
Dr. David N. Clayton, MD, FACS
Plastic Surgeon | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
7001 S 900 E Suite 100 Midvale UT, 84047About
Dr. David Clayton is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, practicing in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Clayton specializes in body contouring and facial cosmetic surgery. He was the first doctor in Utah to do liposuction back in 1983, and has been on the forefront of this technology ever since. His practice is especially oriented toward contouring surgeries like abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), breast reduction, breast augmentation with or without a lift, liposuction of all areas, arm contouring, and surgery for patients who have lost massive amounts of weight. He also enjoys facial cosmetic surgery including facelifts, eyelid surgery, fixing prominent or deformed ears, and is an expert in transplanting your own fat back into places where time and age have left the face shallow or too thin (a major source of the appearance of old age). He loves to transfer fat other places for body shape enhancement - such as what is commonly called the Brazilian Butt Lift.
We will soon be located in a brand new state-of-the-art plastic surgery center*, Dr. Clayton believes that the least expensive plastic surgery is "the one done right the first time." Getting it "right the first time" depends on artestry, precision, and above all, experience - the kind that comes from being from a family of plastic surgeons, and with having a very successful practice for almost 40 years.
*22 Plastic Surgery and Spa MD
Education and Training
University of Utah School of Medicine Medical Degree 1976
Board Certification
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Provider Details

Dr. David N. Clayton, MD, FACS's Expert Contributions
How long do you wear a compression garment after an arm lift?
Thank you for your question. After a brachioplasty (arm lift), I usually recommend that my patient wears the compression sleeves until it feels better to leave them off. That usually takes about 3 weeks. Sometimes it feels good to take them off, but after an hour or so, it will feel better to put it back on. Our bodies are smart. If you listen to what your body is telling you, 90% of the time you will be right. That's how it is will arm sleeves after an arm lift. All the Best, Dr. Clayton READ MORE
Do plastic surgeons do breast implants?
Yes, plastic surgeons are perhaps the very best qualified doctors to do your breast augmentation. Cosmetic surgery is one of the major things done by plastic surgeons and especially by those of us who have narrowed the scope of our practice to do almost entirely elective cosmetic surgery. In fact, breast implant surgery is one of the most common procedures I do in my practice! Be sure to look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. It is the premier credential in the field of cosmetic surgery. All the Best, David N. Clayton, MD, FACS READ MORE
How is plastic surgery of the face done?
Thank you for your question. There are many different kinds of surgeries that are done on the face - from simple surgery to remove moles to complex facelift surgeries to laser skin resurfacing to ear pin-backs for prominent ears, to eyelid surgery for saggy eyelids, nose reshaping, etc. Each procedure is tuned to the needs of the patient. I'm not quite sure what information you were looking for. All the Best, Dr. Clayton READ MORE
How long does a temporal brow lift last?
Thank you for your question. There are a couple of different ways to look at that. How long will it take for the lateral forehead and brow area to begin to descend again? The answer is about 3-5 years. But even in 10 years it will look better than if you hadn't done it at all. So, from that standpoint, it lasts for MANY years. And a temporal brow lift can be repeated, if necessary, although at some point, you might consider a more generalized way to lift the brows and upper face since repeated lifting of the temporal area only will eventually result in some distortion that might not look as natural as you would like. Dr. Clayton READ MORE
Does Botox make you look older after it wears off?
Thank you for your question. No, Botox doesn't make you look older when it wears off. It may seem that way because you are looking YOUNGER while it is still working! If used regularly, Botox can make you look younger and can help keep you looking that way. Dr. David N. Clayton, MD, FACS READ MORE
Are all elective procedures canceled due to the coronavirus?
Thank you for your question. Elective surgeries were canceled for a couple of months back in March and April. But now that PPE is more available, elective surgeries have been allowed. We are still doing a full range of elective cosmetic surgeries including breast enhancement, body contouring, and facial rejuvenation and cosmetic procedures. Dr. Clayton READ MORE
How long does it take to recover from ear reduction surgery?
Thank you for that question. I'm assuming that you are referring to a surgery to make the ears less prominent, is that correct? I can appreciate your concern about that recovery. I have actually had that operation myself when I was about 16 years old. The ears are wrapped for security and protection for the first few days. After that, you are able to shower, and you will probably want to wear a skier's head band at night for about a month to protect the ears from accidentally turning over in your sleep. Tenderness varies from patient to patient. For the first couple of days, the ears may throb a little, but the strong early pain settles down quickly and is well controlled with good pain medication. The ears should be looking very good within a couple of weeks. I hope that answers your question. All the Best! David N. Clayton, MD, FACS READ MORE
How long do hip fillers last?
