If you drive far enough up PGA Boulevard, the South Florida strip-mall sprawl begins to fade away and is replaced by low, well-kept buildings that give the impression that money lives more quietly here. Located on the second floor of one of those buildings, Lickstein Plastic Surgery has unassuming signage. Maybe that’s the point.
Speaking with patients in the area, it seems that word of mouth is the main way that Dr. David Lickstein’s name spreads in Palm Beach Gardens, where he has been practicing for many years. He is mentioned by a retired Jupiter investor. A Wellington real estate agent does the same. There is no shouting in the practice. It is not required to.
| Practice Name | Lickstein Plastic Surgery |
| Lead Surgeon | Dr. David Lickstein, MD — Board-Certified |
| Address | 5540 PGA Blvd, Suite 200, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 |
| Phone | +1 561-220-4475 |
| Medical Spa Location | 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave, Suite 3110 |
| Sister Brand | Selah Aesthetics |
| Specialties | Face, breast, body surgery; minimally invasive and non-surgical aesthetic treatments |
| Signature Treatment | The Lickstein Lift® — combined dermal filler protocol |
| Board Certification | American Board of Plastic Surgery |
| Patient Rating | 4.6 stars across 95+ Google reviews |
| On-Site Facility | Newly built private operating room |
| Years in Palm Beach Gardens | Two decades and counting |
Facelifts, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, mommy makeovers, and the increasingly popular post-weight-loss work are all part of the clinic’s menu, but how it is presented is important. Although it sounds like marketing, staff members frequently stress the need to avoid taking a one-size-fits-all approach, and the consultations seem to take a long time. Patients report being talked out of procedures rather than into them, which is not a reputation that most cosmetic practices unintentionally cultivate.
Many patients’ calculations are altered by the newly enlarged operating room. It may seem insignificant to have surgery on-site as opposed to in a hospital across town until you’ve had both. It contains privacy. Presumably, there is also control over personnel, scheduling, and the little things that go wrong when too many systems are involved in a single case.
Additionally, the Lickstein name has additional significance. Working out of Ashburn, Virginia, under the name Elle Aesthetic Arts and Plastic Surgery, Dr. Larry H. Lickstein received his training at Princeton, NYU, and Harvard before establishing his own reputation in facial and body contouring. The family pattern begs the question of whether discipline is passed down at the dinner table or if it’s just a coincidence disguised as a legacy.
The medical spa division of Lake Victoria Gardens, Selah Aesthetics, occupies the space between the operating room and consultation. Before committing to anything more significant, patients are increasingly seeking non-surgical procedures like Botox, fillers, lasers, and the Lickstein Lift®. It’s a clever design. People stay for ten years after coming in for a peel.
When observing this practice in action, neither the technology nor the credentials—which are significant—stand out. The temperature is the cause. In Palm Beach, cosmetic procedures can make a big impression, but the Lickstein outcome doesn’t, according to most reports. Instead of looking altered, patients depart looking like rested versions of themselves. In this market, the ability to exercise restraint might be the most uncommon.
Another question is whether the practice will continue to expand at its current rate. Yes, according to the on-site OR. Yes, based on the expansion into Selah. However, reputations based on subtlety can be more difficult to scale than those based on spectacle, and aesthetic medicine moves quickly. The appointments are filled for the time being. The reviews are still valid. Additionally, the PGA Boulevard suite on the second floor remains silent.