About Paul G. Ruff, MD

As a child, Paul adored his grandfather, who was a highly respected obstetrician-gynecologist. Paul didn’t know exactly what that meant, but he knew that his grandfather helped people. His grandfather’s joy and enthusiasm for his work showed. That passion sparked Paul’s own dream, one he’s realized as one of the top cosmetic plastic surgeons in Washington, D.C.Dr. Ruff returned to the area where he grew up and opened West End Plastic Surgery, establishing his reputation as plastic surgeon committed to the surrounding communities, such as Reston, Arlington, and Alexandria. After graduating from GU, Paul chose to enter one of the most challenging medical programs in the nation at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk, Virginia. “I chose to go there because it was one of the best programs for OB-GYNs. At that time my goal was still to be an OB-GYN like my grandfather,” Paul commented. EVMS also had a top plastic surgery program at the time. Plastic surgery wasn’t even on my mind at that time. But when I was on rotation, I discovered that I really enjoyed surgery. I was continually complimented on my skills and surgical techniques. I believe that my years as a pianist and tennis player were key components in developing a talent for surgery,” Paul recalled. As Paul became more exposed to the field of plastic surgery, he became more interested in this medical specialty. “In the plastic surgery field, you are operating from head to toe. It provided me near limitless opportunities as to what I could accomplish as a surgeon. In this specialty, thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology are critical to providing optimal care and results for a patient. This key component, coupled with my skills, appealed to me, and I decided to pursue plastic surgery instead of becoming an OB-GYN.”As his father was a Navy man stationed in Virginia, Paul grew up in and around the Washington, D.C. area. The D.C. area has always been my home. I always knew that this was where I wanted to practice.Paul attended Gonzaga College High School, graduating with honors. Gonzaga’s motto is to create a well-rounded student, a young man who is intellectually competent, open to growth, religious, loving and committed to doing justice in generous service to the people of God. Simply put, we educate our students to be ‘Men for Others. This educational environment, coupled with being a competitive pianist and tennis player, helped shape Paul’s future as one who would serve others in the medical field.Paul continued his Jesuit education in college at Georgetown University. These were transformative years. It was at GU, volunteering with the Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS), that Paul was first exposed to patient care. The initial experiences I had while volunteering for GERMS cemented my resolve that medicine was what I truly wanted to do. I was helping people in need. This brought me both joy and compassion for people. Following his graduation from EVMS, Dr. Ruff performed his general surgery residency and surgical critical care residency and was the chief administrative resident at Washington Hospital Center, spending 6 years there. Then, in July of 1999, Dr. Ruff and his family moved to San Diego to complete his plastic surgery residency at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center (UCSD). Dr. Ruff’s experiences as a resident at UCSD provided him with a wealth of innovative skills. “It was as if I walked out of UCSD with a virtual toolbox of reconstructive and cosmetic skills. I have a deep appreciation for the tutelage I received from my talented mentors and for the unique residency program at UCSD. I believe this program was a key factor in my development toward becoming a complete surgeon.Throughout his residencies, Dr. Ruff has been recognized for exceptional skill and compassionate care as a plastic surgeon. He was awarded the Gould Award from Washington Hospital Center and the Chairman’s Prize at UCSD.Dr. Ruff was appointed Assistant Professor of Clinical Plastic Surgery by the Georgetown University Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs based on recommendation of the Department Chair and Committee on Appointments and Promotions of the School of Medicine. In addition, he has been featured on ABC’s Bachelor in Paradise and Fox 5 News. When asked about his philosophy on being a successful cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Ruff responded.