Why Patients Trust Dr. Don Griffin With Their Most Personal Decision
For more than 30 years, Dr. Don Griffin, MD, FACS has been Nashville's trusted plastic surgeon — one of a rare group of surgeons who is dual board-certified in both general surgery and plastic surgery, combining Vanderbilt-trained precision with a deeply personal approach to every patient's care.
Nashville's Most Experienced Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Choosing a plastic surgeon is one of the most personal decisions you will ever make. It requires not just technical skill, but trust — confidence that your surgeon sees you as an individual, understands your goals, and has the experience to deliver results that feel right for you.
Dr. Don Griffin has built his 30-year Nashville practice on exactly that foundation. As a third-generation physician, Dr. Griffin is one of a rare group of surgeons who completed full training and board certification in general surgery before going on to specialize in plastic surgery — a sequence that gives him a depth of anatomical knowledge, surgical judgment, and patient safety expertise that most cosmetic surgeons simply do not have.
"Being a part of the transformation that occurs when a patient feels more confident about their appearance is powerful. It is why I do what I do every day." — Dr. Don Griffin, MD, FACS
His training path — general surgery residency at Vanderbilt, then plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham — created a surgeon who sees the whole patient, not just the cosmetic goal. That foundation informs every incision, every recovery plan, and every conversation about what is truly right for you.
Read His Full BiographyWhat Sets Dr. Griffin Apart
When you are choosing the best plastic surgeon in Nashville, credentials matter. Here is why Dr. Griffin's background is unique in the Nashville market.
Dual Board Certified
Dr. Griffin holds the rare distinction of dual board certification — in both General Surgery (American Board of Surgery) and Plastic Surgery (American Board of Plastic Surgery). Most cosmetic surgeons hold only one. Completing general surgery training first means Dr. Griffin's understanding of anatomy, physiology, and surgical safety is exceptionally deep.
ABS + ABPS CertifiedVanderbilt-Trained
Dr. Griffin earned his medical degree and completed his general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center — one of the nation's top academic medical centers, right here in Nashville. His general surgery training at Vanderbilt preceded his plastic surgery fellowship, giving him a foundation few cosmetic surgeons possess.
Vanderbilt UniversityFACS Designation
As a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Griffin has met the rigorous ethical and professional standards required for the FACS designation — held by fewer than one-third of all plastic surgeons.
Fellow, ACSRealSelf Top 100
One of fewer than 100 physicians worldwide named to the RealSelf Top 100 — a recognition based on patient engagement, education, and outcomes that sets Dr. Griffin among the most trusted surgeons on the platform.
Top 100 WorldwideIn-House Surgical Center
The NCS Surgical Center is an on-site, fully accredited surgical facility — providing patients with the privacy of a concierge surgical experience without a hospital setting. Very few Nashville practices offer this.
Accredited Facility30+ Years in Nashville
Dr. Griffin has called Nashville home for his entire surgical career. He has operated through the growth of Music Row, the rise of the Nashville healthcare corridor, and the transformation of Belle Meade — building lasting relationships across generations of patients.
Nashville's OwnNashville's Only Dual Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Cosmetic Practice
Six Reasons Nashville Patients Choose Dr. Griffin
A Legacy of Healing
As the son and grandson of physicians, Dr. Griffin grew up understanding that surgery is a sacred trust. That perspective shapes every patient interaction — from your first consultation to your final follow-up appointment.
Dual Board Certification — A Rare Foundation
Dr. Griffin completed full training and board certification in general surgery before specializing in plastic surgery. This two-board path is uncommon and meaningful: it means every cosmetic decision he makes is informed by a surgeon's complete understanding of how the body heals, how tissue behaves, and how to anticipate and prevent complications.
Results That Look Like You
The goal is never to look "done." Dr. Griffin's philosophy centers on balance, proportion, and harmony — enhancing what is uniquely yours rather than imposing a standard that is not your own.
A Private Surgical Experience
Surgery at the NCS Surgical Center means discretion, comfort, and continuity of care — all within the same trusted facility where you met Dr. Griffin. No hospital intake, no unfamiliar faces on the day of your procedure.
Laser Expertise Few Can Match
Dr. Griffin is a nationally recognized speaker on the use of laser technology in aesthetic rejuvenation. The Skin Lounge at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery brings that expertise directly to non-surgical patients seeking exceptional skin results.
Nashville's Concierge Standard
From plush consultation robes to a practice designed for comfort at every step, Nashville Cosmetic Surgery is built around the experience its patients deserve — sophisticated, warm, and completely focused on you.
