The road to becoming a plastic surgeon is a long one. One of the most common misconceptions people have about plastic surgery is that it requires less education, training, and on-the-job experience than other forms of specialized surgical practice. Because plastic surgery is both incredibly varied and highly specialized, plastic surgeons need to complete over a decade of training before they can formally open their private practices. Like other medical professionals, aspiring plastic surgeons must go through several distinct stages of training before they can be considered masters in their chosen area of specialization. These steps include a period spent at medical school, a general surgery residency, independent research, and finally, one or more fellowships in plastic surgery. During a plastic surgery fellowship, surgeons who already have general plastic surgery experience work alongside surgeons who have a large body of specific experience in a given area (e.g., facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, liposuction and fat transfer procedures). This permits the fellow surgeon to hone his or her skills with the benefit of oversight and the best equipment.
Introducing the Fellowship Program at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery
Engendering skills and nurturing artistic qualities in the next generation of surgeons is an honor and a privilege for any experienced plastic surgeon. At Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics, we place a strong emphasis on both public education and contributing knowledge to the field of plastic surgery. We are constantly innovating and seeking new ways to make cosmetic enhancements more accessible to our patients. We strive to offer procedures that fit into a variety of different budgets, schedules, health profiles, and lifestyles.
We are therefore proud to announce the launch of our highly sought-after fellowship program. Fellowship programs are beneficial for all involved, in many ways: First and foremost, this program
provides post-residency physicians with an opportunity to build on and perfect their operating room skills as they develop their chosen specialization. Training others is also a core part of our commitment to remaining lifelong learners. By guiding fellows, board-certified plastic surgeon Kevin Tehrani, M.D., can expand on his existing 15 years of experience while integrating the latest advances in medicine. Our patients, too, stand to gain from this arrangement. As part of this program, we are extending a special offer to the public; if you choose to take part, you can receive both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery at a reduced rate.
Like every surgery performed at Aristocrat, all procedures performed as a part of our fellowship program will use state-of-the-art equipment in an ambulatory surgical center setting. Dr. Tehrani will personally oversee every operation, ensuring patients receive the same flawless standard of care and natural-looking results they have come to expect from Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics. Patients will also enjoy having the combined expertise of two highly trained and skilled surgeons contributing to the aesthetic outcomes of their surgical procedures.
Meet Our Fellow Surgeon, Bindu Bahuleyan, M.D.
Bindu Bahuleyan, M.D., is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is currently completing the final stage of her medical training as a fellow at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics. Dr. Bahuleyan was hand-selected by Dr. Kevin Tehrani based on her existing experience, innate surgical aptitude, and commitment to creating flawless, natural-looking results while using the most advanced surgical methods available.
Before arriving at Aristocrat, Dr. Bahuleyan enjoyed a long and varied career in medicine that allowed her to practice around the world. She began her medical training at Bangalore Medical College in Bangalore, India, where she graduated in 1996. The following year, she started practicing medicine in London after passing her licensing exam with the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. In 2000, Dr. Bahuleyan earned her diploma with the Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. From there, Dr. Bahuleyan traveled to the United States and achieved her medical licensing in 2003, as granted by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
Dr. Bahuleyan started her first clinical year at Maimonides Medical Center’s preliminary surgery residency in Brooklyn, New York in July 2004. She then began her general surgery residency at Maimonides Medical Center in July 2005, remaining there until June 2012. From July 2012 to October 2015, Dr. Bahuleyan participated in and completed a fellowship in plastic surgery at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, GA. She then returned to India to undergo an observership in the plastic surgery department at Ganga Medical Center in Coimbatore before returning to the United States. From July 2016 to June 2018, Dr. Bahuleyan participated in and completed an attending position in the plastic surgery department at Harlem Hospital in New York City. In December of 2017, she earned her United States board-certification in plastic surgery.
Bindu Bahuleyan, M.D., is an esteemed plastic surgeon and medical doctor, having published multiple
studies and presented on a variety of medical topics. During her time at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics, Dr. Bahuleyan will receive further training from one of New York’s top plastic surgeons, Kevin Tehrani, M.D. In return, she will enrich our practice with her unique perspective and accrued body of international knowledge.
Which Surgeries Will Be Offered as Part of the Aristocrat Fellowship Program?
Dr. Bahuleyan has chosen to specialize in bodily aesthetic plastic surgery during her fellowship at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics. Our patients will, therefore, have access to all the following procedures at a reduced rate via our fellowship program:
-Breast Augmentation with Saline Implants: $5,600 (1.5 hours): During this procedure, implants containing a non-toxic saline solution are placed inside the breasts, augmenting their volume. Saline implants are well regarded for their safety; even in the unlikely event that they leak, they pose no risk of irritation or infection. The body can quickly absorb the saline solution inside the implant shell. Saline implants are the only type of implants cleared by the FDA for use on patients under 21 years of age.
