Meet Dr. Baker

Dr. Stephen Baker

The Personal Touch

Dr. Baker’s specialized training in aesthetic surgery extends beyond traditional plastic surgery. His expertise includes eyelid, brow, facelift, nasal, chin, and jaw surgery as well as soft tissue filler injections. In fact, he has served as a consultant and instructor for Allergan’s (Botox, Juvederm, Latisse) noninvasive facial aesthetics division. His experience and training give him unique expertise to assess the optimal way to obtain an ideal aesthetic result. Whether it is by adding soft tissue fillers, surgical soft tissue rejuvenation, adding facial implants, or by altering the facial skeleton into a more favorable position, few surgeons have the experience and ability to approach aesthetic problems with all of these options. Not every option is ideal or appropriate for every patient; therefore, Dr. Baker will discuss individual approaches that best match each patient’s goals with the desired result and recovery. Not everyone has downtime available in order to recover from a surgical procedure. Dr. Baker will discuss less invasive methods to achieve desirable results with a more rapid recovery. Dr. Baker also specializes in body contouring which includes procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, and surgery after massive weight loss.

Dr. Baker’s reconstructive practice focuses on melanoma and skin cancer reconstruction and facial reconstructive surgery in adults and children. These cases include children born with cleft lip and palate or other craniofacial anomalies. He also specializes in facial trauma and post-traumatic reconstruction as well as abnormal disease processes in the facial region. His training and experience give him expertise in the dental, maxillofacial, and plastic surgical principles, which he incorporates into each of these patient’s treatment plans. This expertise also allows him to provide the continuum of care from birth through adolescence maintaining the relationship that is developed with the patient and his or her family.

My practice philosophy is to treat every patient like a member of the family and help each patient make the best decision for themselves

– Dr. Stephen B. Baker

  • Dedication to the profession of Plastic Surgery

    The Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Department of Plastic Surgery is one of the premiere plastic surgery practices in the United States, and keeps Dr. Baker at the forefront of the latest advances in plastic surgery.

    I am proud of the public recognition I have received for my work – particularly in facial aesthetics.

    – Dr. Stephen B. Baker

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    Rhinoplasty
    Peter J Taub MD
    Stephen B. Baker MD, DDS, FACS

    Dr. Baker actively engages in IRB approved research and clinical trials to improve the clinical care he brings to his patients. He has won awards for the quality of his contributions to the specialty and has several patents for plastic surgery inventions. He has edited textbooks, written numerous chapters and articles, taught courses at the specialty’s national meeting, served as a ASMS Visiting Professor, and presented at national and international surgical conferences.Dr. Baker pursued many years of advanced training in facial surgery and was awarded regional and national honors for his work in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Baker has received the President’s Award from the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons for the best presentation at the annual meeting. He has also been awarded the Rhinoplasty Society’s Samuel Stahl Award for the best presentation at the Annual Rhinoplasty Society Meeting. He practices all aspects of plastic surgery but has special expertise in surgery of the face.

     

    I have built my practice primarily from referrals. Knowing my patients recommend me to their friends and family is an honor that gives me great satisfaction.

    – Dr. Stephen B. Baker

    While Dr. Baker’s education, residencies, fellowships, and certifications attest to his knowledge and training, his reputation is based upon his outstanding surgical skill and patient care.

    Dr. Baker is frequently an invited lecturer at national and international symposia on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has extensively researched facial aging and has developed techniques that enhance natural appearances after cosmetic surgery. He has received top honors for his research efforts in fat transplantation, skin cancer, and facial reconstruction. He has co-authored over 50 publications and abstracts in premier scientific journals, including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nature Medicine, and Annals of Plastic Surgery.

    – Dr. Baker with fellow past presidents of the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons

    As a recognized innovator, Dr. Baker participates in the critical analysis of many new techniques and materials that are continuously being introduced to plastic surgery. He has published numerous articles, chapters, and textbooks topics of both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has lectured nationally and internationally as well as been invited as faculty to meetings sponsored by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

    As Program Director at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Department of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Baker has trained over 50 actively practicing plastic surgeons all over the country.

    Dr. Baker’s leadership and experience in academic plastic surgery position him at the forefront of the specialty.

     

    Dr. Baker’s leadership and experience in academic plastic surgery position him at the forefront of the specialty.

    Resident dissection

    Drs. Baker and Kleiber with the Georgetown Plastic Surgery residents teaching surgical techniques at the Baltimore surgical dissection laboratory.

