University of California San Francisco

Dr. Merisa Piper large headshot
Merisa L. Piper, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Associate Program Director, Plastic Surgery Residency

Address

2200 Post Street, #C3-48
San Francisco, CA 94115
United States

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 415-353-4320
Fax: 415-353-4285

Biography

Dr. Merisa L. Piper is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction and general reconstruction, with expertise in all methods. With the goal of restoring appearance after partial or complete breast removal, she focuses particularly on microsurgery and free tissue transfer, using skin, fat and muscle from another part of the body.

Piper's research focuses on improving outcomes after breast reconstruction, particularly after microsurgery and oncoplastic surgery, which combines tumor removal with reconstruction. She is interested in how the timing of breast reconstruction and various interventions may affect the development or prevention of capsular contracture (the body naturally encapsulates a synthetic implant, and the capsule sometimes shrinks and causes discomfort). She also studies how to improve outcomes in patients who have had tumor removal in combination with breast reconstruction.

Piper earned her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine. She completed a combined general surgery and plastic surgery residency at UCSF. During her residency, she spent one year investigating breast reconstruction outcomes and developing a phase II clinical trial, a study that examines a treatment's efficacy and safety. She then completed a fellowship in microsurgery at the University of Pennsylvania.

Piper has authored more than 25 papers and presented her work nationally and internationally. She is a breast section editor for Annals of Plastic Surgery and a guest reviewer for four scientific journals.

In her free time, Piper enjoys running, swimming, baking and being with her husband and two kids.

Education

Institution Degree Dept or School End Date
University of California Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training 2019

