Choosing a plastic surgeon in the USA feels simple at first – until you realize how many highly trained specialists there really are. Every major city has surgeons with impressive credentials, years of practice, and long portfolios of beautiful work. And with studies showing that 80–90% of patients report long-term satisfaction after procedures like breast augmentation or facelifts , picking the right doctor becomes even more important, because the outcome depends heavily on who you trust. (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018)
At Beauty by Experts Medical, we’ve seen this firsthand. Over the past 9 years, more than 12,000 patients have gone through treatments and surgeries with our help. Their experiences – the good, the emotional, the complicated – shaped how we evaluate surgeons. This list wasn’t built on advertising or popularity. It comes from real outcomes, consistent patient feedback, and the quiet, steady reliability that only truly skilled surgeons demonstrate.
1. Dr. Albert W. Chow
Dr. Albert W. Chow is a San Francisco–based plastic surgeon who works across both facial and body procedures, with a background that combines plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, and ENT. He treats a wide range of cosmetic and reconstructive concerns, from rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery to breast and body work, and he brings a multi-specialty training path from UCSF, Louisville, and Cincinnati. His practice includes surgical and nonsurgical treatments, and he has been in the field for more than two decades.
- Specialization: Facial plastic surgery, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, breast procedures, body contouring
- Accreditation: American Board of Plastic Surgery; American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Years of experience: 26 years
2. Dr. William Lao
Dr. William Lao is a double board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York, focusing on facial procedures, Asian eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and a range of breast and body operations. His training includes fellowships in aesthetic plastic surgery and reconstructive microsurgery, and he works with patients seeking both cosmetic improvements and functional corrections.
- Specialization: Rhinoplasty, Asian eyelid surgery, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, facelift
- Accreditation: Double board-certified (ABPS; additional certification in Taiwan for reconstructive microsurgery)
- Years of experience: 15 years
3. Dr. Paul Nassif
Dr. Paul Nassif is a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon known for focusing exclusively on the face, treating concerns such as aging changes, nasal structure, and complex revision cases. With a long background in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, he performs procedures like deep-plane facelifts, neck lifts, and rhinoplasty, and continues to work with patients who need both aesthetic and functional improvements.
- Specialization: Deep-plane facelift, neck lift, facial rejuvenation, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty
- Accreditation: American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Years of experience: 25+ years
4. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh
Dr. Babak Azizzadeh is a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon who focuses mainly on facelift techniques, revision facelifts, rhinoplasty, and facial nerve–related conditions. His background includes dual board certification and advanced training at UCLA and Harvard, and he works with both cosmetic and reconstructive facial cases, including facial paralysis and asymmetry.
- Specialization: Deep plane facelift, revision facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facial reanimation
- Accreditation: American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
- Years of experience: 23 years
5. Dr. Babis Rammos
Dr. Babis Rammos practices in Illinois and works across cosmetic breast, body, and facial procedures. His training includes general surgery, plastic surgery, and an aesthetic fellowship, and he treats a wide range of surgical concerns: from tummy tucks and breast surgery to facelifts and body contouring, along with nonsurgical aesthetic treatments.
- Specialization: Aesthetic surgery of the breast, body, and face
- Accreditation: Double board-certified (Plastic Surgery; General Surgery)
- Years of experience: 10 years
6. Dr. Brian S. Glatt
Dr. Brian Glatt is a New Jersey–based plastic surgeon who performs a broad mix of cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. His background includes training at the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and he treats a wide range of aesthetic concerns such as body contouring, facial aging, and breast procedures.
- Specialization: Breast augmentation, breast lift, abdominoplasty, facelift, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, liposuction
- Accreditation: American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Years of experience: 20+ years
7. Dr. Christopher C. Jeffries
Dr. Christopher Jeffries practices in Traverse City, Michigan, where he performs a mix of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for the face, breasts, and body. His background includes training in general surgery, trauma surgery, and plastic surgery, and his clinic also offers a range of nonsurgical treatments such as lasers, injectables, and skin remodeling procedures.
- Specialization: Facial surgery, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty
- Accreditation: Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS); Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
- Years of experience: 16 years
8. Dr. Christopher K. Patronella
Dr. Christopher Patronella is a Houston-based plastic surgeon who works across body contouring, breast revision, and facial procedures. He is known for combining multiple techniques within a single treatment plan and has decades of experience treating cosmetic concerns ranging from tummy tucks and liposuction to facelifts and breast surgery.
