Each year, thousands of people converge upon Southmoreland Park in Kansas City, Mo., to see professional theatre performed in a beautiful open-air venue. They gather with family and friends in front of the stage built from scratch, settling into their lawn chairs and blankets with picnics, and wait in anticipation for that year’s high-quality theatre production the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival is known for. Some of these people have never before seen a Shakespeare performance, and some are seeing live theatre for the first time.

This season, more than 30,000 people are expected to see King Richard III, a production that will have taken the whole year to produce, featuring original costumes, music and set. And each person will be able to see this show for free. 

The birth of the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival
“We believe that excellent theatre should be for everyone, and if it’s for everyone, it should be free, just like the library and schools,” says founder Marilyn Strauss. Strauss was active in New York theatre and had been recognized with live theatre’s highest honor — a Tony Award — for the play, Da. In 1990, Joseph Papp, founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival, convinced her to return to her native Kansas City to create an admission-free festival accessible by public transportation.  

She devoted herself full time to laying the groundwork in numerous meetings  with local arts supporters, while honorary co-founder Felicia Hardison Londré  continually redrafted the written proposal to suit the immediate need, according to Shakespeare Companies and Festivals: An International Guide, by Ron Engle, Daniel Watermeier and Londré.

“A Shakespeare club was formed, and then I held over 100 meetings with city fathers, city government and agencies and countless businesses and individuals,” Strauss says. “The hope and dream had to be sold.” 

On May 1, 1991, Strauss signed incorporation papers for what was then called the Missouri Shakespeare Festival. As support for the festival grew on both sides of the state line, it became evident that a “Missouri” festival would not fairly represent Kansas Citizens, so the name was changed to the Shakespeare Festival of Greater Kansas City, according to Shakespeare Companies and Festivals: An International Guide.

After nearly two years of fundraising, Kansas City’s first outdoor Shakespeare festival took place in June 1993. Approximately 15,000 people — seniors, couples and families with children — came to see The Tempest, bringing with them blankets and picnic dinners. 

“Together they experienced the glorious work of the world’s greatest playwright, and in casual and friendly surroundings,” says Strauss. “I realized what I had created when we had a massive traffic jam afterwards. That really came home to me — you don’t see that at most theatres. Traffic was held up three blocks each way, and that’s when I realized what it was going to become.”

Free Shakespeare as our birthright
The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival has since presented 23 productions in its 18-year history, reaching more than 470,000 audience members. In addition, the Festival has expanded its reach throughout the year by offering learning programs presented in the park during the Festival’s summer production, camp programs, a city-wide sonnet and poster contest for students, year-round Shakespeare theatre training and workshops, performances and residencies presented in schools throughout the city. The Festival’s signature Camp Shakespeare program offers an introduction to the works of Shakespeare and theatre for school-aged children. 

“It’s meant to be walked and talked, not read straight from the book,” explains producing artistic director Sidonie Garrett. “We’re bringing excitement to the kids in class and showing them the fun of classical theatre. They learn it on their feet and do a shortened version of the play at the end of camp.” 

Strauss says the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival relies on Camp Shakespeare fees and other various year-round training courses; major fundraising efforts like the Valentine Gala, Shakespeare ALOUD! and a costume trunk show being held after the close of the season; and monetary or in-kind goods and services from foundations, corporations and individuals 365 days a year. 

Of the budget, 67 percent goes directly to fulfill the Festival’s mission and provide everything necessary to create and deliver theatre and education programs. The organization continues to maintain a low administrative overhead and ensure that the funding ends up on its stage or in the many classrooms where its students go to learn and create.

Because the organization is dedicated to offering professional theatre, “there is a cost to free. We have to pay our professional actors. All the designers get paid. Fabric isn’t free. It’s a lot of bang for the buck at the end of the day. It’s electricity, port-a-potties, set materials,” Garrett says. 

The Festival Board of Directors and staff believe that everyone is entitled to see great, classic theatre — the economic divide shouldn’t be a factor in keeping anyone from seeing a Shakespeare performance. Families can bring their children and not worry about a babysitter, audiences can bring food into the park and they see high-quality interpretations of Shakespearean works. 

“You have to think about it as the cost of it not being free,” says this year’s lead in the play, Bruce Roach. “It reaches out to an audience that might not be coming to theatre at all, especially Shakespeare. It’s unthinkable that it would not be free, because that’s what defines it. The mission was to make it free, make it professional and put it outdoors, and I think it would be a shame if any one of those three elements went away.” 

Behind-the-scenes look at King Richard III
As soon as The Merry Wives of Windsor opened last June, Garrett was already considering which play she would propose to the Board for this year. In October, she got approval to perform King Richard III, and started working on conceptual ideas and putting people under contract for design, lights, choreography and music composition.

Her production and design team members have worked together for many years, and now the team works like a well-oiled machine. Though the production and design staff has just six months from conception of the design to the moment the play opens, each team member is efficient in their work. 

“When you’ve been doing it for as long as we have, you don’t have anxiety anymore,” says lighting and production manager Ward Everhart. “We all know we work well with each other. We know it’s going to work.” 

Garrett gets started on editing the script after she’s finalized her team. She says that in its entirety, King Richard III would be too long and prohibitive. Plays at the festival usually run about two hours and 15 minutes, but the unabridged version of the play runs more than three hours, so she cuts ancillary characters and trims the script for clarity.

In December, the entire design and production staff gathers for a conceptual meeting. In total, they’ll have four team meetings before the show, and Garrett will meet with each staff  member individually. Meanwhile, auditions are going on. In January, Garrett will decide on the actors, and casting is finished by March.

Original score composition for the play begins the next month. “My get-down-and-dirty time is usually around the first of April. I really can’t start writing anything specific too early,” explains composer Greg Mackender. “I need to get a feel for the pace of the show and see how long some scene changes will be.”

By the last team meeting in mid-April, resident scenic designer Gene Emerson Friedman has completed the preliminary plans. Friedman will have spent at least six months working on the scenic design, and the team meets to discuss the design logistics. This is the first time many of them see the plans for the set and other elements that will have to be built from scratch.

From here, Friedman will develop design drafting for construction and then a 3-D model so that Everhart can begin putting together a lighting plan. “It’s just the same as any other theatre — we build from scratch every year, depending on the needs of the director,” explains Everhart. “The challenge is that we don’t even have a stage yet. It hasn’t been built. We’re all just working from plans at the moment.”

Though rehearsals start at the end of May and last only three weeks, the actors are given the script for memorizing lines as soon as Garrett is finished editing it. “With a role the size of Richard, that’s an impossible task to achieve in three weeks,” Roach says. “I’ve been working on my lines for two months.”

