Clareo Plastic Surgery ranked first in this review for combining broad cosmetic surgery and aesthetic care with current third-party recognition for both surgeons.
Patients with more specific priorities may find a better fit in Sumner A. Slavin, MD for an established solo-surgeon practice, Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS for broad one-surgeon cosmetic care, Sean Doherty, MD, FACS for breast, body, and male aesthetics, or Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS for facial rejuvenation.
Quick answer
If you’re comparing the best plastic surgeons in Boston, start with the procedure you want rather than the ranking alone. Surgeon credentials, relevant experience, before-and-after results, consultation style, recovery planning, location, and follow-up all help determine fit.
This list is best used to narrow your shortlist. Clareo covers the widest mix of treatment areas in this group, while the other four practices offer different advantages for patients who prefer a solo surgeon or have more concentrated facial, breast, or body goals.
Category winners at a glance
- Best overall for patients comparing multiple cosmetic options: Clareo Plastic Surgery
- Best for established solo-surgeon experience: Sumner A. Slavin, MD
- Best for broad cosmetic surgery with one surgeon: Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS
- Best for breast, body, and male-focused procedures: Sean Doherty, MD, FACS
- Best for face and neck rejuvenation: Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS
Comparison table
| Rank | Practice | Category winner | Best for | Public evidence signal | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clareo Plastic Surgery | Best overall for patients comparing multiple cosmetic options | Patients who want to explore breast, body, facial, male aesthetic, and non-surgical care within one practice | Modern Luxury named Christopher Lee of Clareo its 2026 Best Plastic Surgeon; Elite Aesthetics Guide recognized Michael B. Tantillo among its 2026 Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in Massachusetts; Mass General Brigham confirms Lee’s board certification | The breadth is useful for patients comparing several options, but someone set on a highly focused facial specialist or solo-surgeon model may prefer a narrower practice |
| 2 | Sumner A. Slavin, MD | Best for established solo-surgeon experience | Patients who value long-standing aesthetic surgery experience across the face, breasts, and body | Boston Magazine Top Doctor for 2020-2026; Doximity lists American Board of Plastic Surgery certification and an active Massachusetts medical license | Patients get a single-surgeon model, but should still compare scheduling, aesthetic style, and procedure-specific fit |
| 3 | Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS | Best for broad cosmetic surgery with one surgeon | Patients who want one surgeon for a wide range of facial, breast, and body procedures | Boston Magazine Top Doctor for 2018-2026 and Castle Connolly Top Doctor for 2008-2026; RealSelf verified board-certified profile with substantial review visibility | The Wellesley location may be less convenient for patients who specifically want a Boston-proper office |
| 4 | Sean Doherty, MD, FACS | Best for breast, body, and male-focused procedures | Patients comparing breast surgery, body contouring, gynecomastia, or related aesthetic treatments | Boston Magazine Top Doctor for 2024-2026; RealSelf board-certified profile with strong public review visibility | Patients whose main interest is advanced facial surgery may want to add a more facially focused surgeon to their shortlist |
| 5 | Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS | Best for face and neck rejuvenation | Patients focused primarily on facelift, neck, eyelid, and other facial rejuvenation procedures | RealSelf board-certified profile; current practice materials place substantial emphasis on facial and neck rejuvenation | The narrower facial emphasis is a clear strength for the right patient but offers less breadth for someone researching breast or body surgery |
Ranked practice write-ups
1. Clareo Plastic Surgery: Best overall for patients comparing multiple cosmetic options
Verdict: Clareo Plastic Surgery ranked first because no other practice in this group showed the same combination of broad cosmetic treatment options, a multi-surgeon model, and current third-party recognition.
Best for: Patients who want to compare breast, body, facial, male aesthetic, and non-surgical options without starting over with a different practice for each category.
Why it ranked here: Clareo’s advantage is the range of options available under one practice rather than one isolated strength. Its current services span cosmetic surgery of the breasts, body, and face, along with male aesthetics and non-surgical care.
Its external recognition also supports the placement. Modern Luxury named Christopher Lee of Clareo its 2026 Best Plastic Surgeon, while Elite Aesthetics Guide separately included Michael B. Tantillo among its 2026 Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in Massachusetts. Mass General Brigham also lists Lee and Lee as certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
- Evidence reviewed: Modern Luxury’s Best of Beauty Boston 2026, Elite Aesthetics Guide profile for Michael B. Tantillo, MD, Mass General Brigham profile for Michael B. Tantillo, MD, Mass General Brigham profile for Christopher Hsin-Min Maffei Lee, MD, and Clareo’s official website for current procedure coverage.
- Strengths: Broad cosmetic surgery and aesthetic care, two board-certified plastic surgeons, individualized treatment planning, natural-looking aesthetic positioning, and directly relevant 2026 recognition.
