Richard V. Dowden, M.D., C.M., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Dowden graduated from McGill University in 1964 and from McGill Medical School in 1968. Dr. Dowden completed his General Surgery Residency in 1976 at S.U.N.Y. Stonybrook, New York and his Plastic Surgery Residency in 1979 at East Virginia Medical School, Virginia. He was at the Cleveland Clinic from 1979-1992 where he held the position of the Head of the Breast Surgery Section in the Plastic Surgery Department, and he then opened his own private practice in Cleveland.

Dr. Dowden has taken great interest in teaching others. From 1975 to present he has been guest lecturer at 146 meetings in sixteen states and eight countries, has written six book chapters, has published over 70 medical articles for medical journals and various womens' magazines, and has been interviewed on several radio and TV programs in the United States, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, and several European countries.

He and his colleague Dr. Shirley Anain (now in Buffalo, NY) developed the technique to quickly and accurately determine whether a silicone gel breast implant has been ruptured or is leaking, called implant endoscopy. Dr. Dowden is one of a few Plastic Surgeons in the United States trained to perform breast augmentation through the navel, also called the Transumbilical Breast Augmentation, ("TUBA") which he has been doing since 1992.

Dr. Dowden was Assistant Clinical Professor (emeritus) at Case Western Reserve University, and the Medical Advisor for the American Cancer Society Breast Reconstruction Unit for the State of Ohio. In addition to cosmetic surgery, he is very active in reconstructive surgery, particularly correcting deformities that result from cancer removal or birth defects. He has been active in medical missionary work since 1970, leading a surgical team to perform charity surgery for children with birth defects in developing nations. His scientific society memberships include the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, and the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. Doctor Dowden is fully certified by the only legitimate plastic surgery board: the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Plastic Surgery Board Certification can be verified at: The American Board of Medical Specialties.

Hospital and Surgery Center Affiliations

Case Western-Reserve University (Assistant Clinical Professor-emeritus)
Hillcrest Hospital (Cleveland Clinic)
The Surgery Center
Zeeba Surgery Center

Specialty / Board Certifications

American Board of General Surgery American Board of Plastic Surgery

Organization Memberships

FACS = Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
ASPS = American Society of Plastic Surgeons
AAPS = American Association of Plastic Surgeons
Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
Academy of Medicine of Cleveland
Northern Ohio Medical Association

Education

Bachelor of Science, McGill University, 1964
Doctor of Medicine, McGill Medical School, 1968

Residency

General Surgery Part 1, 1972-1974 - Tufts University, Boston (Chair: Dr Harry Soroff)
General Surgery Part 2, 1974-1976 - S.U.N.Y. Stonybrook, New York (Chair: Dr Harry Soroff)
Plastic Surgery, 1976 - 1979 - East Virginia Medical School, Virginia (Chair: Dr Charles Horton)

Other Titles Held

Medical Advisor for the State of Ohio,
Breast Reconstruction Unit of the American Cancer Society

Former Head of the Section of Breast Surgery,
Plastic Surgery Department of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Insurance Considerations

Dr. Dowden treats patients with all types of insurance, from all commercial insurance companies. However, Dr. Dowden is not in any way connected with any insurance company, and not involved with any HMO, PPO, PMO etc. which means that any insurance company will consider care by Dr Dowden as being "out of network." It is the patient's responsibility to contact their insurance carrier to clarify the out-of-network benefits and to determine if a referral is needed. No claims for cosmetic surgery can ever be submitted to insurance carriers.

Dr. Dowden is also not connected in any way with any government health-financing networks, including Medicare, Medicaid and the military. Dr. Dowden has many patients who are on Medicare, but they are solely responsible for their own expenses. It is important that patients understand that such government health-financing networks cannot be billed for any procedure, visit or service performed by Dr. Dowden, regardless of whether it is cosmetic surgery or not.

Areas of Interest

Cosmetic Surgery of the face, particularly endoscopic and laser procedures
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery, including endoscopic "scarless" procedures
Body Sculpting, body contouring, and Liposuction, including Tumescent and Ultrasonic

Other Activities

Leader of yearly charity surgery expedition for deformed children in South America