Dr. Emelia
Hughes
Dr. Emelia Hughes is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with more than six years of experience and advanced training in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and facial plastic surgery.
Her comprehensive training has given her extensive expertise in both the functional and aesthetic aspects of facial surgery. She began her education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she was selected as a Regents Scholar, a prestigious merit-based scholarship awarded to the top 1% of incoming freshmen. She went on to graduate cum laude from the UCLA Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Science and a minor in English. She then earned her Doctor of Medicine from UC San Diego School of Medicine, where she discovered her interest in facial surgery and head and neck anatomy through the cleft lip and palate program.
Dr. Emelia Hughes completed her residency in the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at UC Davis Medical Center, where she gained extensive experience in craniofacial and cleft surgery, facial trauma, and complex reconstructive procedures. She then pursued advanced subspecialty training through an American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) fellowship at Rousso Adams Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic. There, she trained under Dr. Austin Adams and Dr. Daniel Rousso, who has served as president of both the AAFPRS and the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS).
Dr. Hughes believes the best care is a blend of technical excellence and an artistic eye, unique to each patient’s anatomy and goals. She takes the time to understand each patient as a whole person—not simply as a surgical concern—and partners with them throughout the decision-making process and healing journey.
Born and raised in California, Dr. Hughes enjoys yoga, hiking, visiting farmers markets, and spending time with her husband and rescue pets.
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — Licenciatura en Ciencias Fisiológicas, Cum Laude
- University of California, San Diego School of Medicine — Doctorado en Medicina (M.D.)
- UC Davis Medical Center — Residencia en Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello
- Rousso Adams Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic — Subespecialización (Fellowship) en Cirugía Plástica y Reconstructiva Facial
Professional Memberships and Associations
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society, Member
Medical Licenses
- 2025 – Alabama Medical License 51165
- 2020 – California Postgraduate Training License, PTL 3569
- 2022 – California Physician’s and Surgeon’s License, 182874
Awards and Honors
- 2012–2016 – University of California Regents Scholar
- 2014 – UCLA Honors College Rose Gilbert Scholarship Recipient
- 2016 – MSTAR (Medical Student Training in Aging Research) Scholarship Recipient
- 2019 – Top 5 Poster, Society of Surgical Oncology Sarcoma Clinical Sessions
- 2024, 2025 – Highest Score in UC Davis Facial Plastic Surgery In-Service
- Training
- 2025 – Highest Overall Score in UC Davis In-Service Training
- 2026 – 100th percentile AAFPRS Written Board Exam Score
Publications
Hughes E, Velázquez-Castro O, Cates D, Squires L. Introduction of sialendoscopy in a veteran population: effect on the management of benign salivary disease. American Journal of Otolaryngology. March/April 2024.
Reghuathan M, Rocha C, Blum J, Stuart E, et al. Gender, racial, and socioeconomic determinants in surgical career choice. Journal of Surgical Education. March 2023.
Stuart E, Armaneous M, Bracken D, et al. Exuberant intratracheal granuloma. Clinical Case Reports in Otolaryngology. February 2021.
Panuganti B, Stuart E, Weissbrod P. Changing treatment trends in the early-stage glottic cancer population following the Affordable Care Act. Head and Neck. January 2021.
Crawford K, Jafari A, Qualliotine J, Stuart E, et al. Elective neck dissection for T3/T4 cN0 sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma. Head and Neck. December 2020.
Faraji F, Lee JH, Faraji F, MacDonald B, Oviedo P, Stuart E, et al. Craniofacial trauma from electric scooters. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology. April 2020.
Stuart E, Banerjee S, de la Torre J, et al. Frequent recurrences of rectal GIST in the imatinib era: retrospective analysis of an international patient registry. J Surg Oncol. July 2019.
Parmeshwar N, Stuart ER, Reid CM, et al. Diversity in plastic surgery: trends in minority representation among applicants and residents. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019;143:940–949.
Parmeshwar N, Stuart ER, Reid CM, Oviedo P, Gosman AA. Abstract: Diversity in plastic surgery: trends in minority representation among applicants and residents. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. Volume 6, Issue 9S, pp. 147–148. September 2018.
Presentations
Tollefson T, Hughes E. “Updates in Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine.” Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings, May 14, 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hughes E. “Current Use of Tranexamic Acid in Facial Plastic Surgery.” Aging Skin, Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Surgery Meeting, February 9, 2025, Lake Tahoe, California.
Hughes E. “Osseointegration: From Branemark to BHA.” University of California, Davis, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Grand Rounds presentation, December 17, 2024, Sacramento, California.
Hughes E, Tollefson T. “FPSAM: Bringing Journal Content to You.” Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings, May 16, 2024, Chicago, Illinois.
Hughes E. “Cartilage Grafting in Rhinoplasty.” University of California, Davis, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Grand Rounds presentation, November 21, 2023, Sacramento, California.
Stuart E, Hagwood G, McLeod A, Murphy C, Strong E, Steele T. “Therapeutic Compliance Following Implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act.” UC Davis Department of Otolaryngology Research Day, June 16, 2023, Sacramento, California.
Stuart E, Velázquez-Castro O, Cates D, Squires L. “Introduction of Sialendoscopy in a Veterans Administration (VA) Population and Its Effect on Sialadenectomy.” Bay Area Resident Research Symposium, May 12, 2023, Oakland, California.
Stuart E, Velázquez-Castro O, Cates D, Squires L. “Introduction of Sialendoscopy in a Veterans Administration (VA) Population and Its Effect on Sialadenectomy.” American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting, September 12, 2022, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Stuart E. “Life After a Cochlear Implant.” University of California, Davis, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Grand Rounds presentation, July 26, 2022, Sacramento, California.
Stuart E. “Mucormycosis in the Time of COVID.” University of California, Davis, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Grand Rounds presentation, February 1, 2022, Sacramento, California.
Stuart E. “Nicotine Replacement in the Postoperative Patient.” University of California, Davis, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Grand Rounds presentation, July 13, 2021, Sacramento, California.
Stuart E. “Laryngeal Trauma.” UC Davis, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Grand Rounds presentation, February 23, 2021, Sacramento, California.
Stuart E, Banerjee S, Scherzer N, et al. “Frequent Recurrences of Rectal GIST in the Imatinib Era.” Sarcoma Clinical Session at the Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, March 27, 2019, San Diego, California.
Parmeshwar N, Stuart E, Reid CM, et al. “Diversity Among Plastic Surgery Residents: Minority Trends Among Applicants and Residents.” Oral presentation at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, October 1, 2018, Chicago, Illinois.
Parmeshwar N, Stuart E, Reid CM, et al. “Diversity Among Plastic Surgery Residents: An Assessment of Minority Trends Among Applicants and Residents of Independent and Integrated Plastic Surgery Programs from 2010 to 2016.” Oral presentation at the 68th Annual California Society of Plastic Surgeons (CSPS) Conference, May 19, 2018, San Diego, California.
