The Surgical Artist's Blog

Cosmetic surgery consists of surgical and non-surgical procedures that enhances the natural beauty. Unlike plastic surgery where surgeons claim to  "transform" the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year, cosmetic surgery focuses on enhancing your own natural beauty. At Southern Surgical Arts, our surgeons have performed over 5,000 cosmetic surgery cases. With before and after pictures using actual patients of Dr. Deal and Dr. Nease, our gallery reassures potential patients that our surgeons' education and experience can meet your cosmetic surgery goals.

You can determine a surgeon's aesthetic skills by viewing before-and-after photos, but you also need to know the physician's qualifications.

After medical school, all surgeons must go through years of hands-on training, residency programs, and specialty training. Our surgeons are both Board-Certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) and also boarded by other specialty boards. Dr. Nease is also boarded by the American Board of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO). Dr. Deal is also boarded by the American Board of Surgery (ABS).

Both Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal are fellowship trained cosmetic surgeons, which means they completed specialty training in the field of cosmetic surgery through programs sanctioned by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS). Dr. Nease performed over 700 cases while in his fellowship, while Dr. Deal completed over 800 cases.

Our surgeons are members in respected organizations such as the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery and the AACS. They participate in accredited Continuing Medical Education programs. In fact, Dr. Deal and Dr. Nease presented at the AACS' Fall Symposium in Hawaii last week. In addition, they will present at the annual conference held in Las Vegas in January. Southern Surgical Arts is also a training facility where surgeons from around the world learn from our surgeons and earn Continuing Medical Education credits.

Our surgeons operate in an accredited facilities. Our patients have the choice of the following:

- Southern Surgical Arts, AAAHC-accredited surgical center, Calhoun, Georgia
- Physician’s Surgery Center, JCAHO-accredited surgery center, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Grandview Medical Center, JCAHO-accredited surgery center, Jasper, Tennessee

Choosing a Cosmetic Surgeon with the training, experience a education is an important part of your research process. Our staff is glad to discuss our surgeons' qualifications and share before and after photos with you at any time during the research process. Give us a call and let us know how we can assist you in the process.

Chattanooga, One North Shore: 423-266-3331

Calhoun: 706-629-8622

Are you wanting to get your skin in shape for Fall? We are now offering 6 months No Interest at Southern Surgical Arts through our financing partner, Care Credit. Now is a great time to schedule the cosmetic surgery you have been wanting with Dr. Nease, or even finance some of our great non-surgical packages to get your skin radiantly beautiful for Fall.

Here is a great example of how you can get your skin in shape: The Affirm CO2 Resurfacing Laser plus a set of Obagi skin care to keep your skin glowing and healthy at 6 months, no interest is only $292. Call us for more information and let us know how we can help you. ~ Tracie

Botox® and Restylane® are fillers that you've probably heard of that help provide quick facial rejuvenation. But what about the product Sculptra? This injectable stimulates your own collagen development in targeted facial areas to rejuvenate and restore volume for youthful, smooth contours without surgery. Over the course of three treatments, spaced by about 6 weeks, patients can achieve long lasting, natural results. Sculptra is a safe alternative to surgery and requires little time in our office and essentially no down time!

Fat has gotten a bad rap. But fat in the right place is a good thing! Just imagine excess fat where you don't want it, in the abdomen area for example, going into places where you do! Using a fat transfer procedure, fat can be transferred in small or large volumes. Choosing a surgeon who is not only skilled, but has experience is important when making this surgical decision.

We all know that J-Lo and Kim Kardashian have made a full buttock a pop culture icon this side of the century. Dr. Deal and Dr. Nease at Southern Surgical Arts have the experience, education and expertise to help you achieve a full buttock with large volume transfer to the buttock. The procedure is called the Brazilian Butt Lift. We invite you to view our before and after photo gallery for typical results patients have experienced.

A Brazilian Butt Lift is a two part procedure: first, unwanted fat is removed through liposuction which is then processed. In the second part of the procedure, the prepared fat is injected into the buttock to create a fuller buttock and/or more lifted buttock. After the procedure patients have immediate results with final results on average at 6 months.

Click here for more Brazilian Butt Lift Results. Call one of our offices to make your consultation today with our surgeons who are board-certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery:

Chattanooga: 423-266-3331
Calhoun: 706-629-8622



29 year old patient, 130 lbs

Southern Surgical Arts, the cosmetic surgery practice of Carey Nease, MD, and Chad Deal, MD, received positive testimonials from patients for their cosmetic procedures and skin treatments. The practice provides a variety of cosmetic surgery procedures with expertise in minimal scarring using the latest laser technology in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Patients have been happy to express their gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal along with their friendly staff. One patient of Dr. Deal's, Danielle Webb of Chattanooga, TN  says,

Southern Surgical Arts opened its new office in the One North Shore development, next to Renaissance Park, last month bringing with it four new staff members from the Chattanooga area.  Southern Surgical Arts is the cosmetic surgery practice of Carey Nease, MD, a Triple-Board Certified Cosmetic and Facial Plastic Surgeon and Chad Deal, MD, a Double-Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon.