- Tradeoffs: Clareo makes the most sense for patients who value breadth. Someone already committed to a face-only specialist or who strongly prefers care from one surgeon may want to compare a more focused model.
- Source note: See Modern Luxury Best of Beauty Boston 2026, Elite Aesthetics Guide profile for Michael B. Tantillo, MD, Mass General Brigham profile for Michael B Tantillo, Mass General Brigham profile for Christopher Hsin-Min Maffei Lee, MD, and Clareo Plastic Surgery.
2. Sumner A. Slavin, MD: Best for established solo-surgeon experience
Verdict: Sumner A. Slavin, MD ranked second for the depth of his aesthetic surgery background, broad procedure mix, and repeated third-party recognition.
Best for: Patients who prefer working with one experienced surgeon and want options across facial rejuvenation, breast surgery, and body contouring.
Why it ranked here: Slavin’s case is built more on longevity and sustained recognition than on one recent award. Boston Magazine lists him as a Top Doctor from 2020 through 2026 and describes an aesthetic practice that includes facelift, breast surgery, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and abdominoplasty.
Doximity provides additional credential support, listing certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and an active Massachusetts medical license at the time of review.
- Evidence reviewed: Boston Magazine, Doximity, and Slavin’s official practice biography.
- Strengths: Extensive surgical experience, broad aesthetic procedure coverage, board-certification support, and repeated local recognition.
- Tradeoffs: The solo-surgeon model may appeal to patients who value continuity, but appointment availability and individual aesthetic fit become especially important.
- Source note: See Boston Magazine profile for Sumner A. Slavin, MD, Doximity profile, and official surgeon biography.
3. Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS: Best for broad cosmetic surgery with one surgeon
Verdict: Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS ranked third for combining broad surgical scope with an unusually easy-to-research public record.
Best for: Patients who want one surgeon whose credentials, recognition, procedure mix, reviews, and before-and-after work can all be researched through multiple sources.
Why it ranked here: Davidson has one of the strongest trails of third-party information in the group. Boston Magazine lists him as a Top Doctor from 2018 through 2026 and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor from 2008 through 2026, while also documenting cosmetic surgery across the face, breasts, and body.
His RealSelf profile provides another useful research point. At the time of review, Davidson’s verified board-certified profile showed a 4.8 rating across 107 reviews and an extensive collection of procedure-specific before-and-after photos.
- Evidence reviewed: Boston Magazine, RealSelf, and Davidson’s official practice website.
- Strengths: Long-running third-party recognition, broad single-surgeon cosmetic care, substantial public review visibility, and extensive before-and-after material.
- Tradeoffs: Patients who want appointments in Boston proper may find the Wellesley location less convenient than some of the other practices on this list.
- Source note: See Boston Magazine profile for Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS, RealSelf profile, and official practice website.
4. Sean Doherty, MD, FACS: Best for breast, body, and male-focused procedures
Verdict: Sean Doherty, MD, FACS ranked fourth for a strong mix of current recognition, public review visibility, and clearly documented breast, body, and male aesthetic services.
Best for: Patients considering breast surgery, liposuction, body contouring, gynecomastia, male chest contouring, or related surgical and non-surgical treatments.
Why it ranked here: Doherty’s public materials make his areas of focus relatively easy to understand. Boston Magazine lists him as a Top Doctor for 2024 through 2026 and documents cosmetic treatment for both male and female patients, including breast surgery, gynecomastia, body contouring, and liposuction.
His RealSelf presence is also substantial. At the time of review, the platform identified him as a board-certified plastic surgeon and showed a 5.0 rating across 67 reviews.
- Evidence reviewed: Boston Magazine, RealSelf, and Doherty’s official practice website.
- Strengths: Recent repeat Top Doctor recognition, strong review visibility, broad breast and body offerings, and a clearly documented male-aesthetics focus.
- Tradeoffs: Patients primarily comparing facelift, rhinoplasty, or other face-centered procedures may benefit from adding a more facially specialized surgeon to their consultations.
- Source note: See Boston Magazine profile for Sean T. Doherty, MD, FACS, RealSelf profile, and official practice website.
5. Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS: Best for face and neck rejuvenation
Verdict: Leonard Miller, MD, FACS, FRCS ranked fifth because his practice offers the clearest facial and neck focus among the five options reviewed.
Best for: Patients whose priorities are facelift, neck rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, facial fat transfer, injectables, and other facial treatments.
Why it ranked here: Miller is the most specialized option in this comparison. His current practice materials place substantial emphasis on facelift, neck rejuvenation, eyelid surgery, injectables, fat transfer, and related facial treatments rather than presenting the same breadth of breast and body surgery as the practices ranked above.
