Dr. Lara Devgan’s approach to cosmetic interventions is rooted in her artful background.
Plastic surgeon Lara Devgan, M.D.,’s name has become synonymous with subtle cosmetic changes that create balance. Her Instagram profile heavily features the results of her approach to “global facial optimization,” which often includes multiple millimeter-level adjustments.
“When I started my private practice more than 10 years ago, I had this guiding principle that beauty is in the details, subtle is the new dramatic, and the tiny, fine touches were very important,” she says. “And I think this has resonated with people not only because people want meticulousness and precision and deliberateness in a field like aesthetics and plastic surgery, but also because everything I do is bespoke and customized.”
Plastic surgery often gets referred to as both a science and an art. As someone who received education at Yale and Johns Hopkins Medical School and is a classically trained artist, Dr. Devgan has immersed herself in both realms. “I think that aesthetics and the fine understanding of human balance and proportion underlie everything that I do,” she adds.
Dr. Devgan has split her Park Avenue-based practice into both surgical and non-surgical treatments as part of her efforts to offer personalized treatments to her patients. While injectables sometimes receive a negative spin on social media from doctors and patients alike, Dr. Devgan believes surgical and non-surgical treatments each have their place. Both routes can lead to satisfactory or disappointing results, depending on the provider’s judgment and technique, she says.
“I think what people don't realize is that plastic surgery is an extremely unregulated profession and there is a lot of bad work out there,” she says, referring to the misconception that surgery is always superior for achieving natural results. “And when people see puffy pillow faces in restaurants, they get very scared — and rightfully so.” She views both types of cosmetic procedures as useful tools at her disposal. “Aesthetic judgment means knowing when to use a certain tool to accomplish a certain thing,” she says. “We never want to overuse injectables just like we never want to overuse surgery.”
I think that aesthetics and the fine understanding of human balance and proportion underlie everything that I do.
Adding another layer to her offerings, Dr. Devgan launched a skincare brand, Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty, available in the Equinox Shop and other retailers. She wanted to use her medical expertise to create a line of products so that “people who, frankly, don't want plastic surgery or don't feel ready for Botox or fillers or lasers or anything that's more invasive still had something that they could do that was going to give them clinically effective solutions,” she says.
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As for those who like cosmetic procedures, the products contain ingredients that may extend the duration of their results. “For example, a laser resurfacing may reduce hyperpigmentation, but doing a little bit of work on your own at home with proper medical-grade topicals — like the the Serum Superheroes [a trio of serums with hyaluronic acid; retinol and bakuchiol; and vitamins B, C, and E and ferulic] — can continue to do that work,” says Dr. Devgan.
For those who want to experience Dr. Devgan’s product line through a relaxing treatment, the founder also developed a Gold Collagen Facial, available exclusively at the Equinox Hudson Yards Spa. The 60-minute treatment incorporates a microdermabrasion scrub, lymphatic massage, and hyaluronic acid and vitamin C+B+E ferulic serums. Additionally, the Equinox Brickell Spa offers a brightening facial in collaboration with Dr. Devgan. The Equinox East 63rd St. Spa menu includes the brightening facial, an anti-aging rejuvenating facial, and a restorative facial designed to boost skin after a workout.
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As skincare trends come and go, Dr. Devgan predicts a continued shift away from maximal skincare and makeup routines and toward a streamlined collection of performance-based products.
“I think that really plays into this idea of health and longevity,” she says. “Just in the same way that we take care of our diets, we take care of our exercise, we take care of our sleep cycle, we need to also take care of our skin to keep it healthy, to keep it cancer-free, and to keep it looking beautiful.”