As the actors rehearse in a studio at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Jim Lane, design and technical director, is constructing the set in a shop at Johnson County Community College, where he serves as chair of the music and theatre department. Lane also ensures the set building materials will stay under budget and determines how it will be broken down and moved to the park.

This is the same time that Mary Traylor begins building the costumes at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre costume shop at UMKC, after she’s offered conceptual designs to Garrett and gathered the needed materials. 

A crew goes out to the park the last week of May to build the tents, or the “physical compound,” as Garrett calls it. After tents go up, the stage will be built, light towers and scaffolding erected. Friedman and Everhart supervise the installment of the set, refining details and finishing up the lighting. The actors move to the park for their last week of rehearsals at the beginning of June.

Then, opening night in mid-June.

“It’s a pretty complicated and complex machine to produce the play and put Shakespeare out every night for the public,” says Roach. “But getting to play to a diverse audience, one with people who maybe haven’t seen Shakespeare performed, and families with kids getting to see live theatre for the first time — it’s kind of a kick.

“I believe in the Festival’s mission very firmly. And I hope the people who do come to see King Richard III enjoy it and continue to support the Festival. It’s free. There’s no excuse to miss it.”

With the New Year upon us, many Americans are making resolutions to better their lives and are resolving to eat more healthful foods, cut back on junk food, and lose weight.

At Success Meals KC in Johnson County, the first of the year is the business’s busiest time. A full-service meal solution, Success Meals KC tailors menus to clients’ individual caloric needs and taste preferences, and delivers each day’s meals right to their doorsteps five mornings a week. The custom meals consist of an array of freshly prepared gourmet foods that are designed to fortify the body with a precise amount of calories and high-quality nutrients.

Todd Markley, founder of Success Meals, is a former bodybuilder, personal trainer, and gym owner. He says that cutting out all bad foods at one time is unlikely to produce lasting results. “Especially with the New Year, people want to start a new diet and they try to cut everything all at once. It usually lasts about three weeks,” Todd explains. “What I find is if we can make easy transitions—we give them that latitude to have their morning latte—once they start making progress, then it’s easier to give that up or at least cut back.”

Todd started his diet delivery service in 2001 after he became frustrated when his personal training clients failed to see the results they were hoping for. He knew they had developed the toned, lean bodies they worked so hard for, but they couldn’t see it under their body fat. “These are clients that would train with me tenaciously three or four days a week, but I was addressing the muscle in my training. To get that fat, I knew they needed to address their diet,” Todd says. So Todd designed diets for them, giving them grocery lists that spelled out the exact ingredients they needed, how many calories they could consume, and how many meals to eat each day. “But it was always the same thing—I’d check back a week or two later and they’d say, ‘You know I get it, but I just don’t have time to do this.’”

Finally, Todd decided to start putting daily meals together for his clients. He used his experience with weighing out and measuring food from his bodybuilding days, and put together daily meal packages in a cooler that he would then drop on their doorsteps on his way to the gym in the morning. As his clients began to see results weeks later, spouses, neighbors, coworkers, and friends expressed interest in participating in the service that Todd provided.

The business grew from there. Today, Success Meals KC serves about 300 clients in the Kansas City metro area, and is looking to expand the business nationwide. “What sets us apart from other companies like us is that we create truly customizable plans,” Todd shares. Though the menus are predetermined, they do change seasonally. The team at Success Meals KC has a comprehensive database that details each client’s individual dietary guidelines, restrictions, likes, and dislikes.

“A lot of companies have cookie-cutter diets, and you have no choice but to follow the one that’s closest to your needs,” he says. “We’re customizing it specifically to you and your goals and needs.” In addition, the meal programs can be easily updated if and when a client has stopped seeing results. Todd says it’s typical to find success early on in any new diet, but eventually the body will acclimate. “Then they plateau, and people get frustrated because they’re following the diet and doing everything right but are not seeing results. Eventually they throw in the towel all together.”

In order to help clients stay motivated throughout the entire program, Success Meals KC monitors each client’s progress on a weekly basis and measures body fat every month. Then based on the results, the company will make changes to the client’s food plan. “If they’re struggling in any aspect, we’ll adjust their menu. If someone asks for more fruit in their diet, then we’ll accommodate that,” Todd says. “We’ll control your calories, but if there’s something you want then you just need to let us know.”

David Kline, a Success Meals KC client who has been on the program for about nine months, says he has seen astonishing results. David started with Success Meals KC in March 2010 as part of a weight loss competition. He lost 82 pounds in the 82 days of the competition. Since the end of the competition, he has continued the program and has lost more than 150 pounds in 10 months.

“Success Meals is great because it just takes the thought out of it,” David says. “The problem with a diet is you get consumed with what you’re going to eat. You just fret over it. The more you think about it, the harder it is to follow the diet. That’s the key with Success Meals—you don’t have to think about it.”

Besides the convenience of fresh meals being delivered to his house every morning, David enjoys the variety of food he receives. “If I want to cook healthy lasagna, that’s what I’ll be eating all week. My menu changes daily with Success Meals, and the meals are delicious—almost indulgent.”

Success Meals KC’s mission is not only to help clients reach their short-term goals, but to teach them how to stay healthy for life. “It’s not a white-knuckle program, but they can’t expect to do this for 12 weeks and then go back to their old eating habits,” Todd says. The program teaches clients how to substitute healthful ingredients for fatty ones, as well as how to control portion sizes. Success Meals KC also offers guidelines for staying healthy when clients eat at restaurants. The plan even allows for a couple of “free” meals each week: clients may eat whatever their heart desires for these free meals.

David recommends Success Meals KC to anyone who has been struggling for a long time to change their eating habits. If you’re interested in participating, you can try a sample day of meals for free. You’ll receive five meals delivered right to your doorstep, allowing you to make an educated decision about the program. For more information about Success Meals KC, visit the Web site or call 913-894-MEAL (6325).

“You can eat to lose weight,” says Todd. “Most people think it’s about restricting things and enduring the diet program, but eating small balanced meals throughout the day and rewarding yourself with free meals can be successful.”

For Salon Bliss hairstylist and makeup artist Lauren Graham, creativity is in her blood. Born into an artistic family—her mother was an interior designer and her father was a builder—Lauren says she always knew she would be involved in a creative field somehow.

She made the decision to pursue cosmetology when she was in high school. For one of her classes she was required to get a fashion-related job, and she started working at the Cutting Edge Hairstyling Academy. “They used me as their guinea pig and I loved it,” says Lauren. “It’s what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. I loved talking to and helping people, and also being able to hone that creativity into a job.”

