Who does your surgeon work for? Dr. Graham works for you. By Dr. Sutton Graham on July 04, 2021

Does your plastic surgeon have your interests foremost in mind?  Does your surgeon work for another corporate entity?  In the financial industry, you may know of the fiduciary level of responsibililty - the obligation to act in the person's best interest.  We believe that physicians throughout the country strive to act in the best interests of each patient. 

We advocate for our policy of independence from hospital executives and insurance administrators.  We are independent.  We are employed by our individual patients.  We work directly for you. 

This is not the norm in the United States in 2021.  From a recent AMA publication:

"Only 30% of U.S. Physicians Practice Medicine Independently.  The study shows that hospitals and other corporate entities continue to drive consolidation through practice acquisitions.  Additionally, there was a "COVID-19 effect" as these trends accelerated in the last half of 2020. Quick summary of important findings include:
    •    Only 30 percent of physicians in the United States practiced medicine independently at the beginning of 2021.  
    •    29,800 additional physicians became employees of corporate entities – 11,300 of that growth occurred after the onset of COVID-19 (a 31% increase).
    •    Physician employment and practice acquisitions grew across all U.S. regions over the two-year period, with variations in the types and extent of growth.
    •    The South experienced the biggest increase in practice acquisitions by corporate entities with 59% growth."


Greenville has seen these changes over the last several years.  Independent surgeons are very rare in Greenville.  Most local surgeons are employed by either Prisma or Bon Secours/Mercy hospital companies.  However, plastic surgery still has several independent physicians, at the present time.  If you have questions, ask your surgeon or their staff. 

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Dr. Sutton Graham

Aesthetic Center Greenville

Dr. Graham has been performing plastic surgery since 1990. He is dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized treatment, and is affiliated with several prestigious organizations, including:

  • American Board of Plastic Surgery
  • American College of Surgeons
  • American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons

To learn more, contact us online or call our Greenville, SC, office at (864) 676-1707​.

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"I am very pleased with Dr. Graham and his staff! They have been incredibly kind and helpful throughout my surgery. The post-op care has also been top notch! They always respond to my concerns right away, and I always feel well cared for, and listened to." Mary V.

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