PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Donald Faucett, MD on Mississippi Medical News

PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Donald Faucett, MD

By: LUCY SCHULTZE

Donald Faucett was out to help people feel better about themselves. He entered medical school with his eye on psychiatry, but in the years that followed, his career has steered him instead toward a more efficient means to that end. (See related story "Laser Liposuction Offers Alternative" at the end of this article.)

"I wanted to help people feel better about themselves, but I found that in psychiatry that doesn't happen quickly," said Faucett, MD, who specializes in oculoplastic and facial cosmetic surgery at Trio Medi Spa in Flowood.

"I'm a person who likes immediate gratification, so that's why I chose surgical fields," he said. "Today I'm able to change things quickly for people and am able to help them feel better about themselves."

A native of Canton, Faucett earned his medical degree in 1982 from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He spent a year practicing emergency medicine in Pensacola, Fla., before returning to UMMC for a residency in ophthalmology.

He then completed a fellowship in oculoplastic surgery and ocular oncology at Duke University, where he also studied in the dermatology department.

He returned to Jackson to open a practice in oculo-facial plastic surgery, and in 2001, established Trio Medi Spa to incorporate aspects of wellness.

The 4,000-square-foot facility on Lakeland Drive has a staff of a dozen professionals, including four aestheticians and four massage therapists. Their work includes using laser technologies to treat sun damage and remove unwanted hair.

"We do everything from facials to facelifts," Faucett said.

Faucett participated in the first and second original FDA studies of Botox as well as the final investigation of Juvéderm. He was the first physician in Mississippi chosen by Allergan to train other physicians in the use of Botox®, and the first chosen by Syneron to train others in the use of elōs aesthetic-laser technology.

His practice also includes Richard Price, MD, a dermatologist who has been working with Faucett for the past year to offer medical and cosmetic treatments.

In contrast to the modern technologies the practice employs, its scheduling customs are something of a throwback.

"We do work by appointment, but people are also welcome to walk in," said Faucett, who squeezes speedy treatments in between his scheduled patients.

"We do practice an open-door policy," he said. "Thankfully we stay fairly booked up, so between your busy schedule and mine, we might not coordinate for six to eight weeks. But if you're in the neighborhood and have time to drop by, I can give you Botox in five minutes or less."

Faucett allots more generous time to getting to know his new patients, allowing a good half-hour for a first session. He often employs skills carried over from his onetime work as a hospital social worker.

"I think patient rapport is important, and that's probably why — knock on wood — I've never been sued," he said. "I like to get to know my patients, and for them to know me."

Helping patients understand the pathology and physiology behind their problems before just diving into a treatment plan is also important, he said.

"I want to know why they're really there and to get to the root of what's going on, and then we can make a plan of attack," he said.

One recent patient first came to Trio for a massage and, upon meeting a satisfied Botox patient in the lobby, decided to book an appointment with Faucett herself. The woman told the doctor she hadn't looked in the mirror for two years because her face "looked so sad," he said.

"We worked through the specifics of what she felt like made her look sad, and within 30 minutes, we were able to start the process of turning that around," Faucett said.

"She cried and hugged me and smiled. The satisfaction of being able to put joy back in people's lives is just indescribable."

Beyond the workday, Faucett enjoys spending time with his family — fishing, camping, walking and biking. He and his wife, Dees, have two daughters: Wyeth, 12, and Mary Walker, 10.

Related Story

Laser Liposuction Offers Alternative

Traditional liposuction now has a less-invasive alternative.

Laser-assisted liposuction uses laser technology to liquefy fat deposits through the top layers of a patient's skin. The fat can then be removed through a tiny incision, while the laser treatment leaves less swelling, bleeding and bruising than the traditional procedure.

The laser-assisted technique requires only local anesthesia, and leaves the patient with less downtime and fewer side effects.

"In one woman's case, we worked on her three different times, and she never missed a day of work," said Donald Faucett, MD.

He brings to his clinic, Trio Medi Spa, experience with SlimLipo™, SmartLipo™ and Vaser™ techniques.

Combined with diet and exercise, laser procedures can be an alternative to more extreme liposuction procedures in helping overweight people achieve their weight-loss goals, Faucett said.

"We have found it effective in helping people get over the hump — no pun intended," Faucett said. "Some people need a little push to get started on a diet plan. Sometimes they just need to see that they can look different."

In such cases, he said, the laser-assisted treatment has offered a head start by treating people's problem areas. With a new shape and a new frame of mind, they were able to better connect with exercise and dietary-support programs.

After a patient has lost the weight he or she desires, additional laser liposuction treatments can help further target problem areas.

"When you get to the point where you need bariatric surgery, it doesn't take the place of that," Faucett said. "But it does help a lot of people."