Robert Centeno Plastic Surgeon MD, FACS, MBA

Robert F Centeno MD, FACS, MBA is an award-winning, board certified plastic surgeon, who specializes in cosmetic facial and body procedures. He has over 10 years of experience and is fluent in Spanish. Inspired to perserve a career in plastic surgery by his brother Johnny (deceased), who was born with a craniofacial malformation, Dr. Centeno dedicated himself to this lofty pursuit at a very early age. His life experience was instrumental in crystallizing his understanding of the negative impact that a poor body image can have on one’s psychological health and quality of life. This pursuit of his career in Plastic Surgery has been a life-long dream and one to which he brings great passion. His caring disposition and deep compassion inspired by this experience are brought to every patient encounter. Although Dr. Centeno offers a myriad of cosmetic surgery specialties at Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, his interests include minimally-invasive facial procedures (mini-facelift, eye lid lifts, neck lift, browpexy), The Luminous LiftTM, combination volume rejuvenation therapy of the face, body contouring after massive weight loss, laser varicose/spider vein therapy, aesthetic laser treatments and skincare. His other specialties at our practice include breast reduction, mastopexy (breast lift), breast augmentation, gluteal (buttocks) lift, and autologous fat transfer of the face, breast and body. CAREER:Plastic Surgeons undergo one of the most extensive training programs in all of medicine. This makes them especially well-suited to treat patients seeking elective cosmetic surgery. Our patients have many choices of physicians available to them. Dr. Centeno has distinguished himself as an acknowledged leader and educator in Plastic Surgery while remaining in private practice. As a result of his clinical work in body contouring, Dr. Centeno has been recognized by his colleagues as leader in the burgeoning field of body contouring after massive weight loss. He has published and delivered presentations on his techniques in the U.S. and internationally. He has been invited to speak at the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery due to the popularity of his teaching course among his peers. In 2004 he was awarded the Best Research Paper Award by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Additionally, Dr. Centeno has been further recognized by his colleagues and community for his commitment to quality healthcare. In 2009 was appointed by the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands to serve on the Virgin Islands Board of Medical Examiners, the U.S. Territory’s highest licensing and regulatory body. He served with “Outstanding Service” as Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. His commitment to quality patient care was also demonstrated through participation in the Virgin Islands Medical Institute’s “Learning Action Network,” the Territory’s Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) effort to improve quality healthcare delivery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ Massive Weight Loss Task Force membership also demonstrates this leadership. Prior to joining the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, Dr. Centeno returned home to his native U.S. Virgin Islands to found Saint Croix Plastic Surgery & MediSpa in 2008. After over 20 years on the mainland pursuing his education, medical training, and practicing the highly specialized field of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, he fulfilled a life-long goal of returning to St. Croix to participate in the delivery of first-class health care. EDUCATION:In order to pursuit his eduction, Dr. Centeno left his native U.S. Virgin Islands to attend Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and earn a biology degree. Upon graducation, he spent a year researching HIV/AIDS immunology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. While in medical school, he served as an Ensign in the United States Public Health Service and earned a National Health Policy Fellowship at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He earned his medical degree at the MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine at Drexel University, combined with an M.B.A. in Health Care Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Centeno's general surgery residency was completed at MCP-Hahnemann University Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia. He completed his plastic surgery residency at the Washington University’s Barnes-Jewish Hospital and co-founded the nationally Body Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Skincare & Research Center. In his final year at Washington University, he was chosen as Executive Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery. Upon completion of his residencies, he earned an aesthetic surgery fellowship at the prestigious Institute for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at The New York University Medical Center/Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, the nation's busiest cosmetic plastic surgery center, where he trained with Dr. Dan Baker and Dr. Sherrel Aston, two of the top plastic surgeons in the country. In 2005 he earned his Board Certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, after which he became a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), has been cited in "Guide to America’s Top Plastic Surgeons" and selected by the Consumer’s Research Council of America in 2006 and 2008. Mission Statement and PhilosophyThe Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute is a multi-location institute with highly-trained and qualified staff, offering safe and effective treatments ranging from skin care to cosmetic surgery. Our institute's philosophy is image, beauty, and transformation to promote self- confidence and a healthy lifestyle via modern Med-Spa services, skin care and cosmetic surgery, the art and the science. Our goal is to provide our patients and clients with the best care possible by offering the latest in skin care, non-surgical rejuvenation, and cosmetic surgery, while paying special attention to each individual's needs. Here are links for some of the articles he has published:https://www.box.com/s/6jfkelo0yvjle6wf7os1https://www.box.com/s/ct09jm66asmzjrmxa4r9https://www.box.com/s/u6hi5gaxx6rnlbvz8p8ehttps://www.box.com/s/fgjet5ip9ovzo65jcdk0https://www.box.com/s/pgt4mn8upondn39fq34ghttps://www.box.com/s/4f3cp0xzdscapyl6al4whttps://www.box.com/s/fgjet5ip9ovzo65jcdk0https://www.box.com/s/3tat3u6n6icyydscuf76https://www.box.com/s/nsze02ojgv7u4e8860q4https://www.box.com/s/3v0zr0fmx2qpl4uozfzjhttps://www.box.com/s/dttk4x4zhc1yu4yupuo7