Meet Christopher L. Hess, MD
Christopher L. Hess, MD
For years, award-winning plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Hess has dedicated himself to providing transformative plastic and reconstructive surgery results to women and men of all ages. With a high patient satisfaction rating and nearly two decades of board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Hess helps make your dream breast and body contour a reality.
Dr. Hess is dedicated to providing the highest quality plastic surgery care through personalized attention, customizable plastic surgery treatment options, and thorough follow-up care. He works with you to discuss your goals and determine your surgical plan.
We are thrilled for Dr. Hess to join our team at PREMIERE Center for Cosmetic Surgery!
“…The appointments are always on time, quick, and friendly! They always make me feel comfortable and happy with my results! “
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Education and Training
Model
Medical Education
Dr. Hess started his medical training early on, earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee — where he graduated Summa Cum Laude — and his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. While there, Dr. Hess excelled and rose to the top of his class, graduating as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a distinct medical honor society composed of the top 10% of medical students nationwide.
Plastic Surgery Training
After earning his degrees, Dr. Hess joined the Integrated Plastic Surgery Program at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. Here, he spent six years training and honing his plastic and reconstructive surgery techniques. In addition to his own training, Dr. Hess is an instructor and has taught fellow plastic surgeons at the Virgin Islands Workshop in Plastic Surgery.
RealSelf Top Contributor
Dr. Hess is a RealSelf Top Contributor. As the world’s leading online resource for plastic surgeons, cosmetic procedures, and patient experiences, RealSelf helps countless patients understand, learn, and choose their plastic surgeons and techniques. Dr. Hess is among the top 10% of providers recognized for their high patient review ratings and helpful answers to patient questions.
Professional Memberships
Dr. Hess is honored to be a member of the following nationally and regionally accredited associations:
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
- Member of the Medical Society of Virginia
- Member of the Virginia Society of Plastic Surgeons
Skills and Specialties
Dr. Hess has decades of experience and was named one of the best plastic surgeons in Northern Virginia magazine, where he owned and operated his own practice before choosing to relocate to Tampa, Florida, and join the team at PREMIERE Center for Cosmetic Surgery.
Dr. Hess has extensive experience in intricate breast, body, and reconstructive plastic surgeries, and prioritizes natural-looking transformations that highlight your true beauty, not significantly augment them with obvious surgical changes.
Dr. Hess strives to meet or exceed his patients’ expectations with transformations that allow them to look rested, rejuvenated, and healthy. He stays up-to-date with the newest surgical innovations and techniques and pairs these with the latest cosmetic technologies and non-surgical enhancements to deliver stunning before and after results.
His areas of expertise include:
- Mommy Makeover
- Body lift
- Breast augmentation surgery (with or without breast lift surgery)
- Breast reduction
- Liposuction procedures
- BBL
- Tummy tuck surgery
- Face and neck procedures
- Blepharoplasty
- Gynecomastia
- Thigh lift
- Otoplasty (cosmetic ear surgery)
Awards
Dr. Hess is an award-winning and published plastic surgeon. In 2009, Dr. Hess was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for exceptional service to INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital’s Emergency Department and the community of Fairfax.
Dr. Hess has also been repeatedly featured by Northern Virginia Magazine as a Top Plastic Surgeon. Years featured include 2010 through 2016, 2021, and 2022!
