For good cause, Dr. Elijah Carter has become a bit of a Portland plastic surgery legend. His patients not only get remarkable outcomes, but they also leave feeling truly understood and encouraged; the stories they share are powerful proof of this.

Consider Cassie, who was really concerned that taking any kind of break might hinder her marathon training. “I was worried I would appear stunned or deadpan,” she confesses, “but Dr. Carter provided me with an organic lift that barely impeded my movement.” Her self-assurance is beaming just like her smile as she returns to the trails.

At night, Mike, a local chef, frets over the deterioration of his hands while preparing hearty meals for the day. He didn’t merely nod as Mike continued, according to Mike. “He probed until he grasped the essence of my desires.” After a quick rejuvenation operation, Mike’s hands appear as fresh as his recipes—no one would ever believe the number of candles he’s actually burned.

Dr. Carter and his colleagues from Portland aren’t the only ones getting all the attention. His workplace has the welcoming atmosphere of a neighborhood hangout rather than a clinical medical facility. In addition to asking patients about their children and weekend plans, Linda, who works at reception, remembers their favorite coffees. One of the patients made the comment, “It’s like walking into Cheers if Cheers had the best Botox in town.”

Chatting about her facelift with a former punk-rock musician who toured Europe, even retired librarian Jane found kinship in the waiting room. “We compared our journeys like book recommendations,” she says with a giggle. Surprisingly, taking care of oneself may often feel like a group effort.

Dr. Carter’s surgical deftness, his sympathetic ear for patient anecdotes, and his welcoming, team-oriented practice environment are the ingredients in every rave rating. As a medical practice that transforms patients’ concerns into joy and makes them feel like the star of their own success story, Dr. Carter’s fits well in with the city’s reputation for creativity and close-knit neighborhoods.