With 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 procedures performed, Stephen J. Ronan, MD, FACS, is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. As the founder of Blackhawk Plastic Surgery & MedSpa, he has dedicated his career to the pursuit of surgical perfection, combining innovative medical science with a refined artistic eye to deliver transformative, natural-looking results.
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Dr. Ronan’s journey to becoming a premier Bay Area surgeon began at UC Davis and the Medical College of Virginia, where he was awarded the prestigious S. Dawson Theogaraj Scholarship for Excellence in Plastic Surgery. His academic rigor translated into clinical mastery; he scored in the 99th percentile on his Plastic Surgery In-service Exam and is a double-board-certified Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Throughout 25 years of practice, Dr. Ronan has remained at the forefront of the industry. He is not only a practitioner but also a teacher, frequently training other physicians in advanced techniques for global leaders such as Allergan, Galderma, and Suneva Medical.
Experience matters most when it comes to surgical outcomes. Having performed over 30,000 procedures, Dr. Ronan possesses an intuitive understanding of facial and body harmony that comes only from a lifetime of dedicated practice. Whether performing a complex facelift, breast augmentation, or high-definition body contouring, his approach is defined by precision, safety, and a commitment to the patient’s unique vision.
Dr. Ronan is the visionary behind the Blackhawk Surgery Center, a fully accredited, state-of-the-art on-site facility designed to provide the highest level of safety and privacy. His influence extends beyond the operating room as a member of the elite Rhinoplasty Society and the founder of the American Society of Hair Restoration. He has been repeatedly named one of the "Best Plastic Surgeons in America" and voted "Best in the Bay" by industry peers and patients alike.
Driven by a belief that reconstructive skills should be used to treat those most in need, Dr. Ronan serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Kids. He frequently travels to Central America to perform pro-bono surgeries for children with cleft lips, palates, and congenital deformities. Locally, he remains an active community leader, having served as President of the Tri-Valley Rotary and as Director of the 49ers Foundation.
A number of things; first is our staff. Some of our team have been here for over a decade. We have very little turnover, which makes our practice extremely efficient and creates a nice atmosphere for our patients. Second is our surgery center. Blackhawk Plastic Surgery has one of the nicest accredited surgery centers in the Bay Area. There is a reason Blackhawk Plastic Surgery has been rated “Best in the Bay” for plastic surgery several years in a row. As a surgeon, I strive to give my patients the smallest incision possible, a shorter healing time, and results that look normal and natural. Blackhawk Plastic Surgery has very high customer retention and repeat business, and when people come in for follow up appointments, they almost always have big smiles on their faces.
Breast Augmentations, Face Lifts, Tummy Tucks, Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) and Hair Transplantation, and of course, a variety of implants, all carried out with utmost attention to the recovery process.
First and foremost, find a board-certified plastic surgeon that works in an accredited surgery center with a demonstrated track record for success. Also, make sure the surgeon specializes in the kind surgery you are looking for. A good surgery candidate would be relatively healthy and have realistic expectations for the results of the procedure.
I’ve known I wanted to work in medicine since I was in grammar school. I decided to specialize in plastic surgery in my third year of medical school. I was attracted to plastic surgery because is it requires very sophisticated techniques and principles and there is a lot of problem solving. Overall, my patients are healthy and happy and I have fun going to work everyday.
To learn more about Stephen J. Ronan, MD, FACS,, set up an appointment at Blackhawk Plastic Surgery and meet with him. We are proud to call ourselves Danville, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon & Livermore’s home for plastic surgery; our treatments include liposuction, hair restoration, breast augmentation. For more information about our practice feel free to visit our website or give us a call at (925) 736-5757.
