Plastic Surgeon Mark E. Richards, MD

Dr. Mark E. Richards is a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Ageless Impressions ~ Plastic Surgery Institute. Dr. Richards had the honor of serving as the Plastic Surgery Consultant to the White House for more than eight years. He served as President of his 2000-member County Medical Society, as well as President of the D.C. Metropolitan Area chapter of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He has been an educator for the Johns Hopkins and the Georgetown University Plastic Surgery residency programs, has developed and published new and innovative procedures in the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal, and has taught internationally on subjects ranging from “Salvaging the Unsatisfactory Facelift” and “Minimal Incision Brachioplasties” (which he invented) to the scientific basis of testosterone pellet therapy for enhancing men and women’s health and well-being.

Education and Training

Dr. Richards began his career as an undergraduate at Yale University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree with honors and first developed an interest in the plastic and reconstructive surgery field. He attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine where he discovered his passion for improving human form and function and determined to pursue a career in this relatively new and growing field. Following medical school graduation, Dr. Richards completed seven years of residency training: five years of General Surgery residency followed by two years of Plastic Surgery residency. Dr. Richards extensively trained in microsurgery, complex reconstructive surgery, and aesthetic surgery. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1989 and the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 1991.

He is both an active advocate and teacher of continuing medical education (CME). Dr. Richards has been named a top surgeon both nationally and regionally and has been selected to lead international scientific panels.

• Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (1991)
• Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery (1989)
• Certified in Basic and Advanced Microsurgery by the Lahey Clinic Medical Center
• Certified National Board of Medical Examiners (1984)
• Lahey Clinic Medical Center at Boston University – Residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Saint Barnabas Medical Center – Residency in General Surgery
• University of Maryland Hospitals – Internship in General Surgery
• University of Maryland Medical School – MD (honors in Surgery, Psychiatry, Radiology)
• Yale University – BS Biology (cum laude)

“Dr. Richards is a world renowned board certified surgeon. He cares deeply about his patients and has taken plastic surgery to a level where it’s art. I have had excellent results from several procedures with him over the years. He makes you look more beautiful while looking natural! He will be my surgeon for life.”

What is a plastic surgeon?

A plastic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery for the entire body. A person who becomes a plastic surgeon must graduate from medical school and attend a general surgery residency and an American Graduate Medical Education Board-approved plastic surgery residency. This gives the physician a comprehensive education in the relationship between bones and soft tissue, and allows them to treat aesthetic concerns, birth defects, trauma-related injuries, and more. Many surgeons then go on to complete additional training, as Dr. Richards did, to become even more proficient in their career. If your surgeon is not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, he or she is not a real plastic surgeon.

Plastic Surgeons Vs. Surgeons Who Offer Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic surgery is the only board certified field of medicine in which repair, restoration, and enhancement of the face and body is performed for functional and aesthetic reasons, while cosmetic surgery is dedicated to improving beauty of the face and body, often without a deeper understanding of form and function. That is why you will often see plastic surgeons state that they perform plastic and reconstructive surgery. In many cases, plastic surgeons primarily offer cosmetic surgery options in their practice. Although trained to provide reconstructive treatments, over many years of practice they have chosen to focus on improving the function and beauty of the face and body, as Dr. Richards has.

Why should I choose Dr. Mark Richards?

Dr. Richards combines a wealth of experience, extensive training, and an artistic eye to achieve the natural-looking results he is known for. He customizes every treatment plan to optimize the outcome for each patient, and he takes into consideration their unique goals, lifestyle, anatomic characteristics, and health when developing a cosmetic program. He will take the time to listen attentively to your desired outcome and answer your questions. He believes that well-informed patients are happier with their results, and makes every effort to provide the information they need to make the best decision for them. Dr. Richards derives great satisfaction from being able to help people achieve their appearance goals as well as enhance their self-esteem, and he has won numerous awards for his skill and patient-focused approach, including:

