DARREN M. SMITH, MD, FACS
Plastic Surgery Expert Witness & Medical-Legal Consulting
Board-certified plastic surgeon · New York, NY · Nationwide inquiries
Dr. Darren M. Smith is a board-certified plastic surgeon whose Manhattan practice receives referrals from across the country for complex breast and body contouring revisions. Fellowship training in both craniofacial and aesthetic surgery informs his approach to surgical planning, anatomy, and the evaluation of challenging outcomes.
He brings that clinical perspective to independent medical-legal review, helping attorneys understand the care provided, the factors that may have contributed to an outcome, and the medical basis for an expert opinion. Matters are considered individually according to the procedures involved, his relevant experience, and jurisdictional requirements.
Complex & revisional surgery.
Revision surgery begins with understanding what came before: the patient's anatomy, prior procedures, healing, and current concerns. Dr. Smith's practice includes patients seeking evaluation and treatment after previous breast and body contouring surgery, including complex situations requiring individualized planning.
That experience offers a practical foundation for reviewing operative decisions and postoperative care. Medical-legal review considers the available records, the clinical circumstances, and the standards applicable at the time of treatment. A complication or disappointing result does not, by itself, establish that care was inappropriate.
Dr. Smith completed a craniofacial surgery fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and an aesthetic surgery fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Together, these fellowships provide a foundation spanning reconstructive complexity and aesthetic surgical judgment.
Medical-legal services.
Depending on the matter and the agreed scope of engagement, services may include:
- Preliminary medical review to help counsel assess a potential claim or defense.
- Review of medical records, operative reports, photographs, and relevant imaging.
- Medical opinions addressing standard of care, causation, the nature and extent of injury, and potential future treatment within his expertise.
- Written expert reports and consultation with counsel.
- Deposition and trial testimony.
- Review of patient selection, informed consent, surgical planning, and postoperative management.
Dr. Smith's role is to provide an independent medical assessment. Opinions are based on the record and relevant medical evidence, including findings that may not support the position of the retaining party.
Clinical focus.
Breast surgery and implant-related complications
Primary and revision breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, and implant removal. Relevant issues may include capsular contracture, implant malposition, asymmetry, tissue support, surgical planning, and the assessment and management of postoperative concerns.
Review considers the patient's starting anatomy, previous surgery, documented goals, operative technique, and course of recovery. The proposed questions and relevant procedural experience are assessed before an engagement is accepted.
Abdominoplasty and body contouring
Abdominoplasty, liposuction, combined breast and body procedures, and contouring after significant weight loss. Review may address patient selection, the extent and combination of procedures, contour concerns, wound healing, follow-up, and decisions about revision.
The analysis considers what was known at each stage of care and the clinical reasoning documented in the record.
Surgical planning and postoperative care
Issues may include risk assessment, informed consent, documentation, recognition and management of complications, and the timing of additional treatment. Review is limited to questions within Dr. Smith's relevant clinical expertise.
Inquiries involving other aesthetic or reconstructive procedures are assessed individually for fit with his experience.
Training & credentials.
- Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
- Craniofacial surgery fellowship, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto.
- Aesthetic surgery fellowship, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.
- Plastic surgery residency, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
- MD, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
- President, New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2025–2026.
- Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society.
His scholarly work includes peer-reviewed publications, textbook contributions, and invited lectures. He co-authored the invited discussion accompanying the abdominoplasty chapter in The Unfavorable Result in Plastic Surgery: Avoidance and Treatment, fourth edition.
Your inquiry.
Send your contact information, firm or organization, the procedure involved, jurisdiction, and relevant deadlines. A short, non-identifying description is sufficient for an initial inquiry. Please do not include patient names, medical records, photographs, or other confidential case materials in this form.
The initial response establishes whether the matter fits Dr. Smith's expertise and availability and explains the next steps for a conflict check. Records are requested only after conflicts and engagement arrangements have been addressed.
A current CV and fee schedule are available on request. Review scope, timing, and engagement terms are agreed before work begins. Fees are not contingent on the outcome of the matter.
Questions, answered.
Does Dr. Smith maintain an active surgical practice?
Yes. He practices plastic surgery in Manhattan, with a focus on breast and body contouring, including complex revisional procedures. That ongoing clinical experience informs his assessment of surgical planning and postoperative care.
Can counsel request a review before filing a case?
Yes. A preliminary review can help counsel understand the medical issues and whether the available evidence supports further investigation. An inquiry does not presume that the care was negligent or that a claim has merit.
Is Dr. Smith available for matters outside New York?
Inquiries are welcome from attorneys nationwide. Acceptance depends on the procedure, the issues to be addressed, applicable jurisdictional requirements, and availability.
How quickly can a review be completed?
Please include any deadlines in the initial inquiry. Timing is confirmed after the scope of review and completeness of the records are established.
Can I request a CV without submitting a case?
Yes. Select “CV and fee schedule” in the inquiry form. Case details are not required for a CV request.
Medical-legal inquiries.
Darren M. Smith, MD, FACS
111 East 57th Street, Ground Floor
New York, NY 10022
Request a current CV and fee schedule or inquire about a matter. Case details are not required for a CV request.
Please do not submit patient names, medical records, photographs, or other confidential case materials. Instructions for the next steps will be provided in response.