Babak J. Mehrara - Physician Profile | Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Video

Meet Reconstructive Surgeon Babak Mehrara

Babak Mehrara talks about the expertise of Memorial Sloan-Kettering plastic surgeons and how patients with breast cancer and head and neck cancer benefit from recent advances in reconstructive surgery.

(02:00)

I am a plastic surgeon who specializes in cancer reconstruction. I have specialized training in a microsurgery and extensive experience in reconstruction with perforator flaps, including DIEP and SGAPs for breast reconstruction. The term “microsurgery” refers to surgery in which tissues are transplanted from one region of the body to another by reconnecting small blood vessels using a microscope.

Perforator flaps are the latest and most advanced microsurgical techniques available for reconstruction. These techniques are an improvement on traditional microsurgery since in perforator flaps there is much less trauma to the area from which transplanted tissues are collected. For example, in the DIEP flap, the rectus muscle (commonly known as the “6-pack”) of the abdomen is preserved, while in traditional TRAM flap procedures this muscle is cut resulting in more pain, longer recovery, and higher chance of hernias after surgery. I have lectured nationally and internationally on breast reconstruction and have published extensively on the topic.

more…

My research interest is lymphedema — the swelling of an extremity that develops in some cancer patients who have lymph nodes removed for cancer treatment. I have developed a number of models to study lymphedema in the laboratory with a goal of understanding how lymphedema develop. Our long-term goal is to design novel methods including surgery and medical treatments to prevent and treat lymphedema. Depending on the circumstances, I offer liposuction, lymph node transfer, or lymphatic by-pass procedures to appropriate surgical candidates. Our NIH funded laboratory has collaborations with researchers at Stanford University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, USC Medical Center, and Beth Israel Medical Center.

Location

New York City

Phone

212-639-8639

Clinical Expertise

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Breast and Facial Reconstruction; Microsurgery

Languages Spoken

English

Education

MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Residencies

NYU Medical Center

Fellowships

UCLA Medical Center

Board Certifications

Plastic Surgery

See My Colleagues in:

Department of Surgery›Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Service

Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Babak J. Mehrara

A Clinical Study of McGhan Corporation-Style 410 Silicone-Filled Breast Implants

Acupuncture for Chronic Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Treatment

Inamed Corporation-Style 410 Silicone-Filled Breast Implant Continued Assess Reconstruction/Revision Expansion (CARE) Clinical Study

Publications by Babak J. Mehrara

Pusic, AL, Cemal Y, Albornoz YC, Klassen A, CanoS, Sulimanoff I, Hernandez M, Massey M, Cordeiro P, Morrow M and Mehrara B. “Quality of life among breast cancer patients with lymphedema: a systematic review of patient-reported outcome instruments and outcomes.” J Cancer Surviv 2013, 7(1): 83-92.

Avraham T, Zampell JC, Yan A, Elhadad S, Weitman ES, Rockson SG, Bromberg J and Mehrara BJ. “Th2 differentiation is necessary for soft tissue fibrosis and lymphatic dysfunction resulting from lymphedema.” FASEB J 2013; 27(3): 1114-1126.

Ho, A., P. Cordeiro, J. Disa, B. Mehrara, J. Wright, K. J. Van Zee, C. Hudis, A. McLane, J. Chou, Z. Zhang, S. Powell and B. McCormick (2012). “Long-term outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing immediate 2-stage expander/implant reconstruction and postmastectomy radiation.” Cancer 2011, 118(9): 2552-2559.

Crisera, C. A., E. I. Chang, A. L. Da Lio, J. H. Festekjian and B. J. Mehrara (2011). “Immediate free flap reconstruction for advanced-stage breast cancer: is it safe?” Plast Reconstr Surg 2011: 128(1): 32-41.

Yan, A., T. Avraham, J. C. Zampell, S. Z. Aschen and B. J. Mehrara (2011). “Mechanisms of lymphatic regeneration after tissue transfer.” PLoS One 2011, 6(2): e17201.

more…

McCarthy, C. M., A. F. Klassen, S. J. Cano, A. Scott, N. Vanlaeken, P. A. Lennox, A. K. Alderman, B. J. Mehrara, J. J. Disa, P. G. Cordeiro and A. L. Pusic (2010). “Patient satisfaction with postmastectomy breast reconstruction: a comparison of saline and silicone implants.” Cancer 2010, 116(24): 5584-5591.

Avraham, T., S. V. Daluvoy, E. R. Riedel, P. G. Cordeiro, K. J. Van Zee and B. J. Mehrara (2010). “Tissue expander breast reconstruction is not associated with an increased risk of lymphedema.” Ann Surg Oncol 2010, 17(11): 2926-2932.

Morrow, M. and B. Mehrara (2009). “Prophylactic mastectomy and the timing of breast reconstruction.” Br J Surg 2010, 96(1): 1-2.

Mehrara, B. J., J. C. Zampell, H. Suami and D. W. Chang (2011). “Surgical management of lymphedema: past, present, and future.” Lymphat Res Biol 2010, 9(3): 159-167.

Disa, J. J., C. M. McCarthy, B. J. Mehrara, A. L. Pusic, Q. Y. Hu and P. G. Cordeiro (2009). “Postmastectomy reconstruction: an approach to patient selection.” Plast Reconstr Surg 2009, 124(1): 43-52.

Avraham, T., N. Clavin and B. J. Mehrara (2008). “Microsurgical breast reconstruction.” Cancer J 2008, 14(4): 241-247.

Chen, C. M., E. G. Halvorson, J. J. Disa, C. McCarthy, Q. Y. Hu, A. L. Pusic, P. G. Cordeiro and B. J. Mehrara (2007). “Immediate postoperative complications in DIEP versus free/muscle-sparing TRAM flaps.” Plast Reconstr Surg 2007, 120(6): 1477-1482.

Mehrara, B. J., T. D. Santoro, E. Arcilla, J. P. Watson, W. W. Shaw and A. L. Da Lio (2006). “Complications after microvascular breast reconstruction: experience with 1195 flaps.” Plast Reconstr Surg 2006, 118(5): 1100-1109; discussion 1110-1101.

Selected Book Chapters
“Distraction osteogenis.” Mehrara BJ, Longaker MT, Mc Carthy JG, Hedrick MH, and Kawamoto H. In: The First International Baylor Orthodontic Symposium (Dallas, Texas). Sachdeva R, ed. Glendora, CA: Ormco; 1997.

Visit PubMed for full listing of Babak J. Mehrara journal articles

Pubmed is an online index of biomedical articles maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Topics Recommended by Babak J. Mehrara

Bone Cancer: Bruce’s Story

Breast Cancer: Reconstruction / Prosthesis

Related Multimedia See all »

Meet Reconstructive Surgeon Babak Mehrara

breast (brest)

Glandular organ located on the chest. The breast is made up of connective tissue, fat, and breast tissue that contains the glands that can make milk. Also called mammary gland.