  • Dedication to Excellence

    National Accolades

    (note: Dr. Baker has never paid to advertise in any of these sources)

    • U.S. News and World Report Top 1% Plastic surgeons in United States
    • Castle and Connolly Best Doctors
    • Washingtonian Top Docs
    • Northern Virginia Magazine Top Docs
    • America’s Best Surgeons
    • America’s Best Plastic Surgeons
    • America’s Best Doctors

    Educational Honors and Awards

    • Past President, American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons
    • Past President, American Academy of Pediatric Plastic Surgeons
    • Past President, Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons
    • 12th Annual Whitaker Lecturer in Plastic Surgery University of Pennsylvania 2017
    • Samuel Stahl Award for best presentation Annual Rhinoplasty Society Meeting
    • Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, Georgetown University Hospital, Department of Plastic Surgery, June 2009
    • Nominated for the James Barrett Brown Award 2010, American Association of Plastic Surgeons. (the top 6 articles written over a one year period in the 2 leading plastic surgery journals are nominated for this award).
    • President’s Award for Outstanding Paper, Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, December 2006
    • First Place, Clinical Category. Central Giant Cell Granuloma. 75th Annual Biocommunications Association Meeting, July, 2005, Portland Oregon
    • Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, Georgetown University Hospital, Department of Plastic Surgery, June 2003
    • Third Place Award for National Student Table Clinic

    Invited Lectureships

    • Invited Visiting Professor University of Pittsburgh
    • Invited Visiting Professor University of Pennsylvania
    • Invited Visiting Professor University of Louisville
    • Invited Visiting Professor Oregon State Health Sciences
    • Invited Visiting Professor UC Davis
    • Invited Visiting Professor Medical College South Carolina

    Dr. Baker was honored to be invited as the 12th Annual Whitaker Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Plastic Surgery Left to right: Dr. Peter Quinn, Vice President of the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Linton Whitaker, past Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery; and Dr. Joseph Serletti, current Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery.

  • Professional Credentials

    Current Professional Appointments

    • Professor and Program Director in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Georgetown University Hospital
    • Director of the Center for Facial Restoration at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
    • Medical Director of the Inova Hospital for Children Craniofacial Program
    • Past President, Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons
    • Past President, American Society of Craniofacial Surgery

    Education and Training

    • Dental School – University of California Los Angeles (1986-1990)
    • Medical School – University of Pennsylvania (1990-1993)
    • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery – University of Pennsylvania (1993-1996)
    • General Surgery – University of Pennsylvania (1993-1994, 1996-1997)
    • Plastic Surgery – University of Pennsylvania (1997-2000)
    • Craniofacial Surgery – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (2000-2001)

    Plastic Surgery Professional Board and Committee Positions

    • Over 60 and continuing

    Professional Societies

    • logoAmerican Association of Plastic Surgeons
    • American College of Surgeons
    • American Society of Plastic Surgeons
    • American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
    • The Rhinoplasty Society
    • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons
    • American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons
    • Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons
    • Association of Academic Chairmen of Plastic Surgery
    • American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
    • American Alpine Workshop in Plastic Surgery
  • Publications

    Click here for more information.

    Books

    • Taub PJ, Baker SB (eds). Rhinoplasty Atlas. McGraw Hill, New York, NY 2011
    • Baker SB, Wolford L, Fonseca RJ, (eds). Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Vol. 6-Cleft, Craniofacial, and Cosmetic Surgery. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA. 2000

    Chapters

    • Dr. Baker has published over twenty chapters in plastic surgery textbooks

    Articles

    • Dr. Baker has published over 50 articles in peer reviewed journals.

    Presentations at Regional, National, and International Meetings

    • Dr. Baker has presented or directed research presented at over 75 meetings.

    Plastic Surgery Professional Board and Committee Positions

    • Over 60 and continuing

    Professional Societies

    • American Association of Plastic Surgeons
    • American College of Surgeons
    • American Society of Plastic Surgeons
    • American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
    • The Rhinoplasty Society
    • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons
    • American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons
    • Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons
    • Association of Academic Chairmen of Plastic Surgery
    • American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
    • American Alpine Workshop in Plastic Surgery

    As a recognized innovator, Dr. Baker participates in the critical analysis of many new techniques and materials that are continuously being introduced to plastic surgery. He has published numerous articles, chapters, and even a textbook on topics of both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has lectured nationally and internationally as well as been invited as faculty to meetings sponsored by the societies all across the world, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgery, and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons.

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    Dr. Baker’s US Patent for a Novel Method in Maxillomandibular Fixation

  • Humanitarian Experience

    Operation Smile

    International Volunteer Experience

    • Operation Smile
    • Catholic Charities
    • Project Hope
    • Smile Train
    • Komedyplast
  • Associations

  • Hobbies

    Dr. Baker enjoys hiking with his family. A favorite family vacation is to visit a National Park, which he attempts to do every summer. Another favorite activity is photography, which complements his family’s love of the outdoors. Some of his National Park images can be seen in his McLean office. Other activities Dr. Baker enjoys are skiing, surfing, and reading.