When Lauren graduated from high school, she attended Regency Beauty Institute in Olathe. While there, she focused on four specialties: precision cutting, color, extensions, and makeup. When she began looking for a salon to work at after graduating from the Institute in 2009, she remembered seeing Salon Bliss on her way to school every day.

Salon Bliss has been in Overland Park since 1993. Lauren says she hoped to get a space at the well-established, high-end family owned salon. “I came in, and it’s just a beautiful place. I decided it was where I wanted to start my business and grow,” she explains. Lauren started working there in April 2010, and says she has enjoyed working at the salon ever since.

“It’s obvious that Lauren is excited about her job,” says fellow Salon Bliss hairstylist and makeup artist Tammy Blankenship. “She’s very bubbly and outgoing, and her clients just love her.” Christopher Nash, a longtime stylist at Salon Bliss, says Lauren is pleasant to be around and always pays special attention to her clients. “She’s a great listener, and is focused on her work and her clients’ satisfaction,” he says.

Lauren says that she prides herself on her attentiveness to her clients’ wants and needs. She also believes that educating her clients is what sets her services apart from other stylists in the area. “It’s just finishing out what you set out to do,” she explains. “A lot of people get excited when they see their new ‘do,’ but think they can’t recreate the look at home. That’s just not true.” When Lauren cuts her clients’ hair, she talks about the products she is using and why and how they will work for them. She also encourages her clients to send her pictures of their hair or makeup when they do it themselves so she and the client can talk about how the client can do it better.

Lauren credits her 3-year-old daughter for inspiring her to excel in her career. “I do it for Lily. It’s just her and I, and I want her to have everything,” she shares. Lily loves emulating her mom. Lauren and Lily play “beauty shop” often. “She’s not a very good hair-brusher, but she loves to play haircuts and color,” Lauren says with a laugh. “She’s 3 going on 13, and is such a little diva already.”

Besides working at Salon Bliss, Lauren works part-time at Glamour Shots. When working there, she styles hair and does high-fashion, runway-style makeup. “I get to airbrush there, which I’m so excited about. It’s definitely a hobby of mine and something I love doing.” Lauren got her first taste of applying airbrush makeup when she landed an internship in 2009 at Full Moon Productions, which is the company that operates four haunted houses in Kansas City’s West Bottoms. “I applied the makeup onto some of the actors. It’s really fun to do gory makeup.” Most of the time, however, Lauren does makeup for bridal parties and high school dances.

Lauren finds that while all of her clients are thankful for the services and education she provides, those who get their makeup done appreciate training on how to recreate the look at home the most. “Makeup is a huge thing. I think sometimes cosmetologists take for granted all the knowledge that we have—we know how to do this all the time every day—but other people may not have a clue about how to apply a product or what brush is needed.”

Of the services that Lauren offers, her two favorites are coloring and blowouts. “Color is definitely the most fun. We’re girls. It’s color, you know,” she shares, laughing.

Client Jamee Nimmo seems to be blown away by Lauren’s knowledge of color. “She’s talented—she really has a gift. You can show her a picture or describe what you want and she makes that vision come to life,” Jamee says. “I get comments all the time on my hair and keep her business cards in my purse. And she’s not just a good hairstylist, but a great person as well.”

The blowout is what brings the whole look together, says Lauren, and she loves seeing the look on her clients’ faces when she turns them around to the mirror to see the final result. “Giving somebody a great cut not only makes someone look great, but it helps to enhance their inner beauty by making them feel good about themselves,” Lauren explains. “When clients leave with a great blowout, they have a little extra bounce in their step. Who doesn’t love that?”

When new clients first meet with Lauren, she sits down with them for a consultation. She learns about your hair, what you like and don’t like, what you want to change, and then makes sure that you both are on the same page about what she needs to do. “I really don’t like going into any kind of service with just a vague idea of what they want,” Lauren comments. “That could lead to disaster.”

For Tammy, that’s really the most important thing you can do for a client, and is why she trusts Lauren to do her hair, she says. “She does better than some of the others who have been in the industry a long time,” Tammy says. “You either have it or you don’t, and she does have it.”

You can book an appointment with Lauren by contacting Salon Bliss at 913-451-7780. Salon Bliss is located at 11904 W. 119th St. on the corner of 119th and Quivira Road. Lauren is available from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information on Salon Bliss, visit the Web site.

Over the next few years, approximately 47 million baby boomers in the United States already are—or soon will be—facing the role of caregiver to a relative or elderly friend, an event that no doubt will change many lives. At the same time, countless numbers of seniors also will be charged with caring for a chronically ill spouse. Currently, more than 65 million people, or 29 percent of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year, according to the 2009 report, “Caregiving in the United States,” by the National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP.

Over the next few years, approximately 47 million baby boomers in the United States already are—or soon will be—facing the role of caregiver to a relative or elderly friend, an event that no doubt will change many lives. At the same time, countless numbers of seniors also will be charged with caring for a chronically ill spouse. Currently, more than 65 million people, or 29 percent of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year, according to the 2009 report, “Caregiving in the United States,” by the National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP.

Visiting Angels franchise owner Jim Elliot believes every one of us will have an opportunity to be caregivers in our lifetime. “People are living longer, things are costing more all the time, and most of us have incomes that are not going to go up over time, so it’s bound to get harder on all of us, but especially seniors,” he explains.

According to the report, caregivers currently spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one. Add to that a full day’s workload, caring for children, or countless other activities, and one can see how that might take its toll on a caregiver.

Numerous resources are available for caregivers, says Jim. Among them is Visiting Angels, a national network of nonmedical, private-duty home-care agencies that provide senior, elder, personal, respite, and companion care. The company aims to help the elderly and adults continue to live in their homes across America.

“Visiting Angels can help caregivers be better,” Jim shares. “Care-giving is a marathon, not a sprint. The biggest threat to caregivers is burn out. So we can take their place while they take a break.”

Jim knows a thing or two about caring for the elderly. A charismatic man who radiates positive energy, Jim volunteers his time at the Shepherd’s Center of KC Central, a nonprofit born from the concept of older adults caring for each other, and Meals on Wheels, which is a program run by Shepherd’s Center. He says he first became interested in care-giving as he grew older. “Honestly, I love the people and I like the idea of learning how to grow old,” he says, laughing.

“I’ve been able to learn about myself, and in my saner moments, I realize how fortunate I am,” Jim shares, laughing again. What’s his biggest life lesson that has come out of his job? “Patience and acceptance—the key to growing old as gracefully as possible is attitude and acceptance.”

