Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

R. Brannon Claytor, MD, FACS

Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Brannon Claytor
Dr. R. Brannon Claytor, MD, FACS
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

With over 20 years of experience, double board-certified Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. R. Brannon Claytor is not only a nationally-renowned plastic surgery educator and researcher—he is also a kind, compassionate doctor who is passionate about helping you reach your aesthetic goals.

A Leading Expert in Deep Plane Facelifts and Drainless Tummy Tucks

Dr. Claytor is nationally and internationally recognized for his cutting-edge techniques for the deep plane facelift, deep neck lift, and drainless tummy tuck. He also offers top-level expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery, facial rejuvenation, and much more, with techniques to minimize recovery time while delivering long-lasting, natural-looking outcomes.

Award-Winning Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Claytor’s outstanding contributions as a plastic surgeon have been recognized with numerous accolades. Among other honors, he was named one of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek and a Top Doctor by Philadelphia Magazine for seven consecutive years (2018–2024). He has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2017.

Compassionate, Personable Approach

R. Brannon Claytor, MD, FACS, Philadelphia plastic surgeon meets with patient in a consultation

Dr. Claytor’s goal is to help you feel comfortable from start to finish. He combines surgical precision with a warm, approachable bedside manner both pre-and post-surgery. As his patient, you will always have access to Dr. Claytor post-surgery to address any questions or needs that arise. His commitment to excellent care is reflected in the reviews from his patients.

“I have never had a doctor treat me with such respect and care in my life. I am beyond grateful for the experience I’ve had with this practice.”

—5-star review

Education & Certification

After earning his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Dr. Claytor completed a Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical School with aesthetic training in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye and Ear, followed by a super fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Claytor went on to earn board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which represents the pinnacle of training and expertise as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in the United States. As a Philadelphia plastic surgeon, he operates out of a private, on-site Quad A-accredited surgical suite at Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery.

Leadership & Professional Affiliations

Dr. Claytor’s leadership roles highlight his commitment to excellence and trust within the medical community. With active involvement in top industry organizations, he stays current with the latest advancements in plastic surgery.

Main Line Health is one of the most prestigious healthcare networks in the greater Philadelphia area. Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Claytor not only has hospital privileges here, but serves as Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, representing the trust placed in Dr. Claytor’s abilities and credentials by the area’s medical community.

The Aesthetic Society is a prestigious national organization of plastic surgeons. In addition to his work as a Philadelphia plastic surgeon, Dr. Claytor serves as a board member, helping to shape the future of aesthetic medicine and offering influence among the national plastic surgeon community.

To be a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons (FACS) is a further credential, beyond board certification, representing dedication to excellence in surgical care.

As a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, our Philadelphia plastic surgeon is dedicated to continuous learning and exchanging ideas with plastic surgeons worldwide.

Dr. Claytor is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, one of the most influential national organizations of board-certified plastic surgeons.

Dr. Claytor not only maintains memberships and attends conferences at the national and international level, but he is also committed to promoting outstanding plastic surgery care in the New England area as a member of the New England Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

Dr. Claytor holds membership in this Pennsylvania-focused organization dedicated to excellence in plastic surgery at the local level.

International Educator & Speaker

Beyond his clinical work, Dr. Claytor is committed to advancing the field of plastic surgery through education and research. He has led educational sessions at numerous plastic surgery meetings over the years, frequently lecturing on topics such as the deep plane facelift (rhytidectomy) and drainless tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) at both national and international conferences. (His favorite international destinations are Italy and France!)

As a board member and co-program director of The Aesthetic Society, Dr. Claytor’s dedication to sharing his knowledge helps improve surgical outcomes worldwide and keeps him at the forefront of the latest developments in aesthetic plastic surgery, which he is eager to offer his Philadelphia plastic surgery patients. 

In addition to presenting his work, Dr. Claytor’s research has been published in leading medical journals, with a 2023 paper winning “Best Paper” from Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). (In your consultation, Dr. Claytor would be happy to fill you in on his current research projects!)

Philadelphia plastic surgeon R. Brannon Claytor, MD, FACS in the operating room

Further Reading

When choosing a plastic surgeon, expertise and recognition matter. Dr. Claytor’s numerous honors, published research, and international presentations show his commitment to advancing the field of plastic surgery and, in turn, providing the highest level of care here in the Philadelphia area.

  • America’s Best Plastic Surgeons — Newsweek, 2021
  • Top Doctor — Philadelphia Magazine, 2018 – 2024
  • Top Doctor — Main Line Today, 2015 – 2023
  • “Teacher of the Year” Award Winner— Plastic Surgery Department, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts, 2008
  • Healy Award: $5,000 grant to support basic science research on, “Remote Ischemic Preconditioning mediated by Nitric Oxide” — University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2003
  • Young Investigator of the Year, “Laser Scanning Cytometry” — International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 1999
  • National Student Research Fellowship: “Immune Tolerance through Gene Transfer in the Thymus” —Alpha Omega Alpha, 1994

  • Faculty and Researcher – Main Line Health
  • Conducted research on abdominal adipocutaneous flap in rat model looking at remote ischemic preconditioning and the effect of nitric oxide on tissue injury
    University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, January – March 2003.
  • Surgical resident conducting basic science research on vascular physiology
    Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, Center for Platelet Function Studies, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 1998 – 2000.
  • Harrison Department for Surgical Research
    Transplantation Surgery Laboratory, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, May 1993 – September 1994.

