added.

Ginestra, the newest physician to the practice who started last year, has privileges at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, the Stafford Hospital Center as well as Culpeper Regional Hospital.

The practice provides a wide variety of cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures including: breast reconstruction, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, liposuction, face-lifts and BOTOX cosmetic injections.

“Breast reconstruction and plastic surgery in general can improve a person’s quality of life and positively impact how they view themselves,” said Ginestra.

Ginestra will also be speaking about cosmetic surgery at the Women’s Health Community Tea at the Inn at Redwood on May 14 between 1 to 4 p.m.

Ginestra, an Illinois native, earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his medical degree from the University of Illinois-Rockford in 1992.

He fulfilled a general surgery residency in Akron, Ohio and Ginestra was board certified in general surgery in 1998.

Ginestra completed a three-year residency in plastic surgery at the University of Illinois-Chicago before becoming board certified in plastic surgery in 2001.

Before Fredericksburg, Ginestra spent nearly eight years in a practice in Paducah, Ky.

During his spare time, Ginestra enjoys spending time with his wife and son, traveling, weight lifting, swimming and scuba diving.

Dr. L. Thomas Albert, who retired last month — opened the Fredericksburg office located on Fall Hill Avenue in 1983.