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Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research

Saint Louis University School of Medicine’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fosters a culture of innovation and academic progress by providing a wide variety of research opportunities.  

Resident Research Culture

  • Clinical Research: Residents are required to work on clinical research annually.  
  • Advanced Lab Access: Residents can use a fully equipped microsurgery lab, along with fresh cadaver and basic science labs available at SLU SOM.  
  • Publication and Presentation: Residents are encouraged to submit projects for publication. The department sponsors presentations at regional and national conferences. 
  • Regular Conference Presence: 
    • American Association of Plastic Surgeons 
    • Plastic Surgery Research Council 
    • American Society of Plastic Surgeons 
    • American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association 
    • American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons 
    • American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery 
    • Missouri Chapter of the American College of Surgeons 
    • SLU Graduate Medical Education Resident Research Forum 

Recent Grants

  • The Plastic Surgery Foundation 2020 National Endowment Grant 
    • Project: Investigating Crowdsourcing of Cleft Speech 
    • PI: Alexander Y. Lin, M.D. 
  • The Plastic Surgery Foundation 2013 National Endowment Grant 
    • Project: BMP-2 Alveolar Bone Reconstruction in the Growing Facial Skeleton 
    • PI: Alexander Y. Lin, M.D. 

Publications

2026
  • An End to the Research Arms Race? How Changes to ERAS May Affect Applications to Plastic Surgery Residency Programs. Bhagwat AM, Gupta R, Mailey BA, Kaswan S, Bernstein ML.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2026 Mar 27. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000013077. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41891842 No abstract available.
2025
  • Assessment of Union Rates in Ballistic Hand Fractures. Slovacek C, Prezelski K, Zhang A, Ruiz A, Israel H, Chen K, Mailey B.Hand (N Y). 2025 Apr 3:15589447251325819. doi: 10.1177/15589447251325819. Online ahead of print.
  • Effect of Body Contouring Procedures on Changes in Long-Term Weight and Metabolic Health. Sparkman BM, Yeager M, Ruiz A, Juneja M, Ragsdale L, Bredenkamp J, Kaswan S, Plikaitis CM, Bernstein ML, Mailey B.Plast Surg (Oakv). 2025 Dec 9:22925503251400374. doi: 10.1177/22925503251400374. Online ahead of print.PMID: 41383951 Free PMC article.
2020
  • A Cost and Healthcare Utilization Analysis of Minimally-Invasive Alveolar Bone Grafting Techniques Compared With Open Iliac Crest Harvesting. Rohun Gupta 1, Atharva M Bhagwat 2, Christina M Plikaitis 1, Kevin Chen 1
  • Implications of Cuts to Federal Research Funding for Plastic Surgery. Bhagwat AM, Gupta R, Reiter AJ, Chen K, Hassanein AH, Mailey BA.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2026 Mar 16;14(3):e7566. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000007566. eCollection 2026 Mar.PMID: 41847461
  • Frojo G, Castro O, Tadisina KK, Xu KY. Lymphovenous Bypass Using Indocyanine Green Mapping for Successful Treatment of Penile and Scrotal Lymphedema. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020;8(7):e2938. Published 2020 Jul 24.
  • Francoisse CA, Sescleifer AM, King WT, Lin AY. Three-dimensional printing in medicine: a systematic review of pediatric applications [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 5]. Pediatr Res. 2020;10.1038/s41390-020 0991-6.
