San Antonio Plastic Surgeon John Ayala, MD, FACS
Meet Dr. John Ayala, MD, FACS
- Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
- Member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- Named a “Top Doctor 2025” by TX Top Docs
- Nominated for “Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon” in Annual 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
- Active Member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)
Ayala Plastic Surgery is led by board-certified plastic surgeon John Ayala, MD, FACS, a leading plastic surgeon serving patients in and around the San Antonio community. Considered a top plastic surgeon in the region, Dr. Ayala offers high-quality cosmetic surgery, as well as state-of-the-art non-surgical enhancement, for the face, breasts, body, and skin. While known for possessing the technical capabilities and surgical artistry required to attain natural-looking results, Dr. Ayala is also praised for his outstanding patient care and compassionate bedside manner. With decades of experience and an exclusive focus on aesthetic plastic surgery, Dr. Ayala is well-equipped to help you achieve your cosmetic goals.
Dr. Ayala earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin and later attended the prestigious Baylor College of Medicine from 1987 to 1991, where he achieved his Doctor of Medicine. After graduation, he went on to pursue a general surgery residency and internship at Texas Tech University’s Health Science Center, as well as a three-year plastic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine. Throughout the course of both residencies, Dr. Ayala earned the status of Chief Resident. He then completed additional residencies under the tutelage of acclaimed plastic surgeons Dr. David McInnis and Dr. John Bostwick III. With his extensive educational background and high levels of training, Dr. Ayala earned his board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) in 2000 and subsequently went into private practice.
San Antonio Native
A proud Texan, Dr. Ayala has lived in the area for his entire life and has deep roots in the San Antonio community. He has served the aesthetic and plastic surgery needs of South Texans for decades, cultivating over 26 years of experience in private practice. As a lifelong San Antonian, Dr. Ayala prioritizes building lasting relationships with his patients in order to truly understand what they hope to achieve and bring their desired improvements to life. When he’s not in the operating room, Dr. Ayala enjoys spending time with family and supporting the vibrant culture of his community. His connection to the region fuels his dedication to helping patients throughout San Antonio and neighboring areas look and feel their best.
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Ayala’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that exceptional results begin with truly understanding the individual behind each procedure. Guided by the belief that every patient’s results should be unique to their natural beauty, Dr. Ayala emphasizes open communication, realistic expectations, and meticulous planning. He takes the time to listen carefully to each patient’s goals, concerns, and motivations in order to create a customized treatment plan that reflects their unique anatomy and desired outcome, rejecting a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Equally important to Dr. Ayala is providing an experience built on trust, transparency, and compassion. The team at Ayala Plastic Surgery is committed to fostering a supportive environment where patients can feel informed, confident, and cared for every step of the way. By emphasizing safety, honesty, and realistic expectations, Dr. Ayala helps patients make well-informed decisions that not only lead to beautiful outcomes, but also to a renewed sense of confidence and well-being. Overall, his philosophy blends surgical precision with an eye for proportion and natural harmony, allowing each patient to look and feel like the best version of themselves — not someone else.
Areas of Expertise
With decades of specialized experience in aesthetic surgery, Dr. Ayala has developed a reputation for elegant, refined results across a broad spectrum of face, breast, and body procedures. Dr. Ayala’s areas of expertise include:
- Facial Plastic Surgery: Whether performing a facelift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, or rhinoplasty, Dr. Ayala’s focus is always on achieving harmony while preserving the natural character of a patient’s face. With a goal of enhancing balance and symmetry, Dr. Ayala’s facial procedures are tailored to maintain expression and individuality. For those seeking less invasive options, he also provides advanced non-surgical treatments such as dermal fillers, neuromodulators, and skin rejuvenation therapies to help refresh one’s appearance and complexion without downtime.
- Breast Enhancement: Dr. Ayala performs a variety of procedures to help women achieve proportionate, aesthetically pleasing results that align with their body and lifestyle. His offerings include breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction, as well as gynecomastia surgery for men. Each treatment plan is customized to enhance symmetry, shape, and natural contours, using the latest surgical techniques and implant technology to achieve long-lasting results.
- Body Sculpting: Through advanced body contouring techniques, Dr. Ayala helps patients refine their physique and achieve smoother, more defined silhouettes. His body sculpting procedures are designed to restore confidence and create lasting improvements in shape, tone, and proportion.
Board Certifications and Memberships
As a constantly evolving field, aesthetic surgery requires an ongoing commitment to staying up-to-date with the most efficient and minimally invasive techniques. In addition to his private practice, Dr. Ayala remains active in the medical community through ongoing education, peer collaboration, and professional development. Dr. Ayala is an active member of national and international professional organizations like ISAPS, and regularly attends conferences to stay abreast of evolving technologies and aesthetic trends. This helps ensure his patients benefit from the safest, most innovative techniques available.
Accreditation is considered a benchmark of excellence that can demonstrate an advanced level of experience in the field of plastic surgery beyond the minimum training required to practice. Re-testing is also required every ten years to help ensure plastic surgeons remain up-to-date with the latest techniques and technologies in cosmetic surgery.
- Member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
- Member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- American Board of Plastic Surgery — 1999
Educational Background and Training
- The University of Texas at Austin — Undergraduate Degree
- Baylor College of Medicine — Doctor of Medicine — 1987 – 1991
- Texas Tech University Health Science Center — General Surgery Residency — 1991 – 1996
- Baylor College of Medicine — Plastic Surgery Residency — 1996 – 1999
- Emory University — Residency with Dr. John Bostwick III — Atlanta, GA — 1993
- Electives in Plastic Surgery Residency with Dr. David McInnis — San Antonio — 1993
Awards and Nominations
- Top Doctor 2025 by TX Top Docs, A Division of USA Top Docs
- Nominated for “Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon” in Annual 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
- Best Plastic Surgery Resident at Baylor College of Medicine
- Nominated Best Resident in General Surgery at Texas Tech University
What is a Plastic Surgeon?
A plastic surgeon specializes in the cosmetic enhancement and reconstruction of different body structures using a wide range of techniques, such as implant placement and tissue transfer. This is performed to enhance function, repair injuries, correct birth defects, improve scarring, treat deformities caused by cancer or disease, or simply enhance one’s appearance. Highly trained in the aesthetic principles of beauty, as well as the anatomy of the face, breasts, and body, plastic surgeons work to create long-term results that can complement and accentuate a patient’s natural beauty. Those who specialize in cosmetic surgery undergo additional training in a spectrum of elective procedures, such as breast augmentation,
facelift surgery, abdominoplasty, rhinoplasty, and much more. These highly effective treatments are designed to achieve a diverse range of goals pertaining to anti-aging, body contouring, facial rejuvenation, and breast enhancement.
Why is Board Certification Important for Plastic Surgeons?
To become board certified by the ABPS, one must maintain an extensive background of surgical training, as well as complete meticulous written and oral examinations to demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of procedures across the spectrum of plastic surgery. While not legally required to practice medicine, board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) can mean the difference between achieving a subpar result and a superior final outcome.
Accreditation is considered a benchmark of excellence that can demonstrate an advanced level of experience in the field of plastic surgery beyond the minimum training required to practice. What’s more, re-testing is required every ten years to help ensure plastic surgeons remain up-to-date with the latest techniques and technologies in cosmetic surgery. With this credential intended to recognize knowledgeable and responsible plastic surgeons, board certification can also denote an uncompromising commitment to safe, ethical treatment as described in the ABPS Code of Ethics. Simply put, a plastic surgeon’s board certification can give you the confidence of knowing your treatment is being conducted by a practitioner who not only demonstrates competency, but exceptionality, in performing plastic surgery.
