The Facial Rejuvenation Center has been home to Dr. Raj TerKonda since 2000 when he opened it in the Longmont Clinic. Dr. TerKonda, MD, FACS, specializes in facial cosmetic surgery, including face-lifts, rhinoplasty, eyelid tucks, cosmetic laser surgery, and medical skin care. Additionally, his specialties include facial trauma and reconstruction, skin cancer, and congenital pediatric deformities—particularly cleft lip and cleft palate surgery. 

Dr. TerKonda has volunteered for Operation of Hope, a not-for-profit, all-volunteer medical team that donates surgeries to children in developing countries who are born with facial deformities. For this work, Dr. TerKonda has traveled to Ecuador three times to perform pro bono cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries on pediatric patients.

Although Dr. TerKonda treats men, his business caters primarily to women who want facial treatment such as eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, Botox treatments, fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse), and laser treatments. He reports that about half of his practice is devoted to performing nasal surgery, including rhinoplasty, sinus surgery, and nose reconstruction. Dr. TerKonda also offers surgical treatment for headaches.

Dr. TerKonda is committed to the safety of his clients, whether it involves a non-invasive procedure or a surgical procedure. He emphasizes that he performs all injections and laser treatments himself. Surgical procedures are performed by Dr. TerKonda with the assistance of a board certified anesthesiologist. The surgeries are performed at the Longmont Surgery Center, an accredited outpatient surgery center housed adjacent to Longmont United Hospital. Anyone over the age of 50 is required to see a cardiologist before undergoing general anesthesia, and those with eye issues must first be seen by an ophthalmologist.

The Facial Rejuvenation Center keeps detailed records of every procedure done on a patient, including every injection given. In other words, they can trace an injection of Botox or Juvederm back to its source if necessary. Detailed record-keeping ensures consistent results, Dr. TerKonda says.
Dr. TerKonda shares that he views the patient as a whole person and prides himself on being honest with his recommendations. “I’m a practical, conservative person. I don’t recommend unnecessary procedures. I don’t take a lot of risks. I give educated advice and help patients make the right decision for themselves. I won’t recommend something they don’t need.”

In 2009, 5280 magazine named Dr. TerKonda one of Denver’s top doctors of plastic surgery for the head and neck. Top doctors are elected by other physicians practicing in the Denver metropolitan area. Dr. TerKonda is probably known for creating consistent, natural-looking results, he says. “I have 15 years of experience and that counts, especially with rhinoplasty. All I do is facial and neck surgery. I’ve seen the muscle I’m going to inject with Botox hundreds of times. People want to know they’re going to spend money on a cosmetic procedure that will be performed right the first time. I’ve corrected a lot of procedures in my career.”

He goes on to say that rhinoplasty is the most difficult cosmetic procedure to perform, and it can take up to a year to obtain your final results due to the swelling. He does nose reshaping procedures for cosmetic reasons, corrects breathing and sinus problems, and nose reconstruction due to skin cancer. He also corrects previous rhinoplasty that the patient has had done somewhere else.

Patient Bonijean Melick was referred to Dr. TerKonda to repair a rhinoplasty she had had done as a result of a broken nose. Post-surgery results revealed that her septum was still deviated and her nose was still crooked. “It still looked horrible, bumpy, and huge after it was reset. He got on the computer and showed me what he could do for me and I said, ‘Wow, that’s exactly what I want.’ I was convinced he could do it. Every morning I thank him because I have such a perfect nose. I can sleep. There are no scars. I have way more confidence. I think it was the best thing I ever did.”

Patient Patti Rush says she feels the same way. “I’ve been seeing Dr. TerKonda for eight years—ever since Botox was approved—and I’ll soon be 60. I call it my ‘fix,’ and I go twice a year. I first heard about him from a friend of mine, and have since become a lifelong patient. I also did a mini neck-lift on my jowls and my neck line and it turned out fabulous. I wouldn’t let anyone else touch my face. I never bruise or swell and it doesn’t hurt. I feel safe with Dr. TerKonda. Dr. Raj is the secret to my universe.”

Dr. TerKonda suggests to all patients that they use sunscreen, alpha hydroxy acid, and Vitamin C serum every day in addition to using Retin-A several times a week. He says Retin-A is the only topical cream that stimulates collagen and keeps skin looking young.

Dr. TerKonda also offers chemical and laser peels. These treatments peel skin off to a deeper layer of the dermis so that collagen can regenerate, he says. He also offers Thermage treatments, which are non-invasive as they safely heat the natural collagen in the bottom dermis layer to replenish it.

Another relatively new product, Sculptra Aesthetic, touts itself as “the new age of anti-age.” After several injections, you will have a gradual regeneration of collagen, which typically lasts longer than other fillers, Dr. TerKonda reports. Dysport is the next generation of FDA-approved injections for the temporary improvement of frown lines, and one that Dr. TerKonda offers his patients along with Botox.

Dr. TerKonda keeps up with current techniques and products, and evaluates everything before using it, he says. Dr. TerKonda holds a dual board certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He chose to study Otolarnygology – head and neck surgery – during his residency program at the University of Minnesota. He was trained to specifically treat the face and neck, both for reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery, whether for a facial trauma or for a face-lift.

“Knowing cosmetic procedures helps me give reconstructive patients better care, and knowing reconstructive procedures helps my cosmetic patients,” says Dr. TerKonda.

Dr. TerKonda can be reached weekdays at 720-494-3120. The Facial Rejuvenation Center is located in the Longmont Clinic at 1925 W. Mountain View Ave. in Longmont, and at 300 Exempla Circle, Suite 250 in Lafayette. The Web site is www.longmontclinic.com.