  • Sescleifer AM, Francoisse CA, Webber JC, Rector JD, Lin AY. Transforming assessment of speech in children with cleft palate via online crowdsourcing. PLoS One. 2020;15(1):e0227686. Published 2020 Jan 9.
  • Kareh AM, Xu KY. Surgical Management of Lymphedema. Mo Med. 2020;117(2):143-148.
  • Yee A, Padovano WM, Rowe AG, et al. The Effect of Surgical Video on Resident Performance of Carpal Tunnel
    Release: A Cadaveric Simulation-Based, Prospective, Randomized, Blinded Pilot Study. Plast Reconstr Surg.
    2020;145(6):1455-1463.
  • Torabi R, Bourn L, Veith J, et al. Population-Based Health Utility Assessment of Migraine Headache Symptoms
    before and after Surgical Intervention. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2020;145(1):210-217.
  • Walters J, Bourn L, Tessler O, Patterson C, Khoobehi K. Single Staged Mastopexy With Autologous Fat Grafting: An Alternative to Augmentation Mastopexy With Implants. Aesthet Surg J. 2020;40(4):NP152-NP158.
2019
  • Sarhaddi D, Xu K, Wisbeck A, Deigni O, Kaswan S, Prada C, Lund H. Fondaparinux Significantly Reduces
    Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism After Body Contouring Procedures Without an Increase in Bleeding
    Complications. Aesthet Surg J. 2019 Oct 15;39(11):1214-1221.
  • Frojo G, Tadisina KK, Kaswan S, Doston A, Lin AY. Preparing for the Plastic Surgery In-Service Exam: Evidence- Based Essentials for the Plastic Surgery Resident. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019;143(1):256e-257e.
  • Frojo G, Dotson A, Christopher K, Kaswan S, Lund H. Facelift Performed Safely With Local Anesthesia and Oral
    Sedation: Analysis of 174 Patients. Aesthet Surg J. 2019;39(5):463-469.
  • Ngaage LM, Elegbede A, Tadisina KK, et al. Panniculectomy at the time of living donor renal transplantation: An 8- year experience. Am J Transplant. 2019;19(8):2284-2293.
2018
  • Lopez CD, Kumar A, Lin AY, et al. Demystifying the "Triple Point": Technical Nuances of the Fronto-Orbital Advancement. J Craniofac Surg. 2018;29(3):796-799.
  • Xu KY, Watt AJ. The Pedicled Anterolateral Thigh Phalloplasty. Clin Plast Surg. 2018;45(3):399-406.
  • Sescleifer AM, Francoisse CA, Lin AY. Systematic Review: Online Crowdsourcing to Assess Perceptual Speech
    Outcomes. J Surg Res. 2018;232:351-364.
  • Kurta AO, Sarhaddi D, Sheikh UA, Bernstein M, Walen S, Armbrecht ES, Maher IA. Do Patterns of Reconstruction Choices After Mohs Surgery Vary by Specialty? A Pilot Study of Mohs Surgeons and Facial Plastic Surgeons. Dermatol Surg. 2018 Nov;44(11):1396-1401.
  • Tchanque-Fossuo CN, Donneys A, Deshpande SS, et al. Radioprotection With Amifostine Enhances Bone Strength and Regeneration and Bony Union in a Rat Model of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis. Ann Plast Surg. 2018;80(2):176-180.
  • Kwiecien GJ, Gharb BB, Tadisina KK, et al. Quantity of Lymph Nodes in the Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer
    Influences Its Lymphaticovenous Drainage. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2018;34(1):41-46.
  • Duraes EFR, Madajka M, Frautschi R, Soliman B, Cakmakoglu C, Barnett A, Tadisina K, Liu Q, Grady P, Quintini C, Okamoto T, Papay F, Rampazzo A, Bassiri Gharb B. Developing a protocol for normothermic ex-situ limb perfusion. Microsurgery. 2018 Feb;38(2):185-194.
  • Frautschi RS, Duraes EF, Tadisina KK, Couto RA, Zins JE. Apparent Age is a Reliable Assessment Tool in 20 Facelift Patients. Aesthet Surg J. 2018;38(4):347-356.
  • Behrens J, Ho DSK, Frojo G, Tadisina KK, Kraemer BA. Neurofibromas on the Hands. Eplasty. 2018;18:ic8.
    Published 2018 Mar 19.
  • Frojo G, Lund H. Response to "Facelift Under Local Anesthesia With Oral Sedation". Aesthet Surg J.
