Dr. Ashley Guthrie – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

About Dr. Ashley Guthrie:

Dr. Ashley Guthrie is an Ivy-league educated, fellowship-trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. Dr. Guthrie is originally from northern New Jersey, just outside of Manhattan, and completed her undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by medical school at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, Michigan.

She completed her five-year residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

She pursued more specialized training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery through her fellowship at the Rousso Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. Guthrie Facial Plastic Surgery will open in Brentwood, TN, in the early fall of 2021.

Tell us about you in the early years before becoming a plastic surgeon. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in northern New Jersey in a small town in Bergen County. I spent my summers in Long Beach Island at the beautiful Jersey Shore and wouldn’t have traded it for the world! I have a wonderful, supportive family and am the youngest of three siblings. I am now a proud aunt to five beautiful nieces and nephews who I am crazy about. 

What made you decide to become a doctor?

I have actually wanted to become a doctor since I was in kindergarten! When asked what I wanted to be when I “grew up,” I always said “pediatrician” because that was the only type of doctor I had been exposed to at the time! My mom is a registered nurse and encouraged my interest in medicine right from the start. I loved school and learning- especially science and biology- and was drawn to helping people, so it was a natural choice for me!

What are your favorite procedures to perform?

My favorite procedures to perform are rhinoplasties and facelifts. They both provide essentially instantaneous results, which can be utterly life changing for my patients. Nothing compares to the feeling of seeing patients cry tears of joy over seeing their new nose for the first time or seeing a patient finally recognize themselves in the mirror again after a restorative facelift. 

There is a procedure all over social media these days called the “fox eyes.” Can you explain more about what that is? 

The “Fox Eye” trend seems to have started from the desire to mimic the look of celebrities such as Bella Hadid, who appears to be a laterally lifted brow and outside corner of the eye. It pulls the eye into an almond shape, giving the look of a “fox” or a “cat.” Many think this shape of eye and eyebrow to be sultry or exotic, which has given rise to the popularity of both surgical and non-surgical procedures promising to deliver this look. 

What procedure(s) do you recommend for patients that want to achieve that look?

First, I would like to say that I don’t recommend going after the more extreme versions of this result. It can give an unnatural appearance to the eye that is not always aesthetically pleasing. However, for lifting the outer portion of the eyebrow, I would recommend a temporal brow lift, either alone or in combination with a vertical brow lifting procedure.

These will lift the brows but still maintain the natural brow shape and arch. Neurotoxins can also be quite effective at achieving a lateral brow lift when placed strategically. Fillers, such as the commonly used hyaluronic acid products, can be placed in the temple to give a subtle lateral brow lift as well. These are discussions that need to be had with patients individually to deliver the best possible results. 

People are getting threads put in their faces for this procedure. Can you explain more about that option and the pros and cons of choosing a non-surgical approach?

Threads are, interestingly, an older procedure that largely fell out of favor in the early 2000s because of concerns over their safety and efficacy. They have since made a comeback with a change in the type of thread material and placement technique.

The PDO thread lift is commonly used to achieve the above-mentioned “Fox Eye” look. PDO, or polydioxanone, is a type of dissolvable suture. These sutures, or threads, are placed under the skin and used to pull the outer corner of the upper eyelid up and laterally toward the temples. It also lifts the outer portion of the eyebrow.

While the threads dissolve within a few months, theoretically, there is a stimulation of your body’s own collagen and scar tissue that helps maintain the result. 

Some pros of this procedure include that it is minimally invasive and can be done under local anesthesia. There are no true incisions or large cuts in the skin and no visible scars in the skin. There is also very little to no downtime, and results are instant.

The cons include that the results rarely last over six months to a year, the potential for visibility of the threads or bunching under the skin, scar tissue formation, and extrusion of the threads through the skin. 

What other trends do you see in terms of facial rejuvenation?

There is a lot of focus recently on preventative treatments, which I think is a great thing. Carefully and modestly done neurotoxins, such as Botox, can be placed in such a way to prevent deep wrinkles from occurring.

The term “Baby Botox” has recently been coined. This refers to placing small, strategically placed aliquots of Botox to reduce movement enough to prevent static wrinkles but not enough to completely freeze the muscles. This allows for a natural, softer look.

Judicious use of fillers can restore a more youthful appearance in a patient who is not quite ready for a surgical procedure such as a facelift.  Skincare and skin maintenance have also come to the forefront, and procedures such as microneedling, with or without the addition of radiofrequency or PRP (platelet-rich plasma), are gaining popularity.  

What advice would you give to women over forty who have been considering cosmetic procedures? 

I would tell women over forty and real women of any age to research and seek a reputable physician that they trust and feel comfortable with. Finding a practitioner you can speak openly and honestly [with] about your goals, questions, and concerns is of the utmost importance.

You should never feel afraid to express yourself. I would also advise women to take their time to explore their options and avoid jumping into a procedure or surgery that they aren’t fully prepared for. Cosmetic surgery is still surgery, and it carries risks you need to at least be aware of- even if they are small.  

You are opening a new practice in Tennessee. Where will it be located, and what made you decide on that area?

I am so excited to be opening my practice in Williamson County, Tennessee! It is a breathtakingly beautiful place, and the people are wonderful.

There is a vibrant culture that I am excited to learn more about and become a part of. I also have several family members who have recently moved to the area, and being near them was a significant draw for me. 

You can find Dr. Ashley Guthrie at:

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• Facebook: Guthrie Facial Plastic Surgery
• Website: drashleyguthrie.com