11/9/2025

Best Plastic Surgeons in Atlanta (2025 Guide) (city-wide)

Updated: November 2025

Choosing the right plastic surgeon in Atlanta matters for your safety, your confidence, and results that look like you, only better. Metro Atlanta is a major hub for aesthetics with high case volumes, competitive pricing, and access to advanced techniques. That also means training and standards can vary. This editorial guide explains how to evaluate surgeons, what to expect at consultation and recovery, key risks and safety factors, and which procedures are trending locally. It reads like an expert buyer’s guide (not a directory) so you can build a shortlist, compare plans, and choose the surgeon who aligns with your goals and timeline.

How We Chose the Best Plastic Surgeons in Atlanta

AestheticMatch evaluates surgeons using a consistent, quality-first rubric. We review public board data, verified patient feedback, and surgeon-submitted information (when available). Our criteria include:

Board certification in plastic surgery and active privileges at accredited facilities
Experience and case volume for the procedures you care about (primary and revision)
Before-and-after portfolio quality emphasizing balance, proportion, and thoughtful scar strategy
Patient experience and communication from first consult through aftercare
Peer reputation teaching, research, technique development, and society leadership

Top Plastic Surgeons in Atlanta

Dr. Mark Crispin, MD, Crispin Plastic Surgery (Atlanta)

Specialties: Rhinoplasty, Facelift, Body Contouring
About: Board-certified surgeon known for balanced, natural facial work and proportion-focused body contouring. Patient consults emphasize clear planning, recovery expectations, and conservative, long-term aesthetics.
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Dr. Robert Colgrove Jr., MD, Vinings Surgery Center (Smyrna/Atlanta)

Specialties: Breast Augmentation & Lift, Body Contouring, Mommy Makeover. About: Board-certified surgeon offering comprehensive breast and body procedures with detailed sizing/implant planning and a practical approach to recovery, garments, and scar care.
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Dr. John Philip Connors III, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgery (Atlanta)

Specialties: Facelift & Neck Lift, Rhinoplasty, Breast Surgery
About: Board-certified surgeon with a measured, safety-first philosophy. Consults focus on function, facial harmony, and realistic timelines; aftercare is structured to support steady, durable results.
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Most Popular Cosmetic Procedures in Atlanta

Atlanta aesthetics lean toward clean contour lines and proportion in the boardroom, on camera, and at events. Body contouring is strong among patients seeking waist definition and core restoration, while facial surgery demand is steady for lower-face/neck refinement and eyelid rejuvenation. Strengthen internal linking with localized procedure pages:

What to Expect at Your Consultation

Goals & images: Bring reference photos that show proportion and shape, not a copy of someone else’s features. Expect standardized clinical photos for planning and later comparisons.

History & safety Share prior procedures, allergies, and all meds/supplements (even OTC). Some agents increase bleeding/bruising and may need a pause with medical clearance. If you’ve had implants or grafting, request prior operative notes.

Technique & plan A strong consult explains why a technique fits your anatomy pocket plane for implants, deep-plane vs. SMAS facelift, or safe fat-grafting volumes. Ask about alternatives and if staging improves safety or results.

Recovery roadmap Leave with a written plan covering garments, wound care, nausea/pain control, driving and work timelines, exercise restrictions, and follow-ups. Clarify travel/commute expectations for early checks.

Recovery & Results: Typical Timelines

Recovery varies by procedure, technique, and baseline health, but most patients can plan around these general windows:

Days 0–3: Rest, manage swelling/discomfort, begin short walks. Use a surgical bra/compression or facial garment if instructed. Sleep position and cold compresses as advised.
Days 3–7: Light daily activities; many return to desk work near day 5–7 (procedure-dependent). Bruising starts to fade.
Weeks 2–3: Controlled light cardio may resume if cleared. Continue compression/garments as directed; sutures/scar care per surgeon guidance.
Weeks 4–6: Gradual return to lifting and higher-intensity exercise (surgeon approval required). Scar maturation guidance typically begins once incisions are sealed.
Months 3–6+: Swelling resolves, tissues soften, and the final contour becomes clear, especially for submuscular implants, lipo-based contouring, abdominoplasty, and facelifts.

