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Dr. Sarah Holland at her practice in York, Maine. Courtesy photo

Dr. Sarah W. Holland was a French major at Colby College when her undergraduate studies required her to take what she calls an life-changing biology class. The human body and physiology just captivated her.

She went on to earn a medical degree at Cornell University, perform residencies in surgery and plastic surgery at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and serve as assistant professor of surgery at Columbia University.

Today Holland lives and works in York, Maine, where she oversees life-changing surgical and non-surgical procedures for women and men of all ages.

The York Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Center treats patients from as far north as Portland and as far south as the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Holland estimates 70 percent of her practice is reconstructive surgery and 30 percent cosmetic surgery. Procedures include facelifts, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, breast reconstruction, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, laser treatment, body contouring and treatment and reconstruction for skin cancer.

The Seacoast is home to an array of medical specialists like Holland, branching out to meet an ever-demanding consumer with ever-challenging health needs. While cosmetic surgery surged in popularity in the early 1990s, Holland said the field is much more diverse and rewarding, particularly as people become more aware of their personal health.

"Everything's a little more subtle," Holland said during an interview at her office at 12 Hospital Drive in York Village. "People are definitely looking for less invasive procedures, less down time."

Since launching her practice in York about a year ago, Holland herself has had little down time. A mother of three young girls, she travels to Guatemala each January as a volunteer surgeon for Children of the Americas.

Holland performs many of the procedures at her office, under local anesthetics, with the rest performed at nearby York Hospital. She sees more of skin cancer than anything, but manages an array of cases from women seeking liposuction to people seeking reconstructive surgery after dog bites.

York Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Center also has a full-time licensed aesthetician, Hilary Douglass, who provides laser and intelligent pulsed light treatments under Holland's supervision. Laser and intelligent pulsed light technology is used to treat age spots, spider veins, rosacea and scars, among other things.

The diversity of the practice attracted Holland to the field, along with the reward of being able to help people restore and improve a person's health and well-being. Holland often finds herself helping people overcome an injury that has kept them from work, such as a carpenter suffering a hand injury from a table saw.

Medical insurance covers most of the procedures as insurance companies refocus on the body's need to "function" or perform. Holland said the importance of preventive medicine and well-being also inspires people to inquire of her services.

The Seacoast's surgical specialists advertise their practices, but they also count on word of mouth and referrals from satisfied customers. In a related event, York Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Center is hosting "Girls Night In," a free overview of services and a demonstration on Sept. 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at its York office.