Dr. Timothy Ortlip

Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon

As an adopted child, Dr. Timothy Ortlip was raised in an environment where everyone, including his family, looked different than him. The experience of understanding how appearance can affect one’s sense of self fostered his deep empathy for people who have a discordance between the way they look and feel. These experiences resulted in Dr. Ortlip knowing, from a very young age, that he wanted to become a plastic surgeon.

Education—pursuing a passion for medicine.

Dr. Ortlip pursued his passion for medicine and obtained his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. During this time, he maintained leadership roles in student-run plastic surgery societies and clinically based research. Early on, he authored and co-authored several publications in international plastic surgery journals for his work on Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX) and antibiotic protocols in elective surgery.

He continued his training with a 5-year surgical residency in Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Maryland-Shock Trauma Center. While there, he discovered a passion for all forms of facial reconstructive surgery. He fostered this passion through several research endeavors focused on techniques and outcomes of oncologic facial reconstruction.

Researcher and international speaker

Dr. Ortlip spent an extra 6 months investigating longitudinal differentiation potential for mesenchymal stem cells harvested from tonsil tissue. His research and excellence in the field have resulted in invitations to speak on local, state, national, and international levels, including an engagement for over 300 European Delegates at the Imperial College of Medicine’s Trauma Conference in London, England.

A journey to surgical excellence

Upon completion of his residency, he joined the faculty at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in the Department of Facial Plastic, Reconstructive, and Microvascular Surgery. There he completed a highly competitive fellowship focused on facial rejuvenation, rhinoplasty, and head and neck cancer reconstruction. His career as a physician-researcher continued with the development of protocols for Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) administration in radiated tissue to minimize the toxic side effects of radiation in head and neck cancer patients.

Professional memberships

Dr. Ortlip is an active member of the prestigious American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He is double board-certified in Otorhinolaryngology -Head & Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Along with his expertise in rhinoplasty, trauma, and cancer reconstruction, Dr. Ortlip has proficiency in revision rhinoplasty, Asian rhinoplasty, facelift surgery, Mohs reconstruction, facial nerve disorders, ear reconstruction, BOTOX, fillers, laser treatments and other techniques for facial enhancement and rejuvenation.

Giving back

Active in volunteering his time to help those in need, Dr. Ortlip has participated in several international humanitarian missions to Belize and Vietnam to provide reconstructive care for both adults and pediatrics. In the midst of a global pandemic, he completed a full-distance Ironman Triathlon in 2020 to raise money and awareness for the World Pediatric Project. He and Dr. Gadaleta have plans to start their own medical mission in the near future.

On a personal note…

Away from work, Dr. Ortlip and his family are happy to be living in Northern California, where they like to frequent new and diverse restaurants. Dr. Ortlip is an avid golfer, having played competitively in high school. He enjoys photography, videography, snowboarding, and participating in Triathlons.