Meet Dr. Joseph Mele

Whether you are interested in Facial Plastic Surgery like eyelid, face, brow or neck lifts, or Body Shaping like breast enhancement, tummy tuck or liposuction, San Francisco Bay Area plastic surgeon Joseph A. Mele, M.D., F.A.C.S. can help you achieve your goals. His practice offers exceptional care and experience.

Dr. Mele is Double Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS). He is also an active member of the Premier Plastic Surgery Societies including:

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
The California Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS)
The International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)

A Northern California enthusiast, he was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area; completed his surgical internship at the University of California Davis Medical Center, in Sacramento, CA; his General Surgery Residency at San Joaquin General Hospital, in Stockton, CA; and sub-specialized with a Fellowship in Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, CA.

After graduating with high honors with a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California at Davis, Dr. Joseph A. Mele was awarded the prestigious Regents’ Scholarship to attend the University of California, Davis School of Medicine.

As a plastic surgery fellow in San Francisco, Joseph Mele, MD, acquired three years of intense postgraduate instruction in General Plastic Surgery, as well as specialized training in the areas of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Micro Surgery, Burn Care and Rehabilitation, Hand Surgery, and the repair of Congenital Deformities (birth defects). Dr. Mele has volunteered on surgical missions to provide medical care for underprivileged children in Guatemala (Hospital de la Familia) and Argentina (Rotary International’s Rotoplast).

In addition to the memberships listed above, Dr. Mele is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and a member in good standing of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgery (ASBPS), the International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (IPRAS), the Alameda Contra Costa Medical Association (ACCMA), the California Medical Association (CMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA). He has published articles on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery in some of the most respected American peer reviewed journals, and has presented his research at national, state and local plastic surgery conferences.

Some of the less common plastic procedures that our San Francisco Plastic Surgeon offers his patients include:

Ear pinning surgery: Technically referred to as “Otoplasty,” ear pinning corrects unusually large or protruding ears. During this procedure, excess cartilage and tissue are removed and the ears are brought closer to the head.
Inverted Nipple Correction: If your nipple lays flush with the areola, or it pulls inward, this can cause problems. Women who are breast feeding may especially have complications. Fortunately, our San Francisco Plastic Surgery professional, Dr.Mele, can rearrange the nipple and reconstruct it outward.
Male Breast Reduction: “Gynecomastia” is a condition in which the gland overdevelops or fatty deposits accumulate on a man’s chest; this can create the appearance of small breasts. To correct this condition, San Francisco Bay Area Cosmetic Surgeon, Dr. Mele, will make incisions in the underarm or along the areola, to remove the excess tissue.

As you evaluate your options, you may want to start by asking yourself these questions:

Do I know the potential risks and benefits of this procedure?
Do I have realistic expectations?
Am I physically healthy?
How long is the recovery period?
How am I going to finance this procedure?

This web site can help you get some basic information. Under “Procedures” in the navigation menu at the top of this page, you can access general information by selecting among the many common plastic surgery procedures listed. For example, the Breast Augmentation information on Dr. Mele’s site reviews many of the current options for Breast Implants, how the procedure is performed and how long it takes for both the procedure and the recovery. Numerous Before and After Pictures and Videos are available on the procedure’s web page, as well as in our Photo Gallery and our Video Gallery. For detailed information, there is no substitute for an in-person consultation. For how a procedure will specifically benefit your looks, contact Dr. Mele by calling (925) 943-6353 or complete the contact form on this page or on the main Contact Us Page. Until then, be sure to explore the site and take full advantage of the hours of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Information available right here on DrMele.com.

If you want to diminish wrinkles, age spots, and blemishes, or you want to reduce the appearance of a scar, here are some of your non-surgical options:

BOTOX^® Cosmetic: Reduces the frown lines of the upper face
Dermal Filler: Help smooth the moderate and deep lines of the lower face
Chemical Peel: Rejuvenates sun damaged, tired-looking, and blemished skin
Phenol Peel: Improves skin damage from sun exposure
Laser Skin Resurfacing: To rid age spots, blemishes, scars, and wrinkles

More information is available on Dr. Mele’s page devoted to Skin Care.

Dr. Joseph Mele also offers a wide range of Breast Enhancing procedures including:

In addition, many more details are available on specialty breast surgery website here: sanfranciscobreast.com.

A Plastic Surgeon You Can Trust! Dr. Joseph Mele

For a patient, Plastic Surgery is often a life-changing experience, particularly when performed in the hands of a qualified surgeon like Dr. Joseph A. Mele. Our reputable Plastic Surgeon is chosen for several reasons, including his trustworthy background, level of expertise, and bedside manner. Dr. Mele proudly provides patients with beautiful, natural-looking results while positively contributing to their sense of well-being. He understands that every step of the way is significant for an individual who decides to undergo a cosmetic enhancement, and in turn, he is attentive to their every need and concern. His primary concerns are for your safety and the predictability of your results. By setting realistic expectations, and meeting them, Dr. Mele has many satisfied clients.

“Dr. Mele was referred to me by another patient of his. I am so thankful! After my consultation I knew he was the right surgeon for me!”

– Patient Testimonial

Click here for more Patient Reviews.

With a commitment to providing you with the latest in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, Dr. Mele specializes in a vast range of surgical options for the face, breasts, and body. Frequently attracting diverse patients from all over the United States and abroad, Dr. Mele also offers a multitude of non-surgical skin treatments to help improve the most obvious, bothersome signs of aging.

