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of the few places where I can fully disconnect, reflect, and restore. When I want a bit more social energy, I’ll unwind at Faena or Setai. And if I need a true escape, I head to the Keys - or better yet, Little Palm Island. It’s a place where time slows down and the world feels wonderfully far away. When I have longer stretches of time, I love revisiting the creative practices that shaped me - drawing, painting, sculpting. Disappearing into that kind of work is therapeutic. But interestingly, I also find that same kind of creative immersion when I’m designing the internal support structure of a face or reimagining a breast’s natural architecture. In those moments, I’m fully absorbed, working intuitively but precisely. Whether it’s art or anatomy, it’s the same language of beauty and balance - and I never tire of speaking it. ML: Looking ahead, are there any areas of aesthetic surgery - or even philosophy- you’re currently exploring that you think will define the next chapter of your work? Dr. Maercks: Absolutely. Lately, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the relationship between aging and identity - specifically, how our internal sense of self evolves, and how aesthetic interventions can either affirm that identity or create dissonance. I witness this profound psychological shift every time I perform a facelift. The moment a patient sees their transformation, there’s a strange kind of disassociation from their “before” image. It’s as if that prior appearance belonged to someone else entirely - someone older, more tired, less them. The current, post-operative version feels instantly familiar and aligned. This reaction is consistent, and it never stops fascinating me. It speaks to a deeper truth: we often carry an internal image of ourselves that doesn’t match the face we see in the mirror, and when those two things are brought into alignment, there’s an almost spiritual sense of restoration. This phenomenon has led me to explore the concept of aesthetic congruence - the idea that the most meaningful interventions don’t change who we are, but rather restore visual harmony between how we feel and how we present to the world. It’s not just about looking younger; it’s about looking like yourself, with your vitality and essence clearly expressed. On the technical side, I remain deeply committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with minimal trauma and maximal elegance. The beauty of operating at this level is that refinement becomes infinite. With every surgery -no matter how optimized the technique - I find micro-adjustments that improve flow, tension, or integration. These are often subtleties that no one else may notice, but that’s where the true artistry lies. It’s a quiet evolution, rooted in relentless attention and a reverence for detail. Looking ahead, I also feel a strong sense of responsibility to pass on this body of work. I’m currently laying the foundation to bring surgical fellowships into the practice - one each for face, breast, and body. My goal is to train a new generation of aesthetic surgeons who can not only master the technical elements I’ve developed - like histiocentricity and my unique planes of dissection - but evolve them further. I hope that these future partners will carry forward the philosophy and innovation of The Maercks Institute with the same precision, creativity, and integrity, continuing to push boundaries long after I’ve made my final incision. For more information, visit: www.themaercksinstitute.com Instagram: @themaercksinstitute Twitter (X): twitter.com/drrianmd Facebook: @RianMaercksMD YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/rianmaercksmd By Adriana Garuolis. Images courtesy of Dr. Rian Maercks.