Jim and manager Betty Neely run a Visiting Angels franchise that serves the entire Kansas City metro and surrounding suburbs. Caregivers may be hired to provide a temporary respite for family members or for a long-term engagement—up to 24 hours of care. Services they provide include hygiene assistance, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, shopping, and companionship. They are available to visit the client in their own home on a live-in or live-out basis, during daytime or evening hours, and on weekends and holidays.

Unlike most service agencies that assign staff and schedule appointments with little input from their clients, the Visiting Angels representatives begin by meeting with potential clients in order to get to know them. They also talk with current caregivers and, when necessary, they consult with the physician of the care recipient, social workers, hospitals, and/or nursing home staff. Working with the family, they develop an individualized program to manage the particular daily needs of each care recipient.

Clients also participate in selecting their own caregivers, says Jim. “They can try a caregiver that we recommend to decide if it will work. When they choose their own caregiver, there’s a better chance of everything working out.”

Each caregiver at Visiting Angels goes through multiple interviews and a background check, Betty explains. “On my team, they cannot just go in and sit down and read a book until the client asks them to do something. They have to get to know them. How else will they know what to do for a client until they get to know them?”

Another benefit to choosing professional home care is that Visiting Angels will not dictate to you what your schedule will be. It is the caregiver’s job to adjust to your schedule and to see to it that you remain comfortable in your own home. After the caregiver has been placed in your home, Betty says she continually monitors them through telephone check-ins and home visits.

Visiting Angels was first established in 1991 to provide alternatives for elderly adults who would rather remain at home instead of moving to a nursing facility. Founder Jeffrey Johnson, a licensed social worker, found that many caregivers were frustrated by the lack of options for seniors. To respond to the needs of his own family, Jeffrey opened a nonmedical home-care agency that could provide personalized assistance for older adults, allowing them to remain in their own homes and to keep their own schedules. Because of the need for this type of service, others wanted to get involved. In 1998, Jeffrey and three partners established Visiting Angels as a national network, and today, there are more than 200 franchises in the country.

When searching for assistance in homecare or looking for a more long-term arrangement for a loved one, Jim recommends searching online for home care agencies. Online checklists geared specifically toward helping caregivers find home care agencies will be especially helpful to use in your search. “There are a lot of resources out there now,” he says. “You just have to dig deep for them.” One such resource is the KC Caregiver Support Line, a free service developed with the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Social Work and the University of Kansas Landon Center on Aging. The support line connects caregivers of seniors with specific programs and services that will meet their individual needs, says Jim. The support line phone number is 816-444-1122.

For more information about Visiting Angels, go to the national Web site. Jim and Betty understand that affordability is the No. 1 priority among their clients, so they have priced their services competitively, starting at just $50 for a minimum of three hours. To contact Betty, call her office at 816-531-1117, or call her directly at 816-645-6139. Jim can be reached at 816-686-7268.

Skin problems can plague many women, from their teenage years to well into their 50’s and 60’s. Problems can range from acne and large pores to rosacea and hyperpigmentation. And while these skin problems can be embarrassing, there are ways to combat them.

Michelle Shaffer, owner of Skincare by Michelle at Starmaker Salon, says she offers a variety of treatments that can clear sun-damaged skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, shrink pores, fill in acne scars, and blend uneven pigmentation. Michelle’s microdermabrasions, for example, use crushed diamonds to exfoliate your skin, buffing out fine lines and removing brown spots. They also help with acne scarring. After regular treatments, your skin will glow and look years younger, she says.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing skin care service, Michelle recommends her European facials. She says you can unwind during a candlelit facial with soft music, steam, and massage. With each facial, Michelle incorporates oxygen, an ultra-hydrating treatment for your skin. Medical-grade oxygen is infused into the skin to help it “breathe,” she explains. The oxygen also plumps fine lines and boosts your antioxidants for ultimate healing. In addition to oxygen, Michelle also offers her clients a complimentary enzyme or chemical peel after a microdermabrasion or facial.

Longtime client Dawn White adores getting facials from Michelle. “She’s really got the magical hands,” she says. “You’ll fall right asleep.”

Michelle says she has always been interested in skin, even as a little girl. When she was younger, Michelle made masks and potions and tried them on her family and friends. She started out as a cosmetics manager for a major skin care company, where she says she loved working with her clients and teaching them how to take care of their skin.

Eventually, she realized that she wanted to work in aesthetics and own her own business, so she went to the Academy of Aesthetic Arts in Shawnee, Kansas. Today, Michelle says she is serious about continuing her education. She travels around the globe to classes and skin care conferences because “There is nothing more thrilling than learning about my passion,” she shares.

In addition to facials and microdermabrasions, Michelle’s services include face-lifts and eye lifts. Her four-layer face-lift gives you instant gratification, she says. For the face-lift, she uses fruit enzymes to exfoliate your skin, in addition to infusing layers of vitamins.

One perfect face-lift for the woman on the go is the 5-Minute Face Lift, she says. Seen on the “Oprah” and “Rachel Ray” shows, this $20 face-lift instantly tightens the facial muscles so they look years younger, Michelle explains. Additionally, it helps drain the lymph nodes of toxins and infuses products for deeper penetration.

Michelle also offers the Sonicare Opal Eye Lift, which is a treatment that incorporates massage and hyaluronic acid (a substance found naturally in the human body in the eyes and joints) and sea algae to instantly lift the eye area.

One of Michelle’s favorite products—and also one of her most popular—is the Genie Instant Line Smoother, which instantly takes 10 years off your face, according to Michelle. This smoother temporarily helps to mask under-eye wrinkles, bags, and puffiness. Michelle says it’s formulated with collagen and aloe vera, and is hypoallergenic and fragrance- and alcohol-free. The bottle, which is $40, lasts for 90 days. You can wear it with or without makeup all day long, and some women even use it around their mouths, between their brows, and on their neck and chest.

In addition to healing facial treatments, Michelle also offers permanent makeup, waxing services, brow and eyelash dying, and eyelash extensions, among other services. In fact, Michelle says she was one of the first in the metro area to introduce eyelash extensions. She says she also pioneered the Dermafile and 5-Minute Face Lift. Michelle has been trained in permanent cosmetics by experts in Florida and New Jersey, and specializes in three different modalities. She offers permanent eyeliner, lip liner, brows, and eyelash enhancement.

Dawn recommends the eyelash enhancement. She says the enhancement creates the appearance of a thicker lash line by shading in the spaces between the lashes. “It doesn’t sit on top of your lash line like an eyeliner. You can barely tell it’s there, but it really works,” Dawn explains. “It’s very, very well worth it.”

