Today we’d like to introduce you to Shitel Patel and Jacqueline Wegge.
Shitel and Jacqueline, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was raised in Florida for most of his life. He graduated medical school from the University of South Florida in 2007 and then went on to complete his residency in General Surgery at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia. I am board-certified in General Surgery. I then went on to complete a three-year Plastic Surgery Residency at UT Houston in the heart of Houston’s bustling medical center. During this time, I was exposed to a large and multifaceted volume of all aspects of plastic surgery. This, along with talented mentors and Teachers, allowed me to hone my plastic surgery skills. I went on to further fortify his training by completing a Pediatric and Adult Craniofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas.
Training under multiple experts in the field has given me the ability to solve complex plastic surgery problems with ease, and I am able to apply my experience in craniofacial surgery to reconstruction, trauma and cosmetics. Treating children adds another dimension of intricacy, as time plays a factor. I am well versed in the latest advancements in pediatric plastic surgery and is able to balance the appropriate treatments for patient care. I have experience in many aspects of craniofacial surgery, including cleft lip and palate, facial traumatic injuries, and a comprehensive range of ear deformities. I treats all patients as he would his own family. My passion for creating better results for all patients is ingrained in my philosophy of care: treat the problems of today for the results of tomorrow.
I have published multiple articles in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery. I have also presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Texas Society for Plastic Surgery.
During my training, our family developed a love for Houston. This, along with my desire to create a practice aligned with my ideals, led him to create Up Pediatric Plastic Surgery in 2016. I currently resides in Houston with his wife Bijal, daughter Sayoni, and sheltie Nacho.
I started Up Pediatric Plastic Surgery to treat the children that were left in the gap of having to wait for other large institutions or did not have access to care. There is a large region between Houston and Galveston for which children do not have access to a Pediatric Plastic Surgeon. The goal of the practice was to cover that gap and provide individualized patient care for all children.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There were struggles along the way. There are not many Pediatric Plastic Surgeons in private practice. The initial part of letting physicians and families know I was here was the biggest challenge initially. To be able to give those families the option of seeing a physician sooner than the 2-4 month wait at other institutions. Building relationships with physicians to start a referral network and increase volume was also a struggle. Educating other physicians on what gets referred to a pediatric plastic surgeon was a large barrier as well.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Up Pediatric Plastic Surgery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a close-knit team with years of collective experience in all aspects of plastic surgery. We love what we do, and it is our goal to bring you the best possible experience and put your mind at ease. We realize that having a child with an illness or deformity can be extremely stressful and scary. We want you to feel as though all of your questions are answered, and you understand every aspect of your child’s treatment plan. We begin with an initial consultation where we will evaluate your child, and address all of your concerns. We will then obtain any further testing necessary, and this may also mean referring you to other specialists. Next, we work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that takes into account all of your needs. Above all, your child’s health and safety is important to us. As such, all pre-surgery and post-surgery care is tailored to plan for a safe recovery and a successful post-surgery outcome for each patient. For many of the diagnoses we treat, frequent trips to the office will be necessary, and we will be there every step of the way as your child grows and matures. Additionally, depending on your child’s condition, you will have the option of participating in our craniofacial team.
We have the ability to see patients the same day or same week of a referral.
I am most proud of the relationships we have with pediatricians and other pediatric subspecialties to provide the best care for these children.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are looking to expand into the Katy area to help treat children in that area.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7400 Fannin St, Ste 1240
Houston, TX 77007450 Medical Center Blvd, Ste 540
Webster, Tx 77598 - Website: https://www.uppediatricplastics.com/
- Phone: 8328351131
- Email: contact@liftplastics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftplastics/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craniofacialhoustontexas/
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