Office Location:
Blackhawk Plastic Surgery & Medspa
3600 Blackhawk Plaza Circle Danville, CA 94506
(925) 736-5757 Office
925.736.5763 Fax
Board Certification:
American Board of Plastic Surgery
9/14/02
Fellowship:
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Division of Plastic Surgery
Medical College of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
7/99 – 6/01
Residency:
General Surgery
Department of Surgery
Medical College of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
7/96 – 6/99
Internship:
General Surgery
Department of Surgery
Medical College of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
7/95 – 6/96
Medical School:
Medical College of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Degree: MD
8/91- 5/95
College:
University of California, at Davis
Davis, California
Degree: BS Physiology
8/86 – 6/91
Licensure:
Commonwealth of Virginia
July 1997 – Present
State of California
May 2000 – Present
State of Nevada
January 2014 – Present
Certification:
Advanced Burn Life Support
American Burn Association
Advanced Trauma Life Support
American College of Surgeons
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
American Heart Association’
Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Rescue Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver
National/Regional Presentations:
Body Contouring after Morbid Obesity Surgery
Complications and Revelations in 259 Consecutive Cases
Southeastern Society of Plastic Surgery
Orlando, Florida
June 2001
Minimally Invasive Approach to Familial Multiple Lipomatosis
American Society of Plastic Surgery
New Orleans, Louisiana
September 1999
Employment:
Blackhawk Plastic Surgery, A Medical Corporation, Inc.
Private Practice Plastic Surgery
President and Founder
Blackhawk, CA
March 2002 – Present
Blackhawk Surgery Center
Outpatient Surgical Center
Founder and Medical Director
Blackhawk, CA
2004 – Present
Cutera Clinic
Aesthetic Laser Research Center
President and Medical Director
Brisbane, CA
2012 – Present
Chief Surgical House Officer, Columbia Hospitals
Chippenham Medical Center
Johnston-Willis Medical Center
John Randolph Medical Center
Richmond, Virginia
August 1997 – June 2001
Professional Organizations
American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Active Member
2005 – Present
American Society of Plastic Surgery
Active Member
2003 – Present
American Society of Maxillofacial Surgery
Active Member
2003 – Present
American College of Surgeons
Fellow
2003 – Present
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Active Member
2009 – Present
The Aesthetic Society Education and Research Foundation
Active member
2005 – Present
Plastic Surgery Education Foundation
Active member
2001 – Present
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
Active Member
2003 – Present
California Medical Association
2001 – Present
American Medical Association
2001 – Present
Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association
2001 – Present
American College of Surgeons
Associate Fellow
2001 – 2003
American College of Surgeons
Candidate Fellow
1999 – 2001
American Medical Association
Resident Physician Section
1995 – 2001
American Medical Student Association
1991 – 1995
Honorary Societies:
Maliniac Circle
American Society of Plastic Surgery
Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation
Life member as of 2001
Heritage Foundation
Medical College of Virginia
Virginia Commonwealth University
Life member as of 2001
Hospital Appointments:
Blackhawk Surgery Center
Danville, CA
2005 – Present
San Joaquin General Hospital
French Camp, CA
2001 – Present
Chief of Plastic Surgery, 2001 – 2008
ValleyCare Medical Center
Pleasanton, CA
2012 – Present
Honors, Awards:
“Presidential Champion Level” at Galderma (Highest Level)
2015-2017
“Presidential Champion Level” at Galderma (Highest Level)
2015
Aesthetics Everything
Voted Among the Top 3 Hair Restoration Surgeons in America
2015
Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation
In-service Exam 99th percentile
2002
Best of the Bay
Voted Best Plastic Surgeon
2010 and 2012
Best Doctors in East Bay
Best Plastic Surgeon
2012
Super Doctors San Francisco Bay Area
Selected for inclusion to the Super Doctors List
2012 and 2013
S Dawson Theogaraj Award
Plastic Surgery Scholastic Excellence
2000
Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation
In-service Exam 94th percentile
2000
Top 5 score on Medical National Board Exam, selected to represent MCV at
the American College of Physicians Conference,
March 1994
A.D. Williams Research Fellowship
Richmond, VA
1992
EMT, Yolo Ambulance, ‘89 – ‘91, full-time while in college, received Letter of Commendation from the California Highway Patrol and from California Governor Pete Wilson for field duty
Published In:
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Plastic Surgical Forum
Annals of Surgical Oncology
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London
Journal of Comparative Physiology A
Walfre F, Amogh K, Ronan SJ, Grekin RC, McCalmont, TH. Hyperthermic injuryto adipocyte cells by selective heating of subcutaneous fat with a novelradiofrequency device: Feasibility studies. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2010, vol 42, Issue 5, 361-370.
Mehrhof AI, Ronan SJ, Pozez AL. Body contouring and incisional herniorraphyin 259 patients after morbid obesity surgery. Prepared for Plastic andReconstructive Surgery.
