About Our Provider
Christina McDonald, FNP-C, is one of the longest-tenured providers at Vega Plastic Surgery & MedSpa and a driving force behind the care our patients receive on every side of our practice. As a board-certified family nurse practitioner with extensive advanced practice experience, Christina works across our surgical clinic and our medical spa with the kind of fluency that only comes from years in the field.
She joined our team in 2013, though her connection with Dr. Vega goes back even further. Christina’s very first nursing job out of school was in a plastic surgery unit where Dr. Vega happened to be completing his residency. It was years before they’d work together again, but the specialty had already left its mark. When the opportunity at Vega Plastic Surgery arose, she didn’t hesitate. Her former attending in cardiology wasn’t surprised. “I knew if I ever lost you,” he told her, “it would be to plastic surgery.”
At a Glance
Title: Family Nurse Practitioner, FNP-C
Board Certification: New York State Board-Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner
Experience: 16+ years as an FNP; 13 years at Vega Plastic Surgery & MedSpa
Prior Specializations: Burn Trauma, Plastic/Vascular Surgery, ENT, Bariatric Surgery
Clinical Focus: Pre-operative, operative and post-operative management of reconstructive and cosmetic patients
Aesthetic Certifications: All neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport, Daxxify), dermal fillers, Sciton laser (HALO, BBL, Moxi), Morpheus8 RF microneedling, CoolSculpting, Eurothreads, chemical peels and biostimulators
Continuing Education: Yearly conferences, daily self-directed study, ongoing device and injector training
Our Team
Christina is an integral part of our clinical practice, providing pre-operative, operative and post-operative management for reconstructive and cosmetic patients alongside Dr. Stephen Vega and Dr. Rachel Farkas. She brings specialized experience in burn trauma, plastic and vascular surgery, ENT and bariatric surgery to every case she touches.
On our medspa side, she is one of the most experienced and sought-after aesthetic providers in the greater Rochester area. She holds certifications in every treatment we offer. Her meticulous technique and sharp eye for detail have earned her a loyal patient following that continues to grow through word of mouth.
As one patient put it: “I cannot say enough great things about everyone I deal with at the office: from reception to treatment to checkout. I see Christina most of the time and she does a fabulous job keeping me from looking my age! I give them an A++++ and would recommend them to anyone and everyone!”
Patients First
What sets Christina apart is her belief that every treatment decision should start with education. She dedicates 30-minute consultations for even routine neurotoxin treatments, walking you through how different neuromodulators work, what to expect and what the potential complications could look like. That level of thoroughness is rare.
“When patients have all the information they need to make an informed decision, you’re really working them through the process,” Christina explains. “My job is to give them the education they need and show them how it applies to them specifically.”
Her aesthetic philosophy centers on restoration and prevention rather than augmentation. She wants every treatment to give you back the best version of yourself, and she’ll take the time to map out a plan that accounts for your long-term goals rather than just what’s bothering you today. Through the winter months, that might mean laser resurfacing or skin tightening procedures. In the summer, it could shift toward CoolSculpting or body contouring treatments with less visible downtime.
Another satisfied patient wrote, “Christina McDonald, NP, was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, answered all of my questions, and discussed various options to achieve my surgical goals. I’d highly recommend this practice!”
Come Back
Spend enough time at our practice and you’ll notice something: patients don’t just come back for treatments. They come back for Christina. They share life updates, ask for restaurant recommendations, and tell her about their kids’ graduations. The relationship extends well beyond the treatment room.
That depth of connection is personal for Christina. Her mother-in-law passed from breast cancer in 2000, and the experience of watching her go through chemotherapy, reconstruction and lymphedema shaped the way Christina cares for every patient walking a similar road. She also lost a sister to cancer at a young age, which she believes was the catalyst for her career in caregiving.
“Any one of us could be walking through the door with a new diagnosis,” she says. “That’s how I approach every patient.”
More
Christina treats education as a daily practice, not a yearly obligation. She attends conferences annually, but she also reads and studies every single day. In the clinic with Dr. Vega, she says she learns something new each day they work together. On the aesthetic side, she stays ahead of evolving techniques, new product applications and emerging treatment combinations to give her patients access to what’s most current and effective.
When she’s not with patients, Christina is most likely at a hockey rink or lacrosse field with her family. She has two daughters who play travel for each sport, and most of her weekends are spent cheering them on across the region. She’s also an avid runner who trains with friends throughout the week, and she belongs to a gym she describes as a second home.
Whether you’re navigating cancer care, considering your first cosmetic treatment or looking for a provider who will invest in your results over the long term, Christina brings the expertise, honesty and warmth that define our practice.
Contact Vega Plastic Surgery & MedSpa at 585.383.4040 to schedule your appointment with Christina today.