Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
St. Louis, Missouri
● Taking New Patients
NPI: 1124232236· License: 2008029868 (MO) verify
Medical school: University Of Wisconsin School Of Medicine · Graduated 1998
Industry payments (2024): $211 across 9 payments (what this means)
4.7(43 ratings)
About
Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum is a highly-rated board-certified plastic surgeon based in St. Louis, Missouri. She practices at West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University and specializes in facial and body cosmetic procedures, including breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, tummy tucks, and more. Dr. Tenenbaum has earned recognition as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and Newsweek Best Plastic Surgeon, reflecting her commitment to providing excellent patient care and achieving beautiful, natural-looking results. Contact her office for consultation details and pricing. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Tenenbaum offers a distinct perspective on facial rejuvenation, emphasizing that while non-surgical options can address mild concerns, surgical procedures like facelifts are often the gold standard for significant aging, particularly for jowls.
Connect with Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum on Social Media
Specialties
- Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Procedures & Services
Select a service to schedule an appointment · each is approximately 60 minutes
Average Cost of Surgery
Healthcare costs shouldn't be a mystery. Below, you'll find crowdsourced data on the actual costs of surgeries performed by Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum, submitted anonymously by the patient community. Use this as a guide to better anticipate your own expenses. Please note that final costs can vary based on your specific medical needs.
Breast Implants
$41,000
Help us keep this data current and accurate. If you've had a procedure with Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum, please take a moment to contribute your cost information.
Questions, Answers, and Information Directly from Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum
Sourced directly from Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum's social posts and replies.
How does Dr. Tenenbaum recommend using Tretinoin (Retin-A) for optimal results and what are her personal practices?
Dr. Tenenbaum advises washing your face, neck, and chest thoroughly and ensuring they are completely dry (allow at least a minute) before applying Tretinoin. Use a pea-sized amount for the entire face and another pea-sized amount for the neck and décolleté/chest area, avoiding very close to the eyes and potentially irritated areas like around the nose/mouth. Allow the Tretinoin to dry and absorb for at least 20 minutes before applying other products like moisturizers or medical-grade skincare. Incorrect use can lead to irritation or reduced effectiveness. She personally uses generic Tretinoin almost every single night and considers it critical for skincare. For those new to Tretinoin, starting slowly (e.g., 2-3 times a week) is often recommended by the community.
What are the key properties of gummy bear breast implants?
Gummy bear breast implants are made of a solid silicone gel that maintains its shape even if the implant is completely ruptured or cut in half. The gel is cohesive and remains together, demonstrating its structural integrity.
What are jowls and how does Dr. Tenenbaum approach their treatment?
Jowls form when facial tissue droops due to ligaments holding skin attached and the descent of fat and soft tissue, an inevitable part of aging. Dr. Tenenbaum considers a facelift (specifically a lower facelift and neck lift) the gold standard for treating jowls, as it re-drapes deep tissues to smooth the jawline. Non-surgical treatments can help the appearance of jowls only if they are mild. For severe jowls, facelift surgery is strongly recommended.
How does Dr. Tenenbaum use hyaluronic acid fillers to treat mild jowls?
For mild jowls, Dr. Tenenbaum prefers hyaluronic acid type filler injected in three specific spots. Filler in the lateral cheek helps pull up drooping soft tissue. Injecting at the angle of the mandible provides a pull or filling effect to smooth the jowl area. Additionally, filling the hollow in front of the jowl camouflages fullness and helps elongate the chin, contributing to a smoother jawline.
How does Dr. Tenenbaum use dilute Radiesse for collagen stimulation?
Dr. Tenenbaum uses dilute Radiesse, a filler that is not primarily for volume, to stimulate deeper collagen production over several weeks to months. She has used this treatment on her mid to low face, noting it's a similar concept to Sculptra.
What are the benefits and typical frequency of Dr. Tenenbaum's CO2 laser treatments?
Dr. Tenenbaum undergoes light CO2 laser treatments several times a year, which have very minimal downtime. These treatments help stimulate collagen and make the skin look glowing and healthy. She considers a heavy CO2 laser treatment once a year ideal for comprehensive benefits.
How does microneedling compare to CO2 laser treatment in Dr. Tenenbaum's practice?
Dr. Tenenbaum performs microneedling, which she notes is very similar to CO2 laser treatments but is slightly less effective. However, microneedling is a lot more affordable, and she loves the procedure.
How does Dr. Tenenbaum prevent a 'heavy brow' feeling after neuromodulator injections?
A 'heavy brow' feeling after neuromodulator treatment occurs when the frontalis muscle (which pulls eyebrows up) is affected too low on the forehead. To prevent this, Dr. Tenenbaum emphasizes injecting only above a specific line on the forehead. It's also crucial to inject the procerus and corrugator muscles (which pull the brow down) effectively. Patients should provide feedback to their injector if they experience a heavy brow to ensure proper placement and dosing in future treatments.
How are neuromodulators used to treat squint lines?
Neuromodulators are injected into the orbicularis oculi muscle, a circular muscle around the eye, to relax the squint lines that form when smiling.
What is a lip lift and what are its benefits according to Dr. Tenenbaum?
A lip lift is a surgical operation that treats an elongated skin portion of the upper lip. It involves a scar at the base of the nose but is considered a 'beautiful, perfect operation' by Dr. Tenenbaum, as it effectively helps to curl the upper lip out and shorten the distance between the nose and lip.
What are Dr. Tenenbaum's considerations for using fillers to treat tear troughs and cheeks as one ages?
