Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Conditions Treated:
About Me
I am a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive clinical experience in microsurgical breast reconstruction, lymphedema, and head and neck reconstruction. I perform procedures at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Memorial Hospital and Josie Robertson Surgery Center. I also see patients at MSK Monmouth and MSK Basking Ridge, both in New Jersey.
Cancer treatments can affect people on both a physical and psychosocial level. My goal is to help my patients return to how they were before their treatments, in terms of form and function. I find that this can often be best accomplished by transplanting a person’s own tissues from one area of the body to the affected area using microsurgical techniques, providing a safe and natural approach to reconstruction. Since the effects of cancer and its treatments are wide-ranging, I develop unique approaches for all of my patients, taking into account their individual needs and desires when thinking about their return to daily life after surgery.
See My Colleagues
Publications
Allen RJ Jr, Cheng MH. Lymphedema surgery: Patient selection and an overview of surgical techniques. J Surg Oncol. 2016 Feb 5. doi: 10.1002/jso.24170. [Epub ahead of print] Review.
Allen RJ Jr, Canizares O Jr, Scharf C, Nguyen PD, Thanik V, Saadeh PB, Coleman SR, Hazen A. Grading Lipoaspirate: Is there an optimal density for fat grafting? Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Jan;131(1):38-45. PMID: 23271517. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23271517.
Allen RJ Jr, LoTempio MM, Craigie JE, Allen RJ Sr. Transplantation in Identical Twins: Another Option for Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Oct;122(4):1019-23. PMID: 18827632. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18827632.
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Robert J. Allen, Jr.’s journal articles
Clinical Trials
As home to one of the world’s top cancer research centers, Memorial Sloan Kettering is typically involved in more than 900 clinical trials at a given time. Currently, clinical trials focused on the conditions I treat are enrolling new patients. If you’re interested in joining a clinical trial, click to learn about the trial’s purpose, eligibility criteria, and how to get more information.
Learn moreInsurance
Most major health insurers offer plans that include MSK as one of their in-network providers. If MSK is in-network, it means all our doctors are too. Medicaid and New York State Medicare also provide benefits for care at MSK.
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