• Top Doctor – Bethesda Magazine (2019)
• American Institute of Plastic Surgeons “Ten Best” List in Maryland – 2019
• Distinguished Doctor by the National Expert Network – 2017
• US News and World Report Top Doctor list – 2013
• “America’s Top Surgeons” Consumer’s Research Council of America 2002-present
• Washingtonian Magazine, “Top Plastic Surgeons” – 2005-2007
• Washingtonian Magazine, “Top Doctors” – (1999, 2002)
• Consumer’s Research Council of America, “Top Plastic Surgeons” – 2006-2018
• Who’s Who National Registry (Lifetime Member)
• Cosmos Club Member (2005 – present)
• Top Plastic Surgeons – Consumer’s Research Council of America (2006 – 2009)
• Presidential Award – Montgomery County Medical Society (2000)
• Presidential Award – National Capital Society of Plastic Surgeons (1999)
• Outstanding Young Men of America (1996 – 1998)
• Chairman of the Year – Montgomery County Medical Society (1996 – 1997)
• Best Place for Liposuction & Laser Hair Removal – Baltimore Magazine International
• International Society of Laser Surgeons

Importance of Board Certification for Plastic Surgeons

All physicians complete medical school, but not all cosmetic surgeons go through a recognized surgery program. Why should a patient choose a board certified plastic surgeon? Board certification indicates a plastic surgeon has completed at least six years of board-recognized surgical training after medical school, with a significant part of that time spent in a plastic surgery course. This intensive, in-depth training prepares plastic surgeons for the rigors of the field, including learning technical skill and aesthetic judgment. To remain board certified, plastic surgeons must complete continuing education courses and abide by recertification requirements. This ensures that the physician is up to date on the latest techniques and technologies and remains at the forefront of the field.

News and Accolades

Dr. Richards is honored to be recognized by a prestigious group of medical organizations and institutions. His practice has been singled out for praise in publications, TV news pieces, and medical journals. He has been invited to lecture at numerous national and international cosmetic surgery conferences, where he speaks as a high-profile expert in the field of plastic surgery. Since 2002, Dr. Richards has received annual recognition as one of America’s Top Surgeons by the Consumer’s Research Council, and he was also named a Top Doctor by U.S News & World Report. He is particularly proud of his contributions to a safer, more effective liposuction technique, as well as an arm lift method that results in minimal scarring. Both innovations were detailed in separate articles in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. These recognitions and others speak to Dr. Richards’ commitment to excellence as a cosmetic surgeon.

Most recently, Dr. Richards has had the honor of being included in Trademark Who’s Who Top Doctors Honors Edition. As part of its platform, Trademark Who’s Who profiles a carefully selected faction of elite physicians from a comprehensive range of medical fields. Several criteria are weighed to determine who will be admitted to this esteemed directory, and Dr. Richards was singled out not only for his exceptional results, but also for his talent, discipline, humility, patient-focused approach, compassion and kindness, and peer references. Trademark Who’s Who has been publishing a version of its registry for more than 100 years, and the service is dedicated to identifying the top talent in an array of industries.

In addition to his national and international awards, Dr. Richards has also been celebrated closer to home. The Washingtonian has selected him as one of the leading plastic surgeons in the metropolitan Washington, DC area. Baltimore Magazine similarly lauded him with the distinction of being “the doctor to go to” when seeking aesthetic enhancement in Maryland. In addition, Dr. Richards has been recognized as a “Top Doctor” in Bethesda Magazine. Dr. Richards was also elected by his peers as President of two esteemed medical associations: the National Capital Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Montgomery County Medical Society. Furthermore, numerous local media outlets, in pursuit of an expert opinion, petition Dr. Richards for help during their research.

Professional Memberships and Associations

• American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
• Montgomery County Medical Society, Former President
• National Capital Society of Plastic Surgeons, Former President

Ageless Impressions – Plastic Surgery Institute and Dr. Richards offer a wide variety of cosmetic surgical procedures, non-surgical skin care treatments, and restorative bio-identical hormone therapy to help our patients achieve their goals with beautiful, natural-looking results. If you have additional questions about our experienced plastic surgeon, or if you wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Richards, please contact us today.