About me
Rajiv Parikh, MD, MPHS, is an attending plastic and reconstructive surgeon affiliated with MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Assistant Clinical Professor at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. As a plastic and reconstructive specialist, he performs reconstructive surgery, from head to toe, to restore form and function in patients with cancer or traumatic injuries.
Dr. Parikh specializes in breast reconstruction after breast cancer, functional limb salvage for patients with traumatic injuries, chronic wounds, and/or oncological defects, and facial paralysis surgery. He also treats patients with peripheral nerve injuries in the upper and lower extremity as well as performs body contouring procedures, such as breast reductions and breast lifts.
Dedicated to bringing the safest, most novel techniques to his patients, Dr. Parikh performs microsurgical reconstruction and utilizes enhanced recovery after surgery protocols (ERAS) to minimize pain and improve patient outcomes. He is specialty-trained in autologous microvascular breast reconstruction techniques and in restoring sensation to women’s breasts, both after mastectomy and breast reconstruction. He also performs unique treatments with lymphovenous bypass (LVB), or vascularized lymph node transplants, to prevent and treat lymphedema in women with breast cancer undergoing axillary lymph node dissections. He employs novel techniques to treat facial paralysis, such as nerve transfer procedures.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Parikh is invested in the advancement of his field and is an active researcher, having published more than 40 scientific papers and book chapters. Currently, he is investigating health disparities, value-based healthcare delivery, surgical outcomes, and surgical treatment decision-making among the breast cancer and extremity reconstruction populations.
As an early adopter and leading investigator on enhanced recovery after surgery protocols; which aim to reduce pain, minimize the need for narcotics, and get patients back to their normal function earlier; Dr. Parikh is dedicated to improving patient satisfaction after surgery.
Dr. Parikh received his medical degree from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, where he earned membership to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He then joined Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery. During his time at Washington University, he also completed a Master of Population Health Sciences degree and a clinical research fellowship with the university’s Institute of Public Health, which was supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award. Finally, he completed specialty fellowship training in microsurgery and oncological reconstruction at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Dr. Parikh was an inaugural recipient of the Plastic Surgery Foundation Clinical Research Leaders Scholarship Award. He is involved, on a national level, with plastic surgery organizations and has served as a resident ambassador to the Editorial Board, and is currently a peer-reviewer, for the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS).
In his free time, Dr. Parikh enjoys spending time with his wife, traveling, playing basketball and soccer, and alpine skiing.
Philosophy of Care
“I am a firm believer in a personalized patient-centered approach to care. My philosophy is to provide care that is respectful of individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and to ensure that patient values guide all clinical decisions. This approach requires a true partnership with patients, one where I really listen to the individual patient’s needs and aspirations.
“I always use a shared-decision making process where patients are actively engaged. I use examples and plain language to explain different treatment o
Clinical areas of focus
- Limb Salvage
- Microsurgical Nerve Reconstruction
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery
- Mohs Reconstruction
- Mohs Surgery
- Muscle Flap
- Perforator Flap Reconstruction
- Serratus Anterior Flap Breast Reconstruction
Procedures I perform
- Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
- Abdominal Wall Supplement
- Bilateral Breast Augmentation
- Body Contouring
- Breast Cyst Removal
- Breast Implant Revision
- Breast Lift With Implants
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breast Reduction
- Breast Synthetic Substitute Removal
- Chest Skin Repair
- Chest Subcutaneous Tissue Excision
- Chest Wall Reconstruction
- Cleft Lip And Palate Treatment
- Club Hand Reconstruction
- Clubfoot Correction
- Craniofacial Reconstruction
- Excision Of Left Tarsal
- Excision, Excessive Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue
- Facelift
- Facial Cosmetic Surgery
- Facial Nerve Repair
- Femoral Nerve Reposition
- Femoral Nerve Transfer
- Finger Contracture Release
- Flap Reconstruction
- Foot Skin Replacement
- Forearm Lipectomy
- Hand Decompressive Fasciotomy
- Hand Replantation
- Jejunum Supplement
- Left Abdomen Muscle Excision
- Limb Salvage
- Liposuction
- Mastectomy
- Mastopexy
- Microsurgery
- Microsurgical Nerve Reconstruction
- Microsurgical Procedures
- Microsurgical Reconstruction Of The Extremities
- Microsurgical Reconstruction Of The Head And Neck
- Microsurgical Reconstruction Of The Trunk
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery
- Mohs Reconstruction
- Mohs Surgery
- Muscle Flap
- Nerve Graft
- Nipple Reconstruction
- Ostectomy
- Perforator Flap Reconstruction
- Perineum Skin Replacement
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery
- Post-Bariatric Surgery Body Contouring
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Release Abdomen Muscle, Open
- Repair Of Intermediate Wound
- Repair Of Median Nerve
- Scar Revision
- Serratus Anterior Flap Breast Reconstruction
- Simple Mastectomy
- Skin Graft
- Skin Graft Urethroplasty
- Sternal Debridement
- Suction Assisted Lipectomy, Upper Extremity
- Thorax Muscle Transfer
- Tissue Expander Placement
- Tissue Expansion
- Toe Replacement Surgery
- Toe To Hand Transfer
- Transfer Scalp Subcutaneous Tissue
- Transfer Upper Leg Skin
- Vestibuloplasty
- Wound Care
- Wound Closure
- Wound Repair
- Wound Skin Substitute
- Z-Plasty
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- MultiPlan, Inc
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Network Only Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Basic
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- OA Plus
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Beech Street PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna HMO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Tricare Reserve Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-Open HMO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Navigate
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Sentara Health
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Optimum Choice
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- IH-POS Plus
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Choice POS
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- IH-Open POS II
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- First Health PPO
- Employee Health Plan
- HighMark
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-HMO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- United Student Resources
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- POS OA
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- IH-POS
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- UHC Passport
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CareFirst Administrators
- Network OA
- CareFirst EPO
- IH-PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst NASCO
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Choice POS II Open Access
- TRICARE for Life East
- CIGNA PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Medicare Direct
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery
Fellowship: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (2021)
Residency: Washington University School of Medicine (2020)
Medical School: University of South Florida (2012)
Awards
- Clinical Research Leaders Scholarship, Inaugural Recipient: The Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (T32), National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute)
- Most Outstanding Presentation, James Barrett Brown Research Day, Washington University School of Medicine)
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA)