Dr Leif Rogers

Full Report

Key Points

•  Dr. Leif Rogers is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over 25 years of experience, specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures such as facial rejuvenation, body contouring, breast reconstruction, and innovative treatments like Renuva Adipose Matrix injections for soft tissue augmentation.
•  In 2021, the California Medical Board revoked his license following a botched liposuction procedure that caused significant patient harm, though the revocation was stayed with a five-year probation requiring retraining, competency evaluations, and supervised practice; his California license remains active through at least 2025 under these terms.
•  In May 2022, the New York State Department of Health imposed a three-year license suspension for professional misconduct related to another botched surgery, rendering him ineligible to practice in New York until approximately May 2025; as of November 2025, the suspension has recently concluded without noted extensions.
•  Rogers served as medical director for the high-end medspa chain GoodSkin Clinics from 2022 to 2024, where a 2024 whistleblower lawsuit alleged illegal operations, including injectable procedures performed without proper physician supervision under his suspended New York license and the off-label use of the chemotherapy drug 5-FU for cosmetic undereye treatments.
•  The GoodSkin suit, filed by former physician assistant Michelle Abramov against the clinic and owner Lisa Goodman (not Rogers), settled in November 2024 before trial with no admission of fault; Rogers’ representatives affirmed in February 2025 that he was not a defendant and faced no court ruling of misconduct.
• Feedback for Rogers’ Beverly Hills practice remains overwhelmingly positive (4.8-5 stars average), with patients praising his compassionate approach, detailed care, and excellent results in reconstructive and cosmetic outcomes, such as breast reconstruction post-cancer; rare negatives focus on wait times or costs, not procedure quality.
•  The GoodSkin association highlights oversight and patient safety issues in medspas, including risks from unskilled providers and unapproved drug uses, though no direct patient complaints against Rogers emerged from the case.
•  No evidence of bankruptcy, unpaid debts, or financial distress; however, the settled lawsuit and past disciplinary actions pose ongoing reputational risks in the aesthetics industry, potentially impacting partnerships or patient acquisition amid heightened scrutiny on provider credentials.
• As of November 2025, Rogers continues his combined reconstructive and cosmetic practice in Beverly Hills and Pasadena, affiliated with institutions like Cedars-Sinai, while engaging in philanthropy such as medical missions with HELPS International.

Overview

Dr. Leif Rogers, MD, FACS, is a prominent plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California, operating a practice focused on both reconstructive and cosmetic enhancements. An Ivy League graduate from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (MD, 1996), he completed residencies in general surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital and plastic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, followed by a cosmetic fellowship at Lenox Hill and Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospitals. His undergraduate degree in Cell and Developmental Biology came from the University of Rochester (BS, Cum Laude, 1992). Rogers is affiliated with prestigious institutions like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Huntington Hospital, and he holds fellowships in the American College of Surgeons. His practice emphasizes facial rejuvenation, body contouring, breast reconstruction (particularly for cancer patients), gender-affirming surgeries, and non-invasive treatments. Known as the “King of Renuva,” he is a leading provider of this adipose matrix therapy for soft tissue augmentation. Rogers also engages in philanthropy, volunteering with HELPS International in Guatemala and Mexico, and supporting groups like the Living Beauty Cancer Foundation. Beyond his solo practice, he briefly served as medical director for GoodSkin Clinics, a bicoastal medspa chain founded by Lisa Goodman, offering holistic skincare services like fillers, Botox, and facials under the “Untouched Look” philosophy.

Allegations and Concerns

Several serious allegations stem from Rogers’ disciplinary history and his role at GoodSkin Clinics. In 2021, the California Medical Board revoked his license following a botched liposuction that left a patient unable to move her legs, though the revocation was stayed with a five-year probation requiring retraining, competency reviews, and supervised practice. In May 2022, the New York State Department of Health suspended his license for three years due to professional misconduct from another botched surgery, barring him from practicing medicine in the state. A key red flag emerged in a 2024 whistleblower lawsuit filed by former GoodSkin physician assistant Michelle Abramov against the clinic and its owner, Lisa Goodman (Rogers was not named as a defendant). The suit alleged that GoodSkin operated illegally by performing injectable procedures without proper physician supervision, relying on Rogers despite his suspended New York license. Specific concerns included the off-label injection of 5-FU (Fluorouracil), a chemotherapy drug unapproved for cosmetics, into a client’s undereye area as a Botox alternative—a practice Abramov refused, citing safety risks. The lawsuit claimed this exposed clients to “permanent and substantial damage” from unskilled providers and violated New York State Labor Law whistleblower protections, leading to Abramov’s termination. The case settled in November 2024 before trial, with Rogers’ representatives later stating in February 2025 that no court ruling implicated him directly. Additional concerns involve his past notoriety for implanting “wings” on a patient seeking a “Human Ken Doll” transformation, highlighting unconventional procedures that could invite scrutiny in an era of heightened medical ethics standards.

