Medical Training & Background

Dr. Wegerif was interested in medicine from an early age, but his path to becoming a plastic surgeon had some twists and turns along the way. As a kid, he grew up fishing and boating off the Florida coast and was initially drawn to the maritime industry. Following high school, he applied to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, but after making it pretty far along in that process, discovered he had a mild form of color blindness that disqualified him from going further. “I found out I was red-green deficient,” he explains, “so I switched it up and started as an engineering major in college.”

It didn’t take long for Dr. Wegerif to realize that engineering wasn’t right for him, either. “Most engineers end up sitting in front of a computer,” he says, “and that’s not what I wanted.” Like many doctors, he enjoys working with his hands, and had done construction as a teenager building docks and seawalls. He is also the type of person who enjoys starting a project and finishing it, so surgery felt like a natural fit. This insight steered him away from engineering and toward biology and medicine as an undergrad. “I had been passionate about medicine earlier on in life and rediscovered it again when I was in college,” he recalls.

As Dr. Wegerif earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and continued his studies at the Ross University School of Medicine, it was clear that surgery was his true calling. However, it was the artistry and ability to be creative that attracted him to plastic and reconstructive surgery specifically, along with the transformative results he’d be able to provide. “It’s one of the few fields of medicine where we have smiling patients who are coming in for something that they’ve looked forward to for a long time,” he says.

After graduating with honors from medical school, Dr. Wegerif went on to the Cleveland Clinic in Florida to begin his general surgery training, then moved out west to complete a rigorous three-year residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of New Mexico.

Growing up on Florida’s Space Coast in a small town near Cape Canaveral, Dr. Wegerif is someone you would probably expect to have dreamt of becoming an astronaut or an engineer as a child. In fact, most kids who come of age under the shadow of the Kennedy Space Center do just that, pursuing careers at NASA, Boeing or SpaceX as they get older. For many, including Dr. Wegerif, it could be considered the “family business,” after all.

“My dad, grandfathers and brothers all work in the space industry in some capacity,” he says.

But Dr. Wegerif had other ideas about what he wanted his future to look like and forged his own path, which led him to a promising career as a highly dedicated plastic surgeon. Today, Dr. Wegerif is the newest member of the team at Pure Plastic Surgery, one of Miami’s premier plastic surgery practices known for its commitment to patient safety and excellence.

A big part of being a physician is dedicating your life to being a lifelong learner, and I love working in an environment where I can collaborate with other talented surgeons and learn from their experiences.

Taming the Wild, Wild West

In the world of plastic surgery, South Florida is a unique market. “It’s kind of the wild, wild west of plastic surgery,” Dr. Wegerif offers. Knowing that, finding a doctor who will not only help you reach your goals but prioritize your safety and well-being in the process is paramount. That’s exactly what Dr. Wegerif aims to do, and what attracted him to Pure Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Wegerif reconnected with Dr. Earle after completing his training in plastic and reconstructive surgery and moving back to Florida with his wife and children. Having worked with him at the Cleveland Clinic, he already knew Dr. Earle’s philosophy on patient care, which got him excited at the prospect of joining his team. “He focuses on boutique style, safety-centered procedures, which is something I really wanted to be a part of,” he says.

Like his colleagues at Pure, patient safety is Dr. Wegerif’s top priority. He knows that there is risk with any surgical procedure, and minimizing those risks helps to improve treatment outcomes. To accomplish that, he emphasizes the importance of patient education, getting the proper preoperative clearance and maintaining good communication. “I don’t like my patients waiting around for answers,” he admits. In addition, he invests a lot of time in getting to know each individual on a more personal level to ensure their expectations are aligned. “I’m always going to strive to understand their goals and where they’re coming from, and really make a tailored plan to help them achieve their goals in the safest way possible,” he says.

His process also involves following up with patients and acknowledging any complications that may arise. Fortunately, most people won’t experience complications, but the ones who do want to make sure their surgeon is prepared to handle them. “The well-trained surgeon is not one who never sees complications, but one who knows how to manage those complications when they do come up,” Dr. Wegerif points out. “I’m well-equipped to do that.”

A Surgeon’s Surgeon

Dr. Wegerif’s passion for plastic surgery intensified during his general surgery residency at Florida’s prestigious Cleveland Clinic. It was here that he had the opportunity to work with highly experienced plastic surgeons and see the true breadth of the specialty. Among the colleagues he met was Dr. Earle, who was an attending physician on staff at the time. Little did he know their paths would cross again in the near future, and Dr. Earle’s influence would ultimately help shape the trajectory of his career.

“With plastic surgery, I saw that you really get an opportunity to work from the head to the toe,” he explains. “And you’re the ‘surgeon’s surgeon’ — you’re the one who a lot of people call to help solve their complex problems within different surgical specialties.”

As his career flourished, Dr. Wegerif would go on to become exactly that: a surgeon’s surgeon, his reputation solidified by his creative expression, outstanding results and success in solving complex surgical cases. His technical skills and expertise would earn him the position of chief resident at the Cleveland Clinic in Florida, and then again during his residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of New Mexico.

Signature Procedures

Throughout his career, Dr. Wegerif has honed his skills and distinguished himself by merging surgical precision with innovative techniques. One of his signature procedures at Pure Plastic Surgery is the drainless tummy tuck, an advanced treatment option that eliminates the need for postoperative drains. “There aren’t too many people doing this procedure in Miami,” he notes, “even though it’s becoming more widely adopted throughout the country.”

Dr. Wegerif also finds himself drawn to mommy makeovers. “I think it’s one of the most profound surgeries we do,” he reveals. Designed to help mothers reclaim their pre-pregnancy bodies, mommy makeovers typically combine an abdominal procedure with breast enhancements to improve the areas most affected by childbearing. But for Dr. Wegerif, the true measure of success goes beyond just creating flattering, more youthful contours — it’s in the renewed sense of confidence that women radiate post-surgery.

“Helping women get their bodies back after pregnancy and giving them a huge boost in confidence… it’s pretty fulfilling,” he says. Another favorite procedure of his is body contouring for patients who have lost a lot of weight. “For many people, it’s the final step of a usually long process and it’s where they really get to see their final results, so I really enjoy that.”

My overall philosophy is helping patients achieve their goals while leaning toward a safe, natural outcome that they’ll be happy with for years to come.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Dr. Wegerif?

As the world of plastic surgery continually changes, so does Dr. Wegerif’s pursuit of excellence. With his keen interest in innovative practices like the drainless tummy tuck, it’s clear that he’s not one to rest on his laurels. As more surgeons across the country adopt this procedure, Dr. Wegerif has positioned Pure Plastic Surgery at the forefront of this trend.

He’s also committed to further developing his skills and knowledge with ongoing training, education and research. His published work has appeared in multiple peer-reviewed medical journals and book chapters, and he looks forward to attending conferences and workshops to collaborate with leaders in the field and stay on the cutting edge of surgical techniques.

During his free time, Dr. Wegerif spends as much time as possible outside or on the water with friends and family. Growing up in Florida instilled in him a deep love for boating, fishing and exploring the state’s waterways, but he also enjoys traveling and staying active.