Dawn believes that Michelle is very talented. She says Michelle is also very caring. She is always checking on her clients to make sure they’re comfortable and doing OK, she says. “She is just all around a great person, and is very passionate about her job,” Dawn shares.

The passion Michelle has for her job is evident in the way she talks about her salon, as well as the volunteer work she does to give back to her community. Michelle volunteers for the American Cancer Society’s Look Good, Feel Better program, through which she teaches cancer patients how to work with makeup and take care of their skin.

It brings Michelle great happiness to watch her clients and cancer patients learn to love their skin again, she says. “I have always been fascinated with skin and how it functions. For example, the ability to slow the aging process or to heal acne,” Michelle explains. “Nothing brings more joy than to help someone feel beautiful.”

Michelle credits her clients’ satisfaction as the reason for the success of her business, and she sees the rewards of her work every day. “I just love seeing the smiles on their faces when I hand them the mirror,” she shares.

New clients are always treated to a complete skin care analysis at Starmaker Salon. The consultation includes talking about how the client feels about her skin; what she wants to change; how Michelle will address the problems; and what the client can expect from the treatments. This skin care analysis is the most important step in the process, Michelle says, because it’s important that each client receives a customized program geared toward his or her specific needs.

She also sells products that are necessary to keep up your skin care regimen at home, she says. She offers SkinCeuticals, Glotherapeutics, and Vivier skin care products, as well as Jane Iredale and Glo Minerals Makeup.

Michelle’s hours at Starmaker Salon are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, although she says she can be flexible with her hours. If you’re interested in finding out more about Michelle’s services, call 913-514-4353 or visit her Web site. Starmaker Salon is located at 4742 Rainbow Blvd. in Westwood, Kansas.

Mary Tillery had always wanted to open her own store, and she almost opened a candle shop in the late 1990s. But the storefront burned down days before she moved her product in. Mary finally got her chance to open another store with the help of her husband. On September 1, 2009, Shop Baby Kisses, located in the Great Mall of the Great Plains in Olathe, celebrated its grand opening.

Mary’s reasons for opening Shop Baby Kisses were more practical than anything else. She says she was worried about her husband’s job security during the recession, and wanted to open the store as a buffer in case he should lose his job. Mary and her husband have two young children, Max, then 2, and Conrad, then 5 months, and Mary wanted to make sure they would be financially secure. She also longed to work, but going back to corporate America was the last thing she wanted to do, she says.

So Mary researched the retail market and discovered that hardly anyone in the area was serving the specialty baby market. She first opened Shop Baby Kisses as an online store, but struggled to get it going. She says the competition was just too tough without having an actual brick-and-mortar store. “Most of what I have here are things that my customers say they can usually only find on the Internet,” she explains. “That was my whole premise of the online store. I could bring in the things that most small businesses don’t carry, and my customers can come see it, feel it, pick it up, and have it gift-wrapped. And that business model works.”

Mary is quick to admit that baby products aren’t her passion—her passion is really interacting with people. “Baby is just kind of where I am in my life, so it’s fitting. On the flip side, I really get to connect with women, which is what I like to do,” she explains.

The social aspect of owning such a shop is very rewarding to Mary. She shares that she gets to meet a lot of moms and gets to see a lot of new babies. “I love, love, love new babies, and my boys are growing so fast—it just brings me great joy for me to see and meet the moms and share stories about fertility, birthing, nursing, and potty-training.” Another reward through her job is being able to share her experiences with new moms and helping them out.

Shop Baby Kisses carries lines such as L’Oved Baby, a baby clothing line; Urban-Bratz, which features rock n’ roll T-shirts and Onesies; and BottomLine Diapers, a Kansas City-based personalized diaper gift line. What sets the shop apart from others, Mary says, is the custom work the shop offers on its products. If customers are buying a gift, for example, custom embroidery and personalized bows, tutus, and music CD’s are available. In fact, the tutus and CD’s are a big draw for the store, she says. You can usually only buy the CD’s during the holidays at kiosks in the mall, Mary says, but the shop’s personalized children’s CDs are available year-round. “You just look through the song database for specific songs, and you can get your CD burned in minutes.”

In addition to national manufacturers, Mary also likes to feature some local designers. “I’m all about supporting local moms and local businesses,” Mary shares. “It’s great for the customer too because they’re getting something unique that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Though Shop Baby Kisses carries mostly baby products, there are a few jewelry items and accessories geared especially toward the hip mom, such as T-shirts, frilly aprons, necklaces, rings, watches, wallets, and more. All of the shop’s prices are affordable, she says. “They’re getting the same quality they would get at any other boutique on the other side of town.”

T-shirts and rubber watches are two of the best-selling items, according to Zandra Baheyadeen, an employee at Shop Baby Kisses who also owns her own business. “The rings are pretty fun, and another top-seller is the teething ring/necklace. Moms can wear it as a fashion feature, but it also gives baby a soft ring to chew on.”

In addition to mom and baby products, Shop Baby Kisses also hosts princess parties. Located right next door to the store and decorated all in pink, the Princess Party Palace is the perfect venue for birthday parties, Mary says. “We provide a professional entertainer as the princess, paper products, balloons, a personalized music CD for the birthday girl, a tutu for all the guests, games, and party favors,” she explains. “All clients need to bring is the cake, and if they don’t want to do that we can take care of that as well.”

Zandra says the professional actress who plays the princess at the princess parties is what really makes them special. “She dances and tells stories,” Zandra notes. “And when I heard her perform for the first time without seeing her face and just hearing her voice, I could have sworn it was Princess Tiana from Disney’s ‘The Princess and the Frog.’”

Mary says her regular customers come to Shop Baby Kisses for the personalized service they receive. Each purchase is gift-wrapped, and the staff makes sure customers can find everything they need. “It’s a small boutique, and when you come here you get one-on-one action that you don’t get at larger boutiques,” Zandra explains.

It helps that the employees love their jobs, says Zandra. “This is kind of a cliché philosophy, and I’ve heard it my whole life. It’s important to do what you love and to be passionate. The money will follow,” Mary adds. “I thought that was so ridiculous before. Who in the world does what they love? I had a corporate sales job, and I was just working to survive. Now for the first time in my life, I am doing what I love. It’s a great joy, and I look forward to coming to the store every single day and meeting new moms and finding fun new things to sell.”

Shop Baby Kisses is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. The shop is located at 20213 W. 151st St. next to Burlington Coat Factory in the Great Mall of the Great Plains. For more information, visit the Web site or call 913-829-6279. You can also visit them on Facebook. Shop Baby Kisses has a satellite location at M!lk boutique in Olathe as well. It is located at 10524 S. Ridgeview Road in Ridgeview Marketplace in Olathe.