- Specialization: Facelift, tummy tuck, liposuction, buttock lift, revision breast implant surgery, mommy makeover
- Accreditation: Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS)
- Years of experience: 35 years
9. Dr. Germán Newall
Dr. Germán Newall is a plastic surgeon in Houston specializing in advanced body contouring, high-volume liposuction, and a range of breast and facial procedures. His medical background includes training in general surgery and plastic surgery, and he works with patients seeking cosmetic improvements across the face, breasts, and body.
- Specialization: 360 liposuction, abdominoplasty, mommy makeover, body lifts, breast augmentation, mastopexy, facelift
- Accreditation: Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS); Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS); Fellow of the International College of Surgeons (FICS)
- Years of experience: 32 years
10. Dr. Joshua Zimm
Dr. Joshua Zimm is a facial plastic surgeon in New York who works mainly with rhinoplasty, including complex revision cases, along with eyelid surgery, facelifts, and procedures to improve nasal breathing. His background includes extensive ENT and facial plastic surgery training across major New York teaching hospitals.
- Specialization: Rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, septoplasty, blepharoplasty, facelifts, chin augmentation, otoplasty
- Accreditation: Double board-certified (Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery)
- Years of experience: 20+ years
11. Dr. Abigail Rodriguez
Dr. Abigail Rodriguez is a Houston-based plastic surgeon at ACPS who performs aesthetic procedures of the face, breasts, and body. Her work includes drainless tummy tucks, breast augmentation using preservation techniques, and facial rejuvenation, and she completed both integrated plastic surgery training and an ASAPS-endorsed aesthetic fellowship.
- Specialization: Drainless tummy tuck, mommy makeover, breast augmentation, mastopexy, breast revisions, facelift and neck lift
- Accreditation: Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS); Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS); Fellow of the International College of Surgeons (FICS)
- Years of experience: 4 years
12. Dr. Henry Mentz
Dr. Henry Mentz is a Houston plastic surgeon with decades of experience across facial rejuvenation, rhinoplasty, and body contouring. His background includes triple board certification and training in plastic surgery, facial plastic surgery, and head and neck surgery, and he treats a wide range of cosmetic concerns for both men and women.
- Specialization: Facelift, revision facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, liposuction, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, breast procedures
- Accreditation: Triple board-certified (Plastic Surgery; Facial Plastic Surgery; Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery)
- Years of experience: 40+ years
13. Dr. John Lanier Burns Jr.
Dr. John Burns is a Dallas-based plastic surgeon with over two decades of experience performing cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. His background includes training at Vanderbilt and the University of Texas system, and he previously served as president of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute.
- Specialization: Cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and body
- Accreditation: American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Years of experience: 25 years
14. Dr. Zachary Farris
Dr. Zachary Farris is a Dallas plastic surgeon who performs a wide range of aesthetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. His background includes training in general surgery and plastic surgery across major U.S. programs, and he treats both surgical and nonsurgical concerns.
- Specialization: Blepharoplasty, facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, mommy makeover
- Accreditation: American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Years of experience: 17 years
15. Dr. Steven R. Cohen
Dr. Steven Cohen is a San Diego plastic surgeon with a long career in facial and body aesthetic procedures, along with work in regenerative medicine. His background includes nearly five decades of surgical experience and advanced training in craniofacial, plastic, and general surgery across major U.S. institutions.
- Specialization: Facelift, deep-plane facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, facial contouring, liposuction, tummy tuck, breast procedures
- Accreditation: American Board of Plastic Surgery; Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
- Years of experience: 49 years
16. Dr. Rolando Morales Jr.
Dr. Rolando Morales is a Houston plastic surgeon who performs cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. His background includes medical training and plastic surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and he treats a range of aesthetic concerns from breast surgery to body contouring and facial procedures.
- Specialization: Breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, body lift, liposuction, thigh lift, arm lift, fat transfer, blepharoplasty
- Accreditation: Board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS); Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS); Fellow of the International College of Surgeons (FICS)
- Years of experience: 13 years
17. Dr. Michael E. Decherd
Dr. Michael Decherd is a San Antonio plastic surgeon who focuses on cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. He has been in private practice for over two decades and treats concerns like breast enhancement, body contouring, and facial aging, working from his accredited surgical facility.
