Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Steinberg.
Hi Ashley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up across the East Coast of the United States and Canada. I completed my general surgery residency in Las Vegas before moving to Houston for an independent plastic surgery fellowship at Houston Methodist. My plastic surgery training was broad and intense, including reconstructive and microsurgery, hand surgery, craniofacial surgery, breast surgery, and aesthetic surgery. After completing my fellowship, I decided to stay in Houston and began my career as part of a group practice.
A few years into practice, I realized I wanted to build something that felt more aligned with who I was and the kind of experience I wanted to create for my patients. Leaving an established practice to start my own was probably the biggest pivot of my career. I did not have a perfectly developed business plan, and I knew very little about actually running a company. I knew how to be a surgeon, but I had to learn how to become a business owner.
I started small, sharing office space with another physician and figuring things out as I went. Suddenly, I was responsible for everything beyond the operating room—staffing, finances, marketing, patient experience, systems, and creating a workplace culture. I made mistakes, asked for help, adapted constantly, and honestly, I am still learning.
Over time, the practice grew largely through patient referrals, transparency, consistent results, and word of mouth. I have always been very honest about what surgery can and cannot accomplish, what recovery actually looks like, and whether I genuinely think a procedure is right for someone. I never want patients to feel pressured or sold to.
I also wanted to create a practice where people could show up exactly as they are. We are openly LGBTQ+ friendly, inclusive, and welcoming to patients from all backgrounds, identities, and lifestyles. I bring a little bit of New York to Houston—I am direct, candid, progressive, and probably not what most people expect from a plastic surgeon in Texas. I have purple hair, I curse sometimes, and I do not fit the traditional mold, but I care deeply about my patients and take the responsibility of caring for them very seriously.
Today, I have my own practice, a growing team, and a space that finally reflects the kind of physician and person I have always wanted to be. I am proud of how far it has come, but I also do not feel like I have arrived. I am still building, learning, and evolving every day.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Starting a practice meant learning an entirely new job while continuing to perform the one I had spent years training for. I knew how to take care of patients and operate, but I had very little experience with hiring, managing people, budgeting, marketing, negotiating contracts, or building systems. Much of that education came through trial and error, and some of those lessons were expensive.
One of the biggest challenges has been finding the right people and learning how to lead a team. Hiring someone with the right résumé does not always mean they are the right fit, and I had to learn how important communication, accountability, and culture are. I also had to become more comfortable making difficult decisions rather than avoiding conflict or trying to keep everyone happy.
There have also been financial pressures, periods of slower growth, unexpected expenses, and moments when I questioned whether I had taken on too much. As a surgeon and a business owner, it can be difficult to ever truly turn work off. I care deeply about my patients, my employees, and the success of the practice, so I tend to carry a lot of that responsibility personally.
But those struggles forced me to become more adaptable, decisive, and resilient. I have learned to ask for help, trust my instincts, recover from mistakes, and accept that growth rarely happens in a straight line. I am still learning, but every difficult season has helped me build a stronger practice and become a better leader.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Trouvaille Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery is a boutique plastic surgery and aesthetics practice in Houston focused on highly personalized, honest, and inclusive care. I specialize primarily in breast and body surgery, including breast augmentation, breast lifts and reductions, mommy makeovers, body contouring, and procedures following significant weight loss. We also offer a full range of nonsurgical treatments, including injectables, skin treatments, lasers, and medical-grade skincare.
The name Trouvaille is a French word meaning a lucky find or an unexpected discovery—something wonderful you were not necessarily looking for, but are grateful to have found. That meaning resonated with me on several levels. I hope patients feel that way when they find our practice, but it also reflects my own journey. Building this practice was not necessarily part of the original plan. It came from taking a risk, changing direction, and ultimately creating something that felt more authentic to me.
What sets us apart is that we combine high-level surgical expertise with a very personal, approachable experience. I am direct and transparent with my patients. I will tell someone what I believe will help, what will not, and when I do not think surgery is the right choice. I do not want anyone to feel pressured, oversold, or like they are being moved through a system. Patients are given realistic expectations about their results, recovery, risks, and the entire process.
We are also proudly inclusive. I wanted to create a space where patients of every identity, background, body type, and lifestyle could speak honestly about their goals without fear of judgment. Plastic surgery is deeply personal, and patients deserve to feel safe, understood, and accepted throughout that experience.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Trouvaille feels genuine. It is polished and elevated, but it is not cold, intimidating, or overly traditional. We take our work extremely seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. I may not look or act like the stereotypical plastic surgeon but my patients know that beneath all of that is rigorous training, honesty, and a deep commitment to their care.
Ultimately, Trouvaille is about helping people feel more comfortable and confident in themselves without suggesting that they needed to become someone else. I want readers to know that our practice is not built around perfection. It is built around trust, authenticity, thoughtful care, and helping each patient discover what feels right for them.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest is realizing that I am doing what I dreamed of doing when I was 16 years old—and that I was able to turn that dream into a real life and career. There is something incredibly fulfilling about knowing how hard I worked to get here and still feeling excited by what I do.
I am happiest when I feel connected, challenged, and present. Exercise gives me an outlet and helps clear my mind. I love cooking, traveling, spending time with my dog, and experiencing places, people, and cultures that are different from my own.
Professionally, being able to play a positive role in someone’s life is what gives the work meaning. Plastic surgery is not only about changing how someone looks. Sometimes it changes how they see themselves, how they carry themselves, and how they engage with the world around them. Being trusted with that part of someone’s story—and helping them feel more confident, comfortable, or understood—is something I never take for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drsteinberg.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.ashleysteinberg