Tucked into a quiet suburban Olathe neighborhood, Aesthetica Skin Care provides women with professional and relaxing spa services. Susann Cowan, longtime aesthetician and owner, has been running her business out of her home for the last 17 years. In fact, the home environment is what keeps many of her clients coming back.



“I love that it’s in her home,” says client-turned-friend Marsha Ditto. “It’s very professional but relaxed, and she’s not ever in a hurry.” Denise Copekan agrees. “It’s cleaner than a lot of salons I’ve been in,” she shares. “It’s very relaxing, and you don’t have the hustle and bustle of a busy shop. You are her main focus when you are with her.”

Susann got into the field more than 25 years ago, though she actually started waxing her legs when she was in high school. “I thought, ‘I’m good at this,’” she says. Susann went to cosmetology school in the area. While all the girls in her class were studying to become hairstylists, Susann was the only one in school who did facials and waxing, she says. Now she jokes that she’s done it so long that she could wax in her sleep.



She has always been drawn to skin, and has gradually become more interested in the anti-aging products and procedures that are available today. Anti-aging skin products have completely revolutionized the concept of skin care, she says, and it’s never too early to begin an anti-aging regimen for your skin, especially on your face.

You can tell that she really loves what she does by the way that she talks about her job. “If I can suggest something or help somebody it makes me feel like I have a purpose on this planet,” says Susann. “I get a lot of self-worth out of doing what I do.”



Susann offers a variety of treatments, from manicures and pedicures to microdermabrasions and chemical peels. A favorite treatment among her regular customers is the European massage facial, which costs $85 and includes a full hour of a chemical peel or microdermabrasion, a “clean and steam,” thorough extractions, and a half-hour upper body massage. The massage includes the scalp, face, ears, upper chest, neck, shoulders, and arms.

“I give them a deep massage, and everybody always falls asleep at the end,” she says with a laugh. “A lot of clients say they like the facial massages better than full-body massages because I focus my attention on the area where you carry a lot of tension and stress instead of jumping to different body parts after a few short minutes.”



Marsha says Susann’s massages are comparable to those from a professionally trained massage therapist. “She’s gentle but thorough. I just love them.” In fact, Marsha has gone to Susann for nearly all of the services she offers, but it’s the skin care that Susann provides that has kept Marsha going back for 22 years. “I had adult acne, and she kept it under control for me. Her products are just awesome,” Marsha raves. “I’m the oldest in the group of girls I run with, but I’ve been told I look the youngest of all of them. I attribute that to Susann.”

Teresa Ahrens has been a loyal client since 1993, and says she too had bad complexion problems that Susann helped her through. Teresa is so impressed with Susann’s services that she has recommended her to everyone she knows, she says. Over the years, Susann has worked on Teresa’s entire family. “Susann has taken care of complexion problems for my children. She does the best pedicure around, and I get waxing and eyebrow and eyelash tinting. And she comes to my home to do a massage for my mom, who’s had a stroke. My mom lies in the recliner, and she just purrs all the way through it. It’s great to see her so relaxed.”



Susann says she understands that the ability to really listen to what her clients need and want goes a long way in building strong relationships and helping them reach their goals. “I want to help people be better and teach them how to take care of themselves so that they’ll be proud of the way they look and feel as they get older,” she explains. She compares aesthetics to dental care. You brush and floss your teeth every day, yet you still have to go to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned and checked. “If you yearn to have younger-looking skin as you age, you should resurface your skin at least every couple weeks. Very few of us were born with the perfect skin. Gorgeous skin and aging beautifully, is definitely a commitment to do the work. Getting regular facials, and practicing prevention at home is the key to healthy skin. So many of my clients don’t wear makeup on their skin anymore,” says Susann.

Both Teresa and Marsha say they’ve been to other aesthetic spas over the years, but no one can compare to Susann at Aesthetica Skin Care. “I have traveled a lot, and one of my favorite things I like to do when I travel is take advantage of spas like on a cruise or in a resort. But I’ve never met anyone that has the touch Susann has,” says Teresa. “She’s got the softest hands and the most perfect touch.” 



Susann shares that she strives for perfection in all her work, providing her clients with a thorough job each time. Susie Mackey, another longtime client, says Susann stands out when compared to other professionals in the field.

Recently, Susann added a new line of nail polish to her products. CND has created a hybrid polish called Shallac, which is a combination of nail polish and gel. Developed and tested for years to perfect it, Shellac is formulated to last 14 days without getting chipped or smudged, and it is able to withstand the rigors of daily wear, Susann explains. The hybrid polish is kind to your nails as well, as it does not contain Formaldehyde, Toluene, or DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate). It is also hypoallergenic. Plus, Shellac provides a protective coating for your nails, making it perfect for people who work with their hands all day, Susann says. “It instantly dries so you can put your shoes back on immediately after a pedicure, or you can dig around your purse right after you’ve gotten your nails done,” she shares. “The finish is so perfect and such a brilliant shine that it almost doesn’t look real. It’s nothing like acrylics.”



Because Susann works out of her home, she is able to better accommodate her clients’ schedules, she says. She usually works Monday through Friday. You might want to give Susann a call at 913-764-6001 to learn more about her services. “Susann gets you addicted,” Susie jokes. “You come out of there relaxed, rejuvenated, and you’re feeling good for weeks.”

Taking care of your skin is not about vanity, pampering, luxury, or beauty. It is a health necessity. This is the philosophy that Hannah Vargas, MD, FACS, and her team believe in at the Center for Facial Plastic Surgery and Midwest Rejuvenation Center. Both Centers are located in Olathe. They offer a unique mix of medical treatments, plastic surgery options, skin care, and spa services. Dr. Vargas’ expertise ranges from skin care and acne issues to laser treatments, dermal fillers, and facial reshaping.

A board-certified otolaryngologist with an additional specialty in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Vargas attended medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She served a fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. She also completed an internship and did her residency training in head and neck surgery at Albany Medical Center. She was awarded the prestigious honor of Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), qualified in the arts and science of surgery.

In fact, she says that she enjoys combining the arts and medicine because it’s the perfect blend of the two fields she loves. While majoring in biopsychology during college, she also explored studio art. Following her fellowship Dr. Vargas turned her attention to facial plastic surgery, which includes neck, ear, and nose recontouring; scar repair; lesion removal; chin and cheek augmentation; and face and neck lifts. She also performs head and neck reconstructive and skin cancer surgery.