Dr. Tenenbaum currently uses hyaluronic acid filler in her tear trough to help blunt the angle, but notes that treating the tear trough with filler becomes harder as one gets older. She emphasizes that correcting the loss of volume and flattening in the cheek is crucial, as it not only supports the lower lid but also treats the cheek itself and helps with deep folds. Even with significant lower eyelid aging, she believes it's reasonable to try using filler for correction.
What is Dr. Tenenbaum's candid advice on treating jowls, especially regarding non-surgical options like threads?
Dr. Tenenbaum states that jowls are an inevitable part of aging and that a lower facelift and neck lift is the gold standard treatment. She strongly advises against thread lifts, stating 'they just don't last' and to 'not get threads.' She cautions against wasting a lot of money on non-surgical methods for jowls, as there are not many great long-term solutions. Instead, she recommends saving money for a lower facelift and neck lift. For those starting to get early jowls, her best recommendation is to continue treating the skin with medical-grade skincare, resurfacing lasers, light treatments for pigment, and neuromodulators for dynamic wrinkles, including in the lower face.
From Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum's Instagram
@dr.marissatenenbaum →Recent photos posted by @dr.marissatenenbaum, Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum's own Instagram account. Each image opens the original post on Instagram.
- @dr.marissatenenbaumAug 2026
- @dr.marissatenenbaumAug 2026
- @dr.marissatenenbaumJun 2026
- @dr.marissatenenbaumMay 2026
Images © Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum / @dr.marissatenenbaum, shown here with a link to the original post. If you are the account owner and want an image removed, contact [email protected].
Patient Experience
Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum Review Summary
4.7
Dr. Tenenbaum has an excellent rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on 26 reviews and her Google rating. Patients consistently praise her skill, attention to detail, and ability to help them feel more confident.
Ratings from Other Platforms
West County Plastic Surgeons
1020 N Mason Rd #110, St. Louis, Missouri
(314) 996-8800
Book a Service Consultation
Each service is approximately 60 minutes.
Industry Payments
Federal law (the Physician Payments Sunshine Act) requires drug and medical-device companies to report anything of value they give to a physician — consulting and speaking fees, research funding, travel, royalties, and even meals. Medicare publishes all of it in a public database called Open Payments. We show it here so you don't have to go looking for it.
Total received (2024)
$211
Payments
9
Compared to peers
Small
Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum received $211 across 9 payments in 2024. That is in the lower half for physicians here — totals this size are typically meals at sponsored talks. Most of it was categorised as food and beverage, and the largest single payer was RTI SURGICAL, INC.
What this means for your care
- A disclosed payment is a business relationship, not evidence of wrongdoing, and it says nothing on its own about the quality of your care.
- Most payments are small. Across the physicians listed on NavMDs, the single most common category is food and beverage at industry-sponsored talks.
- Larger consulting, speaking or royalty payments mean an ongoing financial relationship with a company whose products your doctor may use or recommend. That is worth knowing about, and it is reasonable to ask about.
- A fair question to ask: “Do you have a financial relationship with the maker of the implant, filler or device you're recommending — and what alternatives did you consider?”
Source: CMS Open Payments, the federal database created by the Sunshine Act. View the full record on CMS Open Payments ↗
Patient Awards
Best
Top Doctor
Best
Top Doctor
Top Doctor
Insurance Information
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Phone: (314) 996-8800
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Location & Contact Information
West County Plastic Surgeons
1020 N Mason Rd #110
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Office Information
Phone: (314) 996-8800
Where does Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum practice?
Doctor's Office
West County Plastic Surgeons (Primary)
1020 N Mason Rd #110, St. Louis, Missouri 63141
(26 reviews)
Hospital Affiliations
Hospital affiliations unknown
Do you know which hospitals Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum is affiliated with? This information helps patients understand where they might receive care.
Education & Experience
Education
Washington University In St. Louis
Certifications & Licenses
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make an appointment with Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum online?
This information is not available based on the provided details. Check the doctor's website or contact their office to inquire about online appointment scheduling.
Does Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum offer telehealth?
This information is not available based on the provided details. Contact the doctor's office to inquire about telehealth options.
What do patients have to say about Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum?
Patients rave about Dr. Tenenbaum's surgical skills and the positive impact she has on their confidence. Reviews mention successful breast reductions, augmentations, tummy tucks, liposuction, and CoolSculpting procedures. Patients describe their experiences as 'perfect' and 'flawless,' highlighting Dr. Tenenbaum's expertise and attentiveness.
What areas of care does Dr. Marissa Tenenbaum cater to?
Dr. Tenenbaum specializes in aesthetic surgery of the face, breast, and body. Her areas of expertise include breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, breast implants, tummy tucks, liposuction, and CoolSculpting. She focuses on cosmetic plastic surgery, helping patients achieve their desired aesthetic goals. Dr. Tenenbaum emphasizes a comprehensive approach to facial aesthetics, distinguishing between surgical and non-surgical solutions. She considers facelift the gold standard for jowls and lower face aging, particularly favoring a deep plane technique. For skin health, she advocates for medical-grade skincare, including prescription Tretinoin, Vitamin C serum, and potent peptide complexes (her personal favorite being Elastin). She stresses that sunscreen is the most important component for preventing and treating aging skin changes. She also recommends collagen-stimulating procedures like CO2 laser resurfacing. In neuromodulator treatments, she prioritizes proper placement and a deep understanding of facial anatomy to achieve natural results and avoid issues like a 'heavy brow', personally using Daxify (formerly Xeomin) for regular treatments.