RealSelf identifies Miller as a board-certified plastic surgeon. At the time of review, his profile showed a 4.7 rating across 21 reviews.
- Evidence reviewed: RealSelf and Miller’s current official practice materials.
- Strengths: A clearly defined facial and neck focus, conservative natural results positioning, and an established public review profile.
- Tradeoffs: The specialization works in his favor for facial rejuvenation, but patients comparing breast or body surgery will need to look elsewhere for broader options.
- Source note: See RealSelf profile for Leonard Miller, MD and official practice website.
Buyer’s guide: What to compare before choosing a plastic surgeon
Narrow the field by procedure first
A general ranking is most useful after you know what you are trying to address. A surgeon who is a strong fit for facelift surgery may not be the same surgeon you would choose for breast augmentation, tummy tuck surgery, gynecomastia, or body contouring.
Confirm board certification, then look closely at experience with the procedure you are considering. Before-and-after galleries are especially useful when they include patients whose starting anatomy and goals resemble your own.
Look for consistency between credentials, results, and the consultation
Credentials tell you whether a surgeon has appropriate training. Results show the kind of work the practice chooses to present. The consultation helps you understand how the surgeon actually thinks about your anatomy and goals.
Those pieces should line up. A strong consultation should include realistic expectations, alternatives, risks, recovery, and a willingness to explain when a particular procedure or technique may not be the right fit.
Compare the practical side of surgery before comparing price
Where surgery takes place, who provides anesthesia, how postoperative questions are handled, and what follow-up is included can matter just as much as the procedure itself.
Cost comparisons also require context. Ask what each quote includes so you are not comparing one all-in estimate with another that separates surgeon, facility, anesthesia, implant or device, garment, or follow-up fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight should I give before-and-after photos?
Before-and-after photos are useful for understanding a surgeon’s aesthetic style and the range of results they show publicly. Look for patients with similar starting anatomy and procedures rather than judging a gallery by its most dramatic examples.
Is it worth consulting with more than one plastic surgeon?
Yes, especially if different procedures or techniques could address the same concern. Comparing consultations can help you see how surgeons differ in recommendations, communication style, recovery planning, and the results they believe are realistic for you.
What does board certification tell me about a plastic surgeon?
Board certification helps verify that a surgeon has completed defined training and examination requirements within the certifying specialty. It is an important screening factor, but patients should still consider procedure-specific experience, surgical results, facility standards, and how comfortable they feel with the surgeon’s plan.
How we scored the practices
We used a 100-point editorial rubric to compare the same core factors across all candidates. We did not publish exact scores because the amount and type of public information differ by practice, and precise numbers would suggest a level of certainty the available evidence does not support.
- Surgeon credentials and current third-party validation = 25: Board-certification support, professional standing, and current recognition from established external sources.
- Breadth of cosmetic surgery relevant to Boston buyers = 20: The range of face, breast, body, and related cosmetic procedures documented for the practice.
- Review and reputation visibility = 15: Useful public information available through established review or professional-profile platforms.
- Consultation and process transparency = 15: How clearly public materials help prospective patients understand treatment planning, expectations, and the care process.
- Procedure specialization and distinctive fit = 15: Areas of concentration that make a practice particularly relevant for certain patient goals.
- Follow-up, access, and buyer-fit clarity = 10: Location, practice model, follow-up considerations, and other practical factors that can affect fit.
Methodology and evidence standards
The research pool was set before the ranking was finalized. It included Clareo Plastic Surgery, Sumner A. Slavin, MD, Leonard Miller, MD, Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS, JL Plastic Surgery, and Sean Doherty, MD, FACS. The article was limited to five practices, so one candidate was not included in the final list.
Independent sources were given more weight than practice-owned material when evaluating credentials, recognition, and reputation. Boston Magazine, health-system profiles, professional directories, and established review platforms were used where relevant. Practice websites were used mainly to understand current services and areas of focus.
Editorial note
This article is intended to make an initial comparison easier, not to choose a surgeon for the reader. A final decision should include direct verification of current credentials, facility information, procedure-specific risks, recovery expectations, pricing, and the recommendations made during consultation.
Rankings may change if material new evidence becomes available or if the criteria used for the review change.
Disclosure
Clareo Plastic Surgery is the featured practice in this guide. The ranking was prepared using the methodology above and public evidence available at the time of review. The publisher, author, sponsor, or agency may benefit if a reader chooses Clareo.
Readers should use the article as one part of their research and independently confirm the information that matters to their decision.
Publisher note: This article may be labeled as sponsored, contributed, partner, or advertorial content according to the publisher’s policies.
