Professor Kelly is a fully accredited specialist plastic surgeon, registered with the Irish Medical Council. He is on the Specialist Register in Plastic Surgery and is an examiner with the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. He is a full member of the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons (IAPS), the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), and the British Association of Aesthetic Surgeons (BAAPS).
Professor Kelly has been appointed as an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Plastic Surgery at the National University of Ireland, Galway and is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at University Hospital, Galway. He also has admission privileges at Bon Secours Hospital Galway and the Galway Clinic.

Professor Kelly has trained in Dublin, Cork, Aylesbury, Boston, Texas, and Melbourne and has experience in all aspects of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. His research interests are in Tissue Engineering and he currently collaborates with the National Centre for Bioengineering Science (NCBES) in Galway on many research projects that are unique to plastic surgery. His clinical interests are in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.