Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon · CAQ Hand Surgery
Todd A. Richards, MD, MBA — Phoenix, Arizona
Fellowship-trained specialist with over a decade of advanced upper extremity trauma and reconstruction — including free tissue transfer and limb replantation — serving patients locally, nationally, and internationally.
Training & Education
About Dr. Richards
Dr. Todd Richards is a board-certified plastic surgeon with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery, practicing at the Arizona Center for Hand to Shoulder Surgery in Phoenix, Arizona. With over a decade of advanced-level experience in upper extremity trauma and reconstruction, Dr. Richards performs some of the most technically demanding procedures in surgery — including free tissue transfer and limb replantation. His practice spans the full spectrum of hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow care, from common elective conditions to the most complex acute injuries.
One of a select group of plastic surgeons with a CAQ in Hand Surgery, Dr. Richards brings subspecialty-level expertise to every upper extremity case. With a dual MD/MBA background, Dr. Richards brings an uncommon blend of surgical precision and patient-centered thinking to every encounter. His philosophy is straightforward: understand what your hands mean to your life, and restore that.
Whether you're a local patient, traveling from another state, or coordinating care internationally, Dr. Richards and his team are committed to making world-class hand surgery accessible and seamlessly coordinated.
Surgical Expertise
From common conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger, to complex reconstructions, nerve repairs, and joint replacements — all within one dedicated practice.
Conditions We Treat
In-depth information on the hand, wrist, and elbow conditions Dr. Richards treats — symptoms, treatment options, and what to expect from care.
Why Dr. Richards
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hand Surgery — a credential held by a small fraction of surgeons. Combined with over a decade of advanced Level I trauma experience, including free tissue transfer and replantation, this represents the highest tier of upper extremity surgical training.
More than a decade performing the most demanding upper extremity procedures — free tissue transfer, limb replantation, and complex microsurgical reconstruction. These are skills that few surgeons develop and fewer maintain. For patients with severe injuries or failed prior surgeries, this level of expertise is the difference between a good outcome and a great one.
A rare dual credential that shapes how Dr. Richards approaches both patient care and practice: with clarity, efficiency, and a systems perspective that serves patients better.
Experienced working with patients who travel for surgery. The team can coordinate with your local providers, assist with pre-op workup logistics, and support your recovery plan.
World-class facilities, year-round accessibility, no harsh winters for recovery, and direct flights from most major U.S. and international cities make Phoenix a compelling destination for planned surgical care.
"When someone comes to me after a devastating hand injury — a replant, a crush, a failed prior reconstruction — they're not just looking for a surgeon. They're looking for someone who has done this before, under pressure, and gotten it right."— Dr. Todd A. Richards, MD, MBA
For Referring Providers
Dr. Richards welcomes referrals from primary care, urgent care, emergency physicians, and specialists throughout Arizona and beyond. Same-week consultation slots are typically available for urgent cases.
Contact the referral lineOut-of-State & International Patients
Many patients travel from other states or countries to receive care from a specialist they trust. Dr. Richards welcomes patients from across the U.S. and internationally, with a team experienced in coordinating travel care.
We can help with: virtual pre-operative consultations, coordination with your home physician, staging procedures efficiently to minimize travel, and connecting you with recommended local accommodations and support during recovery.
Meet Dr. Richards
Dr. Richards grew up in Mount Shasta, California — a small, close-knit community at the foot of one of the American West's most iconic peaks. That upbringing instilled a respect for nature, a love of challenge, and a quiet determination that still defines how he approaches everything he does.
A lifelong adventurer, he has traveled to more than 60 countries — drawn to remote cultures, extraordinary landscapes, and the kind of experiences that reframe what matters. That same curiosity shapes how he sees his patients: as whole people with lives, work, and passions that depend on their hands.
Completing the Triple Crown of American long-distance hiking — the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Continental Divide Trail — puts Dr. Richards in extraordinarily rare company. Fewer than 500 people in history have completed all three. It's a testament to the same discipline, pain tolerance, and long-term thinking that makes a great surgeon.
At home in Phoenix, he is the proud father of twin daughters — which he'll tell you is the most humbling and rewarding thing he's ever done, by a considerable margin.
Our Locations
Dr. Richards and the Arizona Center for Hand to Shoulder Surgery operate five locations across the Phoenix metro — three in Phoenix (including main, north, and northwest), one in Scottsdale, and one in Mesa — putting expert hand and upper extremity care within reach of virtually every community in the Valley.
No matter where you live in the Valley, expert hand and upper extremity care is close to home. Same-week appointments are typically available.
Patients throughout the Phoenix metro — including Tempe, Glendale, Surprise, Goodyear, Sun City, Ahwatukee, Queen Creek, and surrounding communities — are welcome at any of our locations.
Find the Nearest LocationGet in Touch
Phoenix, Arizona
For urgent referrals or to speak directly with our care coordination team, please call our office. Same-week appointments are typically available for time-sensitive cases.
Call the referral line