Breast augmentation remains one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures in the country. And choosing a surgeon is one of the most significant health decisions a patient will make.
The surgeons on this list were evaluated across a demanding set of criteria: board certification and fellowship training, patient reviews and video testimonials, advanced technique proficiency, a clearly stated aesthetic philosophy, pre- and post-operative care standards, tenure and sustained reputation, and at least one novel factor that separates a great surgeon from a genuinely influential one.
“Tenure,” In Particular, Deserves Context
This list is not about age. It is focused on individual surgeons who have proven themselves through years of consistent outcomes, patient loyalty, regional reputation and professional leadership that simply can’t be faked or rushed.
1: Jeffrey Donaldson, MD
Donaldson Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Solutions
Columbus, Ohio
Dr. Donaldson is board-certified in plastic surgery from the American Board of Plastic Surgery with fellowship training at UNC Chapel Hill and a subspecialty fellowship in oculoplastic and aesthetic surgery under some of the most influential figures in the field.
After establishing his practice, Dr. Donaldson made a deliberate, career-defining decision to stop performing facial procedures, directing his full surgical focus to breast and body. Now, he performs breast augmentation daily, using the most advanced techniques available: dual-plane placement for an anatomically natural result, transaxillary incisions for minimal visible scarring, cohesive gel implants (like the “Gummy Bear” implant) and a range of revision procedures.
Select surgeries (including labiaplasty and gynecomastia) are even performed under local anesthesia, reducing cost, recovery time and anesthesia risk in a way that mirrors the philosophy of some of the most respected surgeons in the country. He has even brought on a licensed cosmetic tattoo specialist to perform post-surgical scar camouflage from within the same practice.
However, what no other surgeon on this list can claim is Dr. Donaldon’s full integration of functional medicine into the surgical care continuum. Patients at his practice have access to pre- and post-procedure nutritional support, hormone optimization and weight management to ensure a healthy BMI before the surgery date.
His reviews are steady and exceptionally positive. They often feature real Midwesterners on camera describing great results, along with a surgeon who told them “no” when it wasn’t right, said “yes” when it was and was there to hold their hand before the procedure began.
Dr. Donaldson continues to publish proprietary outcome data (including most popular implant sizes, technique trends, cosmetic concerns by volume and more) because, as he often states in his writing, “an educated patient makes a better health decision.”
#2: Thomas Mustoe, MD, FACS
TLKM Plastic Surgery
Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Mustoe’s credentials read like a case study in what a surgical career can look like at its highest level. Harvard Medical School, cum laude. Double board-certified in plastic surgery and otolaryngology. And, at just 37, he became the youngest surgeon in the country appointed Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Northwestern University, a position he held for nearly 20 years.
He’s authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, served on the editorial boards of major plastic surgery journals and received the Wound Healing Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
His clinical differentiator is one that benefits patients directly: Dr. Mustoe performs virtually all aesthetic breast surgery under twilight sedation rather than general anesthesia. This is a technique he has lectured on nationally and written about extensively, and it often results in meaningful reductions in recovery time, cost and anesthesia-related risk.
Since founding TLKM in 2014, he has built one of the premier aesthetic destinations in the country, and breast augmentation sits comfortably within his core expertise.
#3: Dennis Hammond, MD
Partners in Plastic Surgery of West Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
If you want to understand how breast augmentation surgery has evolved over the past 30 years, then Dr. Hammond’s career is a reasonable road map to look at. He developed the BodyLogic implant sizing system now used internationally. He served as medical director for the Contour Profile Gel cohesive silicone implant study (the procedure now commonly known as the “gummy bear” augmentation).
He has participated in a large swath of major breast implant studies since 1990, developed the SPAIR Mammaplasty technique to dramatically reduce breast reduction scarring and has trained surgeons around the world.
He is University of Michigan-trained, with two dedicated post-residency fellowships in breast surgery and microsurgery. He’s been board-certified since 1994 and has been practicing in Grand Rapids ever since.
His RealSelf responses are worth reading independently. Patients express that Dr. Hammond exhibits a level of candor from a surgeon of this stature that is rare.
#4: Ingrid Bonness, MD
Bonness MD Cosmetic Surgery
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dr. Bonness holds a credential stack that is genuinely rare anywhere in the country. She is triple-fellowship trained in oculoplastic surgery, cosmetic surgery and breast reconstruction under Dr. Carl Hartrampf — a pioneer whose techniques are taught in surgical programs worldwide.
Dr. Bonness is one of only two double board-certified female plastic surgeons in Southeastern Wisconsin. She has also served as President of the Wisconsin Society of Plastic Surgeons and continues to be a consistent presence in patient education.
Her breast augmentation approach centers on an individualized 14-point plan designed to minimize complications and reduce the risk of capsular contracture. This level of procedural specificity that signals a surgeon who has refined her technique through real-world experience and training.
Her reviews reflect a patient base that feels comfortable before a consultation and educated before ever even reaching the operating room.
#5: Nagi T. Ayoub, MD
Westfield Plastic Surgery Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Dr. Ayoub has been quietly doing this at a high level in Omaha for more than 20 years. He has the credentials; he’s board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, residency trained at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a Clinical Assistant Professor at Creighton University’s Department of Surgery since 2002.
He has published on multiple plastic surgery topics, and his publicly stated commitment to patient and public education is one of the cleaner differentiators you’ll find in this market.
His practice’s use of results visualization and simulation technology during consultation reflects a surgeon who understands that a well-informed patient and a well-executed surgery are two parts of the same result. It also demonstrates his ability to adapt to emerging technologies and demands over time instead of shying away from them.
Dr. Ayoub continues to be one of the top choices for patients in the greater Plains region looking for a tenured, credentialed, education-first surgeon without traveling to a major metro.
What These Five Surgeons Have in Common
Geography separates them. Specialty focus, training pedigree and differentiating philosophy vary considerably. But what doesn’t vary is the shared conviction that breast augmentation is a clinical decision that deserves surgical precision, honest consultation, thorough follow-up and a surgeon who is willing to say “no” when the situation calls for it.
These five are the ones helping to set the standard for what patients should expect from a board-certified plastic surgeon. As new talent rises to the occasion and more practices expand their capabilities, keep an eye on these surgeons to see what you can expect next.