-Breast Augmentation with Silicone Implants: $6,400 (1.5 hours): Silicone implants differ from saline implants in that they are filled with a viscous silicone gel rather than saline. Silicone gel is also completely non-toxic, but it cannot be absorbed by the body, and this can cause localized irritation should an implant leak. Silicone implants are the most durable type of implant, however, so this is an improbable occurrence. Many patients prefer silicone implants because they look and feel like natural breast tissue. They are also less prone to rippling and other aesthetic issues.
-Trans-umbilical Breast Augmentation with Saline Implants: $6,480 (1.5 hours): During trans-umbilical breast augmentation, implants are inserted through an incision in the navel (rather than in the breast). This insertion site is ideal for patients who are concerned about the possibility of scaring, as the incision can be hidden entirely within the natural folds of the navel.
-Mastopexy (Breast Lift): $6,881 (2.5 hours): Breast lift surgery is used to remove loose skin from the breasts and, in many cases, reposition the nipples so that they sit higher on the chest. No volume is added to the breasts during this procedure. Instead, the breasts are reshaped so that they have an uplifted, youthful appearance.
-Mastopexy (Breast Lift) Augmentation with Saline Implants: $8,776 (2.5 hours) or Mastopexy-Augmentation with Silicone Implants: $9,447 (2.5 hours): Patients wish to have their breasts both reshaped and augmented can benefit from dual procedures. Combined augmentation-mastopexy surgery pairs lifting techniques with the insertion of either saline or silicone gel implants. Consolidating two operations into one procedure reduces total cost and recovery time for the patient.
-Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): $9,804 (2 hours): Tummy tuck surgery is one of the most complex and effective body contouring procedures in use today. During tummy tuck surgery, loose skin that is left over from pregnancy or past weight loss is removed, along with stretch marks on excised skin. The abdominal muscles are also repaired so patients can maintain core strength. This procedure can
transform a flabby-looking abdomen into a taut, firm one and permit the patient to keep his or her results with diet and exercise. (Whereas diet and exercise alone cannot get rid of loose skin or repair damaged abdominal muscles.)
For more information on any of the reduced-cost surgical procedures performed by our attending fellow, please contact us by filling out this form.
Surgical Fellowships FAQ
How Are Fellowships Regulated?
Fellowships have long been a standard part of medical practice. Within the field of plastic surgery, fellowship programs are strictly regulated by plastic surgery societies. The Aristocrat Fellowship Program is fully endorsed by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). All ASAPS fellowship programs must meet specific criteria, such as adhering to the ASAPS Endorsed Fellowship Recommended Curriculum. These measures ensure that all fellowships are standardized to provide a universal level of patient care and practitioner training.
At Aristocrat, we require that our fellows obtain a New York license before joining our program. We also ask our fellows to join us in our ongoing research as we endeavor to keep improving the various techniques and technologies used in the field of plastic surgery.
Who Can Join a Fellowship Program?
Surgical fellowships allow qualified surgeons to broaden their experience. They may be undertaken by surgeons who have already been in practice for many years but who wish to change their area of specialization. Usually, however, they are conducted by medical practitioners who have recently completed what is known as a residency.
Our fellows must be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Board-certified surgeons must be graduates from an accredited medical school. They must also have completed over five years of on-the-job training as a resident surgeon. Patients can, therefore, rest assured that our fellows already have a significant amount of training and experience in the field of plastic surgery. Fellows are fully certified surgeons in their own right; they are not medical students.
What is a Residency?
A residency is a program of postgraduate study that grants recent graduates from medical school the opportunity to get “real world” experience and training. This in-depth training builds on the general
practice these graduates have already received during medical school, and it is performed under the strict supervision of highly experienced practitioners. When seeking a residency, graduates must choose a specific area of medicine to practice. There are, for example, separate residency programs in place for plastic surgery, orthopedics, vascular surgery, and many other sub-specialties of surgery. Graduates must complete the residency program of their choice to obtain a license to practice medicine in most jurisdictions. All surgical fellows have completed this advanced training and are seeking fellowship to refine their preferred sub-specialization.
What Should I Do to Prepare for My Fellowship Plastic Surgery Consultation?
Before you fill out the form indicated above and schedule your consultation, you should research your chosen plastic surgery procedure. Find out how much time you will need to take off work after having surgery and make any necessary arrangements. If you have young children at home, for instance, you will need to enlist the aid of a nanny (or other caregivers) for at least two to three weeks after having invasive plastic surgery. Other necessary lifestyle adjustments include smoking cessation (if you smoke) and the avoidance of blood-thinning medication in the weeks leading up to your operation. If you have any outstanding health conditions, talk to your doctor about how they might affect your ability to have elective surgery. Your primary care physician may also have to provide medical clearances, in some cases, and ensure you are healthy for surgery. The team at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery works closely with patients to verify they are ready for their procedure to maintain the highest standards in safety and patient wellness.
Once you have taken the necessary steps to prepare for your consultation, you’ll be ready to benefit from the combined expertise of Dr. Tehrani and Dr. Bahuleyan—all at a reduced rate that will fit into your budget. We look forward to welcoming you to our practice and assisting you on your journey to improved self-confidence.