Clinical Expertise

Abdominoplasty

Body Contouring

Botox and Fillers

Breast Reconstruction

Breast Surgery

General Reconstructive Surgery

Liposuction

Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction

Microvascular Surgery

Reconstructive Microsurgery

Skin Cancer Reconstruction

Trauma Reconstruction

Program Affiliations

Breast Care Reconstructive Surgery

Research Interests

Breast reconstruction clinical outcomes

Capsular contracture

Extremity sarcoma

Research Pathways

Clinical Discovery & Health Services Research

Publications

MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 68
  1. Balancing risks of surgical complications and positive margins for patients with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast and elevated BMI: An institutional cohort study.
    Falade I, Switalla K, Quirarte A, Baxter M, Soroudi D, Rothschild H, Abe SE, Goodwin K, Piper M, Alvarado M, Julian BQ, Ewing C, Wong J, Rose J, Esserman L, Foster R, Mukhtar RA| | PubMed
  2. Comparing Provider and ChatGPT Responses to Breast Reconstruction Patient Questions in the Electronic Health Record.
    Soroudi D, Gozali A, Knox JA, Parmeshwar N, Sadjadi R, Wilson JC, Lee SA, Piper ML| | PubMed
  3. Abdominal Mesh Use in Pedicled Rectus Abdominis Flaps for Pelvic Reconstruction.
    Barnes LL, Holland MC, Lentz R, Knox JA, Sbitany H, Piper M| | PubMed
  4. ChatGPT for improving postoperative instructions in multiple fields of plastic surgery.
    Zhang A, Li CXR, Piper M, Rose J, Chen K, Lin AY| | PubMed
  5. Oncologic Safety of Immediate Oncoplastic Surgery Compared with Standard Breast-Conserving Surgery for Patients with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.
    Falade I, Switalla K, Quirarte A, Baxter M, Soroudi D, Rothschild H, Abe SE, Goodwin K, Piper M, Wong J, Foster R, Mukhtar RA| | PubMed
  6. Soft Tissue Reconstruction After Sacral Neoplasm Resection: The University of California San Francisco Experience.
    Falade IO, Knox JA, Piper ML, Hoffman WY, Hansen SL| | PubMed
  7. The Utility of Prevena Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Groin Incisions for Critical Limb-Threatening Ischemia: A Single Institution Experience.
    Yin R, Gursky A, Falade I, Knox J, Gomez-Sanchez C, Soroudi D, Piper M, Hoffman W, Hansen SL| | PubMed
  8. Paraspinous Muscle Flaps in Complex Pediatric Spine Surgeries: A 12-Year Single Institution Experience.
    Falade I, Park KM, Conkling N, Kim EA, Hansen SL, Hoffman W, Piper ML| | PubMed
  9. ASO Visual Abstract: Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies in Patients over the Age of 60 Years: Factors Associated with Surgical Outcomes.
    Parmeshwar N, Dugan CL, Barnes LL, Cheng JK, Patterson AK, Miller A, Mukhtar R, Piper M| | PubMed
  10. ASO Author Reflections: Evaluating Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies in Patients Over Age 60.
    Parmeshwar N, Piper M| | PubMed
  11. Evaluating mesh use for abdominal donor site closure after deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
    Parmeshwar N, Lem M, Dugan CL, Piper M| | PubMed
  12. Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies in Patients over the Age of 60 Years: Factors Associated with Surgical Outcomes.
    Parmeshwar N, Dugan CL, Barnes LL, Cheng JK, Patterson AK, Miller A, Mukhtar R, Piper M| | PubMed
  13. The impact of post-mastectomy radiation timing on overall outcomes of autologous free-flap breast reconstruction.
    Parmeshwar N, Barnes L, Martins D, Nicholas C, Piper M| | PubMed
  14. Reviewing the Impact of Topical and Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Use in Breast Plastic Surgery.
    Parmeshwar N, Mehta SR, Piper M| | PubMed
  15. Modifiable Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy Factors and Impact on Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Outcomes.
    Barnes LL, Chew J, Lem M, Park C, Yang JC, Prionas N, Piper M| | PubMed
  16. Evaluation of Microvascular Autologous Breast Reconstruction in Patients Older Than 60 Years.
    Parmeshwar N, Barnes LL, Dugan CL, Patterson AK, Lem M, Piper M| | PubMed
  17. Relationship between Body Mass Index and Outcomes in Microvascular Abdominally Based Autologous Breast Reconstruction.
    Barnes LL, Lem M, Patterson A, Segal R, Holland MC, Lentz R, Sbitany H, Piper M| | PubMed
  18. Immediate Versus Delayed-Immediate Autologous Breast Reconstruction After Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
    Barnes LL, Patterson A, Lem M, Holland MC, Lentz R, Sbitany H, Piper ML| | PubMed
  19. Long-Term Outcomes in Prepectoral versus Subpectoral Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction after Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
    Alcon A, Rosser M, Gedallovich J, Foster RD, Sbitany H, Piper ML| | PubMed
  20. Expanding Candidacy for Nipple-sparing Mastectomy in Women with Large or Ptotic Breasts: Staged Reconstruction Outcomes.
    Barnes LL, Foster R, Mukhtar RA, Esserman LJ, Ewing C, Alvarado M, Wong J, Piper M| | PubMed