Ronan SJ, Bandak AZ. The pedicled radial forearm ‘free flap.’Submitted to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Ronan SJ, Broderick T. Minimally invasive approach to Familial MultipleLipomatosis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2000, 106(4), 878 – 880.
Ronan SJ, Broderick T. Minimally invasive approach to Familial MultipleLipomatosis. Plastic Surgical Forum. 1999, 22, 365 – 367.
Lipshy KA, Ronan SJ, Lawrence W Jr., et al. Complications of mastectomyand their relationship to biopsy technique. Annals of Surgical Oncology.1996, 3(3), 290 – 294.
Sillman AJ, Ronan SJ, Loew ER. Scanning electron microscopy and microspectrophotometryof the photoreceptors of the Ictalurid catfish. Journal of ComparativePhysiology A. 1993, 173, 801 –807.
Sillman AJ, Ronan SJ, Loew ER. Histology and microspectrophotometry ofthe photoreceptor of a crocodilian, Alligator mississippienis. Proceedingsof the Royal Society of London. 1991, 273, 93 – 98.
Sub-InvestigatorTruSculpt Feasibility StudyThe objectives of this studyare to evaluate the safety and assess the optimal treatment parametersof the Cutera RF system in the delivery of thermal energy to the skin.
Protocol # | Role | Protocol Title | Study Objective: |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-11-TS02 | Sub-Investigator | TruSculpt Feasibility Study | The objectives of this study are to evaluate the safety and assess the optimal treatment parameters of the Cutera RF system in the delivery of thermal energy to the skin. |
| C-12-TS04 | Principal Investigator | The Thermal Effects of Radio Frequency Exposure in the Subcutaneous Fat Tissue | The objective of this study is to evaluate the thermal and histological changes observed in the subcutaneous tissue following RF exposure. |
| C-12-TS05 | Principal Investigator | The Cutera TruSculpt Device for Thigh Circumference Reduction | The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Cutera RF system in the reduction of thigh circumference. |
| C-09-TF02 | Principal Investigator | Cutera TruForm™ Study | This is a pilot study to evaluate the Cutera TruForm™ Radio-Frequency System for reduction in size of localized areas of the body, including, but not limited to, areas on the abdomen, leg, and arm. |
| C-11-TN01 | Principal Investigator | Titan II Phase I – Pilot Study of Cutera Titan II Device for Tissue Tightening | The objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Titan II for reducing periorbital wrinkles and facial skin laxity of the face and neck. |
| CTCS002 | Principal Investigator | Trusculpt Callisto: Thigh Circumference Reduction Study | The purpose of this randomized multi-center study is to evaluate the Cutera Callisto™ Radio-Frequency System for a new indication of the reduction of thigh circumference. |
| C-12-TPS01 | Sub-Investigator | Pilot Investigation of Tattoo Removal with Cutera Picosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser | To demonstrate the safety, histological effects and efficacy of tattoo removal with Cutera Picosecond Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 and/or 532 nm lasers. |
| C-12-LPS02 | Sub-Investigator | Pilot Investigation of Cutera Picosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions | To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Cutera Picosecond Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 and/or 532 nm lasers for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions/pigmentation. |
| C-13-LPS03 | Sub-Investigator | Safety and Efficacy of Cutera Picosecond Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser in the Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions | To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of Cutera Picosecond Q-Switched Nd:YAG 1064 and/or 532 nm lasers for the treatment of benign pigmented lesions. |
| CCS001 | Principal Investigator | Cutera Calisto™ Handpiece Study | The purpose of this dose-response study is to determine the safe and effective parameters for heating fat cells through histological, visual, gross, temperature and other evaluations of effects of various energy levels on subcutaneous abdominal fat using the Cutera Calisto™ Radio-Frequency Handpiece. |
| C-13-TPS04 | Sub-Investigator | Randomized, Split-tattoo Study comparing Safety and Efficacy of Picosecond and Nanosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG Lasers for Tattoo Removal | The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of the investigational device (Picosecond Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser) with the comparator device (Nanosecond Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser) for tattoo removal. |
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2014
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2012
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2010
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2009
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2007
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
February 2006
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2005
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, Guatemala
February 2004
Operation Kids
Guatemala City, GuatemalaRelief mission, operated on children with cleft lips/palates, burns, congenital anomalies, etc.
