Foreign Medical Experience

2019 Cleft Surgeon Volunteer, Operation Smile Vietnam, Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam 2017 Visiting Scholar, Division of Microsurgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan 2013 Visiting Medical Student, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China 2007 Medical Volunteer, Department of Cardiology, Hospital El Clinicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

2019 Counselor, Camp Winning Hands, Livermore, California. Summer camp for children with hand differences sponsored by Shriner’s Hospital Sacramento, California. Cleft Surgeon Volunteer, Operation Smile Vietnam, Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam 2009–2013 HOYA Clinic, Washington, DC. Student-run medical clinic for underserved population in Southeast, Washington, DC

Fluent English Proficient Spanish Basic Greek

Dr. James Economides

Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

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Education + Background

Dr. Economides

Dr. James M. Economides is a board-certified plastic surgeon — certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a proud Fellow of the American College of Surgeons — specializing in facial rejuvenation, body contouring, and aesthetic surgery in Washington, DC. With a reputation built on surgical precision and an unwavering commitment to natural-looking results, Dr. Economides has been recognized as a Top Doctor every year since 2019, a distinction that reflects not only his technical excellence but the trust his patients place in him time and again.

Dr. Economides is perhaps best known for his mastery of the deep plane facelift — one of the most sophisticated and enduring procedures in facial rejuvenation — as well as his expertise in blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, and advanced body contouring. He takes an equally thoughtful approach to non-surgical aesthetics, often combing treatments to complement and extend surgical results. Whether a patient is seeking a subtle refresh or a comprehensive transformation, Dr. Economides designs every treatment plan around the individual — their anatomy, their goals, and the life they want to live in their own skin.

An internationally recognized educator and lecturer, Dr. Economides has presented at universities and conferences around the world, bringing the same rigor and curiosity to the podium that he brings to the operating room. His insights have been featured in Bloomberg, and his voice carries weight in a specialty where nuance matters enormously. At Ikon Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics, that depth of knowledge translates directly into patient care — thoughtful, precise, and always personal. His mission is simple: to help you look and feel like the most refined version of yourself.

Training &
Experience

Dr. Economides has practiced as a board-certified plastic surgeon since completing residency in 2019. He was previously with Advanced Plastic Surgery Center in Arlington, Virginia, and in 2026 became the founder and medical director of Ikon Plastic Surgery & Medical Aesthetics in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

He has 40+ peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters in plastic and reconstructive surgery and has presented/lectured at national and international conferences. He has also served as a reviewer for major plastic surgery journals.

He remains connected to Georgetown, including teaching/mentoring plastic surgery residents and serving on the Georgetown Clinical Society’s leadership.

He’s also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Getting to know Dr. Economides

2019

Cleft Surgeon Volunteer, Operation Smile Vietnam, Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam

2017

Visiting Scholar, Division of Microsurgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan

2013

Visiting Medical Student, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

2007

Medical Volunteer, Department of Cardiology, Hospital El Clinicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2019

Counselor, Camp Winning Hands, Livermore, California. Summer camp for children with hand differences sponsored by Shriner’s Hospital Sacramento, California. Cleft Surgeon Volunteer, Operation Smile Vietnam, Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam

2009–2013

HOYA Clinic, Washington, DC. Student-run medical clinic for underserved population in Southeast, Washington, DC

06/2026 –Present

Ikon Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics, PLLC, Chevy Chase, MD Founder and Medical Director

09/2019 – 06/2026

Advanced Plastic Surgery Center, Arlington, VA, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Black CK, Fan KL, Economides JM, Camden RC, Del Corral GA. Analysis of Chest Masculinization Surgery

Results in Female-to-Male Transgender Patients: Demonstrating High Satisfaction beyond Aesthetic Outcomes

Using Advanced Linguistic Analyzer Technology and Social Media. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Jan

24;8(1):e2356.

