Sowder Lisa Lynn MD FACS

Information may not be reliable

I assisted on a nasal reconstruction done on a young woman who had been born with a nasal deformity. I witnessed her physical transformation as her plastic surgeon carved a bone graft harvested from her hip and inserted it into the bridge of her nose. I witnessed her mental transformation as she recovered from her surgery and discovered the beauty in her own face.

The journey to become a fully trained plastic surgeon was long and arduous but well worth the privilege I now enjoy in helping people achieve their personal best. Most plastic surgery patients are individuals with one or two features that bother and distract them.

These features, whether it is disproportionately large or small breasts, a protuberant abdomen, a sagging jaw line or an unsightly facial mole can usually be addressed safely and effectively. The patient is then free from that particular distraction and can enjoy life with more confidence and less self-consciousness.

The key to a successful operation depends upon the doctor and patient working together as a team. I spend as much time as needed to evaluate the patient’s area of concern, determine their motivation and needs and assess if their expectations are likely to be met.

I educate my patients about the nature of their condition and the treatment options available. The decision to proceed with surgery is made only after my patients have a good understanding the procedure and its benefits and risks.

Plastic surgery is a rapidly evolving specialty and I regularly participate in continuing medical education to stay up to date on new procedures and treatments.

I received my Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Washington. After completing my Surgery internship and residency at the University of Utah, I served as a surgical instructor and the Associate Director of the Intermountain Burn Center in Salt Lake City. I then went on to complete specialized training in Plastic Surgery at the University of Cincinnati followed by a fellowship in Cosmetic Surgery with Plastic Surgery Associates of Miami. I returned to Seattle in 1991 to set up my private practice of Plastic Surgery.

I am a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. I am a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Washington Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Northwest Society of Plastic Surgeons, the King County Medical Society and the Washington State Medical Association.

I am past president of the Washington Society of Plastic Surgeons, past chair of the King County Medical Society Grievance Committee and President Elect of the Northwest Society of Plastic Surgeons.

I have operating privileges at Swedish Medical Center and Seattle Surgery Center. My office operating suite is certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities.

I regularly participate in continuing medical education conferences to stay up to date on new procedures and treatments. I have given many presentations on plastic surgery procedures over the years to groups of doctors, nurses, physical therapists and other health professionals. I have been interviewed for several specials on plastic surgery by KOMO television and appeared on Town Meeting to discuss the safety concerns of breast implants. The Seattle Times has profiled me for a special section on healthy aging.