A Foundation Built for Excellence
Dr. Griffin's training path reflects a commitment to mastery at every stage — from a summa cum laude undergraduate degree to fellowship-level plastic surgery training. Every credential represents a standard he holds himself to in every operating room.
His Vanderbilt connection is not incidental. It means Dr. Griffin trained at and remains connected to one of the most respected medical institutions in the American Southeast — right here in the city he has chosen to serve.
Read the Full BiographyLouisiana State University
Graduated summa cum laude — a distinction that reflects the academic discipline Dr. Griffin brings to every aspect of his surgical practice.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Earned his medical degree and completed a full general surgery residency at Vanderbilt — achieving board certification from the American Board of Surgery. This foundation in general surgery before specializing in plastics is rare, and it is one of the most meaningful distinctions in Dr. Griffin's training.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Completed fellowship training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at UAB, earning board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Arriving at this fellowship already board-certified in general surgery, Dr. Griffin brought a depth of surgical experience that shaped his approach to every cosmetic procedure he performs today.
Nashville Cosmetic Surgery
Returned to Nashville to establish his practice in Belle Meade — building a legacy of patient trust, award-winning outcomes, and one of the city's most complete cosmetic and aesthetic practices.
What Nashville Patients Say
After meeting Dr. Griffin and the staff I knew that I was in good hands. There is nothing that I would change about the way they look — he did a beautiful job and the staff was so wonderful from start to finish.
My surgery was one I had wanted to do for over 10 years and I am so glad I waited to find you all. The concern, experience, knowledge and professionalism you and your staff have displayed has been extraordinary.
Dr. Griffin made me feel so comfortable. My breast and stomach look amazing! The staff is so friendly and I am so excited that I had the surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Griffin
What makes Dr. Griffin different from other plastic surgeons in Nashville?
The most important distinction is one that most patients don't think to ask about: Dr. Griffin completed full training and board certification in general surgery before pursuing plastic surgery. This dual-board path means his understanding of surgical anatomy, wound healing, and patient safety is far deeper than that of a surgeon who went straight into cosmetic training. Add to that 30+ years of Nashville practice, Vanderbilt training, his FACS designation, RealSelf Top 100 recognition, and an in-house accredited surgical center — and the combination is genuinely rare in this market.
Is Dr. Griffin board-certified?
Yes — and uniquely so. Dr. Don Griffin holds dual board certification: he is certified by both the American Board of Surgery (general surgery) and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He also holds the Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) designation. Completing full training and board certification in general surgery before specializing in plastic surgery is unusual — very few cosmetic surgeons in Nashville or nationally have taken this path. It means Dr. Griffin's surgical foundation is exceptionally broad, informing not just the aesthetic outcome but the safety and quality of every procedure he performs.
Where does Dr. Griffin perform surgery in Nashville?
Dr. Griffin performs procedures at the NCS Surgical Center, an in-house accredited surgical facility located at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery's Belle Meade office at 4322 Harding Pike, Suite 314. This means patients experience surgery in a private, familiar environment — with the same team they met during their consultation — rather than navigating a hospital system. The facility is fully accredited and equipped for the complete range of cosmetic surgical procedures.
What procedures does Dr. Griffin specialize in?
Dr. Griffin specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and body. His most frequently performed procedures include facelift, breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, mommy makeover, tummy tuck, liposuction, brow lift, and eyelid surgery. Through The Skin Lounge at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery, he and his team also offer non-surgical aesthetic treatments including BOTOX, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing (Sciton JOULE), Morpheus8 RF microneedling, Clear + Brilliant, and more.
How do I schedule a consultation with Dr. Griffin?
You can request a consultation online at nashvillecosmeticsurgery.com/request-consult or call the practice directly at (615) 206-2937. Nashville Cosmetic Surgery is located at 4322 Harding Pike, Suite 314, Nashville, TN 37205 in the Hill Center Belle Meade building. The practice is open Monday–Friday.
Nashville Cosmetic Surgery proudly serves patients from across Middle Tennessee, including Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin, Green Hills, Berry Hill, and the greater Nashville area. Patients also travel to our practice from Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Clarksville, Cookeville, and beyond — drawn by Dr. Griffin's rare dual board certification, his 30-year reputation, and a surgical experience that simply is not available elsewhere in the region.
Begin Your Consultation with Nashville's Most Trusted Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Griffin and the Nashville Cosmetic Surgery team are ready to listen to your goals, answer your questions, and help you make an informed, confident decision — on your timeline, in a setting designed for your comfort.