You’re scrolling through Instagram or RealSelf, and it’s a total mess of before-and-afters. Everyone looks the same. Everyone has that "done" look. But then you stumble upon AW Plastic Surgery Anthony J. Wilson MD and things look… different. Why? Honestly, it’s because the industry is currently obsessed with "fast" results, whereas Dr. Wilson seems to have this weird, meticulous obsession with the actual anatomy.
He isn't just some guy with a scalpel. He’s a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. That "board-certified" part actually matters. A lot. It’s the difference between someone who took a weekend course on Botox and someone who spent years—literally a decade plus—understanding how nerves and muscles interact under your skin.
The Reality of AW Plastic Surgery Anthony J. Wilson MD
Let’s be real. Plastic surgery is terrifying. You’re paying someone thousands of dollars to purposefully injure you so you look better later. It’s a wild concept when you think about it. At AW Plastic Surgery, the vibe isn’t that cold, sterile, Beverly Hills "next in line" feel. It’s more focused.
Dr. Anthony Wilson graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, which is a big deal in the medical world. It’s an Ivy League. He didn't just skate through. He then did his residency at the University of Michigan, which is consistently ranked as one of the top plastic surgery programs in the entire country. When you’re looking at AW Plastic Surgery Anthony J. Wilson MD, you’re looking at that specific pedigree. It shows up in the work.
People go to him for the "Mommy Makeover." It’s a marketing term, sure, but for most women, it’s a reclamation project. We’re talking about abdominoplasty (tummy tucks), breast augmentations, and lifts. He uses a technique that focuses on "no-drain" recoveries. If you’ve ever talked to someone who had a traditional tummy tuck, they’ll tell you the drains are the worst part. They’re itchy, they’re gross, and they hurt. Wilson tries to bypass that mess by using progressive tension sutures. It’s more work for him during the surgery, but way less sucky for you during the three weeks after.
Is he just a "body" guy?
Not really. While the body contouring gets a lot of the PR, his facial work is where the technical skill shines. We’re talking deep-plane facelifts. Not the "skin-only" pulls that make people look like they’re in a permanent wind tunnel. A deep-plane lift goes under the muscle layer (the SMAS). It repositions the actual foundation of the face.
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It takes longer. It’s harder. But it lasts ten years instead of two.
Why Portsmouth?
You’d expect a surgeon with this kind of Ivy League background to be on Park Avenue or in Miami. But he’s in Portsmouth. It creates this interesting dynamic where he’s drawing patients from Boston, Portland, and even NYC because they want the high-end result without the chaotic "plastic surgery mill" atmosphere of a bigger city.
The facility itself—AW Plastic Surgery—is fully accredited. That’s a boring detail until it isn't. Accreditation means the anesthesia protocols, the sterilization, and the emergency backups are all checked by third parties. It’s the stuff you don't think about until you're on the table.
The Tech Factor: It’s Not Just Knives
Dr. Wilson is kinda known for being a bit of a tech nerd. He integrates things like VECTRA 3D imaging. Basically, they take a photo of you, and a computer renders a 3D model. Then, you can "try on" different breast implant sizes or see what a rhinoplasty might look like on your actual face.
It’s not perfect. It’s a simulation. But it’s better than holding a sizer in a sports bra and guessing.
Then there’s the non-surgical side. MedSpas are everywhere now. Literally every corner. But the MedSpa at AW Plastic Surgery is overseen by Wilson directly. They do the usual:
- Botox and Dysport (the wrinkle relaxers)
- Dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane
- CoolSculpting for fat freezing
- HydraFacials and chemical peels
The difference is the "why." A lot of places just want to sell you a syringe. Wilson’s team tends to look at the face as a whole. Sometimes you don't need more filler in your cheeks; you need a laser treatment to fix the texture so the light hits your face better. It’s about the "global" look.
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What People Get Wrong About Recovery
Look, social media lies. You see a girl on TikTok dancing three days after a BBL. That’s not real life. Surgery hurts. AW Plastic Surgery Anthony J. Wilson MD is pretty upfront about the "trough of sorrow." That’s the period about 4 days after surgery where you’re swollen, you’re bruised, and you wonder why the hell you did this to yourself.
Wilson’s team uses a lot of "pre-habilitation." They talk about nutrition and supplements before you even go under. High protein, no smoking (obviously), and managing expectations.
If you’re getting a tummy tuck, you aren't walking upright for a week. You’re shuffling like a penguin. If you’re getting a breast augmentation, your chest will feel like an elephant is sitting on it for a few days. Dr. Wilson’s approach is about managing that inflammatory response through specific meds and "gentle" surgical techniques. The less trauma he causes to the tissue, the less you swell. Simple math, really.
The Cost Question
Let’s talk money because everyone is thinking it. He isn't the cheapest. If you want the "Groupon" price for a facelift, you don't go to an Ivy-League-educated, board-certified surgeon in a private facility. You pay for the expertise, but mostly, you’re paying for the safety and the "revision" insurance.
Revision surgery—fixing someone else’s mistake—is a huge part of the industry. It’s way more expensive to fix a bad job than to do it right the first time. Wilson sees a fair amount of patients who went elsewhere, got a "deal," and ended up with asymmetrical results or bad scarring.
The Consultation Process
It’s not a sales pitch. If you go in there and you don't need surgery, he’ll probably tell you. That’s the mark of a surgeon who cares about his reputation more than a single paycheck. He looks at things like skin elasticity and bone structure. If your skin is too thin for a certain procedure, he’ll say no.
Honesty in plastic surgery is rare.
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You’ll spend a lot of time with his patient coordinators too. They handle the logistics, but Wilson does the heavy lifting on the plan. You aren't just meeting him for five minutes before you go under. You’re getting a mapped-out surgical strategy.
Actionable Steps for Your Surgical Journey
If you're seriously considering booking with AW Plastic Surgery Anthony J. Wilson MD, or any surgeon for that matter, don't just look at the "after" photos. Anyone can take a good photo with the right lighting.
- Check the ASPS Database: Verify that any surgeon you see is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Wilson is. This ensures they only operate in accredited facilities.
- Ask about "Hospital Privileges": Even if you’re having surgery in a private suite, ask if the doctor has privileges to perform that same surgery at a local hospital. If a hospital won't trust them to operate, you shouldn't either. Dr. Wilson maintains these ties in the Portsmouth area.
- Read the 1-Star Reviews: Not just the 5-star ones. Look at how the office responds to problems. Every surgeon has complications; it’s medicine. The question is: do they disappear, or do they fix it?
- Stop the Blood Thinners: If you book, you’ll be told to stop Advil, fish oil, and certain vitamins two weeks out. Do not ignore this. It’s the difference between a clean recovery and a hematoma that sends you back to the OR at 2 AM.
- Focus on the "Long Game": Plastic surgery doesn't stop aging. It just turns back the clock. You still have to wear sunscreen, eat well, and take care of your skin to maintain the $15,000 investment you just made.
The bottom line is that Anthony Wilson operates with a level of precision that is frankly hard to find outside of major metro hubs. Whether it's a subtle tweak to the eyelids or a massive body transformation, the focus remains on "natural" results. If people can tell you had surgery, he didn't do his job. The goal is to look like a better, rested version of yourself—not a different person entirely.