I'm not sure what you mean by "hip filler." I assume that you mean "lip filler," since that is a very common treatment. Lip fillers give benefit in a couple of ways. First, they give immediate volume enhancement to the lips that lasts about 6 months. But each time you get a treatment, the body heals itself by adding some of your own natural collagen to the area. That collagen lasts longer than the filler itself, so after a few treatments, the volume should hold up longer and longer. I hope that helps. READ MORE
What should I do to prevent an infection after plastic surgery?
Fortunately, infections after nasal surgery are rare. This is at least in part because the blood supply to the nose is very robust. If you follow your surgeon's instructions carefully you should have little problem with infection. The risk of infection after nasal surgery is dependent on several factors - whether you are a carrier of certain harmful bacteria, whether the nose has been operated previously (scar tissue doesn't have as rich a blood supply as virgin tissue), and whether or not you smoke, since smoking restricts blood flow into the nose and increases the risk of infection. Your general state of nutrition and health also are factors. As always, follow your surgeons instructions carefully. READ MORE
Can burn marks for a 5 year old be treated with plastic surgery?
The degree of improvement a plastic surgeon can offer your daughter depends on the extent and location of the scar. Burn scars of the hand often involve contractures, or shrinkage of the scar which can cause limitation of movement Such scars are usually treated with Z-plasties or flap surgery to improve the function of the hand. If the scar is mostly cosmetic in nature, then the degree of improvement available to her may be more limited. But even in those cases, some improvement is often possible. READ MORE
How do I prepare my body before undergoing liposuction?
The best preparation for having liposuction is to be in generally good health and avoid aspirin or ibuprofen for about a week before surgery. While some surgeons may recommend being near your "ideal" weight, in my 35 years of doing liposuction, I have found that if you are about 10 - 15 lbs OVER your ideal weight, it is easier to give you an accurate correction since the fat cells are expanded, and the true extent of the deformity is more apparent. Liposuction brings your body into better proportion - it is NOT a weight loss tool. As you gain or lose weight, the fat cells that you already have just get bigger or smaller. Liposuction permanently changes the number of fat cells that live in the problem areas, so after your surgery, you don't selectively gain weight there any more. It is a wonderful and long-lasting solution to the problem. It is also very important to follow your surgeons recommendations and instructions in the immediate post-operative period. It can make a significant difference in the quality of your outcome how well you obey your surgeon's instructions. READ MORE
What are the risk factor associated with a plastic surgery?
Breast augmentation is a very common surgery. As with all surgeries, there are risks. The most common complication after breast augmentation is called capsular contracture. Our bodies have only one way to heal after a surgery - by forming scar tissue. There is a thin layer of scar tissue that forms around any breast implant, whether over or under the pectoralis muscle. A contracture happens if the natural scar tissue that surrounds your implants begins to shrink, squeezing on the implant and making it feel too tight. It may feel like the implant is going hard, but the implant itself never goes hard, it's just the scar tissue that may squeeze on the implant. If that happens, there are nonsurgical things that can be done, but it sometimes requires a surgery to reopen the scar and restore natural softness. If capsular contracture occurs, it will usually happen within the first year, although it can happen at any time. The exact reason why the scar tissue contracts is not fully understood. Capsular contracture rates may vary, but in general, there is at least a 10% or greater chance that an uncomfortable degree of firmness may develop sometime in the implant's lifetime. Immediately after surgery, the most common complication is bleeding. Perhaps a small vessel which was controlled at the time of surgery would reopen and begin to bleed after you get home. What you would notice is a dramatic swelling of the affected breast. Even the nipple may turn blue, and pain increases. This complication is usually not dangerous, but if left untreated, it would not heal properly, so surgical intervention is usually required. This is a simple opening of the affected breast, removing the implant for a moment while the vessel is controlled, then replacement of the implant, and closing the incision. This complication will happen to about one patient in 60. While many surgeons offer correction of a hematoma (blood around the implant) without additional charge, there is usually a cost involved with the use of an operating room, or for an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist to put you to sleep for the procedure. These costs are usually outside the control of your surgeon. Infection is a rare complication after breast augmentation. Most surgeons use antibiotics during and for a short period after the surgery as a preventative. Also, many surgeons place a disinfectant solution around the sterile implant at the time of surgery to further minimize this risk. Although extremely rare, if a significant infection were to occur around the implant, oral antibiotics may have a hard time eliminating the infection, and it may require that the implant be removed. Then the infection is cleared, and several weeks later, the implant would be placed again. I stress that such a complication is rare. I have been in practice for 37 years, and have seen a significant infection after augmentation surgery only once. Placement of breast implants may stretch or damage sensory nerves to the nipples or areolae causing numbness. Usually the sensation returns, but occasionally, longer lasting numbness of the tissues can persist. This