Dr. Vargas is well-recognized in the field, having lectured at regional and national medical society meetings. She has also written numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, most recently in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

During her initial consultation with her patients, Dr. Vargas performs an in-depth analysis and offers several different plans to reach the optimal aesthetic goal. During this preliminary consultation, besides examining facial structure and doing a medical history, Dr. Vargas discusses the patient’s mental and emotional attitudes toward surgery. Dr. Vargas guides each patient so their expectations are realistic, she says.

To achieve the look the patient wants, Dr. Vargas will discuss all of the options. Whether she recommends a detailed surgery or a simple injection, Dr. Vargas will skillfully complete the procedure while her dedicated, caring staff facilitates the process, she states. In addition to serving as head surgeon at the Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Vargas oversees Midwest Rejuvenation Center.



Though in a doctor’s office, Midwest Rejuvenation Center does not have a clinical atmosphere. Dr. Vargas and her team say they realize that skin care is best practiced in a relaxing and comfortable environment.

Offering the latest breakthroughs in skin and wrinkle treatment without surgery, Midwest Rejuvenation Center offers many new and innovative procedures to revive the face. Dr. Vargas and aestheticians Robin Swanson and Sharon Wahrman say they make sure all of their procedures are individualized to their clients’ needs. They perform a complimentary in-depth skin analysis before any treatment. If you’re looking for a simple change, but don’t want anything invasive, they can guide you using a quality line of makeup and pharmaceutical grade skin care products, they say.

They can also guide you through the hype of the medical cosmetic industry and help form goals for your particular needs. Midwest Rejuvenation Center offers such services as microdermabrasion, facials, chemical peels, IPL photofacials, laser hair removal, and dermaplaning. Popular cosmetic services include dermal fillers like Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra and Botox Cosmetic.



Botox is so popular, says Amy Wilson, clinic supervisor, that the Center hosts quarterly Botox events offered in February, May, August, and November. The events serve as “a way to reward loyal clients with 20% off Botox,” explains Amy. This is the third year that Midwest Rejuvenation Center is hosting the event. It started out as a half-day occasion, but has turned into a week long affair. During the event, clients will be offered discounted Botox treatments and discounted products in addition to entering drawings to win prizes.

Dr. Vargas believes that maintaining a successful facial and reconstructive plastic surgery and medical spa business is the result of a good rapport between the patients and staff. Robin agrees. “It really is a team approach,” she says. 



When she’s not at work, Dr. Vargas is home with her husband, Stephen, an eye surgeon, and raising their four children who are all under the age of 8. “She has perfected balancing her home life and her professional life all at one time,” says Amy. “She handles it well, and she’s a highly skilled surgeon.”

Dr. Vargas also focuses her attention on supporting victims of domestic violence. Some of her facial reconstructive patients have been victims of domestic abuse, and because of her experience working with these patients, she has gotten involved in the Face-to-Face Outreach Program in conjunction with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Through surgery, counseling, and support, the staff is helping victims break out of the cycle of abuse and enhance their self-esteem so they can begin to rebuild their lives.



If you have been considering having a cosmetic procedure or want to improve your skin health, contact Dr. Vargas and her dedicated staff at 913-312-0314. Her office is conveniently located at 20375 W. 151st St., Suite 106, Olathe Medical Center, Building 1. You can also visit her Web site to learn more about all of the services and procedures she offers.

At Blue Valley Animal Hospital the message is simple: “Happy clients…healthy pets.” This phrase is written on the front of the building and on much of the literature available at the front desk.

“First and foremost we’re an animal hospital,” explains Owner Dr. Gary Keffer. “We offer a variety of services for pets’ needs, but it all starts with the hospital.”

The hospital is as sophisticated as most emergency rooms, he adds. Once pets are anesthetized, they are connected to machines that monitor their heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. The staff keeps a constant record of the pet’s vital statistics. They record their condition every two minutes for the first 10 minutes, and then every five minutes after that.

While working on the operating table, Dr. Keffer relies on his more than 30 years of experience in the veterinary field. His degree is from Colorado State University, and he also completed an 18-month surgical internship at Purdue University. His academic studies included general medicine and surgery, ear reconstruction, and emergency medicine and surgery. “We always want to take care of the pet’s needs while still working with what our clients want,” Dr. Keffer explains. “Any kind of surgery I recommend is the same surgery I would perform if it were my own pet.”

The most cutting-edge procedure being performed at Blue Valley Animal Hospital is an orthopedic procedure called Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy or TPLO. The focal point of Dr. Keffer’s certified postgraduate coursework includes complex orthopedics, joint reconstruction, total hip replacement, knee surgery, and complex bone plating. TPLO surgery for a dog repairs for humans what would be considered an ACL surgery on your knee. This surgery can lead to a more rapid recovery and better range of motion in the joint, he explains.

To aid in this surgery, Dr. Keffer has patented an orthopedic device that simplifies the very complex procedure, and this device is being marketed internationally. The metallic device works very much like a saw guide, but rather than cut a straight line, his device cuts a perfect curved line that is required to do the procedure. In the majority of other veterinary clinics, the TPLO surgery is performed with a doctor making a curved cut into the pet’s knee with a staff member stabilizing the leg in the air, Dr. Keffer says. He states that his invention eliminates errors by connecting the metal device to the knee and then making a precision cut every time.

They do a variety of different kinds of orthopedic procedures, and Dr. Keffer uses lasers for the majority of them. “By doing laser procedures, we’ve upped the ante on providing a service that should be in the best interest of the pet’s health,” he says. During surgeries such as a spay or neuter, Dr. Keffer and his staff ensure that your pet receives top-quality care through precise anesthesia monitoring, he says. The hospital also offers a breakthrough procedure for declawing that minimizes trauma and pain.

Before surgery, Dr. Keffer offers a free consultation so that you will know exactly what to expect before, during, and after your pet’s surgery. In fact, that’s one of the most important parts of his job, he says. The staff strives for open communication about the pet’s health, cost of procedures, and more. “When a client comes in, we listen to the client’s needs and then communicate what is needed for the pet’s health. We give them a written estimate of what it’s going to cost. We take the time to talk to the clients and families, and we believe it’s this personal relationship that allows us to offer the best care for their pet.”

One service that is popular this summer is dog day care. Dogs love to run, jump, and play together during the day, and that’s just what they encourage at Blue Valley Animal Hospital. Dogs spend time outdoors in a plush faux grass area that gives the feeling of grass without the mud. It also has the ability to be cleaned and sanitized daily. The play area features a kiddie pool and a running hose to continuously cool off those dogs that need it, as well as various shaded areas. On uncooperative weather days or when it gets too hot outside, the dogs have free reign over the hospital’s indoor deluxe playroom.

