Our Story
For more than 26 years, Bangor Plastic and Hand Surgery has been dedicated to providing exceptional cosmetic, reconstructive, hand, and microsurgical care to patients throughout Maine and northern New England.
Founded by Dr. David Branch in 2000, our practice has always been guided by a simple philosophy: combine surgical excellence with compassionate, individualized care while continually seeking better ways to help our patients heal, recover, and regain confidence.
Plastic surgery is one of the most innovative fields in medicine. We believe our patients deserve access not only to time-tested surgical techniques, but also to carefully evaluated advances that improve safety, comfort, recovery, and long-term outcomes. Through ongoing education, research, and collaboration with colleagues across multiple specialties, we strive to remain at the forefront of our profession while never losing sight of the fundamentals of thoughtful, ethical patient care.
After practicing reconstructive plastic surgery for decades, breast cancer became deeply personal when Dr. Branch's wife courageously battled metastatic breast cancer. That experience profoundly reinforced his commitment to improving breast cancer care, reconstructive education, and patient advocacy. Today, that commitment continues through his surgical practice and through The Pink Runway Project, whose mission is to ensure that every woman understands her reconstructive options and has access to compassionate, comprehensive care.
Whether restoring form and function following cancer, trauma, congenital conditions, or injury, or helping patients achieve their aesthetic goals, every treatment plan is tailored to the individual. We believe the best outcomes begin with listening carefully, educating patients thoroughly, and making decisions together.
Dr. Branch performs surgery in the setting most appropriate for each patient's needs. Many cosmetic procedures are performed in our very private, AAAASF-accredited Cosmetic Surgery Center, while outpatient reconstructive procedures are also performed at Downeast Surgery Center or within the hospital setting when a patient's medical condition requires additional resources.
Dr. Branch maintains surgical privileges at St. Joseph Hospital, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, and Mount Desert Island Hospital, with courtesy privileges at MaineHealth, allowing patients access to comprehensive surgical care across multiple facilities throughout the state.
A Passion for Breast Cancer Care
Throughout our history, one of the defining missions of our practice has been caring for women facing breast cancer.
Breast reconstruction is far more than restoring appearance—it is an important part of helping patients recover physically and emotionally after cancer treatment. We believe every patient deserves to understand all of her reconstructive options and to receive care that is individualized, compassionate, and technically excellent.
This commitment extends beyond surgery. We continue to work with physicians, hospitals, and community organizations to improve access to coordinated breast cancer care for patients throughout Maine while supporting education, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Innovation Through Research
Our commitment to innovation extends beyond the operating room.
Autologous fat grafting has been an important part of cosmetic facial surgery and breast reconstruction for well over a decade. Building on that experience, we are actively investigating additional applications of fat grafting and platelet-rich plasma through prospective clinical research.
Our goal is to better understand where these regenerative techniques may improve healing, relieve pain, restore function, or enhance recovery in carefully selected patients while contributing meaningful scientific data to this rapidly evolving field.
We believe responsible innovation requires careful study, honest reporting of outcomes, and a commitment to evidence-based medicine.
Building the Future of Multidisciplinary Care
Medicine continues to evolve toward greater collaboration between specialties, and we believe patients benefit most when experienced physicians work together.
Our practice is helping develop a multidisciplinary model for skin cancer care by bringing board-certified plastic surgery together with Mohs dermatology in the same location. This collaborative approach is designed to provide patients with streamlined consultations, coordinated treatment planning, and expert reconstruction following skin cancer removal whenever appropriate.
We also continue to expand our vision of a multispecialty physician practice that encourages collaboration among complementary specialties, making it easier for patients to receive comprehensive care in one coordinated environment.
Our Commitment
Every patient deserves to be treated with skill, honesty, compassion, and respect.
Our commitment is to:
Deliver exceptional cosmetic, reconstructive, hand, and microsurgical care using proven, evidence-based techniques.
Remain at the forefront of plastic surgery through continuing education, innovation, and clinical research.
Provide honest recommendations based on each patient's goals, health, and individual circumstances.
Ensure patients understand their treatment options so they can make informed decisions with confidence.
Be available before and after surgery because attentive communication is essential to excellent care.
Place patient safety, integrity, and long-term outcomes above all else.
Choosing a plastic surgeon is an important decision, and we are grateful for the trust our patients have placed in our practice for more than a quarter century.
Whether you are considering cosmetic surgery, breast reconstruction, hand surgery, skin cancer reconstruction, peripheral nerve surgery, migraine surgery, or emerging regenerative treatments, we look forward to helping you achieve the safest and best possible outcome.
Insurance
We participate with most major insurance plans. Because insurance networks change periodically, we encourage patients to contact our office or their insurance carrier to verify current participation and coverage before their appointment.
Philosophy??:
Plastic surgery is not simply about changing appearance—it is about restoring confidence, improving function, relieving discomfort, and helping patients move forward with their lives. Whether the goal is reconstruction after cancer, recovery from an injury, relief from chronic pain, or achieving a cosmetic improvement that has been thoughtfully considered for years, our responsibility is the same: to listen carefully, provide honest advice, perform surgery safely, and remain committed to our patients every step of the journey."
Why Patients Choose Bangor Plastic and Hand Surgery
Exceptional surgical results begin long before the day of surgery.
Over more than two decades in practice, we have learned that perhaps the most important part of caring for a patient is not simply performing an operation—it is helping each patient develop realistic expectations and a shared understanding of what surgery can and cannot accomplish.
No two patients are alike. Every consultation is an opportunity to listen carefully, understand each individual's goals, concerns, lifestyle, and priorities, and develop a treatment plan that reflects those unique circumstances. We believe the best outcomes occur when surgeon and patient share the same vision of success before surgery ever begins.
We take the time to explain not only the procedure itself, but also what recovery will involve, what improvements can reasonably be expected, how scars mature, how swelling resolves over weeks and months, and how surgical results continue to evolve over time. An informed patient is a confident patient, and confidence comes from understanding—not surprises.
Our commitment to patients extends well beyond the operating room. Dr. Branch has personally provided around-the-clock availability to his own surgical patients throughout his career, ensuring that questions, concerns, and unexpected issues are addressed by the surgeon who knows their history, their procedure, and their goals. We believe continuity of care is one of the greatest comforts we can offer during recovery.
While medicine continues to evolve, our philosophy remains unchanged: treat every patient as an individual, communicate honestly, operate thoughtfully, and remain personally invested in every patient's care from the first consultation through complete recovery.