doctor in teal scubs holds up gown for the surgeon to scrub into to prepare for surgery

About Plastic Surgery

We are one of the oldest plastic surgery programs in the country, beginning in 1946, and then evolving into the Section of Plastic Surgery in 1968.

What remains unchanged is our commitment to the tripartite mission of academic medicine: to provide the best clinical care; to provide the finest education to new surgeons; and to advance the field of plastic surgery through research and innovation.

Patient Care

We have extensive depth and breadth in multiple specialties, including cleft lip and palate and craniofacial surgery; hand surgery, including treatment of congenital conditions and rheumatoid arthritis. We have a highly regarded reconstructive program which helps to treat patients with congenital anomalies and functional deficits following trauma or cancer operations. Our singular focus on excellence is demonstrated in all of our programs.

Learn more about our approach to patient care

Education

Our training programs begin at the undergraduate level and extend to advanced fellowships. At each stage, we invite trainees to learn side-by-side with faculty who are international leaders as well as great teachers. We provide graduate medical education through an integrated plastic surgery residency program, and we offer a craniofacial surgery fellowship and a hand surgery fellowship in addition.

Explore our education programs

Research

Plastic surgery research at U-M Medical School focuses on improving the quality of surgical outcomes in order to restore patients’ quality of life. Our research efforts include: development of prosthetic limbs that allow patients to control a device through nerve signals; studying patient outcomes following mastectomy reconstruction; and understanding the biology of bone in order to enhance healing.

Discover how we improve lives through research

Alumni & Events

Wherever you go next, you’re still part of Plastic Surgery.

We pride ourselves on staying connected with the distinguished alumni who’ve been a part of the Section of Plastic Surgery at the U-M Medical School, enriching our profession and our community of practitioners.

There are many ways you can keep in touch with the section of Plastic Surgery or renew your ties, from annual conferences, meetings, and societies, to visiting us for a tour of your alma mater.

Explore alumni opportunities

Societies, Annual Meetings, Lectures & Events

  • Dingman Alumni Society: This is the alumni society of the Section of Plastic Surgery, which brings together former and current members of the section of Plastic Surgery to meet for a dinner during the ASPS annual meeting and for a 2-day scientific meeting biennially.
  • Dingman Resident & Fellow Graduation: This annual event brings together faculty, alumni, trainees and families to celebrate the graduation of our resident and fellowship trainees.
  • Grabb Lectureship: This lectureship provides the opportunity for international and national plastic surgery experts to come to Michigan Medicine and discuss new insights into in the field of plastic surgery with our section.
  • Michigan Academy of Plastic Surgeons: This is a biennial meeting of lectures, panels, discussions, and paper presentations covering a wide variety of topics in plastic surgery that takes place at the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.
  • Hand Surgery Visiting Professor: This annual series of lectures, including a day-long event, by expert hand surgery visiting professors promotes the education and discussion of innovations in the hand surgery field.
  • Plastic Surgery Winter Celebration: This is an annual celebration for members of the section of Plastic Surgery to reconnect and celebrate the year's accomplishments.

Michigan Promise

The Michigan Promise aims to empower faculty members and residents in the Department of Surgery to achieve professional success. We support initiatives connected to environment, recruitment, leadership, achievement, innovation and outreach.

Learn more about our Michigan Promise

Contact Us

Patient Inquiries

Referring Physician Inquiries

Phone (non-patient related calls only): 734-936-5895

Connect with Us

Featured News & Stories

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Black and white cutout of Moses Gunn in a conference ballroom.
Department News

2026 Moses Gunn Research Conference Highlights

Highlights from the Michigan Medicine Department of Surgery's 37th annual Moses Gunn Research Conference.
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Department News

Highlights from the 2026 Reed O. Dingman Research Symposium

Learn about the Section of Plastic Surgery's 36th Reed O. Dingman Research Symposium.
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A smarter helmet for the smallest patients

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Trainees explore innovative solutions to improve patient care and surgical training

Learn about the Resident Innovation Discovery Course, an opportunity for trainees to develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills.
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Meet the Michigan Medicine 2026 Surgery Intern Class

Introducing the new matches into surgery residency within the Michigan Medicine Department of Surgery.
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Health Lab

Triathlete’s prosthetic hand gets him back to living his best life

A bus accident left a triathlete unable to move his hand, leaving him with an extraordinary amount of pain that impacted his mental health. With help from Michigan Medicine, he received a prosthetic that’s changed his life for the better.