Meet Dr. Mahlon Kerr

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Austin, Texas

Board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Synergy Plastic Surgery, Mahlon Kerr, M.D., FACS, is renowned for his expertise in breast enhancement, facial plastic surgery, and body contouring. As a top breast augmentation specialist, Dr. Kerr has attracted patients from more than a dozen countries to his practices in Austin and surrounding communities. Learn more about Dr. Kerr’s impressive training and credentials below.

Credentials At A Glance

Education

• Residency – Combined Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; University of Utah
• Internship – General Surgery; University of Nevada
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) – Oregon Health & Science University
• Undergraduate – University of Oregon

Society Memberships

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• The Aesthetic Society
• American College of Surgeons
• Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Society
• Austin Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons

Credentials

• Board Certification – American Board of Plastic Surgery
• Fellow – American College of Surgeons
• License – Surgeon and Physician, State of Texas

View Dr. Kerr’s CV

Carrying on the Family Tradition

Medicine is in Dr. Kerr’s blood. He comes from a long line of doctors, including surgeons, stretching back generations to the Civil War. His grandfather even served as president of the American Public Health Association for many years.

From an early age, Dr. Kerr knew he wanted to follow in his family’s footsteps. While his grade-school classmates were dreaming of becoming professional athletes, Dr. Kerr had his sights on becoming a surgeon. It wasn’t until medical school, however, that he discovered his calling for plastic and reconstructive surgery.

A Rare, Hands-On Education

Dr. Kerr earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Oregon before attending medical school at Oregon Health & Science University. Bright, driven, and proactive, Dr. Kerr quickly found a mentor in one of his professors (a plastic surgeon) and found himself in the operating room within a couple of months of starting med school.

This type of hands-on experience is highly unusual so early in a student’s education, but Dr. Kerr embraced the challenge fully. He scrubbed into about 200 operations during his first 2 years alone and continued to distinguish himself academically with numerous scholarships and accolades. Dr. Kerr says he knew right from the beginning of his time in med school that plastic surgery was what he wanted to do with his life.

Unsurpassed Training and Experience

In total, Dr. Kerr’s training spanned more than 26 hospitals in multiple countries. Following a general surgery internship at the University of Nevada, Dr. Kerr continued his training with a combined plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at the University of Utah. This prestigious and rigorous program was trial-by-fire with an unusually high volume of cases for its residents. As Dr. Kerr describes it:

I was doing about 1,000 cases a year. I’m super busy now, and I perform over 500 procedures in a year, so that gives you an idea of the multitude of patients and operations I was exposed to back then.”

Dr. Kerr thrived in this environment, honing his surgical skills under some of the foremost experts in his field. His time in Salt Lake City—one of the top areas for breast augmentation in the U.S.—also allowed him to specialize in breast enhancement, something he is now known for throughout Central Texas.

We use modern techniques that are proven safe and effective. I think Synergy reflects our willingness to pursue multiple ideas and approaches to get the results our patients want.”

– Dr. Mahlon Kerr

On the Cutting Edge

Over the last 20 years, Dr. Kerr has had the privilege of working with several internationally recognized plastic surgeons. He prides himself on staying up to date on the latest advancements and offering his patients a thoughtful, modern surgical experience that blends tried-and-true techniques with an innovative angle.

A great example of this is his early adoption of fat grafting. In his words, Dr. Kerr says:

I think we’ve really led the fat grafting revolution in our area, and now everyone is doing it. In the beginning, I spent time in Florida with Dr. Roger Khouri, one of the foremost experts in fat grafting for cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery and brought his principles and instruments back to Austin. We really started doing many of the more common fat grafting procedures before anybody else in the Austin area.”

Special Clinical Interests

Dr. Kerr is known for his skill in all types of plastic surgery but holds a particular interest in breast enhancement, including complex breast revisionary surgery and the following procedures:

He is also well regarded for his expertise in fat grafting and surgery after weight loss.

A Leader in His Field

An artist, entrepreneur, media personality, and educator, Dr. Kerr’s professional life reflects a vibrant passion for his discipline. His knowledge and mastery of medical issues have taken him from reviewing content for plastic surgery textbooks to serving as a legal consultant for the Texas Medical Board.

Dr. Kerr is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and a former president of the Austin Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (2018 to 2021).

He is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Aesthetic Society (formerly ASAPS), and the Austin Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Society. Dr. Kerr is also proud to serve on the board of Austin Plastic Surgery Foundation/Austin Smiles.