Result-maturity tips

Early asymmetry or “high/firm” appearance (breast/facial) is common and usually settles with time.
Follow garment wear and incision care precisely; protect scars from the sun for at least a year.
Keep all follow-ups, small adjustments, and coaching often improve long-term outcomes.
Maintain stable weight and healthy habits to protect body-contouring results.

Risks & Safety: What to Know (and Ask)

Surgery carries risk. Your job is to minimize avoidable risks by verifying training, settings, and protocols and by following instructions exactly.

Common/expected: temporary bruising, swelling, tissue firmness, numbness, and scar maturation changes. Potential complications (procedure-dependent): infection, hematoma/seroma, wound-healing issues, unfavorable scarring, asymmetry, contour irregularities, or need for revision. Implant-specific issues may include rippling, malposition, or capsular contracture. Anesthesia considerations: nausea, sore throat, or rare airway/cardiac events are mitigated by qualified providers and proper monitoring.

Key safety questions

Are you board-certified in plastic surgery, and where can I verify it?
Where will surgery occur and is the facility accredited (AAAASF/JCAHO/state-licensed)?
Who administers anesthesia, and how will I be monitored?
What are your complication and revision rates for my procedure?
What time limits do you set for combination procedures to reduce risk?
What is the after-hours protocol and follow-up schedule?

Understanding Cost in Atlanta

Atlanta’s market is competitive, and final pricing is personalized. Quotes typically combine surgeon fee, anesthesia, accredited facility fee, devices/implants (if applicable), garments, and early aftercare. Drivers that move the number: primary vs. revision, operative time, combination procedures, and setting (hospital vs. accredited ambulatory center).

Smart budgeting tips

Request an itemized estimate and what’s included (pre-op labs, post-op visits, scar care).
Ask about financing options (e.g., fixed-term medical credit) and total cost of credit.
Clarify revision policies and what triggers additional fees.
Consider time off work, child-care, and short-term help at home during the first week.

Safety and Accreditation in Atlanta

Verify board certification via official tools; confirm active hospital or accredited facility privileges.
Prefer accredited facilities (AAAASF, JCAHO, or state-licensed) with emergency readiness, infection-control standards, and qualified anesthesia providers.
Confirm anesthesia provider credentials, intra-op monitoring, pain/nausea protocols, and after-hours access.
Discuss aftercare: minimum local stay, garment use, drain care (if any), and a graduated return-to-activity plan.

Modern Technique Notes

No-touch handling & meticulous hemostasis to reduce contamination/hematoma risk
Pocket precision (when implants are used) and tailored incision strategy for discreet scars
Imaging & sizing tools to align expectations with anatomy
Combination planning (e.g., lipo + lift) with strict time limits to prioritize safety

How to Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon

Verify credentials and settings. Confirm board certification and where the surgery is performed. Match the gallery. Review cases that mirror your baseline and goals—look for symmetry, smooth transitions, and thoughtful scar placement. Leave with a plan. Written details on anesthesia, garments, meds, restrictions, and follow-ups. Spot red flags. Rushed consults, vague safety answers, or pressure to upsell keep looking.

FAQs

Who is the best plastic surgeon in Atlanta? There’s no single “best.” Choose the surgeon whose training, portfolio, and plan fit your anatomy, lifestyle, and timeline. Compare at least two consults.

How do I verify board certification? Use the primary board’s online verification tool and ask the practice for full certification details.

What is the average cost in Atlanta? Costs vary with complexity, facility/anesthesia fees, devices, and revision/combination plans. Request a clear, itemized quote and confirm what’s included.

What procedures are most popular in Atlanta? Common requests include tummy tuck, liposuction, breast augmentation/lift, rhinoplasty, facelift/neck lift, and eyelid surgery, often maintained with injectables.

How do I prepare for a consultation? Bring medical history and meds, prior operative notes (if any), and reference photos. Ask about technique choice, scars, recovery milestones, and after-hours support.

Nearby Cities & Surgeons

Looking beyond Atlanta. Explore top surgeons in Alpharetta, Marietta, and Athens for added scheduling flexibility or specific subspecialty expertise.

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