  • Why Choose Dr. Baker

    There are many reasons to choose Dr. Baker. Below are a few…

    A Nationally Recognized Leader in Plastic Surgery

    Dr. Baker is a full time faculty member, Professor, and the Program Director of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. He has two doctoral degrees, has completed two residencies, two fellowships, and has been in practice since 2001. He practices all types of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery and has particular expertise in plastic surgery of the face.

    Dr. Baker’s leadership and experience in academic plastic surgery position him at the forefront of the specialty. As a recognized innovator, Dr. Baker participates in the critical analysis of many new techniques and materials that are continuously being introduced to plastic surgery. He has published numerous articles, chapters, and even textbooks on topics of both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has lectured nationally and internationally as well as been invited as faculty to meetings sponsored by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Baker engages in clinical research to develop new techniques that will enhance the quality for patient care, and his innovation has led to US patent applications. This experience allows Dr. Baker to be involved in the early evaluation of new ideas, products, and techniques. Those he values as safe and effective are adopted, those which he views with skepticism are observed until proven safe, and those that are associated with obvious potential complications are discarded.

    An Expert Approach to Facial Analysis

    Dr. Baker performs over 500 facial procedures every year. His unique training, experience and knowledge in facial surgery give him unparalleled expertise in assessing facial form. In every patient he evaluates facial proportion and structure of both the soft tissues of the face and the underlying skeletal structures. Having expertise in the anatomy and interaction of the facial structures allows Dr. Baker to develop the optimal plan to achieve his patient’s desires. Most patients desiring facial rejuvenation will benefit from soft tissue procedures only. However, often underlying bony abnormalities of the chin, nose, or jaws may play a role in the patient’s concern and thus, surgical outcome. There are few plastic surgeons in the United States with Dr. Baker’s combined level of expertise in the facial skeleton and the overlying soft tissues. Educating the patient about the entire face as it relates to each patient’s expectations is Dr. Baker’s primary goal. Typically, a well-informed patient will have a pleasant recovery and be happy with the result.

    Not Just Another Cosmetic Surgeon

    Almost all of the world’s best cosmetic surgeons began with reconstructive practices. In fact, almost all of the groundbreaking techniques in cosmetic surgery have reconstructive origins. In reconstructive cases, the patients’ problems are typically greater requiring more advanced and difficult techniques. However, as the surgeon achieves comfort and predictability with these advanced reconstructive techniques, they become powerful tools that can be adapted to the cosmetic patient. If a surgeon only performs cosmetic surgery, it is difficult, if not imprudent, to experiment with these advanced techniques in the cosmetic patient. A smaller repertoire of techniques will likely result in an improvement for most patients, but a surgeon well-versed in a multitude of advanced techniques has a much higher likelihood of safely achieving an optimal result. The reconstructive challenges that Dr. Baker faces have given him experience and confidence in techniques that are difficult to develop when treating only cosmetic patients. His experience in complex facial surgery provides him the versatility to safely employ a broad range of techniques in his cosmetic patients to safely and predictably achieve superior results.

    A Treatment Designed for You

    Dual income households are not uncommon in the Washington DC Metropolitan region, and many patients do not have the luxury of a prolonged recovery. Dr. Baker will inform you of the factors that contribute to your aesthetic concerns but will also present a variety of treatment plans so you have the option to choose the one that best fits your lifestyle. More extensive procedures provide results with greater longevity, but if you prefer a shorter recovery, Dr. Baker offers procedures that get his patients back to work quickly with minimal bruising and swelling. He offers minimally invasive procedures for all types of facial rejuvenation and combines these techniques with soft tissue fillers that restore the volume of the youthful face that is gradually lost with age. In fact, Dr. Baker is on the cutting edge of research in the area of fat grafting for facial volume augmentation. The combination of less invasive surgery with volume augmentation gives excellent results that give the patient a rested, youthful appearance without the longer recovery of traditional approaches.

    Patients typically associate facial rejuvenation only with soft tissue procedures. However, frequently a patient’s cosmetic concern is actually related to a skeletal abnormality of the cheeks, chin, jaw, or nose. A patient needs to understand the contributions of both the soft tissue and the underlying bony foundation to fully comprehend the surgical options and the anticipated result. A simple example is a patient with a weak chin who presents with a desire for liposuction or a lift of the neck. In this patient, augmentation of the chin would probably produce the best result-either with or without a lift or liposuction.