  21. Safety of Incision Placement with Nipple-sparing Mastectomy and Immediate Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction.
    Holland M, Wallace A, Viner J, Sbitany H, Piper M| | PubMed
  22. Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction Reduces Opioid Consumption and Pain After Mastectomy: A Head-to-Head Comparison With Submuscular Reconstruction.
    Holland M, Su P, Piper M, Withers J, Harbell MW, Bokoch MP, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  23. Surgical Skills Coaches: Preparing for a peer-assisted learning model to train medical students in surgical skills.
    Kim EK, Conroy PC, Johnson CL, Kelly Y, O'Sullivan PS, Chern H, Piper ML| | PubMed
  24. A novel microsurgical reconstruction technique in a living-related liver donor hepatic artery dissection using the native hepatic artery.
    Sitta R, Roberts J, Gardner J, Ascher N, Piper M| | PubMed
  25. Direct-to-Implant Versus 2-Stage Breast Reconstruction: Which Technique Is Better? An Analysis of 104 Patients at a Single Institution.
    Piper ML, Rios-Diaz AJ, Kimia R, Cunning J, Broach R, Wu L, Serletti J, Fosnot J| | PubMed
  26. The Impact of a Single Dual-Trained Surgeon in the Management of Mastectomy and Reconstruction.
    Piper ML, Nathan S, Henderson S, Lee A, Broach RB, Kozak G, Davis H, Wu LC| | PubMed
  27. Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphatic Complications of the Groin Following Open Lower Extremity Revascularization with Plastic Surgery Closure.
    Wallace AB, Kim EA, Holland M, Lee S, Orringer M, Piper ML, Hansen SL| | PubMed
  28. Prophylactic Muscle Flaps in Primary Vascular Procedures of the Groin.
    Wallace AB, Piper ML, Holland M, Lee S, Orringer M, Eichler C, Kim EA, Hansen SL| | PubMed
  29. Evaluation of Dual-port versus Single-port Tissue Expanders in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction.
    Parmeshwar N, Piper M, Viner J, Foster R, Kim EA| | PubMed
  30. Positive margins after mastectomy in patients with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast: Incidence and management strategies.
    Hewitt KC, Miller P, Piper M, Prionas N, Son JD, Alvarado M, Esserman LJ, Wong JM, Ewing C, Mukhtar RA| | PubMed
  31. A Systematic Review of the Utility of Indocyanine Angiography in Autologous Breast Reconstruction.
    Parmeshwar N, Sultan SM, Kim EA, Piper ML| | PubMed
  32. Quantifying the Psychosocial Benefits of Masculinizing Mastectomy in Trans Male Patients with Patient-Reported Outcomes: The University of California, San Francisco, Gender Quality of Life Survey.
    Alcon A, Kennedy A, Wang E, Piper M, Loeliger K, Admassu N, Lentz R, Kim EA| | PubMed
  33. Assessment of Arm Volume Using a Tape Measure Versus a 3D Optical Scanner in Survivors with Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.
    Mastick J, Smoot BJ, Paul SM, Kober KM, Cooper BA, Madden LK, Conley YP, Dixit N, Hammer MJ, Fu MR, Piper M, Cate SP, Shepherd J, Miaskowski C| | PubMed
  34. A world-wide survey on kidney transplantation practices in breast cancer survivors: The need for new management guidelines.
    Hansen KS, Ghersin H, Piper M, Tavakol M, Lee B, Esserman LJ, Roberts JP, Freise C, Ascher NL, Mukhtar RA| | PubMed
  35. Laparoscopy allows the harvest of the DIEP flap with shorter fascial incisions as compared to endoscopic harvest: A single surgeon retrospective cohort study.
    Shakir S, Spencer AB, Piper M, Kozak GM, Soriano IS, Kanchwala SK| | PubMed
  36. Developing Human Skin Contains Lymphocytes Demonstrating a Memory Signature.
    Dhariwala MO, Karthikeyan D, Vasquez KS, Farhat S, Weckel A, Taravati K, Leitner EG, Clancy S, Pauli M, Piper ML, Cohen JN, Ashouri JF, Lowe MM, Rosenblum MD, Scharschmidt TC| | PubMed
  37. Oncological Outcomes of Total Skin-Sparing Mastectomy for Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: A 20-Year Institutional Experience.
    Son JD, Piper M, Hewitt K, Alvarado M, Esserman LJ, Ewing C, Wong JM, Mukhtar RA| | PubMed
  38. Minimally invasive robotic-assisted harvest of the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap for autologous breast reconstruction.
    Piper M, Ligh CA, Shakir S, Messa C, Soriano I, Kanchwala S| | PubMed
  39. A Bipedicled Flap for Closure of the Anterolateral Thigh Flap Donor Site.
    Piper ML, Stranix JT, Bast JH, Kovach SJ| | PubMed
  40. A Critical Analysis of Prosthetic Augmentation of Autologous Microvascular Breast Reconstruction.
    Piper ML, Lentz R, Gomez-Sanchez C, Withers J, Hu A, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  41. Attributes of Perforator Flaps for Prophylatic Soft Tissue Augmentation Prior to Definitive Total Knee Arthroplasty.
    Azoury SC, Stranix JT, Piper M, Kovach SJ, Hallock GG| | PubMed
  42. Medial Femoral Condyle Free Flap Reconstruction of Complex Foot and Ankle Pathology.
    Stranix JT, Piper ML, Azoury SC, Kozak G, Ben-Amotz O, Wapner KL, Levin LS| | PubMed
  43. Success rates of re-excision after positive margins for invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast.