  • “Facial Resurfacing” Plastic Surgery: The Meeting, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Austin, TX, September 2023
  • “Drainless Abdominoplasty: Why Aren’t You Doing It?” Plastic Surgery: The Meeting, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Austin, TX, September 2023
  • “Awake Face Lift” Plastic Surgery: The Meeting, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Austin, TX, September 2023
  • “Total Trunk Contouring” The Aesthetic Meeting of The Aesthetic Society, Miami, FL, April 2023
  • “LaMiNa Facial Rejuvenation with CO2 Laser, Microneedling, & Nanofat” International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science (IFATS) 2023 Annual Meeting, October 2023
  • “LaMiNa Facial Rejuvenation with CO2 Laser, Microneedling, & Nanofat” Global Aesthetics Conference in Miami, October 2023
  • “BLT/LaMiNa and the Deep Plane Facelift Under Tumescent Anesthesia” Facial Plastic Surgery International’s 7th Biennial Caribbean Facial Plastic Surgery Update Symposium, Grand Cayman, January, 2023
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, San Diego, California, April, 2022
  • “My Ellevate” Minimally invasive Neck Lift Technique.”
    Skin Aging Facial Plastic And Aesthetic Meeting, Lake Tahoe, California, February, 2022
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Miami, Florida, April, 2021
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, New Orleans, May, 2019.
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    SOFCEP, Val d’Isère, France April, 2019
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, New York City, April, 2018.
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, San Diego, California, April 2017.
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 2016.
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Montreal, Canada, May 2015
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    Society of French Esthetic Plastic Surgeons, Tours, France, May 2014
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    Maintenance of Certification Course and Aesthetic Immersion Module, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, San Francisco, CA, 2014
  • Abdominoplasty, Maintenance of Certification Course
    Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, Washington, D.C., 2013
  • “Scarpa Sparing Abdominoplasty with Concomitant Liposuction: No Drains Needed”
    Maintenance of Certification Course, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, New York, NY, 2013
  • “Correction of Late Breast Implant Ptosis with Conversion to Composite Muscle Pockets and Placement of a Larger Implant”
    Gray, L, Claytor, RB, Geneva, Switzerland, 2012
  • “Fat Grafting to the Breast”
    International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science Meeting, Montreal, Canada, 2012
  • “MACS Facelift with FATS”
    Claytor, RB, Gray, L, American Association of Plastic Surgeons Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 2012
  • “High Volume Lipografting to Irradiated Breast Tissue”
    Fat Grafting Forum, October 2010.
  • “Vertical Oblique Incisions for Mastectomy Reduces Flap Necrosis and Improves Aesthetic Results”
    New England Society for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, June 2010.
  • “Comparison of Current and Past External Fixation Techniques of PIP Joint Fracture Dislocation: The Compass Hinges. The Schenck Hoop”
    Claytor, RB, Chen, J, Plastic Surgery Research Council, 2008.
Meet Dr. Claytor
Video transcript »

Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Claytor here. Want to welcome you to our practice, Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery. I have the privilege and pleasure of taking over Barry Noone’s practice that he had for over 45 years so this is a practice that has deep roots in the community and tremendous legacy. Our location is right in Bryn Mawr, very easy to reach and find, located directly across the street from the Bryn Mawr hospital. I’ve enjoyed being Chief of Plastic Surgery of the entire Main Line Health System for the last 6 years and worked in a strong partnership ensuring great and excellent plastic surgery care in our community. I’ve had the privilege of being on the board for The Aesthetic Society for the past two years and look forward to continuing this in promoting education and safe outcomes for our patients who are looking for aesthetic cosmetic plastic surgery. So if you’re interested in exploring this opportunity for yourself, give us a call come on in. Love meeting new patients. I have a phenomenal team, from my practice coordinator to our nurses to our PAs to our MAs, everybody along the whole process are topnotch people that are first round draft picks that I have recruited to come and be part of our team and help us deliver for you that phenomenal aesthetic experience to help you reach your pinnacle goal.

Dr. Claytor in the Media

New Beauty Magazine: “Nanofat Plastic Surgery Is the Next Big Trend You Need to Know About”

Nanofat Plastic Surgery Is the Next Big Trend You Need to Know About, featuring Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Claytor

Philadelphia Style: “Dr. R. Brannon Claytor’s Facial Aesthetic Ladder”

Screenshot of article in Philadelphia Style, P"hiladelphia plastic surgeon Dr. R. Brannon Claytor's Facial Aesthetic Ladder" showing deep plane facelift patient before and after results

Outside the OR

Dr. Claytor’s journey as a plastic surgeon began early, growing up on a farm in the suburbs of Philadelphia. His passion for learning and caring for others was evident as a teenager, when he would volunteer at Bryn Mawr Hospital—where he later served as Chief of Plastic Surgery. That same drive to learn and help others has fueled his career, as Dr. Claytor continues to contribute to the field through ongoing plastic surgery research and teaching fellow surgeons worldwide.

Dr. Claytor and his wife, Sarah, are the proud parents of three children. They give back to the community through their support of Rotary International, the Willistown Conservation Trust, and as committee members for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Dr. Claytor’s passion for the art of restoration also extends to cars: he is currently building a Ford Shelby Cobra from the ground up. As an active aviator, he has held a commercial pilot’s license for decades. When not in the operating room, he can be found flying, sailing, or fly fishing.


To schedule your consultation with Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. R. Brannon Claytor, call 610-527-4833. Our practice serves Bryn Mawr and the greater Philadelphia area in Pennsylvania.