- Specialization: Breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, body contouring, abdominoplasty, facial aging procedures
- Accreditation: American Board of Plastic Surgery; American Board of Otolaryngology
- Years of experience: 21 years
How Plastic Surgery Typically Works in the USA
Every clinic has its own style, but the overall plastic surgery journey in the United States follows a fairly consistent pattern. Whether you’re in New York, Miami, Dallas, or Beverly Hills, you’ll usually go through a structured process: consultation, preparation, the procedure itself, and a short period of local follow-up care. U.S. clinics are used to working with patients from different states and even different countries, so the experience tends to feel organized and predictable.
What the Patient Journey Looks Like
1. The Consultation
This is the point where everything becomes real. You meet the surgeon, talk about your goals, go over your medical history, and sometimes review reference photos or digital previews. Most U.S. surgeons are straightforward about what’s realistic and what isn’t, which helps set the right expectations early on. A good consultation should leave you feeling informed, not pressured.
2. The Day of Surgery
On surgery day, you’ll be placed under local or general anesthesia depending on your procedure. American surgical teams work like a well-rehearsed crew: nurses, anesthesiologists, and coordinators each handle their part, so the day runs smoothly. Most people are surprised by how calm and structured the process feels.
3. Recovery and Post-Op Care
Some surgeries let you go home the same day. Others may require a night in a licensed surgical center or recovery suite. It all depends on the operation and how your body reacts immediately afterward. U.S. clinics usually provide clear instructions, medication plans, and access to a coordinator if anything feels uncertain.
4. Early Follow-Ups
Before you travel home or return to work, your surgeon will check your early healing, look at the incisions, adjust dressings, and answer all the questions that tend to pop up once the initial excitement wears off. These check-ins are especially important for patients who flew in from another state.
How Long Patients Usually Stay for Popular Procedures in the USA
Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
Many patients stay one night in a recovery center and remain in the city for about four to five days. Swelling is the main issue early on, so staying close to the clinic gives you peace of mind.
Breast Augmentation
Most people go home the same day. A typical stay in the city is around four to five days to allow for quick checks on implant positioning and incision healing.
Rhinoplasty
No hospital stay is usually required. Patients often remain nearby for about a week so they can return for cast removal, breathing checks, and early swelling evaluations.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck often involves two nights in a recovery facility and about a seven-day stay in the area. Early healing includes drains, slow walking, and daily monitoring to keep everything on track.
Hair Transplant
Procedures such as FUE and DHI are outpatient. Patients usually stay for about three days to receive washing instructions and graft inspections.
BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift)
Most surgeons prefer two nights in a recovery center and about a week in the city. This helps them monitor swelling, fluid balance, and how the transferred fat is settling.
How Patients in the USA Really Feel About Their Plastic Surgery Results
When people look for the “best” plastic surgeons in the USA, they often want something simple: real numbers. Not hype, not promises – just an honest picture of how patients actually feel after their procedures. The good news? There’s plenty of credible research that gives us a clear idea of satisfaction and outcomes.
Below is a more conversational, human-sounding overview of what the data shows, with subheaders and properly formatted sources you can use directly in your article.
Overall Satisfaction: Most Patients Are Genuinely Happy
If you look at the big picture, satisfaction rates among U.S. patients are generally quite high. One large analysis found that about 75–80% of patients report being satisfied with their cosmetic surgery results, which may not sound dramatic. But in the world of medicine, that’s actually very strong. And behind that number is something obvious: when people choose the right surgeon and have realistic expectations, they usually end up happier than they expected. (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2000)
Quality of Life Improvements Go Beyond Looks
What’s interesting is that patients don’t only report liking how they look. Many studies show improvements in daily life – things like confidence, comfort in social interactions, and even how they feel waking up in the morning.
A 2024 study followed patients for six months and found meaningful improvements in emotional well-being, body image, and social confidence after surgery. (Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 2024)
Some Procedures Have Even Higher Satisfaction Rates
A few surgeries stand out for exceptionally strong outcomes in the U.S.:
- Breast augmentation: Consistently 90%+ satisfaction one year later
- Rhinoplasty: Tricky, but when done by experienced surgeons, satisfaction reaches 80–85%
- Facelift: Long-term satisfaction often remains high even many years after surgery
Patients tend to be happiest when their surgeon communicates clearly about realistic results and recovery – something U.S. board-certified surgeons are usually very good at. (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018)
The Bottom Line
Overall, the data paints a pretty positive picture. Plastic surgery in the USA is generally safe, heavily regulated, and performed by highly trained specialists. Most patients feel genuinely pleased with their results – not just physically, but in ways that affect their daily life. And while no procedure is perfect, the research makes one thing crystal clear: choosing a skilled surgeon who listens to you is the biggest predictor of long-term satisfaction.