    2018;38(12):NP230.
2017
  • Xu KY, Vidal C, Slutsky J, Fosko SW, Plikaitis CM. Modified Slow Mohs Technique for Treatment of Cellular
    Neurothekeoma of the Lip in a Pediatric Patient. Dermatol Surg. 2017;43(3):446-449.
  • Tadisina KK, Lin AY. Squamosal Craniosynostosis: Defining the Phenotype and Indications for Surgical
    Management. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2017 Sep 26. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 28953518.
  • Jacobs CA, Lin AY. A New Classification of Three-Dimensional Printing Technologies: Systematic Review of
    Three-Dimensional Printing for Patient-Specific Craniomaxillofacial Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017
    May;139(5):1211-1220. Review. PMID: 28445375
2016
  • Frojo G, Tadisina KK, Pressman Z, Lin AY, Kraemer BA. The Plastic Surgery Match: An Analysis of Applicant
    Impressions from the Interview Visit. Annals of Plastic Surgery. Ann Plast Surg. 2016 Dec;77(6):587-591. PMID:
    27740953.
  • Tamber MS, Nikas D, Beier A, Baird LC, Bauer DF, Durham S, Klimo P Jr, Lin AY, Mazzola C, McClung-Smith
    C, Mitchell L, Tyagi R, Flannery AM. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based
    Guideline on the Role of Cranial Molding Orthosis (Helmet) Therapy for Patients With Positional Plagiocephaly.
    Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov;79(5):E632-E633. PMID: 27776089.
  • Kraemer BA, Geiger SE, Deigni OA, Watson JT. Management of Open Lower Extremity Wounds With
    Concomitant Fracture Using a Porcine Urinary Bladder Matrix. Wounds. 2016 Nov;28(11):387-394. PMID:
    27861131
  • Tadisina KK, Frojo G, Plikaitis CM, Bernstein ML. Basics of Bra Sizing: Essentials for the Plastic Surgery
    Resident. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2016 Oct;138(4):780e-1e. PMID: 27314938.
  • Geiger SE, Deigni OA, Watson JT, Kraemer BA. Management of Open Distal Lower Extremity Wounds With
    Exposed Tendons Using Porcine Urinary Bladder Matrix. Wounds. 2016 Sep;28(9):306-316. PMID: 27701126.
  • Tadisina KK, Orra S, Gharb BB, Kwiecien G, Bernard S, Zins JE.Applying to Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency
    Programs: Trends in the Last Five Years of the Match. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Jan 7.
2015
  • Maclin MM 2nd, Deigni OA, Bengtson BP. The Laminated Nature of the Pectoralis Major Muscle and the
    Redefinition of the Inframammary Fold: Clinical Implications in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. Clin Plast Surg. 2015 Oct;42(4):465-79.
  • Gowda AU, Tadisina KK, Chopra K, Singh DP. Submission bias and the rise of open access journals. Aesthet Surg
    J. 2015 Nov;35(8):NP275-6.
  • Tadisina KK, Chopra K, Mohan R, Singh DP. Nationwide incidence, cost, and epidemiologic trends in facial
    rhytidectomy: an examination of inpatient facelifts using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. AesthetSurg J. 2015 Nov;35(8):NP266-8.
  • Tadisina KK, Chopra K, Singh DP. The "weekend effect" in plastic surgery: analyzing weekday versus weekend admissions in body contouring procedures from 2000 to 2010. Aesthet Surg J. 2015 Nov;35(8):995-8.
  • Nguyen DC, Patel KB, Skolnick GB, Skladman R, Grames LM, Stahl MB, Marsh JL, Woo AS.Progressive
    Tightening of the Levator Veli Palatini Muscle Improves Velopharyngeal Dysfunction in Early Outcomes of
    Primary Palatoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Jul;136(1):131-41.
  • Namin A, Starnes SE, Plikaitis CM. Pediatric craniofacial pseudoaneurysm with a variable history of antecedent
    trauma. J Craniofac Surg. 2015 May;26(3):796-9.