A Plastic Surgery Expert In the Media

The background and accomplishments of a plastic surgeon speak volumes regarding their level of training and skill, and Walnut Creek plastic surgeon Dr. Mele exemplifies a high standard of experience. He often appears as a plastic surgery expert in the media, such as on KRON 4’s “Body Beautiful,” and NBC’s “Living Well” on KNTV. Many of his television segments are available in our Video Gallery. He has achieved “Distinguished Member” status on RealSelf.com since being invited in 2009. Notably, Dr. Mele is also a founding member of the leading Interactive Health Network, Healthtap.com.

A Published Plastic Surgery Expert

Dr. Mele is also dedicated to fostering improvement, not only in his patients, but in the basic science which is the foundation for Plastic Surgery. Dr Mele participated in the Adjunct Studies for allerga and Mentor, investigating the safety of Silicone Breast Implants, which eventually led to their FDA approval after years of restricted use. He continues to be a Primary Investigator for all three US FDA approved breast implant manufacturers: Sientra, Allergan and Mentor. He has published articles related to Cosmetic Plastic Surgery including, but not limited to, Scar Minimization, Patient Safety and Plastic Surgery Resident Training. For more information about some of the articles written and published by Dr. Mele, visit his Plastic Surgery Publications Page.

More Than 20 Years of Experience

Dr. Mele started his private plastic surgery practice in Walnut Creek, CA, in 1997. He is board certified and maintains certification by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS). He is also an active member of the most widely-respected and world-renowned plastic surgery societies, including the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), the International Confederation of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (IPRAS) and the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgery (ASBPS). With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Mele has hospital affiliations with John Muir Medical Center (Walnut Creek, CA), John Muir Medical Center (Concord, CA) and San Ramon Regional Medical Center (San Ramon, CA).

“I consider him a surgical artist with talents beyond reproach. He is always honest, explains every aspect of the procedures (which includes downtime, expected discomfort and recovery)”

– Patient Testimonial

Choosing the Best Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Joseph A. Mele, MD, FACS, is Board Certified by two prestigious American Board of Medical Subspecialties (ABMS) Boards: The American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. What does it mean to be a Board Certified doctor? What is the ABMS? Why is Board Certification important?

The truth is anyone can form a Board. Some of these non-ABMS boards have names that sound better than the originals they are trying to mimic; however, when it comes to Plastic Surgery, The American Board of Plastic Surgery is only real board for certifying Plastic Surgeons.

When we talk about Board Certification, the American Board of Medical Subspecialties (ABMS) is the board we are talking about. Since 1933, the ABMS has represented the gold standard of medical education. ABMS Certification is more than just the ultimate mark of accomplishment at the end of a doctor’s training. With Maintenance of Certification (MOC), Board Certification has also become the best way to make sure your Plastic Surgeon is keeping up with latest standards of practice.

The ABMS is a not-for-profit organization consisting of 24 medical boards and is the preeminent entity certifying all physicians in the United States. The ABMS has only one board for plastic surgery: The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

The American Board of Plastic Surgery

If you are considering plastic surgery, whether reconstructive plastic surgery or cosmetic plastic surgery, The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the certification you want your plastic surgeon to have. You can be assured that a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, like Dr. Mele, has received the proper training, was trained in the proper setting and has passed vigorous testing prior to receiving their Certification. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only board dedicated to helping patients by providing information about the board certification process and identifying which doctors are board certified.

Qualifying Examination and an oral Certification Examination. Since 1995, in order to maintain certification, every Board Certified Plastic Surgeon must also continue to meet or exceed both educational and ethical standards established by the board. This means supplying documentation of continued medical education, participating in peer review, maintaining medical licensure and of course, paying dues. Passing a comprehensive Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Examination is also required every ten years. Failure to take and pass the examination, or failure to provide proper and timely documentation of any requirement, results in a loss of Board Certification.

Dr. Mele is Double Board Certified

Dr. Mele completed two residencies. The first was a five year General Surgery Residency at The University of California Davis, in Sacramento, CA and San Joaquin General Hospital in Stockton, CA. The second was a three year Plastic Surgery Fellowship at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco, CA. Since he completed two residencies, Dr. Mele is qualified to maintain two Board Certifications with two independent ABMS Boards: The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery. The American Board of Plastic Surgery, as mentioned above, is the official ABMS Board that certifies physicians specializing in Plastic Surgery, while the American Board of Surgery certifies all General Surgeons.

Maintaining Board Certification takes time, effort and resources. Maintaining two board certifications doubles the work, but this is just one of the ways that Dr. Mele demonstrates his commitment to his patients and to the discipline of Plastic Surgery. If you want more details about Dr. Mele’s training and Board Certification, in his own words, check out his blog entry: Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Here’s How To Check Your Plastic Surgeon’s Qualifications

Below are some important links that you can use to check any physician’s Board Certification and Medical License. You owe it to yourself to do the research and check your plastic surgeon before having any procedure. The Internet makes it simple, and the following links make it easy. Just click on what you want to do:

Check if your doctor is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Check if your doctor is Board Certified by another American Board of Medical Specialties board. You will need to register to use this site, but it is safe, free and fast.
Check if your doctor has an unrestricted California Medical License. Check the box next to “Physician and Surgeon”, under “Choose a license type”, and choose how you would like to search.
If you are not in California, the Federation of State Medical Boards maintains a list of United States Medical Boards. Click here for the Directory of State Medical and Osteopathic Boards.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Mele, please call (925) 943-6353. If you prefer, you may fill out an online contact form.

Click on the image above to download Dr. Mele’s brochure.