Economides JM, Choi YK, Fan KL, Kanuri AP, Song DH. Are We Witnessing a Paradigm Shift?: A Systematic

Review of Social Media in Residency. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019 Aug 19;7(8):e2288.

Economides JM, Zajac JC, Mandelbaum M, Wood B, Chao JW. Post-operative complication rates after gender-

affirming surgery: Are they affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status? J Plast Reconstr Aesthet

Surg. 2019 Jun 27.

Economides JM, Fan KL, Black CK, Evans KK. The Hemirectus/Anterolateral Thigh Chimeric Flap: An

Alternative in the Setting of Variable and Unfavorable Vascular Anatomy. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019

May 17;7(5):e2238.

Economides JM, Zajac JC, Mandelbaum M, Wood B, Chao JW. Post-operative complication rates after gender-

affirming surgery: Are they affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status? J Plast Reconstr Aesthet

Surg. 2019 Nov;72(11):1856-1871.

Fan KL, Economides JM, Black CK, Song DH. The Spare Parts Anastomosis: Branch Point Spatulation

Technique to Alleviate SIEA Mismatch. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Jul;144(1):152e-153e.

Pittman TA, Economides JM. Preparing for Facial Feminization Surgery: Timing. Facial Plast Surg Clin North

Am. 2019 May;27(2):191-197.

Economides JM, Graziano F, Tousimis E, Willey S, Pittman TA. Expanded Algorithm and Updated Experience

with Breast Reconstruction Using a Staged Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy following Mastopexy or Reduction

Mammaplasty in the Large or Ptotic Breast. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Apr;143(4):688e-697e.

Fan KL, Graziano F, Economides JM, Black CK, Song DH. The Public’s Preferences on Plastic Surgery Social

Media Engagement and Professionalism: Demystifying the Impact of Demographics. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019

Feb;143(2):619-630.

Janhofer DE, Economides JM, Song DH. The Suture Tab Technique: Securing Implant Position in Prepectoral

Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018 Dec 12;6(12):e2005.Fan KL, Economides JM, Song DH. To Bot or Not? Challenging the Top Social Media Influencers in

#PlasticSurgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Jan;143(1):337-343.

Economides JM, DeFazio MV, Fan KL, Song DH. Intercostal Artery Perforator Flap for Vascularized Lymph

Node Transfer in Post-Breast Cancer Upper Extremity Lymphedema. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Jan;143(1):251e-

252e.

Zajac JC, Mandelbaum M, Economides JM, Chao JW. Immediate Massive Posttraumatic Pseudolipoma of the

Buttocks: A Case of a Heterotopic “Love Handle”. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018 Sep 6;6(9):e1887.

DeFazio MV, Economides JM, Anghel EL, Tefera EA, Evans KK. Lower Extremity Free Tissue Transfer in the

Setting of Thrombophilia: Analysis of Perioperative Anticoagulation Protocols and Predictors of Flap Failure. J

Reconstr Microsurg. 2019 May;35(4):270-286.

DeFazio MV, Episalla NC, Lakhiani C, Economides JM, Baker SB. If You Don’t Use It, You Lose It: The Age-

Dependent Utility of Iliac Crest Cartilage for Intermediate Correction of Cleft Nasal Tip Asymmetry. Plast Reconstr

Surg. 2018 Dec;142(6):988e-989e.

Economides JM, DeFazio MV, Golshani K, Cinque M, Anghel EL, Lakhiani C, Hung R, Attinger CE, Evans KK.

Soft Tissue Coverage of Complex Periprosthetic Defects in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty: Analysis of

Factors That Influence Reconstructive and Functional Outcomes. Wounds. 2018 Jul 30.

Economides JM, Fan KL, Pittman TA. An Analysis of Plastic Surgeons’ Social Media Use and Perceptions.

Aesthet Surg J. 2019 Jun 21;39(7):794-802.

Pittman TA, Abbate OA, Economides JM. The P1 Method: Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction to Minimize the

Palpable Implant Edge and Upper Pole Rippling. Ann Plast Surg. 2018 May;80(5):487-492.