    Piper ML, Wong J, Fahrner-Scott K, Ewing C, Alvarado M, Esserman LJ, Mukhtar RA| | PubMed
  44. Development and Validation of a Nipple-Specific Scale for the BREAST-Q to Assess Patient-Reported Outcomes following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
    Peled AW, Amara D, Piper ML, Klassen AF, Tsangaris E, Pusic AL| | PubMed
  45. The "Dual-Plane" DIEP Flap: Measuring the Effects of Superficial Arterial and Venous Flow Augmentation on Clinical Outcomes.
    Sbitany H, Lentz R, Piper M| | PubMed
  46. Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction in the Setting of Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy: An Assessment of Clinical Outcomes and Benefits.
    Sbitany H, Gomez-Sanchez C, Piper M, Lentz R| | PubMed
  47. Breast Conservation and Negative Margins in Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: The Impact of Oncoplastic Surgery and Shave Margins in 358 Patients.
    Mukhtar RA, Wong J, Piper M, Zhu Z, Fahrner-Scott K, Mamounas M, Sbitany H, Alvarado M, Foster R, Ewing C, Esserman L| | PubMed
  48. Commentary on: The Nasal Ligaments and Tip Support in Rhinoplasty: An Anatomical Study.
    Gruber RP, Piper M, Chang J| | PubMed
  49. Commentary on: Medial Osteoectomy as a Routine Procedure in Rhinoplasty: Six-Year Experience with an Innovative Technique.
    Gruber RP, Chang J, Piper M| | PubMed
  50. Correction of Breast Animation Deformity following Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction.
    Lentz RB, Piper ML, Gomez-Sanchez C, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  51. Autologous Fat Grafting as a Novel Antiestrogen Vehicle for the Treatment of Breast Cancer.
    Thomas S, Chen S, Sbitany H, Kwon E, Piper M, Park J, Terranova Barberio M, Pawlowska N, Munster PN| | PubMed
  52. Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction: A Safe Alternative to Submuscular Prosthetic Reconstruction following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
    Sbitany H, Piper M, Lentz R| | PubMed
  53. Characterizing infections in prosthetic breast reconstruction: A validity assessment of national health databases.
    Piper ML, Roussel LO, Koltz PF, Wang F, Singh K, Chin R, Sbitany H, Langstein HN| | PubMed
  54. Immediate Reconstruction for Plantar Melanoma: A Paradigm Shift.
    Oliver-Allen H, Piper M, Vaughn C, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  55. An Innovative Risk-Reducing Approach to Postmastectomy Radiation Delivery after Autologous Breast Reconstruction.
    Piper ML, Evangelista M, Amara D, Daar D, Foster RD, Fowble B, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  56. Do Prolonged Prophylactic Antibiotics Reduce the Incidence of Surgical-Site Infections in Immediate Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction?
    Wang F, Chin R, Piper M, Esserman L, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  57. The Novel Application of Genomic Profiling Assays to Shorten Inactive Status for Potential Kidney Transplant Recipients With Breast Cancer.
    Mukhtar RA, Piper ML, Freise C, Van't Veer LJ, Baehner FL, Esserman LJ| | PubMed
  58. Axillary Web Syndrome: Current Understanding and New Directions for Treatment.
    Piper M, Guajardo I, Denkler K, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  59. Outcomes Following Oncoplastic Reduction Mammoplasty: A Systematic Review.
    Piper ML, Esserman LJ, Sbitany H, Peled AW| | PubMed
  60. Distraction Osteogenesis of Multiple Ribs for the Treatment of Acquired Thoracic Dystrophy.
    Piper ML, Delrosario L, Hoffman WY| | PubMed
  61. Pediatric lower extremity sarcoma reconstruction: A review of limb salvage procedures and outcomes.
    Piper M, Irwin C, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  62. Comparison of Mammographic Findings Following Oncoplastic Mammoplasty and Lumpectomy Without Reconstruction.
    Piper M, Peled AW, Sbitany H, Foster RD, Esserman LJ, Price ER| | PubMed
  63. Oncoplastic breast surgery: current strategies.
    Piper M, Peled AW, Sbitany H| | PubMed
  64. Total skin-sparing mastectomy: a systematic review of oncologic outcomes and postoperative complications.
    Piper M, Peled AW, Foster RD, Moore DH, Esserman LJ| | PubMed
  65. Impairment of central leptin-mediated PI3K signaling manifested as hepatic steatosis independent of hyperphagia and obesity.
    Warne JP, Alemi F, Reed AS, Varonin JM, Chan H, Piper ML, Mullin ME, Myers MG, Corvera CU, Xu AW| | PubMed
  66. Functional role of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 upregulation in hypothalamic leptin resistance and long-term energy homeostasis.
    Reed AS, Unger EK, Olofsson LE, Piper ML, Myers MG, Xu AW| | PubMed
  67. Functional role of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase in feeding regulation.
    Unger EK, Piper ML, Olofsson LE, Xu AW| | PubMed
  68. Specific physiological roles for signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in leptin receptor-expressing neurons.
    Piper ML, Unger EK, Myers MG, Xu AW| | PubMed