complication is also quite uncommon. To a degree, this risk is greater the larger the implant that is placed, since larger implants put more stress on the nerves. Most surgeons are careful to watch out for those nerves, and minimize this risk. This risk of implant rupture has largely gone away these days with the advent of highly cohesive gel which doesn't leak out, even if an implant becomes ruptured. Have your doctor demonstrate for you the characteristics of the gel in the implants you are going to have placed. I often show patients a gel implant that has been cut in half. Holding it upside down, nothing leaks out! Modern implants are also very strong, and the risk of rupturing an implant during even contact sports or having a mammogram are extremely small. Of course, if you choose a saline filled implant, there is a greater possibility that such an implant could eventually fail, in which case the breast would simply deflate overnight as the saline leaks out and is absorbed. This is not a medical emergency, but it IS a cosmetic emergency! I hope this information has been helpful. I wish you All the Best! READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Assistant Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals 2014 - Present
Treatments
- Liposuction
- Fat Transfer
- Breast Augmentation
- Breast Augmentation With Lift
- Breast Lift
- Gynecomastia
- Blepharoplasty
- Facial Surgery
- Otoplasty
- Rhinoplasty
- Injectables
- Vein Reduction
- Laser Procedures
Professional Memberships
- American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- Utah Plastic Surgery Society
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- American College of Surgeons
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Dr. David N. Clayton, MD, FACS's Practice location
22 Plastic Surgery and Spa MD
6686 S Highland Drive -Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121Get Direction
Dr. David N. Clayton, MD, FACS's reviews
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Media Releases
Get to know Cosmetic Medicine and Surgeon Dr. David N. Clayton, who serves the population of Midvale, Utah. Dr. Clayton Graduated from the University of Utah with Surgery Honors in 1976, giving him over four decades of experience in his field. After obtaining his Medical Degree he completed a combined residency in both General Surgery and Plastic Surgery at Providence Hospital. Dr. Clayton is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. To stay up to date in his field he remains a professional member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Utah Plastic Surgery Society, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Clayton currently practices with hif Family Practice Clayton Plastic Surgery in which his father and brother have both practiced as plastic surgeons there. He is the very first doctor in Utah to perform liposuction in 1983, Dr. Clayton has taught this operation at the national level, including publications in national and international plastic surgery journals, and has the largest experience with liposuction in the state. He holds an expertise in Plastic Surgeon, Body Contouring, Tummy Tucks, Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, and Elective Surgery. He is also affiliated with Trilogy Medical Center. Plastic surgery is defined as a surgical specialty dedicated to reconstruction of facial and body defects due to birth disorders, trauma, burns, and disease. Plastic surgery is intended to correct dysfunctional areas of the body and is reconstructive in nature.
Additional Information
David N. Clayton, MD, FACS, is a Leading Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon with Clayton Plastic Surgery at Trilogy Medical Center in Midvale, Utah David N. Clayton, MD, FACS, is a well-versed cosmetic plastic surgeon who diagnoses and treats patients at Clayton Plastic Surgery at Trilogy Medical Center in Midvale, Utah. The first plastic surgeon in the state of Utah to perform liposuction in 1983, Dr. Clayton has the largest experience with liposuction in the state. He has thought liposuction at national level and has published on liposuction in national and international plastic surgery journals. Dr. Clayton has an impressive professional journey that spans thirty-eight years and has expanse knowledge and unrivaled expertise in body contouring, tummy tucks, breast augmentation, liposuction, and elective surgery. “He loves all types of cosmetic surgery, and enjoys a wonderful reputation for his facelifts, eyelid surgery, and nasal surgery (rhinoplasty), as well as other body contouring surgeries, including tummy tucks, breast augmentations, reductions, and lifts (Mommy Makeovers),” states the official website of Dr. David N. Clayton. Prior to branching out as a solo cosmetic plastic surgery practitioner in 2015, Dr. Clayton practiced alongside his father, brother, and nephew at Clayton Plastic Surgery. The practice was the largest family group of plastic surgeons practicing together in the US until 1997 when his father retired. David N. Clayton, MD, FACS, attended the University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City, UT, and received his medical degree with surgery honors in 1976. He was accepted into medical school on the Early Admissions Program during his first term at the University of Utah in 1968 when he was completing his undergraduate degree. Following medical school, he served his internship and combined general surgery and plastic surgery residency at Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus in Southfield, Michigan. In addition, Dr. Clayton received board certification in plastic surgery from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. And, he remains at the forefront of his challenging specialty via memberships and affiliations with prestigious professional societies and associations. As a result, he is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Utah Plastic Surgery Society, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Moreover, he attained fellowship of the American College of Surgeons having met the standards and guidelines required of the nation’s leading surgeons.
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