Publications
Publications include several book chapters and articles that have been featured in the Journal of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, among other top plastic surgery publications:
Hess CL: An Uplifting Look at Cosmetic Surgery. The Virginia Society of Perianesthesia Nurses, Alexandria, VA, 2007
Hess CL: Pediatric Wound Closure in the ER Setting. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Skills Day, Prince William Hospital, Manassas, VA, 2006
Hess CL: Wound Closure in the ER Setting. Georgetown University Plastic Surgery Residency, Guest Lecturer, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C., 2006
Hess CL: Pressure Ulcers. Rebuild Spinal Cord Injury group, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, 2005
Hess CL: Pediatric Wound Closure in the ER Setting. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Skills Day, Prince William Hospital, Manassas, VA, 2005
Hess CL, Attinger CE, Ducic I, et al: Skin Grafts vs. Local Flaps vs. Free Flaps in the Salvage of Exposed Achilles Tendons in Diabetics vs. Nondiabetics. Senior Residents Conference, Milwaukee, WI, 2004
Hess CL: Cleft Lip and Palate. Advanced Nursing Workshop-Craniofacial Update
INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA, 2003
Hess CL, Higgins J, Murphy MS: Strength Changes Following Upper Extremity Pneumatic Tourniquet Application. American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Phoenix, AZ, 2002
Hess CL, Wolock B, Murphy MS: Mycobacterium Infections of the Upper Extremity Northeastern Society for Plastic Surgeons, Bermuda, 2002
Hess CL, Wolock B, Murphy MS: Mycobacterium Marinum Infections of the Upper Extremity-Experience at One Institution. E.F. Shaw Wilgis, M.D. Lectureship in Hand Surgery, Curtis National Hand Center, Baltimore, MD, 2002
Hess CL: Breast Reconstruction for the General Surgeon. Georgetown University Hospital Surgical Grand Rounds. Washington, D.C., 2001
Attinger CE, Ducic I, Hess CL et al: Coverage of the Achilles Tendon-Free Flap, Local Flap or Skin Graft. Wound Healing Society, Toronto, Canada, 1999
Spear SL, Hess CL, Elmaraghy MW: Evaluation of Abdominal Sensibility following TRAM Flap Breast Reconstruction. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Society, Orlando, FL, 1999
Nahabedian MY, Spear SL, Hess CL: A Review of the Biomechanical and Functional Changes in the Trunk Following Transfer of the Rectus Abdominis Muscle. In Spear SL (ed), Surgery of the Breast: Principles and Art. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2006 Spear SL, Hess CL: Delayed Postmastectomy Reconstruction: Latissimus Technique. In Mathes SJ, Hentz VR (eds), Plastic Surgery Second Edition. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 2004
Attinger CE, Ducic I, Hess CL, et al.: The outcome of skin graft vs. flap surgery (local and free) in the salvage of the exposed Achilles tendon in diabetics vs. non diabetics. (in press)skin graft Achilles
Spear SL, Hess CL: A review of the biomechanical and functional changes in the shoulder following transfer of the latissimus dorsi muscle. Plast Reconstr Surg, 2005, June;115(7): 2070-2073skin graft vs. flap surgery
Venturi ML, Attinger CE, Mesbahi AN, Hess CL, Graw KS: A review of the mechanisms and clinical applications of vacuum-assisted closure. Am J Clin Dermatol 2005;6(3):185-194
Hess CL, Wolock BS, Murphy MS: Mycobacterium marinum infections of the upper extremity (CME article). Plast Reconstr Surg, 2005, Mar; 115(3):55e-59eMycobacterium infections
Hess CL, Gartside RL, Ganz JC: TRAM flap breast reconstruction after abdominal liposuction. Ann Plast Surg, 2004 Aug; 53(2):166-169
Hess CL, Howard M, Attinger CE: A Review of mechanical adjuncts in wound healing: hydrotherapy, ultrasound, negative pressure therapy, hyperbaric oxygen and electrostimulation. Ann Plast Surg, 2003, Aug;51(2):210-8 mechanical adjuncts in wound healing
Spear SL, Hess CL, Elmaraghy EW: Evaluation of abdominal sensibility following TRAM flap breast reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg, 2000, Nov;106(6):1300-4 Evaluation of abdominal sensibility following TRAM flap breast reconstruction
Spear SL, Elmaraghy MW, Hess C: Textured-surface saline-filled silicone breast implants for augmentation mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg, 2Textured-surface saline-filled silicone breast implants for augmentation mammaplasty