Economides JM, Song DH. Latissimus Dorsi and Immediate Fat Transfer (LIFT) for Complete Autologous Breast

Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2018 Jan 23;6(1):e1656.

Bamba R, Krishnan NM, Youn R, Economides JM, Pittman TA. The Use of Low-Profile Silicone Breast Implants

in Male Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Feb;141(2):324e-325e.

Economides JM, Baker SB. Discussion: A Morphometric Study of the Newborn Ear and an Analysis of Factors

Related to Congenital Auricular Deformities. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Jul;140(1):156-157.

DeFazio MV, Economides JM, Anghel EL, Mathis RK, Barbour JR, Attinger CE. Traction-assisted Internal

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Bridging Retention Sutures to Facilitate Staged Closure of High-risk

Wounds Under Tension. Wounds. 2017 Jul 26.

Economides JM, DeFazio MV, Golshani K, Cinque M, Anghel EL, Attinger CE, Evans KK. Systematic Review

and Comparative Meta-Analysis of Outcomes Following Pedicled Muscle versus Fasciocutaneous Flap Coverage

for Complex Periprosthetic Wounds in Patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty. Arch Plast Surg. 2017

Mar;44(2):124-135.

Economides JM, Pittman TA. The 4-flap Jester’s Hat Technique for Nipple Reduction. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob

Open. 2017 Feb 21;5(2):e1233.

DeFazio M, Economides JM, Paryavi E. Combined Subcutaneous Heparinization and Negative Pressure Wall

Suction as A Mechanical Adjunct for Digital Replant Salvage. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016

Jul;4(7):e822-e823.

Economides JM, DeFazio M, Attinger C, Barbour J. Prevention of Painful Neuroma and Phantom Limb Pain

Following Transfemoral Amputations Through Concomitant Nerve Coaptation and Collagen Nerve Wrapping.

Neurosurgery. 2016 Sep;79(3):508-513.

DeFazio M, Economides JM, King K, Han K, Shanmugam V, Attinger C, Evans K. Outcomes Following

Combined Radical Resection and Targeted Biologic Therapy for the Management of Recalcitrant Hidradenitis

Suppurativa. Ann Plast Surg. 2016 Aug;77(2):217-222.

DeFazio M, Felder III J, Economides JM, Attinger C. Home Improvement in Maggot Therapy: Designing A

Simple, Cost-Effective, Closed-System Habitat to Facilitate Biodebridement of Complex Distal Lower Extremity

Wounds. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Nov;136(5):722e-723e.

DeFazio M, Economides JM, Felder III J, Attinger C. The U-Shaped Tensor Fascia Lata Musculocutaneous Flap

for Coverage of Trochanteric Defects: Simplified Design for Minimizing Donor-Site Morbidity. Plast Reconstr Surg.

2015 Aug;136(2):288e-290e.

Spear SL, Economides JM, Shuck J, Patel KM. Analyzing implant movement with tabbed and nontabbed

expanders through the process of two-stage breast reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Mar;133(3):256e-

260e.Patel KM, Economides JM, Franklin B, Sosin M, Attinger C, Ducic I. Correlating patient-reported outcomes and

ambulation success following microsurgical lower extremity reconstruction in comorbid patients. Microsurgery.

2014 Jan;34(1):1-4.

Economides JM, Patel KM, Evans KK, Marshall E, Attinger CE. Systematic review of patient-centered outcomes

following lower extremity flap reconstruction in comorbid patients. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2013 Jun;29(5):307-16.

Publications

Arlington 2026 Top Doctor

Modern DC

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Dr. James Economides

Dr. Economides

Training & Experience

Getting to know Dr. Economides

Foreign Medical Experience

Volunteer Experience

Languages Spoken

Publications

Photo Gallery

Out of Town Patients

Hotels

Explore the Area

Travel Coordination

Schedule Your Consultation

Training &
Experience

Out of Town
Patients

Schedule Your
Consultation