Meet Dr. Rachel PferdehirtA Plastic Surgeon Devoted to Restoration

Maine Plastic Surgery is pleased to welcome Dr. Rachel Pferdehirt, MD, to the practice this fall. Dr. Pferdehirt brings a rigorous foundation in both general and plastic surgery, along with a genuine passion for helping patients feel like themselves again.

Comprehensive Training in General and Plastic Surgery

Dr. Pferdehirt completed her residency in plastic surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles (2023–2026). She previously trained in limb preservation and wound healing at Inova Health System in Falls Church, Virginia (2022–2023), building on five years of general surgery residency at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (2017–2022), where she rose to Administrative Chief Resident (2021–2022) after serving as Medical Student Education Resident (2020–2021).

Her medical degree comes from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas (2012–2017), where she also took part in the Medical Student Research Track. Earlier still, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Psychology, with University and College Honors, from Carnegie Mellon University (2008–2012), along with minors in Biomedical Engineering and French and Francophone Studies.

Board Certification and Licensure

Dr. Pferdehirt is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and holds a medical license in the state of Maine.

Academic Honors, Research, and Publications

Dr. Pferdehirt's research spans both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery, with work published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, the American Journal of Medical Genetics, and other peer-reviewed journals, including:

"Finesse in Mastopexy and Augmentation Mastopexy" (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2021)
"Late Bleed after Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction" (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 2020)
"Catel-Manzke Syndrome: Further Delineation of the Phenotype Associated with Pathogenic Variants in TGDS" (Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Reports, 2015)

She has presented her work at national meetings and resident research days, including a podium presentation on hyperbaric oxygen therapy in plastic surgery at UCLA's Department of Plastic Surgery Resident Research Day (2025), and earned a first-place poster award at the Henry J.N. Taub / James K. Alexander Medical Student Research Symposium (2016).

Professional Certifications and Affiliations

Dr. Pferdehirt maintains certifications through several professional bodies, including:

Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society: Hyperbaric Medicine Team Training and Wound Care Course
American Heart Association: Basic Life Support Provider and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider
American College of Surgeons: Advanced Trauma Life Support Certification
Institute for Healthcare Improvement: Certificate in Quality and Safety

A Surgeon and a Mother: Why Plastic Surgery

For Dr. Pferdehirt, plastic surgery is about helping patients reclaim something they thought was gone. As a mother of three herself, she knows firsthand how easy it is to put everyone else first, and how meaningful it can be to finally do something just for you.

Life Outside the Operating Room

When she isn't operating, Dr. Pferdehirt is usually outdoors, exploring nature trails with her husband, three young children, and their rescue dogs. She's an enthusiastic trier of new restaurants and cuisines, especially baked goods, and enjoys winter sports as a family. She's also looking forward to returning to art and design projects once her family's home improvement projects wind down.

Woman smiling outside with long dark brown hair

Why Dr. Pferdehirt Chose Maine

Dr. Pferdehirt and her family were drawn back to the Northeast to raise their children surrounded by all four seasons, including the snow her kids have been asking for. Maine Plastic Surgery's long track record of trusted, patient-first care in Portland made the practice an easy choice, and she's looking forward to taking full advantage of Maine's natural beauty, both in and out of the operating room.

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