Benefits of day care include teaching young dogs invaluable social skills that will help them learn how to properly meet and interact with a variety of other dogs, says Dr. Keffer. It also enhances their mental health by allowing them to interact and romp around with each other. Best of all, he says, they’re getting the attention they might not receive otherwise.

Blue Valley Animal Hospital also offers group obedience training. Melissa French, who has 12 years of obedience training experience, says there is no prerequisite for beginner or puppy classes. For intermediate and advanced classes, the dog needs to have a relative understanding of commands such as “sit,” “down,” “stay,” and “heel.” “The really good thing about having group classes that you don’t necessarily get from private classes is that we can take advantage of other dogs or other people in the class to teach a dog a proper greeting, behavior around other dogs, and behavior around other people,” Melissa explains.

For aggressive dogs, Melissa recommends private training first.

Besides socialization, Melissa can help you teach your dog proper bathroom habits, house training, and more. Or, if your dog has developed unwanted or frightening behaviors such as separation anxiety, territorial behavior, or unfriendly or aggressive behavior, she can help you get these things under control, she says.

“It’s just a matter of making it a convenient place for people to bring their pets,” Dr. Keffer states. For example, if you drop your dog off for day care, Dr. Keffer can also give your dog his yearly checkup that day so you don’t have to make two separate trips. “Blue Valley Animal Hospital is innovative. We provide complete health care plus ancillary support services,” he points out.

Dr. Keffer says that the staff at Blue Valley Animal Hospital really tries to live up to its motto: “Happy clients…healthy pets.” “We have a support staff that cares about people and their pets. It’s not just ‘Give me your money, see you later.’ We care about what we do. We don’t cut corners. We make sure that their pet is healthy and that our client is happy.”

For more information about Blue Valley Animal Hospital or to see the monthly specials being offered, visit the hospital’s Web site or call 913-681-2818. Blue Valley Animal Hospital is located at the corner of Metcalf and 162nd Terrace in Overland Park. Tours of the day care facility are available.

With the kids out of school for the summer, now may be the perfect time to schedule surgical dental work such as wisdom teeth removal. Wisdom teeth first appear between ages 17 and 25, and they can cause problems because the average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 of them.

“This is also a perfect time for dental implant placement as well,” says Joseph Camarata, MD, DMD. This is because patients have many federal holidays they can work around, and some may have summer hours at work. While wisdom teeth removal and dental implants are two of the most popular surgeries at Aesthetic Surgical Arts during the summer, they certainly aren’t the only services that Owner Dr. Camarata provides. He also can do body procedures such as tummy tucks and liposuction; facial procedures such as face-lifts, rhinoplasty, and eyelid surgery; breast augmentation; and oral surgery such as facial trauma, jaw surgery, cleft lip and palate, sleep apnea, and much more.

Before Dr. Camarata considered a career in dentistry, he built and framed homes. He became interested in architecture and took a couple of classes at the University of Kansas. He then decided that he wasn’t interested in architecture, but instead decided to go to school for dentistry at the University of Nebraska. There he received his Doctor of Medicine degree. He went on to receive his Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating from these programs with distinctions and honors. Dr. Camarata held the position of Chief Resident in both programs as well.

“There are parallels between the two careers,” Dr. Camarata says. “I like designing things, and I’m able to do some designing in this career. I really enjoyed working and framing homes; how you can build something from a blueprint and put it together. That stirred my interest in dentistry.” After dental school, the surgical side of dentistry piqued his interest, and he became American board certified in oral/maxillofacial surgery. Later on, he also became American board certified in plastic/reconstructive surgery.

A big part of oral/maxillofacial surgery is a lot of facial and jaw reconstruction and aligning the jaw with corrective jaw surgery, Dr. Camarata explains. This was very intriguing to him. “I wanted to expand my abilities to do other things, which is why I went into plastic surgery as well. I have the ability to do a lot of surgical procedures for folks; many reconstructive efforts. It was just kind of an extension of my other training to go into other surgeries.”

It has been three years since Dr. Camarata opened his office in Overland Park, although he still has an office in Lincoln, Neb. that he visits five days a month. Aesthetic Surgical Arts moved to its current location just a year ago, and the move afforded the practice a lot more space.

Dr. Camarata and his staff at Aesthetic Surgical Arts are dedicated to providing the highest-quality patient care through honesty, kindness, and respect, he comments. “I think the thing that sets us apart is that we treat everyone who comes through the door as our family,” shares Kathleen Koffman, practice manager. “From the first phone call to the last follow-up, which can span months depending on the type of surgery, that person really becomes part of our lives. We do feel they are part of our family here. We share things, stories, and we see them out in the community. I think they appreciate the care that we give them and the respect that we show them.”

Because surgery, whether it’s oral surgery or facial procedures, is such a big decision, Kathleen offers advice for people who are looking into getting something done. “There are certain things that you want to make sure of before you have any type of surgery done,” she says. First, you need to do your homework on the surgery to find out about all the options you have. Then, she advises to make sure to get a second opinion. “I think most doctors have patients’ best intentions at heart, but you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. You also need to be very, very comfortable with your surgeon, especially when you’re looking for someone to do something as personal as cosmetic surgery. You want to make sure that this is the person that you’re going to trust with your future.”

Kathleen credits the success of Aesthetic Surgical Arts to the teamwork that everyone on the staff puts in. “We go out of our way to make an experience the best possible that a patient can have. Everybody jumps in wholeheartedly, no questions asked,” she explains. “That comes from the top down because Dr. Camarata is that way. His expectation of his staff is that they all give exceptional care, and we all truly believe that as well. Mechanically, all oral surgeons pretty much can do the same thing—it’s really about the care that you’re given before and after that makes the difference.”

Dr. Camarata says he enjoys his work because he can immediately see how it changes people’s lives. Perhaps you can’t chew, bite, or swallow properly, you have speech problems or chronic jaw or TMJ pain, you have an open bite or protruding jaw, or you have breathing problems. Any of these symptoms can exist at birth. They can also be acquired after birth as a result of hereditary or environmental influences, or as a result of trauma to the face. “If you can somehow get their face in better harmony and proportion, the effects to them personally are very gratifying. We’ve had many people share that with us,” he says. In fact, Dr. Camarata shares that corrective jaw surgery is one of his favorite procedures to do because it’s challenging but rewarding. “I really enjoy the immediate effects—it can change people’s lives in a very positive way, so that is a very big attraction for me.”

For more information on oral and maxillofacial surgery or possible plastic surgery options, visit the Web site. The clinic is located at 12541 Foster St., Suite 330 in Overland Park behind St. Luke’s South. You can contact them at 913-851-7447.