    It is important to have a surgeon who evaluates all aspects of facial structure to provide the patient a comprehensive treatment plan with various options tailored to meet the patient’s goals and expectations. Dr. Baker is facile in all techniques for aesthetic facial surgery whether it requires simply placing an implant or moving the soft tissue into a more desirable position. Dr. Baker’s background makes him uniquely qualified to provide a sophisticated, comprehensive evaluation of the soft tissue and skeletal elements of the face.

    Recognized excellence by peers

    Dr. Baker is proud to not just be acknowledged for excellence by media sources, but by a much more respectable group-other plastic surgeons. Many of Dr. Baker’s patients are referred to him by other plastic surgeons or are friends or family of plastic surgeons. Dr. Baker has been invited to many prestigious plastic surgery departments to lecture on plastic surgery techniques. Dr. Baker is a past President of the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons, and the American Academy of Pediatric Plastic Surgeonsry.

    Outcomes pioneer

    The goal of plastic surgery is to achieve patient satisfaction, but how do we measure that parameter? Dr. Baker has been working with the FaceQ since its inception, and now his practice is one of the nine centers that is part of the Plastic Surgery Foundations FaceQ outcomes study in cosmetic surgery of the face. This is a tool that allows Dr. Baker to quantify the degree of patient satisfaction for each patient in facial aesthetic surgery. Dr. Baker has coauthored papers utilizing the FaceQ to demonstrate high degrees of patient satisfaction in facelift, rhinoplasty (nose surgery), genioplasty (chin surgery), lip surgery, and dermal fillers. His results have also been featured in the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery newsletter. The value of this study is that it gives Dr. Baker a tool to determine the best technique for each individual patient.

    Inventor

    Dr. Baker has been awarded patents in facial surgery and fat grafting by the United States Patent Office.

    Humanitarian Efforts

    Dr. Baker has participated in international surgical missions in Lima, Peru and Krakow, Poland. He has also worked with Operation Smile and Catholic Charities in treating their patients at Medstar Georgetown Hospital. However, Dr. Baker believes you do not have to go to a foreign country to help people. He participates with Tricare to help our Veterans and their families. He also participates with most other insurances to provide affordable care to all Americans.

    An Academic Plastic Surgeon

    Dr. Baker is a Professor, Program Director, and Director of the Center for Facial Restoration at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital and, the Medical Director of the Inova Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Program. His academic appointments at Georgetown University Medical School keep him at the forefront of plastic surgery and require him to practice to the highest standard. He has been invited to lecture at institutions nationally, teach courses at national meetings, and be a visiting professor. Although he sees all types of patients, his referral base from other plastic surgeons and other physicians includes complex problems that require more advanced techniques. This high volume of complex cases provides Dr. Baker the experience necessary to develop and maintain his surgical expertise.

    A Member of Plastic Surgery’s Most Prestigious Societies

    Dr. Baker is a member of two of the most selective societies in the specialty of plastic surgery: the American Association of Plastic Surgeons and The American Alpine Workshop in Plastic Surgery.

    To obtain membership in the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the candidate must be board certified for five years and then membership is voted on by member surgeons based on excellence within the specialty of plastic surgery.

    The American Alpine Workshop in Plastic Surgery is a small group of plastic surgeons from the United States and Canada who are all leaders in national and international plastic surgery. This membership is very selective, and the membership meets annually to discuss complex cases annually with the North American thought leaders in plastic surgery.

    A Top Doctor

    Dr. Baker has been listed as a “Top Doctor” by Washingtonian, Castle and Connolly, U.S. News and World Report Top 1%, Virginia Living, and Northern Virginia Magazine. He has also made the list of America’s Best Doctors, America’s Best Surgeons, and America’s Best Plastic Surgeons. As a note, Dr. Baker has never advertised in any of these sources.

    An Accomplished Author

    Dr. Baker has edited two textbooks and written over twenty chapters and fifty peer reviewed manuscripts. He has presented locally, nationally, and internationally over fifty times. He has been invited to speak at courses or symposia over fifty times. His rhinoplasty work in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery was the most cited article in 2015.

    An Award Winning Clinician

    Dr. Baker has won awards for both his clinical and academic results at national plastic surgery meetings. Dr. Baker is engaged in active research and is considered a national leader in plastic surgery and lectures across the country. He currently has two patents for inventions related to plastic surgery.

    Recognized for Excellence by the Media

    Dr. Baker’s clinical results have been featured with his patients on the official website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)-both for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. His research has also been featured on the ASPS website. Dr. Baker has been featured in major national and international media for his expertise and philosophy of treatment in plastic surgery content.

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