The new location at One North Shore will allow Drs. Nease and Deal to have a convenient location for their patients in the Chattanooga area.  “We are excited about our new office, especially since we are closer to where the majority of our patients live,” said Dr. Nease.  Both Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal operate at Physicians Surgery Center in Chattanooga, Grandview Medical Center in Jasper, TN and at Southern Surgical Arts’ AAAHC accredited surgery center in Calhoun, GA.

Another way Southern Surgical Arts is adding to the downtown Chattanooga economy is by training surgeons from across the country.  On June 30 of this year, SSA graduated its first training fellow, Vincent Gardner, MD, who completed his fellowship year with over 1,000 cosmetic surgery procedures performed.  “The next day, we welcomed Dr. Tara Margarella, a general surgeon from New York, who will spend the next year training with us, and we anticipate her experience to be even better,” said Dr. Deal.  The cosmetic surgery fellowship at Southern Surgical Arts is one of 26 American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery-approved year-long training programs in the United States.

Beginning July 2012, Southern Surgical Arts will train two cosmetic surgery fellows per year.  Dr. Nease said that both fellows for July 2012 have already been accepted and will relocate to Chattanooga from Kansas City, Missouri and Lexington, Kentucky.

Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal also teach other surgeons across the United States the latest techniques in cosmetic surgery including laser-assisted liposuction, or SmartLipo.  They hosted an international facial rejuvenation course last March at Southern Surgical Arts’ surgery center in Calhoun, GA, and attendees included surgeons from Canada, Phoenix, England and the Southeastern US.

Other current staff members in the Chattanooga office include two licensed aetheticians and two patient coordinators.  Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal are also introducing a new custom skincare line with the opening of the new office on One North Shore.  “We have spent the past year researching our own blend of effective ingredients so that our patients get the best results in a prescription skincare,” said Dr. Deal  “And combined with our laser technology, we really can help our patients get maximum benefits.”

Southern Surgical Arts just introduced its newest laser, the Sciton Joule Profractional, which makes it the tenth laser in use in the practice.  The Sciton Profactional laser can perform resurfacing procedures as well as microlaser peels, which is equivalent to about ten microdermabrasion treatments.

“We research the latest technology, understand and master the application and then provide it to our patients,” said Dr. Nease.  “Results matter to cosmetic surgery patients, and you’ve got to stay on top of technology to provide the best outcomes possible.”

We often hear the question, "Am I too old for cosmetic surgery" or "Am I too young?" The answer is there is no right age for surgery. At Southern Surgical Arts, our recommendations are customized for each patient and based on the patient's medical history. Choosing an experienced and qualified surgeon to perform your procedure is key to ensuring your safety. When you get ready to choose any cosmetic surgeon, always consider the following:

1. Make sure the surgeon is board-certified in cosmetic or plastic surgery.

2. Make sure the surgeon primarily performs cosmetic surgery and performs numerous cosmetic procedures a year.

3. Ask to see before and after pictures! Make sure there are more than 2-3 examples, which is only a representation of the best procedures. You should be able to see numerous examples of consistently good results.

Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal are happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation and discuss if cosmetic surgery is right for you!

Chattanooga, One North Shore: 423-266-3331
Calhoun: 706-629-8622

Question: I've heard from friends that it's best to wear a sports bra 24/7 after any breast surgery, but my info pack said specifically not a sports bra. What type of bra should I be wearing after I heal?

Answer: After your procedure it is extremely important to wear your individually recommended post operative garment, bra, and/or wrap. This WILL affect the final aesthetic outcome of your breast. The single most important factor in post operative bra’s is that they are supportive! This means a bra that lifts the breast and holds it very high! This should be done for 24 hrs a day for 8 weeks (unless instructed otherwise) and then during the day for 4 more months. Bra’s that only push breast together or smash breast in like a sports bra don’t support the breast at all unless they also lift well. In essence your bra strap should be very tight to pull your breast upward. For this reason we also recommend a wide shoulder strap bra as well as a wide strap at the bottom without an underwire. Only if the implants appear not to be dropping after several weeks will we change our instructions for you. We may also recommend a wrap or strap for particular situations so please understand your instructions regarding this very well.

At Southern Surgical Arts, Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal, Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeons, perform surgery in Calhoun, Georgia at our fully-accredited AAAHC surgery center and Physicians Surgery Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a JCAHCO accredited surgery center.