This isn't a story about being "the best." I set out to build a practice that never stops trying to be better—for our patients, for our team, and to redefine what self-improvement can mean in the field of plastic surgery and beyond.
When I came to Pittsburgh, I wasn’t looking for just a job—I knew exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a place with history and potential. I wanted to be part of a city that values grit over glamour. A place where people care about one another, where they do things with heart, and where their identities aren’t built around appearances, but around purpose. And a practice I could help shape into something even greater—something that could grow and evolve alongside the people it served.
Because the truth is, I’ve never fit neatly into anyone’s expectations.
I’ve been in rooms where I didn’t feel like I belonged. I’ve tried things that took courage—put myself out there—only to be told I didn’t do it the “right” way. I know what it’s like to be overlooked, not because you lacked ability, but because you didn’t fit the mold. And that feeling never left me.
When I met my wife in medical school, we shared that same emotion. And we learned that when the world underestimates you, the best response is to keep showing up, until they can’t ignore it anymore. We pushed through—not because it was easy, but because we refused to let others define our limits. We worked, supported each other, sacrificed for each other. And every time we were told we couldn’t do something, we said we were going to do it anyway. And that experience—the humility, the struggle, the stubborn belief in what’s possible—is what drives me every day.
It’s why this practice isn’t built on polish or privilege. It’s built on purpose. I’m not in this field to create false perfection or chase trends. Perfect things are ones that are made on a machine. We are about people. And things made by people are beautiful because they're imperfect. What makes people beautiful is not that we get everything right. It’s that they get many things wrong. So that’s the work we do here: We don’t create worth— We help people uncover what was already there. And I know how powerful it can be when someone sees you clearly.
In 2023, when I reintroduced the practice as the Pittsburgh Center for Plastic Surgery—a long-standing leader in plastic surgery for over four decades—the name change wasn’t cosmetic, it reflected a deeper shift. A commitment to making this practice about more than any one person. About creating something that belongs to the city, and serves it.
And I saw what this practice could become the same way I see my patients: already whole, already worthy, already full of potential. The world doesn’t always take the time to see that. It can be cruel, shallow, and fast to judge. But here, we slow down.
We take the time to understand what’s beneath the surface—and we build from there. To help you find a version of yourself you recognize, respect, and are proud to carry forward. And if you’re looking for a one-time fix or fast-track to perfection, this likely isn’t your place. Not every person who walks through our doors is ready for what we offer—and that’s alright. We’d rather be right for fewer people than wrong for many.
That’s the story so far. But we’re just getting started.
Because the work of becoming your best self—whatever that means to you—isn’t a one-time procedure. It’s a practice. A way of moving through the world. And we’re honored to be part of it.
— Dr. Armando Davila
Founder, Chief Vision Office (CVO), Surgeon, Teammate
