Dr. Larry Nichter has been performing Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Southern California since 1985. His outstanding surgical skills, compassion, and warm way with patients continue to bring him recognition locally and nationally among patients and physicians alike. He has been featured in U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register and newsprint around the world as well as on TV and Radio. He is one of the few acknowledged Plastic Surgeons as without peer by being named by all three peer review

Publications: Best Doctors, Top Doctors, and Super Doctors. Orange Coast Magazine named him as one of “The Best Plastic Surgeons in Orange County” each year since1996 when the survey began. This listing was adapted from The Best Doctors in America, Pacific Region published annually by Woodward/White. This survey is based on interviews with Plastic Surgeons in the Pacific Region and across the United States selecting those Plastic Surgeons they would feel most comfortable sending a friend, loved one or themselves for Plastic Surgery. Dr. Nichter has also been named as one of America’s Top Doctors based on the annual physician survey publication Castle and Connolly Guide to America’s Top Doctors.

A graduate of Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Nichter went on to complete his internship and residency in general surgery at UCLA Medical Center.Subsequently, he completed his Plastic Surgery residency at the University of Virginia.In addition, Dr. Nichter completed several advanced Plastic Surgical Fellowships at the University of Virginia as well as completing a Masters of Science degree in Surgery. His training included extensive exposure to advanced Aesthetic Surgical Techniques. Following his formal training he has taught the art and science of Plastic Surgery as a Tenured Professor and Chief of Plastic Surgical Research at the University of Southern California. He has trained and served as mentor for numerous plastic surgical residents and fellows prior to relocating to Orange County in 1993.

Dr. Nichter has extensive training and experience in Cosmetic Surgery. He has performed thousands of surgeries for the face, eyes and body including breast augmentation, lift and reduction, liposuction, abdominoplasty, body contouring, rhinoplasty, upper and lower eyelid surgery, face, cheek and forehead lifts, laser skin resurfacing, and chemical peels. He specializes in minimal and hidden scar techniques for the majority of these procedures. Advanced techniques are commonly incorporated to minimize scars, operative and recovery times, and maximize aesthetic results. Dr. Nichter’s reconstructive surgical practice concentrates on skin sparing breast reconstruction for cancer, repair/correction of skin cancer, traumatic and congenital hand deformities and Pediatric Plastic Surgery. The special techniques and challenges of reconstructive surgery have enhanced his skills and brought added dimension to his approach of the intricacies in cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Nichter’s awards and honors are extensive. He is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Surgery and has Certification of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP). He is a member of several prestigious societies partially listed below. Dr. Nichter has received several exemplary honors and awards for exceptional medical and surgical abilities in plastic surgery and excellence in the advancement of plastic surgery. Some of these honors and awards include Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society, a medical honor society which comprises the top ten percent of graduating medical students, the “Outstanding Surgical Resident Award” at UCLA and “Outstanding Resident Award for the State of Virginia”. The University of Virginia also honored him by establishing the “Larry S. Nichter Award“, a prize presented annually for outstanding plastic surgery research. He has authored more than 120 scientific publications on the field of plastic surgery, several book chapters, and has lectured extensively. He has served on the editorial board of The Annals of Plastic Surgery and as a reviewer for The Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Nichter is an Examiner for the American Board of Plastic Surgery and former Subsection Chairman of the In-service Examination Committee. He has served on several Committees and as Course Instructor for the American Society of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Nichter has achieved international recognition for his outstanding work and experience in Plastic and Reconstructive adult and pediatric surgery and has served as a Visiting Professor both locally at UCLA, Loma Linda, UC Irvine, Stanford, nationally and internationally. In addition to treating unique, difficult and unusual problems referred to him by other physicians near and far, he also dedicates several weeks of his time annually to help treat those less fortunate around the world. As President and Founder of the Plasticos Foundation, a non profit group which provides world-wide reconstructive care and training, he dedicates hundreds of selfless hours to developing countries where he performs surgery and provides training to local surgeons. He has been on more than fifty-five medical missions around the world. A film documented a trip he led to Vietnam received an Oscar Academy Award for the best Short Documentary Film. In addition to maintaining his busy private practice, he maintains the rank of Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at the USC School of Medicine and University California Irvine. and serves as Visiting Professor at other leading universities. He has served as Chairman and Vice Chairman, Department of Plastic Surgery at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, CA , one of the largest Plastic Surgical Departments in the world.

Dr. Nichter feels that the challenge of Plastic Surgery is that no two patients’ needs and concerns are identical. Each patient is unique, often requiring innovative solutions and always an individual approach. The goal of Plastic Surgery is to restore the whole patient in terms of form, function, appearance and ultimately self-image. From the initial consultation through the postoperative period, Dr. Nichter demonstrates a unique level of care, compassion and talent. He has an exceptional ability to understand his patients’ needs and goals towards self-improvement through the art of cosmetic & reconstructive surgery.

• Graduate, Boston University Medical School (Honors) – M.D.
• General Surgery Residency, UCLA Medical Center
• Plastic Surgery Residency, University of Virginia Medical Center
• Craniofacial, Hand, Microvascular, and Burn Fellowships, University of Virginia
• Master of Science in Plastic Surgery (M.S.), University of Virginia – M.S.
• Board Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
• Certification of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand
• Board Certified, American Board of Surgery
• Fellow, American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S.)
• Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics (F.A.A.P.)
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American Association of Plastic Surgeons
• American Society For Head And Neck Surgery
• American Society For Surgery of The Hand
• American Societies For Reconstructive Microsurgery & Peripheral Nerve Surgery
• American Society For Laser Medicine and Surgery
• American Association For Pediatric Plastic Surgeons
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
• Association of Academic Chairmen of Plastic Surgery
• California Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, USC
• Guest Board Examiner, American Board of Plastic Surgery
• President and Founder, Plasticos Foundation
• Chairman and Vice-Chairman Dept Plastic Surgery, Hoag Hospital (current/former)