Sydney Reese Coleman MD

Dr. Sydney Reese Coleman, world renowned Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon passed peacefully from this world on September 13, 2026 at the age of 71. He is survived by his brothers, Shaun (Holly) and Rusty (Chris); his beloved aunt, Apreill Pichard (Charlie); niece, Liz Steger; nephew, Bennett Coleman and many other family members in his native Texas and elsewhere. His “office family,” who worked closely with him for so many years mourns his loss deeply, as do his world-wide colleagues and friends.

Dr. Coleman was one of the most celebrated and innovative surgeons of the past 40 years. His early experiences as a medical student working in the burn unit at a major hospital motivated him to develop techniques to improve the appearance of burn victims and ultimately lead to his choice to specialize in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He is one of the original pioneers of fat grafting, once considered controversial, and now an integral part of every plastic surgeon’s repertoire. He was extensively involved in research and development of new techniques, including working under a grant from the Department of Defense; and his patented surgical cannulas are a tool found in every plastic surgeon’s operating room. He authored 2 textbooks on LipoStructure, his fat grafting technique, and was the chief editor in many other professional publications and co-author on many medical/ scientific publications. In 2022, he was awarded the Trustees Special Achievement Award by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for his years of contribution to the field.

Dr. Coleman was an Assistant Clinical Professor at New York University and also the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center until his illness forced his retirement. He loved nothing more than travelling the world to attend medical conferences, presenting new findings and techniques, teaching and chairing panels. He enjoyed terms as President of the International Federation of Adipose Therapeutics and Science (IFATS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic and Regenerative Surgeons (ISPRES). As his staff well knows, he was invited to more conferences than he could possibly attend and still be a practicing surgeon. He designed and operated in his own downtown New York City state of the art surgical facility, Tribeca Plastic Surgery, and later finished his active career at the University of Pittsburgh.

While aesthetic outcomes were always a focus, Dr. Coleman’s most treasured surgical results involved complex facial and body reconstructions after cancer surgery, radiation damage, trauma and congenital malformations. Those surgeries were transformative in the lives of so many of his patients.

Dr. Coleman had a multi-dimensional personality: he had a brilliant mind, a quirky sense of humor, and a love of both designer clothing and cowboy boots. He loved nothing more than embarking on a trip to a new place, exploring museums and the local art scene, and indulging in every type of cuisine imaginable. He loved the theater, dance (he was briefly a member of a professional ballet company in New Orleans, skiing, and country music, which could usually be heard on the speakers in his OR, with all the staff singing along.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Dozier Cemetery in Texas on October 2nd. In lieu of flowers, Dr. Coleman’s family requests that donations be made in his name to the Parkinson’s Foundation, The Plastic Surgery Foundation, or The Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation.