Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Keener.
Hi Melinda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the mountains of western NC and wanted to be a doctor from a very early age. Unbeknownst to my father, an avid fisherman, he steered me into the surgical field after teaching me to clean fish. I have a daughter in her 30’s and two grandchildren. A firm believer in hard work, I was a young, single mother, who overcame my circumstances to fulfill my mission to be a doctor. I am a Board Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship trained Plastic Surgeon. I completed my plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Florida and opened my first practice in Lake City, FL in 2013. I acquired a second practice in Starke, Fl that specializes in aesthetics and weight loss. I moved to Ponte Vedra Beach about 3 years ago and envisioned opening a medical spa specializing in minimally invasive treatments with surgical results and minimal downtime. Jax Beach Body MD opened in September 2021 on 3rd St. in Jacksonville Beach. For the last 3 years, I have been honing a proprietary technique to lift and tight virtually anywhere on the body with little to no downtime—I call this procedure Gentlesculpt. It’s done in the comfort of the spa and is safer compared to surgeries that require general anesthesia. I think what makes my medical spa unique is the wide range of services provided and the fact that you will see an on-site surgeon, who is providing services and injections.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I never planned to be a business owner! Not happy with employed opportunities, I sought to blaze my own path. I had no business experience and made many costly mistakes/investments in the beginning. Over time I’ve learned that running a business is not rocket science, but dedication, hard work, and treating people like you want to be treated. Being a single mother, I was no stranger to hard work and doing everything myself…traits that have stuck with me and have been invaluable as a business owner.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
The people are so down-to-earth and genuine. I am an avid beach person—I never leave the Beach!
I feel that the City of Jacksonville Beach can be a little unfair and too stringent with small business owners at times
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jaxbeachbodymd.com
- Instagram: Jaxbeach_bodymd
- Facebook: Jax Beach Body MD
- Other: Plastixgirl TikTok
Image Credits
Melinda Keener