Highly Honored Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Kerr has earned several notable honors from peers and patients alike. Early in his career, Dr. Kerr was recognized as a Rising Star by Superdoctors in back-to-back years. He has since been named one of the “Best Plastic Surgeons in America” by Newsweek in 2021 and featured in Austin Monthly’s Top Doctors – Plastic Surgery list on multiple occasions.

In addition, Dr. Kerr was recognized with a RealSelf 100 award, lauding him as one of the top 100 contributors to cosmetic medicine in the state of Texas. His passion for delivering quality information in an empathetic, respectful, and approachable way has translated to other accolades, including the HealthGrades Patients’ Choice Award and Vitals’ Most Compassionate Doctor Award.

A Trusted Voice in Plastic Surgery

Dr. Kerr has regularly appeared in print and television as an authority on plastic surgery. He was featured on season 1 of Skintight and Skintight Transformed, which aired nationally on The Learning Channel (TLC) and internationally on Discovery Networks in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. These shows documented the total body surgical transformations for massive weight loss patients.

In addition, Dr. Kerr is frequently invited to speak about plastic surgery on local television news outlets, including CBS/KEYE, NBC/KXAN, and Time Warner Cable News. Dr. Kerr has also been featured on the covers of NSIDE MD Magazine and Evolution Magazine and has appeared in Texas Lifestyle Magazine, Austin Lifestyle Magazine, Cliché Magazine, Beauty World News, and the news publication Round Rock Leader.

I’ve taught hundreds of medical students over the years because I think it’s important to give back to the educational community. Somebody took the time to teach me, and that’s what made me who I am today.”

– Dr. Mahlon Kerr

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Plastic Surgeons

In addition to a thriving private practice, Dr. Kerr is an adjunct clinical assistant professor of surgery at Texas A&M University Medical School. He instructs both medical students and residents, allowing them to observe operations and learn about plastic surgery in a real-world setting.

Dr. Kerr takes a strong role in mentoring younger surgeons in both surgical techniques and developing the skill set to run a successful business. His passion for teaching the next generation of plastic surgeons also inspires Dr. Kerr in his own practice. As he puts it:

Staying involved with the education of medical students keeps you on your toes because you need to stay current with technological and surgical advances. You can’t rest on your laurels. You have to be better than the rest and really on your game when teaching.”

Humanitarian at Heart

For about a month each year, Dr. Kerr is abroad performing and teaching cleft lip and palate surgeries. This passion for serving patients who otherwise wouldn’t have access to such services began during his training when he first began going on medical mission trips.

Dr. Kerr has been fortunate to travel to Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador with Austin Smiles and Rotoplast. His humanitarian work is life-changing, not just for the children and adults he treats but also for himself.

As he explains:

Those experiences are truly touching and let you know that being a plastic surgeon gives you multiple avenues to affect people’s lives for the better using both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.”

Research Contributions

Dr. Kerr is well-published in the field of plastic surgery, most notably in breast surgery. His research interests have spanned innovations in breast reconstruction techniques, enhancing pain management in trauma patients, advancements in craniofacial surgery, and improving surgical education and training.

He has presented his research across the United States as well as in Brazil and the United Kingdom. Dr. Kerr is currently a clinical investigator for the use of the BRAVA external expansion device and autologous fat grafting (BRAVA + AFT) in breast cancer reconstructive surgery and breast augmentation surgery.

Synergy is about multiple parts working together. The practice is not just me; it’s really a team working together. Each person plays their part to enhance the overall experience.”

– Dr. Mahlon Kerr

Approachable, Down-to-Earth Care

As countless patients will tell you, Dr. Kerr possesses that rare combination of a warm bedside manner and incredible surgical skills. He is easy to talk to and creates a comfortable, welcoming environment that puts patients at ease from the very beginning.

Dr. Kerr is also passionate about patient education and helping his patients to make informed decisions that align with their best interests. He takes the time to truly listen and understand your concerns and goals before explaining your options in an engaging and easy-to-understand way.

Learn more about what makes Dr. Kerr a top plastic surgeon on our Reviews page.

Life Outside the Office

Dr. Kerr and his wife, Ashley (who also works in the practice!), love to travel and spend 3 to 4 months out of the year abroad. You may find them scuba diving in the Caribbean or enjoying some of their other favorite destinations, which include Thailand, Italy, and New Zealand. The Kerrs also have an adorable fur baby and divide their time between their homes in Texas and Mexico.

Get to know Dr. Kerr in person by requesting a consultation or calling Synergy Plastic Surgery at (512) 244-1439 today.

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