Why Choose Dr. Baker
A Nationally Recognized Leader in Plastic Surgery
Dr. Baker is a full time faculty member and the Program Director of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Georgetown University Hospital with over ten years of experience. 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 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 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-educated 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 a spectacular 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.
Out of Town
Dr. Baker's practice is comfortable treating patients from overseas who come to Washington D.C. for their surgery. Dr. Baker has telecommunication services to correspond to your local physician. Interpreters will be arranged through the Georgetown Department of International Services, and accomodations for family or a postoperative patient can be made near Georgetown University Hospital. Patients and theirfamilies may enjoy concierge service at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Georgetown or the Marriott Hotel, which is part of the Georgetown University Hospital complex. Because of Washington D.C.'s international population, Dr. Baker has expertise in facial cosmetic surgery in patients of varying ethnicities. In fact, he has lectured on this topic and even been quoted in the Washington Times regarding ethnic variations in cosmetic surgery.
An Academic Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Baker is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Georgetown University Hospital. His academic appointments at Georgetown University Medical School and Georgetown University Hospital keep him at the forefront of plastic surgery and require him to practice to the highest standard. Although he sees all types of patients, his referral base from 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 board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery-the ONLY board of the specialty of plastic surgery.
Dr. Baker is a member of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons-The most elite official society of the specialty. A candidate is only eligible after being board certified for five years and then membership is voted on by member surgeons based on excellence within the specialty of plastic surgery.
Dr. Baker is a member of the American Alpine Workshop in Plastic Surgery. This 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 by invitation and meets annually to discuss complex cases 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 (top 1% nationwide), U.S. News, 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 fifteen chapters and thirty articles. He has presented locally, nationally, and internationally over fifty times. He has been invited to speak at courses or symposia over fifty times.
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 three patents pending 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 surgerycontent .