February 200
Operation Kids
Relief mission, operated on children with cleft lips/palates, burns, congenital anomalies, hand injuries, etc.
Guatemala City, Guatemala
March 2000
San Francisco 49ers Foundation
Director
2006 – 2011
Operation Kids
Plastic Surgery Medical Relief Organization
Director2004 – Present
Rotary International
Tri-Valley Club
President 2003-2004
President-Elect 2002-2003
Past-President 2004-2005
Foundation Chair 2004-2005
International Chair 2005-2007
Charter Member
Moment by Moment Foundationmomentbymoment.org
Director
2012 – Present
Lasers and Injectables Training
San Francisco, CA
July 2011
Lasers and Injectables Training
San Mateo, CA
March 2011
Aesthetic Lasers and Surgery
San Jose, CA
November 2010
Aesthetic Lasers and Surgery
Honolulu, HI
January 2010
Lasers and Combination Therapy in Anti-Aging
Sacramento, CA
September 2009
Aesthetic Lasers and Surgery
Palo Alto, CA
May 2009
Aesthetic Surgery and Adjunctive Procedures
Vancouver, Canada
February 2009
Anti-Aging Laser and Non-Laser Therapy
Walnut Creek, CA
December 2008
Lecturer and Live Demonstrations, Clinical Symposium
Cutera Corporation
Newport Beach, CA
March 2008
Lasers in Aesthetic Medicine
Modesto, CA
September 2007
Aesthetic Lasers and the 3D Concept
Cutera Corporation
Las Vegas, NV
November 2006
Aesthetic Laser Principles and Application
Cutera Corporation
San Jose, CA
August 2006
Foreign Plastic Surgery Missions
Kiwanis of San Ramon Valley
Danville, CA
March 2005
Operation Kids
Tri-Valley Rotary
Pleasanton, CA
February 2005
Plastic Surgery
Brentwood Golf Club
Women’s Breast Cancer Luncheon
Brentwood, CA
June 2004
Modern Aesthetic Surgery
Women’s Council of Realtors
Dublin, CA
November 2002
Aesthetic Surgery Update
Brentwood Golf Club
Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon
Brentwood, CA
August 2002
Modern Aesthetic Surgery
Hilton Hotel, Livermore
February 2002
New Techniques in Aesthetic Surgery
Marriott Hotel, San Ramon
January 2002
Aesthetic Surgery
San Leandro Hospital
September 2001
Update on Aesthetic Surgery
Blackhawk Surgery Center
July 2001
Body Contouring after Morbid Obesity Surgery
MCV Research Day
June 2001
Blepharoptosis: Evaluation and Repair
Grand Rounds, MCV Plastic Surgery
March 2001
Aesthetic Surgery Update
San Leandro Hospital
February 2001
Asian Blepharoplasty
Plastic Surgery Conference, MCV
December 2000
Breast Augmentation
Plastic Surgery Conference
May 2000
Physical Symptoms and Body Image in Reduction Mammaplasty
Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds
January 2000
Modern Aesthetic Surgery
Blackhawk Surgery Center
January 2000
The Lateral Circumflex Artery
Plastic Surgery Conference
May 1999
Mallet Finger
Hand Surgery Conference
April 1999
Phases of Skin Graft Survival
Plastic Surgery Conference
April 1999
Flexor Tendon Avulsions and Ruptures
Hand Surgery Conference
March 1999
Accurate Nodal Staging of Malignant Melanoma
Surgery Rounds
Medical College of Virginia
February 1999
Melanoma: New Strategies
Plastic Surgery Conference
February 1999
Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: Diagnosis and Treatment
Plastic Surgery Conference
January 1999
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Hand Surgery Conference
January 1999
Parathyroid Gland: Disease and Treatment
General Surgery Conference
December 1998
Mirizzi’s Syndrome
General Surgery Conference
September 1998
Facial Injuries in Children
Pediatric Surgery Grand Rounds
Medical College of Virginia
November 1998
Congenital Disorders of the Hand and Upper Extremity
Grand Round, MCV Plastic Surgery
April 1994
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Its Injury
Primary Care Grand Rounds
December 1993
Wound Care and Wound Healing
OB/GYN Grand Rounds Lecture at MCV
August 1993
