Michael D. Baratta, MD

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Board-eligible plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael D. Baratta, is a Florida native who was raised in Naples. His education and professional training remained in Florida through his first 2 years of surgical residency at Mayo Clinic Florida. As a Florida State University medical student, he completed two years of clinical training in Sarasota. This gave him the unique opportunity to learn from and work with many community physicians and surgeons including Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center. Dr. Baratta then completed a rigorous integrated plastic surgery residency and an additional year of aesthetic surgery fellowship. Upon completing his surgical training, Dr. Baratta was chosen as the next surgeon to join Sarasota Plastic Surgery Center after a nationwide search revealed that he was one of the best trained and highly recruited young plastic surgeons in the United States. He will be moving to Sarasota with his wife and twin boys. Dr. Baratta’s friendly approach and easy communication help him better understand his patients’ needs. He is exceptionally qualified to meet and exceed the goals of patients at Sarasota Plastic Surgery.

MEET DR. Baratta

SKILLS AND SPECIALTIES

Dr. Baratta’s extensive training allows him to provide his patients a variety of surgical options with natural appearing results. He has undergone extensive elective training as an aesthetic surgery fellow at HKB Cosmetic Surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina, with in-depth experience in all areas of aesthetic surgery. Dr. Baratta offers advanced techniques of the breast including breast augmentation, breast lift, breast implant removal, breast reduction, and breast fat grafting. He provides an array of advanced body contouring techniques including abdominoplasty, liposuction, body lift, bra-line back lift, arm lift, thigh lift, and buttock lift. Dr. Baratta also offers facial rejuvenation including face lift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, lip lift, and facial fat grafting. He believes in multimodal therapy and offers many non-invasive techniques to further enhance your results including Botox, Dysport, filler, and laser resurfacing.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Dr. Baratta received his B.S. degree at the University of Florida and completed his M.D degree at Florida State University College of Medicine. Due to his exceptional performance in general surgery residency at the renowned Mayo Clinic Florida, he was chosen to complete his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He received extensive training in a broad range of plastic surgery procedures at Dartmouth. His keen interest in cosmetic surgery led Dr. Baratta to seek out an additional year of training specifically in cosmetic surgery. He was selected for one of the most prestigious fellowships in the United States as a fellow at HKB Cosmetic Surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina. While at HKB, he received in-depth training in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and body from renowned faculty. This advanced training crafted his skill in assessing and understanding how to meet each patient’s unique aesthetic goals and priorities. Dr. Baratta also gained experience in many noninvasive techniques to improve appearance and enhance beauty including neuromodulators, fillers, lasers, and new skin tightening devices.

Certification and Licenses

Dr. Michael D. Baratta is currently board-eligible by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, having completed his formal training in plastic surgery. Patients can trust that Dr. Baratta’s training and ongoing commitment to excellence make him a highly qualified surgeon, even as he works towards full certification.

The Path to Board Certification: Why It Matters

Becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon is a vital process that ensures top-notch patient care and surgical expertise. This journey, from completing formal training to passing rigorous exams, distinguishes fully qualified surgeons.

What Is Board Eligibility?

A “board-eligible” plastic surgeon has completed their formal training but hasn’t yet passed the board certification exams. This status typically lasts during their first year of practice, where they operate independently and document their cases.

Steps to Board Certification

Complete Residency: Surgeons undergo extensive training in all aspects of plastic surgery.
Start Practice: They begin their practice, documenting cases for evaluation.
Pass Written Exam: A comprehensive test covering core plastic surgery concepts.
Pass Oral Exam: An oral exam the following year, demonstrating their expertise through case discussions.

Why It’s Important

While being board-eligible indicates that a surgeon has completed formal training, board certification is a crucial next step. Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery serves as a confirmation that the surgeon has not only completed their training but also successfully passed the rigorous exams that test their knowledge, skills, and ethical standards. For patients, this certification acts as a warranty, ensuring that their surgeon has met the highest standards of the profession and is committed to providing safe, effective, and ethical care.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Dr. Baratta has been chosen to present his research and academic interests in the form of podium talks and poster presentations at both regional and national meetings including the annual Aesthetic Society, Plastic Surgery Research Council, and Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons meetings. He has also co-authored mulitple manuscripts in scientific journals. Most recently, Dr. Baratta was awarded a scholarship to attend the annual Aesthetic Surgery Meeting where he presented his aesthetic fellowship research and learned about the most advanced techniques in everything aesthetic surgery from an international group of aesthetic plastic surgery leaders.