Maakan Taghizadeh, MD, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking the third consecutive year he has received this designation. Only 7 percent of the nation's licensed physicians are selected annually as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for their specialties within their regions. Dr. Taghizadeh, known to patients as "Dr. Tag," is the founder of U Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, a practice that emphasizes a holistic approach to the surgical experience, ensuring patient care extends beyond the procedure to encompass the entire recovery and aesthetic journey.
"This honor doesn't just recognize me - it includes our whole team," said Dr. Taghizadeh. "We're all focused on getting the best possible results for our patients. We strive to deliver outstanding outcomes with the best experience. It takes our entire staff focusing on the patient and providing exceptional customer service to achieve that." The practice's commitment to the patient experience is supported by a dedicated professional staff trained in exceptional customer service, ensuring every stage of the treatment plan is managed with clinical rigor and personalized attention.
Dr. Taghizadeh evaluates and treats a wide range of aesthetic and reconstructive concerns, specializing in conditions requiring surgical intervention of the breast, body contouring needs, and facial aging. His practice manages complex cases that demand a high degree of microsurgical skill and anatomical expertise to restore form and function. Key procedures include breast augmentation and lift, microsurgical breast reconstruction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction and body contouring, facelift and neck lift, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty, and post-bariatric body contouring.
Dr. Taghizadeh earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He completed his residency training in general surgery at the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, where he was recognized as Intern of the Year. He subsequently completed a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Ohio State University Medical Center. Following his residency, Dr. Taghizadeh returned to Baltimore to complete a specialized fellowship in Breast, Microsurgical, and Aesthetic Surgery at Mercy Medical Center.
In addition to his clinical training, Dr. Taghizadeh has been consistently recognized for excellence in his field. He has been named a Baltimore Magazine Top Doctor for eight consecutive years, from 2018 through 2025. Castle Connolly Top Doctors are nominated by peer physicians and selected by the physician-led Castle Connolly research team. Castle Connolly publishes its Top Doctors list at castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications. Nominations are open to all board-certified MDs, DOs, and DPMs, with selections based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories; doctors cannot pay to be selected.
This recognition matters as it underscores the importance of peer validation in healthcare, particularly in specialized fields like plastic surgery where patient trust and outcomes are paramount. For the industry, it highlights the value of holistic care models that integrate clinical expertise with personalized service, potentially setting a benchmark for patient-centered practices. For patients, it provides a reliable indicator of quality when seeking surgical care, as Castle Connolly's rigorous selection process helps identify physicians with proven skills and dedication. The repeated honors for Dr. Taghizadeh suggest a consistent standard of excellence that could influence broader trends in aesthetic and reconstructive medicine, emphasizing the role of comprehensive patient support in achieving successful results.
