Chattanooga's first and largest plastic surgery group has given itself a new face lift of sorts by relocating into a new 11,000-square-foot office on the Tennessee River - the second office opened by the 60-year-old practice in as many years.
The Plastic Surgery Group, which began on Third Street across from Erlanger Medical Center and remained until recently on or near the Erlanger campus, relocated its main office in January to 901 Riverfront Parkway overlooking the Tennessee River.
Plastic Surgery Group at a glance
Started: 1958 Locations: 901 Riverfront Parkway and 1949 Gunbarrel Road Services: Full range of plastic surgery, including hand surgeries, facial reconstruction, cosmetic treatments, pediatric surgery, breast augmentations and more. Staff: 50 employees, including physicians Marshal Jemison, Mark Brzezienski, J. Woody Kennedy, Jason P. Rehm, Jimmy L. Waldrop and Todd E. Thurston Medical training: The six physicians offer residency training in plastic surgery for the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga - one of only three residency programs in Tennessee for plastic surgery
"This is a great ground-floor location that provides easy access with free parking for our patients in a growing part of town," said Dr. Jason Rehm, the managing partner in the six-physician practice. "We've tried to design a very patient-friendly, accessible and efficient facility here in a very convenient location."
The practice, which is one of the largest plastic surgery practices in the country with a staff of nearly 50 persons, was previously located in a 9th floor office of one of Erlanger's medical offices. The six plastic surgeons in the practice remain within easy driving distance to Erlanger where most of the practice's surgeries involving general anesthesia are done and where the surgeons are faculty members and help train residents at the UT College of Medicine in Chattanooga.
"We're only a 6-minute drive to Erlanger," said Dr. Mark Brezienski, the chairman of the plastic surgery residency program affiliated with Erlanger and the Plastic Surgery Group - one of only three such programs in Tennessee.
The group physicians also perform surgeries at Memorial Hospital.
The Plastic Surgery Group offers patients the option to have cosmetic procedures done in the state-accredited operating suite on Riverfront Parkway. In addition, the surgeons also continue to provide hand therapy in the office as part of the Hayes Hand Center located within the new facility.
An aesthetics nurse and cosmetic consultant have a new spa space to help expand one of the fastest growing parts of the practice.
Rehm, who joined the practice in 2004 after first coming to Chattanooga from Texas for his medical residency in 2001, is one of four physician partners in the firm who did their residency with the Plastic Surgery Group.
"The diversity and scope of what we do is unique among most practices and because of our academic work and our residency program we must stay on the cutting edge," Dr. Brezeinski said. "The residents keep us fresh."
Rehm said the new office, like most everything in the practice, is designed to serve the patient.
"We've always been committed to providing the best in plastic and trauma surgical procedure outcomes for our patients," he said. "Today, we're fortunate not only to have a strong breadth of experience and expertise but also a state-of-the-art facility and location that are easily accessible to those we serve."
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340