We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Taylor DeBusk to Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery. Dr. DeBusk is a highly skilled facial plastic surgeon offering a full range of cosmetic and reconstructive facial and neck procedures. He is excited to work alongside Dr. Basu and our expert aesthetics team to help our Houston-area patients look and feel their best.
We sat down with Dr. DeBusk to learn more about him, what brought him to our Houston practice, and his favorite facial cosmetic surgery techniques.
Can you give us a little background on yourself?
I’m originally from Denton, TX, so I feel right at home here in Houston. I played football through college at LSU (go Tigers!) and then earned my medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans. My wife and I have two little boys, Liam and Levi, who keep us on our toes. Family is really important to me, and my wife is from Houston, so it’s nice that we have family nearby.
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Why did you become a surgeon?
I’ve always loved working with my hands, so the nature and challenge of surgery really called to me. Surgery of the head and neck is typically more complex than other areas of the body, so that’s where I shifted my focus.
I spent five years at the University of Minnesota, completing an Ear-Nose-Throat Surgery residency with the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery after medical school. From day one, I was working with patients as young as 3 and as old as 98, so I was able to immerse myself in all aspects of facial plastic surgery, including cleft lip and palate surgery, septoplasty, rhinoplasty, and head and neck reconstruction. I am thankful for that experience; it was incredibly humbling to help restore my patient’s appearance or functionality—sometimes both. It’s easy to take aesthetics and proper function for granted, and I will never forget how surgery is literally life-changing for so many patients.
If you had to pick, what is your favorite procedure?
Can I pick two? Rhinoplasty procedures are typically very intricate, and it’s a procedure that can significantly impact your overall appearance. Sometimes, the nose requires extensive alterations to the bone, tissues, and cartilage to regain functionality and provide adequate structure for aesthetic goals; other times, I can make sub-millimeter changes to create an appearance that balances the entire face and changes how my patient feels about their nose. And sometimes, you don’t always know what you’re getting into until you get into the OR—the potential unknowns mean I need to go into surgery prepared for any scenario and find a way to meet my patient’s expectations while preserving the nose’s functionality. It’s a challenge I find invigorating.
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My other favorite would be facelifts. There are technical complexities that I enjoy navigating—you have several vital nerves and nerve bundles to be mindful of while you’re tightening and repositioning the underlying facial musculature and redraping the skin to turn back time. The goal of a facelift is for my patients to look in the mirror and see what they looked like 10-15 years ago; that can be more difficult than creating a whole new look—which isn’t what we want.
Both of these procedures are very meaningful to my patients, and their reactions are inspiring and motivating, so they are at the top of my list of favorites.
Is there a procedure that’s becoming more popular?
Yes, the “Zoom era” has motivated people to improve the things they don’t like now that they’re on camera and see their reflections much more than before. One of the biggest issues patients want to correct is their double chin and profile. This is relatively easy for me to fix with a single-incision neck lift; I make a single incision in the natural crease behind the chin and remove some of the deeper soft tissue to sculpt a slimmer, more defined chin and neckline. This procedure is becoming increasingly popular with younger patients who want to contour their chin and neck but don’t need a full neck or facelift.
Is there anything about you that might surprise your patients?
Do you mean other than being an LSU fan in Texas? I think it surprises patients when I give them my cell phone number. Their actual surgery may only take a few hours, but I see most of my surgical cases as a year-long commitment to my patients—from their initial consultation to their last follow-up appointment when we get to celebrate their final results. My patients trust me with their appearance and/or the functional integrity of vital areas, and I want them to be able to get a hold of me at a touch of a button at any point during the process.
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What is your favorite thing to do outside the OR?
I like to stay active, and there’s a lot to do around here, so exploring everything Houston has to offer has been great. I played football for most of my life, so I’ll toss the ball around when I can. It will be fun to see what sports my kids get involved in when they’re a little older.
Do you have any general advice for patients considering facial plastic surgery?
Don’t hold back during your consultation. Having an open and honest discussion with your surgeon allows them to personalize your surgery plan to best meet your expectations. It also allows your surgeon to share what’s realistic and what may not be possible to safely achieve. They may also suggest a different procedure than you envisioned or a combination of procedures once they understand your concerns and vision, so try to keep an open mind.
“I make sure I understand my patient’s desires and goals at their initial consultation. I don’t want any ambiguity between my desired outcome and theirs.”
Schedule your consultation with Dr. DeBusk
Dr. DeBusk performs a full scope of facial rejuvenation procedures, including rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, brow lift, chin augmentation, hairline advancement, ear surgery, lip lift, and more.
To learn more about our newest surgeon and to book your consultation with Dr. DeBusk, call Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery at (713)799-2278 or contact us online. We have offices in Cypress and the Galleria/Uptown Houston area for your convenience.
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