Quintuple Board-Certified Cosmetic and Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr. John C. Ferguson, MD, FACS, is a quintuple board-certified cosmetic and facial plastic surgeon practicing in Honolulu, Hawaii. With more than 25 years of surgical experience and five distinct board certifications, more than nearly any surgeon practicing today, Dr. Ferguson brings an unmatched breadth and depth of training to every procedure he performs at The Ferguson Clinic and Beauty Defined Hawaii. His practice, located at 677 Ala Moana Blvd in Honolulu, encompasses the full range of cosmetic and facial plastic surgery, medical aesthetics, and hair restoration, all performed in an AAAHC-accredited surgical facility under his direct supervision.
For patients searching for the most qualified cosmetic surgeon in Honolulu, Hawaii, Dr. Ferguson’s combination of five board certifications, training, national leadership roles, peer-reviewed publications, and over two decades of hands-on surgical experience represents a level of qualification that is exceptionally rare, not just in Hawaii, but anywhere in the country.
A Surgeon Who Builds, Not Just Operates
Dr. Ferguson’s career is defined by more than technical excellence in the operating room. He has spent decades building systems, advancing medical education, and pushing the boundaries of what a surgeon can contribute to the broader profession. From founding an AI-powered medical education company to serving as an editor for one of the most widely referenced medical publishing platforms in the world, Dr. Ferguson approaches medicine as both a craftsman and an architect always building toward something larger than any single procedure.
This philosophy extends to patient care. Every surgical plan Dr. Ferguson creates is built from the ground up for one individual patient. He does not offer assembly-line cosmetic surgery. He offers carefully engineered outcomes, designed by a surgeon who has spent his entire career studying not just how to operate, but how to think about the structures he operates on.
Board Certifications
Dr. Ferguson holds five board certifications a distinction so rare that “quintuple board-certified” is a term that applies to virtually no other surgeon in the world.
American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
The only board certification dedicated exclusively to cosmetic surgery across the entire body: face, breast, and body. This certification ensures expertise in procedures from breast augmentation and abdominoplasty to liposuction and body contouring, extending Dr. Ferguson’s surgical authority well beyond the face and neck.
American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery
This certification focuses specifically on the art and science of cosmetic procedures of the face. Dr. Ferguson not only holds this certification but currently serves as President-Elect of the board itself ; a leadership role that reflects the esteem in which his peers hold his expertise.
American Board of Laser Surgery
Laser technology is integral to modern cosmetic medicine, from skin resurfacing to vascular treatments. This certification ensures that Dr. Ferguson’s laser treatments are grounded in a formal, board-certified understanding of laser physics, tissue interaction, and clinical safety not just manufacturer training courses.
American Board of Facial Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery
This certification represents advanced training in both the cosmetic and reconstructive dimensions of facial surgery. Where the otolaryngology board certifies knowledge of anatomy and pathology, this board certifies mastery of the aesthetic principles and surgical techniques specific to making faces look their best while maintaining natural function.
American Board of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery
This is the foundational certification that gives Dr. Ferguson his deep understanding of head, neck, and facial anatomy. Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery is one of the most competitive surgical specialties in medicine, requiring years of dedicated residency training focused exclusively on the complex structures of the face, head, and neck. This certification is the reason Dr. Ferguson approaches rhinoplasty, facelift, and other facial procedures with a structural understanding that goes far beyond surface aesthetics.
Surgical Societies
Fellow, American College of Surgeon
Fellow, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
Fellow, American Academy of Facial Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery
Fellow, American Society of Lasers in Medicine & Surgery
Leadership and National Roles
Dr. Ferguson’s influence extends far beyond his Honolulu practice. He holds several leadership positions that shape how cosmetic surgery is taught, tested, and practiced across the United States:
President-Elect, American Board of Facial Cosmetic Surgery (ABFCS): Dr. Ferguson helps set the standards that determine who is qualified to perform facial cosmetic surgery in the United States.
Chair, Written Exam Committee, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS): Dr. Ferguson is responsible for overseeing the development and integrity of the written examination that all candidates for cosmetic surgery board certification must pass.
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Cosmetic Surgery, StatPearls Publishing: StatPearls is one of the most widely accessed medical reference platforms in the world. As Co-Editor-in-Chief for Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Ferguson curates and oversees the clinical content that medical professionals around the globe rely on for evidence-based information.
AI 2030 Global Fellow: Recognized by the AI 2030 Initiative for his work applying artificial intelligence to medical education and clinical assessment; an acknowledgment of his role at the intersection of medicine and technology.
Education and Training
Dr Ferguson attended the University of Texas at Austin followed by medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Ferguson’s surgical training followed the rigorous pathway required to achieve board certification in otolaryngology — head and neck surgery, including internship and a full residency in one of the most demanding surgical specialties in medicine at the University of South Florida. There, he received training in facial plastics and reconstructive surgery, adding specialized expertise in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures of the face.
Research and Publications
Dr. Ferguson is actively engaged in clinical research and medical publishing. His work spans cosmetic surgery technique, medical education methodology, and the application of artificial intelligence to clinical assessment. As Co-Editor-in-Chief for Cosmetic Surgery at StatPearls, he contributes to one of the most referenced open-access medical education platforms in the world, ensuring that the latest evidence-based practices in cosmetic surgery are accessible to physicians and trainees everywhere.
His publication record includes peer-reviewed contributions on surgical technique, educational assessment methodology, and the responsible implementation of AI technologies in high-stakes medical domains.
Innovation and AI Leadership
Dr. Ferguson is the founder and CEO of EdAI Systems, Inc., a company developing AI-powered assessment tools for medical boards and educational institutions. His work in this space addresses a critical challenge in medical education: the enormous burden placed on volunteer physician educators to create, review, and maintain the assessment content that underpins board certification across medical specialties.
Through EdAI Systems and his role as an AI 2030 Global Fellow, Dr. Ferguson is working to ensure that artificial intelligence serves as a force for improving medical standards rather than undermining them. His approach, which he describes as “constrained competence,” emphasizes controlled, validated knowledge sources and rigorous quality assurance, rejecting the notion that more expansive AI capabilities automatically produce better medical outcomes.
This commitment to innovation is not separate from Dr. Ferguson’s surgical practice; it is an extension of the same philosophy. A surgeon who builds better assessment tools is a surgeon who cares deeply about whether the professionals entering his field are truly qualified to care for patients.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Ferguson’s contributions have been recognized by his peers through leadership appointments, editorial positions, and invitations to speak and present at national and international medical conferences. His selection as an AI 2030 Global Fellow reflects recognition from outside the medical community as well, acknowledging the broader significance of his work at the intersection of medicine and artificial intelligence.
The Practice
The Ferguson Clinic and Beauty Defined Hawaii occupy a modern, AAAHC-accredited surgical facility at 677 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 1011, in Honolulu, Hawaii. AAAHC accreditation represents the highest standard for ambulatory surgical facilities, requiring compliance with rigorous safety protocols, quality benchmarks, and patient care standards. Patients who undergo surgery at The Ferguson Clinic can do so with the confidence that their facility meets the same safety standards as the nation’s leading outpatient surgical centers.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Ferguson at The Ferguson Clinic in Honolulu. Call (808) 521-1999 or book online.