Dr. Zenn was hired as an Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC in 1995. By 2000, he had been recruited to the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Duke University Medical Center where he held many titles over 17 years, including Professor with Tenure, Vice Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, Director of Resident Training, and Co-Director of the Facial Reanimation Program. At Duke, Dr. Zenn’s practice was a mix of highly intricate reconstructions of the face, breast, and body and state-of-the-art cosmetic surgeries. In 2014, Dr. Zenn invented the “Zenn Delay” breast reconstruction procedure, now used around the world to provide women with genetic risk (BRCA) and all stages of cancer immediate reconstruction with a dramatically improved safety profile. His original study of his first cohort of patients was published in 2015.

Dr. Zenn left Duke to open Zenn Plastic Surgery in 2017.

Dr. Zenn has published numerous articles and book chapters and has lectured around the world on a variety of topics in plastic surgery. His two-volume textbook, Reconstructive Surgery, has become required reading for young plastic surgeons both in the U.S. and abroad. He is proud to have trained hundreds of plastic surgery residents, many of whom practice in the Raleigh area.

In addition to being named “Best Doctors in America” for many years, Dr. Zenn was named one of "America’s Best Plastic Surgeons" by Newsweek in 2021. He also has the unique distinction of being named "Top Cosmetic Doctor" and "Top Cancer Specialist" by Castle Connolly. Additionally, he has been named one of the “Three Best Plastic Surgeons” in Raleigh for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.