Dr. Emile Brown and Dr. Emily Clarke-Pearson of Charm City Plastic Surgery have each been named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Plastic Surgeons 2026 list. It is the sixth consecutive year both surgeons have been recognized by Newsweek, and each has appeared every year since 2021.
The recognition reflects the trust of the patients who choose Charm City Plastic Surgery and the colleagues who recommend its surgeons. Below is a look at what the ranking is based on and what it means to Dr. Brown and Dr. Clarke-Pearson.
What Is Newsweek’s America’s Best Plastic Surgeons Ranking?
Newsweek’s America’s Best Plastic Surgeons 2026 ranking was produced in partnership with the global data company Statista. During a survey period from April to May 2026, thousands of medical experts with plastic surgery expertise were invited to take an online survey and recommend surgeons they trust. Newsweek reports that more than 10,000 votes were collected and analyzed for each procedure, and that surgeons could not recommend themselves.
This year’s edition recognizes 576 plastic surgeons across the 25 U.S. states with the most plastic surgeons, including Maryland, for excellence in six cosmetic procedures: breast augmentation, facelift, rhinoplasty, liposuction, tummy tuck and eyelid surgery.
Anyone can review the full list on the Newsweek rankings page.
How Were the Surgeons Scored?
Newsweek explains that each surgeon’s final score had three parts. Most of the weight came from peers: recommendations from other medical experts made up 80% of the total. Another 15% came from quality-of-care assessments, in which survey participants were asked to evaluate things like consultation with the doctor, complications, follow-up and outcomes. The remaining 5% came from certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a voluntary credential.
It would be a guess to say how any single score was reached. What can be said is how those three factors line up with the way Dr. Brown and Dr. Clarke-Pearson work every day.
How Newsweek’s Scoring Factors Connect to Care at Charm City Plastic Surgery
| Newsweek scoring factor | What Newsweek measured | How it relates to the practice |
|---|---|---|
| Peer recommendations (80%) | Recommendations from medical experts with plastic surgery expertise. Self-recommendations were not permitted. | Peer respect is built over time. Dr. Brown is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and teaches cosmetic surgery to residents. Dr. Clarke-Pearson trained at Harvard Medical School and completed a microsurgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital. |
| Quality of care (15%) | Consultation with the doctor, complications, follow-up and outcomes. | Both surgeons describe a boutique approach that starts with understanding the individual patient, careful technique and honest advice, including when less is more. |
| Board certification (5%) | Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. | Both Dr. Brown and Dr. Clarke-Pearson are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. |
What Does Six Years in a Row Mean to the Surgeons?
Because peer recommendations carry so much weight in this ranking, the recognition is personal. It tells the surgeons that colleagues who know the work well continue to recommend them, year after year. Here is how Dr. Brown put it:
“Being recognized by Newsweek for six consecutive years is especially meaningful because it reflects the respect and recommendations of our patients, as well as our peers. We’ve always believed that exceptional plastic surgery requires not only technical expertise, but also judgment, honesty, and a highly developed aesthetic sensibility. We’re grateful that our approach to caring for patients and creating natural, refined results has earned the trust of both our patients and colleagues.”
Dr. Emile Brown
Being recognized once is an honor. Being recognized every year since 2021 suggests something steadier: a consistent way of practicing that other surgeons continue to notice.
What Matters Most in Delivering Excellent Outcomes?
Ask either surgeon about their philosophy and the word that keeps coming up is balance. Both come to plastic surgery with a background in the arts. Dr. Clarke-Pearson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and began her career as an artist and teacher before medical school. Dr. Brown’s mother is an artist, an influence he credits with shaping his appreciation for balance, form and beauty.
“Plastic surgery is both a science and an art. Our artistic backgrounds have given us a particularly strong appreciation for proportion, balance, texture, and subtlety, and those principles are central to how we approach every patient. We take a deliberately boutique approach—spending the time to understand the individual rather than applying a formula—and we believe the best results come from meticulous technique, aesthetic judgment, and the willingness to tell a patient honestly when less is more.”
Dr. Emily Clarke-Pearson
That perspective shows up across the practice, whether a patient comes in about the face, breast or body. The plan is built around the person, not a template.
Why Does This Recognition Matter in Baltimore?
Both surgeons have spent years building their practices here, and the recognition feels especially meaningful because it comes from the community where they practice.
“We’re proud to practice in Baltimore and to have built our reputations here over many years. Baltimore is a wonderfully grounded community that values authenticity, honesty, and relationships, and we think that fits naturally with our approach to plastic surgery. Our patients tend to appreciate straightforward advice and natural, refined results—and we’re proud to offer a very tailored, highly personal experience while remaining true to those values.”
Dr. Emile Brown
From the office on Thames Street to patients who come from across the Baltimore area, relationships are what the practice is built on. Dr. Brown has also been recognized as a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine, a reminder of how much the community notices and supports local care.
What Does This Mean If You Are Considering Plastic Surgery?
Awards and rankings are helpful signals, but they are not a guarantee of any individual result. Every patient’s anatomy, goals and health history are different, and the best way to understand what is possible is to meet the surgeon in person.
If you are researching plastic surgery in Baltimore, a few questions are worth bringing to any consultation: Is the surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? Do they take time to understand what you want and explain what is realistic? Will they tell you honestly when a smaller change may serve you better? You can also read what patients have shared on the practice’s reviews page and meet the full Charm City Plastic Surgery team.
Thank You, Baltimore
Charm City Plastic Surgery thanks its patients, the colleagues who recommend its surgeons and the team that supports them. Six consecutive years of recognition is a reminder of the approach Dr. Brown and Dr. Clarke-Pearson bring to every patient: time, honesty and an eye for natural, refined results.
Anyone considering plastic surgery, or curious about the practice’s approach, can book a consultation online or call Charm City Plastic Surgery at (443) 885-9644. The office is located at 1909 Thames St, Suite 101, Baltimore, MD 21231.
