About Dr. Christopher Schaffer
His Story and Philosophy
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Schaffer gives patients direct answers, not a sales pitch. That standard was forged over 16 years in the Army Reserve Medical Corps, including two deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was decorated for his service at Forward Operating Base Delta in Kut, Iraq, and it was there that he built the discipline and precision he still brings to every consultation and procedure. Raised and educated in Nebraska, Dr. Schaffer founded Schaffer Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, where that same standard holds today.
After earning his medical degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and completing general surgery training at Temple University Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. Schaffer completed his plastic surgery residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham under Dr. Luis Vasconez. He has practiced in the Southeast, mostly in the Birmingham area, for more than 25 years and has built his practice on a single straightforward idea: results should look like they belong to the patient, not to a trend.
An AAAASF-Certified Surgical Facility
Dr. Schaffer performs most procedures in the practice's American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)-certified outpatient surgery suite. The AAAASF sets standards for equipment, staffing, sterilization protocols and emergency preparedness in outpatient surgical settings.
For patients, that means the same facility used for consultations and procedures is held to a review process similar in scope to that of hospital-based surgery centers for procedures that generally do not require a hospital stay.
A One-Patient-at-a-Time Approach
Dr. Schaffer keeps a deliberately limited daily patient schedule so that each consultation and procedure gets his full attention rather than a shared time slot. Many patients have direct after-hours phone access to him during recovery.
During a consultation, before scheduling any next steps, patients can expect to review their goals and health history with Dr. Schaffer; discuss which options may be appropriate given their anatomy; and review what a procedure typically involves, including recovery expectations.
Our Aesthetic Philosophy: Tailored, Individualized Results
Dr. Schaffer's approach to aesthetic surgery starts with anatomy, not a preset look. Because every patient's frame, skin, and goals are different, each surgical plan is tailored to the individual rather than built around a single technique applied the same way to everyone.
Each plan aims for a natural result that fits the patient's body and reflects who they already are, rather than following a passing trend.
Explore Procedures and Next Steps
Learn more about the procedures Dr. Schaffer offers for the face, breast, body and feminine rejuvenation. Browse the gallery for results, or schedule a consultation to start the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
"I would really like to thank you, Dr. Schaffer, for the absolutely fabulous breast augmentation you did on me. Your care, concern and professionalism is outstanding. The compliments I've had are numerous." — Breast Enhancement Patient
Certifications and Professional Organizations
- American Board of Plastic Surgery — Dr. Schaffer is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), one of 24 medical specialty boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Dr. Schaffer is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the world's largest plastic surgery specialty organization.
- American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — Dr. Schaffer is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the society solely dedicated to aesthetic procedures.
- American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities — Dr. Schaffer performs most procedures at our Outpatient Surgery Suite, which is fully AAAASF accredited for patient safety.
Education & Training
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) — Birmingham, AlabamaPlastic Surgery Residency, 2000
- Vanderbilt University Hospital — Nashville, TennesseeGeneral Surgery Residency, 1998
- Temple University Hospital — Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaGeneral Surgery Residency, 1994
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, NebraskaMedical School, 1992
- University of Nebraska — Lincoln, NebraskaUndergraduate, 1988