Trusted Support From Beauty by Experts Medical
When people come to us, they’re usually looking for more than a procedure. They want clarity, trust, and someone who will guide them from the first message to the final result. That’s exactly what we do. For 9 years, we’ve helped more than 12,000 patients choose the right surgeon, the right clinic, and the right moment – and we’ve stayed by their side through the entire journey.
At Beauty by Experts Medical, we work the way we’d want someone to work for us: carefully, honestly, and with real medical expertise behind every recommendation. Our team personally evaluates clinics, meets surgeons, reviews their qualifications, checks patient outcomes, and keeps up with new techniques and safety standards. When we match you with a doctor, it’s never random. It’s based on your goals, your medical history, and the small details that actually matter.
We’re here to make the process easier, safer, and more predictable. And once your surgery is done, we don’t disappear. We stay with you all the way through recovery, answering questions and keeping an eye on your healing.
What We Do and How We Help
- We select the right surgeon for you: Not just “top-rated,” but the one whose skills, style, and experience actually match your goals.
- We evaluate clinics in person: We check service quality, equipment, safety standards, and surgical techniques before recommending any center.
- We organize everything from A to Z: Consultation, travel, transfers, surgery scheduling, hotel – all arranged by our team.
- We stay in touch 24/7: Your medical coordinator is always available for questions, updates, and support.
- We provide complete post-operative follow-up: Even when you’re back home, we guide your recovery and stay with you until everything is fully healed.
- We work only with verified, accredited clinics: JCI, ISO, ISAPS-certified centers with strong patient outcomes.
- We make the process stress-free: You focus on your procedure – we handle the logistics, concerns, and details.
We’re proud that most people come to us because someone else shared their experience – a sister, a friend, a colleague. That’s the highest compliment for us, and the reason we keep doing what we do.
Conclusion
Finding the right plastic surgeon in the USA isn’t about chasing big names – it’s about matching your goals with a surgeon whose training, technique, and communication style genuinely fit what you need. Even highly experienced surgeons have different philosophies and strengths, and those nuances matter more than most people realize. Whether the priority is breathing function during rhinoplasty, fat survival rates in a BBL, or minimizing revision risk after a facelift, the best outcomes almost always come from choosing someone who works in the exact area you need help with.
If you’re taking the next step, use this list as a starting point, not the final word. From here, the real work is asking deeper questions, comparing techniques, and making sure the surgeon you choose can deliver the kind of result you’re hoping for.
FAQ
How do I compare two surgeons who both specialize in the same procedure?
Look beyond the label. Compare their before-and-after patterns, their preferred techniques, and how they explain risks and limitations during a consultation. Two surgeons may perform the same operation but take very different approaches to incision placement, structural support, grafting, or anesthesia. You want the one whose method aligns with what you’re aiming for.
If a surgeon is double- or triple-board-certified, does that automatically mean better results?
Not necessarily. Certifications tell you about training pathways, not artistry or consistency. They matter, especially in facial and reconstructive work, but outcomes still depend on a surgeon’s current technique, volume of cases, and how often they perform the exact procedure you want.
What’s the real difference between a primary procedure and a revision case?
Revision surgeries are more complex because the anatomy has already been altered. There may be scar tissue, weakened support structures, or reduced options for cartilage and fat grafting. If you’re considering a revision, choose someone who does revisions weekly, not occasionally.
Is it safer to have surgery in a hospital or a private surgical center?
Both can be safe. What matters more is whether the facility is fully accredited, the anesthesia team is experienced, and emergency protocols are in place. Many top plastic surgeons operate almost exclusively in accredited private centers because they’re efficient and designed specifically for cosmetic cases.
How does Beauty by Experts Medical help with surgeon selection?
At Beauty by Experts Medical, we evaluate surgeons based on real patient outcomes, not marketing or reputation alone. Our recommendations come from 9 years of arranging treatments for over 12,000 patients, reviewing complication rates, satisfaction levels, communication styles, and technique differences. The goal is to match each patient with the surgeon who best fits their exact needs – not just a “top name.”
