Artistic Approach

Schedule a Consultation

Dr. Friedman’s interest in plastic surgery stems from his fascination with art, science, and the human form. He is a gifted artist with over 30 years of experience performing wood and marble sculpture. His work has been displayed in several galleries and professional exhibits and is part of many private collections. Many surgeons call themselves “artists,” but Dr. Friedman’s artistic ability speaks for itself.

Photo Gallery

Artistic Approach - Patient 1

Artistic Approach - Patient 2

Artistic Approach - Patient 3

Hummingbird (various hardwoods)

Artistic Approach - Patient 4

Artistic Approach - Patient 5

Artistic Approach - Patient 6

Artistic Approach - Patient 7

Artistic Approach - Patient 8

Artistic Approach - Patient 9

Artistic Approach - Patient 10

Artistic Approach - Patient 11

Artistic Approach - Patient 12

Artistic Approach - Patient 13

Artistic Approach - Patient 14

Artistic Approach - Patient 15

Artistic Approach - Patient 16

Artistic Approach - Patient 17

To our best knowledge, Dr. Friedman is the only actively practicing plastic surgeon in the United States who is also a wood and marble sculptor. He uses his artistic eye daily in performing facial, breast, and body contouring procedures.

According to Dr. Friedman, “I became a plastic surgeon due to wood shop class and too much television. I more-or-less randomly enrolled in a woodworking class in junior high school–and fell in love with it. By high school, I was turning jars, carving bowls, and making furniture. When I was 15, I watched a PBS NOVA special on TV featuring a plastic surgeon, Burt Brent, M.D., who had pioneered ear reconstruction by carving rib cartilage–with woodworking tools. I thought to myself, ‘I bet I could do that.’ With my parents’ permission, I traveled to Stanford to watch Dr. Brent operate for a couple days. I had found my calling.”

  • Rosewood
    Before
  • Sculpture of Torso on Nepalese rosewood
    After
Torso carved from Nepalese rosewood by Ronald M. Friedman, M.D.
  • Before Breast augmentation and lift with tummy tuck
    Before
  • After Breast augmentation and lift with tummy tuck
    After
Breast augmentation and lift with tummy tuck by Ronald M. Friedman, M.D.

Music and Songwriting

Dr. Friedman has been playing piano and writing music since his early childhood. He wrote and released Illusions/Delusions, a CD of 17 songs, in 2006. After watching the musical, Alexander Hamilton, last year, he was inspired to write a similar story about quintessentially American history–except that this is a musical about the history of silicone gel breast implants. The musical is named cleaVage: the front story.

We’ll let Dr. Friedman take it from here:

As a board-certified plastic surgeon in practice in Plano for 25 years, I recognize that I am an unlikely candidate to author a musical. However, the rollercoaster story of silicone gel implants is fascinating, and I have an insider’s understanding of the intricacies. And most of this musical is factual!

CleaVage, the front story

Dr. Friedman and cleaVage were featured in a 10-page story in the  January 2023 issue of D Magazine.  To read the article, please click here. To listen to selected songs, please click here.  For up-to-date information about cleaVage, please visit cleavagemusical.com.

Video

Live performance of Dr. Friedman’s band, Sidegig, at the Lion and Crown Pub in Addison, January 21, 2019. Dr. Friedman
(who is playing the piano) wrote “She Blows Me Away” for Jin, his wife of 25 years.