Customer Feedback

Patient feedback for Dr. Rogers’ own Beverly Hills practice is predominantly positive, with an average rating of 4.8-5 stars across platforms like Yelp (78 reviews), Vitals, and DocScores (22 reviews), emphasizing his empathy, precision, and transformative results. Positive examples include: “Dr. Rogers reconstructed my breast after cancer surgery… He convinced me that flap reconstruction had many advantages,” from a long-term cancer survivor; “I am very happy with my experience… everything looks great so far!” after a procedure; and “Dr. Rogers is beyond incredible. Everyone in the office is way nice… Im so happy with my nose and chin. I finally can say I like my face,” from a patient overcoming bullying. Reviewers frequently note his “old-fashioned medicine” approach, with one stating, “His staff have been sensitive and caring. They followed-up and paid attention to detail.” Negative feedback is rare but includes occasional mentions of long wait times or high costs, such as “Waited for hours… Cost me a fortune,” though these do not tie to outcomes. For GoodSkin Clinics, where Rogers supervised, direct consumer reviews are limited in available data, but the whistleblower suit implies dissatisfaction through safety lapses; broader medspa sentiment on social platforms highlights general wariness of unsupervised injectables, with one user warning of a similar case leading to “super resistant bacteria that ate her flesh and almost killed her,” underscoring industry-wide risks rather than clinic-specific complaints.

Risk Considerations

Rogers faces moderate financial risks from probation-mandated retraining and supervision costs, potentially straining practice revenues in a fee-for-service model, though his high-end clientele mitigates this. Reputational risks are higher, amplified by media coverage of the GoodSkin lawsuit and past malpractice incidents, which could deter conservative patients or partnerships in the aesthetics sector—especially as social media amplifies stories of botched procedures. Legally, while no ongoing suits target him directly post-settlement, his disciplinary record increases vulnerability to future board actions or malpractice claims, particularly if probation violations occur. Patient safety risks persist from his history of surgical errors, and his association with GoodSkin exposes him to indirect liability for any client harms from unsupervised treatments. Overall, these factors could limit expansion into non-invasive services, where trust is paramount.

Business Relations and Associations

Rogers maintains a robust network in plastic surgery, as a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society for Peripheral Nerve, and American Medical Association. He collaborates with hospitals like Cedars-Sinai, Harbor-UCLA, and Huntington Hospital for affiliations. Philanthropically, he partners with HELPS International for medical missions and the Living Beauty Cancer Foundation for breast reconstruction support. His brief role as medical director at GoodSkin Clinics (2022-2024) linked him to founder Lisa Goodman, a physician assistant with media features in W Magazine and a 2020 trademark dispute with Kim Kardashian over face shields. This association ended amid the lawsuit, with GoodSkin operating independently in Los Angeles and New York. Rogers has appeared as a consultant on CBS’s The Doctors and WE tv’s Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best, enhancing his influencer status. No other major partnerships were identified, though his practice diversifies into spa-like services, signaling potential future alliances in non-surgical aesthetics.

Legal and Financial Concerns

Rogers’ primary legal issues revolve around state medical board actions: California’s 2021 license revocation (stayed on probation) and New York’s 2022 three-year suspension, both stemming from malpractice in surgeries causing patient harm—no fines or restitution details were specified, but probation terms imply ongoing compliance costs. The 2024 GoodSkin whistleblower suit sought over $1 million in damages for Abramov’s wrongful termination, emotional distress, and lost wages, alleging retaliation for flagging Rogers’ ineligibility and unsafe practices; it settled without admission of fault or financial disclosures. No bankruptcy records, unpaid debts, or tax liens appear in public data. His practice accepts major insurers like Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross, suggesting stable finances, but high litigation exposure in cosmetics could elevate malpractice premiums.

Risk Assessment Table

Dr. Rogers embodies the dual-edged nature of high-stakes cosmetic surgery: a technically adept innovator with a humanitarian bent, yet shadowed by accountability lapses that underscore systemic vulnerabilities in medspas and elective procedures. His disciplinary record, while not career-ending, signals a need for rigorous self-regulation to sustain his practice’s trajectory amid growing scrutiny on provider qualifications and ethical boundaries. The GoodSkin entanglement, though peripheral, amplifies these issues, potentially eroding trust in an industry where perception often dictates viability. Investors or partners should weigh his proven patient satisfaction against the overhang of resolved—but publicized—controversies, prioritizing due diligence on ongoing license status. Ultimately, Rogers’ path forward hinges on leveraging his reconstructive expertise and compassionate branding to outpace reputational headwinds.