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Memorial Sloan Kettering plastic surgeon Joseph Disa

Joseph J. Disa, MD, FACS

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Breast cancers and conditions
  • Head and neck cancers

My Specialties

  • Breast Reconstruction
  • Head and neck reconstruction
  • DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Surgery
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Dr. Disa's Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Vice Chair of Clinical Activities, Department of Surgery
  • Benno C. Schmidt Chair in Surgical Oncology
Get To Know Me

I am a plastic surgeon specializing in the reconstruction of areas of the body after surgery to remove a tumor. While this includes all types of surgical reconstruction, I have a specific interest in reconstruction of the breast and of the head and neck. Reconstruction helps to restore form, function, and appearance while enhancing a patient’s self-confidence and self-image after cancer surgery.

In my practice, I use state-of-the-art techniques to perform reconstruction, including the use of perforator flaps, such as the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP). These strategies achieve patients’ reconstructive goals while simplifying recovery.

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My research is focused on improving surgical reconstruction of the breast, including the impact of radiation therapy on breast reconstruction, the role of acellular human dermis and breast reconstruction, and the outcomes of subpectoral vs. pre pectoral implant-based breast reconstruction. I am also involved in teaching the latest approaches for surgical reconstruction after cancer surgery to medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians from around the world.

I currently serve as the breast section editor on the board of the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and have co-edited the textbooks Plastic Surgery: Indications and Practice and Operative Techniques in Plastic Surgery. In addition, I have co-authored the patient education book 100 Questions & Answers about Breast Surgery.

 

My Role at MSK

A plastic and reconstructive surgeon is a doctor with special training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. These procedures restore function and appearance.

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Breast cancers and conditions
  • Head and neck cancers

My Specialties

  • Breast Reconstruction
  • Head and neck reconstruction
  • DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction Surgery
  • Microsurgery
  • Facial Reconstruction
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, University of Massachustts Medical School

Residencies

  • General Surgery - University of Maryland Medical System
  • Plastic Surgery - Johns Hopkins Hospital

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctors (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Top Doctors (2011-2020)

Fellowships

  • Reconstructive Microsurgery/Plastic Surgery - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • Surgery
  • Plastic Surgery

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

Make an Appointment

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New Patients
Scheduling an appointment is easy. Click or call 646-608-8046— we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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Current Patients
Request an appointment by logging on to MyMSK or calling your doctor’s office. If you aren’t registered for MyMSK, call 646-227-2593 for your Enrollment ID.

Contact and Location

Dr. Disa sees patients at three locations.

Office Phone
Location
Montvale, NJ
New York, NY
West Harrison, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen
225 Summit Avenue Montvale NJ 07645
Get Directions
David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
530 East 74th Street New York NY 10021
Get Directions
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester
500 Westchester Avenue West Harrison NY 10604
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Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Service doctors

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Clinical Trials

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Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

Books
100 Questions and Answers About Breast Surgery. Disa JJ, Czenko Keuchel, M. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2006.

Plastic Surgery: Indications and Practice. Guyuron B, Eriksson E, Persing J, Gosain A, Chung K, Disa J, Gosain A, Kinney B, Rubin P. St. Louis: WB Saunders; 2008.

Operative Techniques in Plastic Surgery, Trunk Reconstruction and Body Contouring. Disa JJ, Chung Kevin C. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. 2019.  

Book Chapters
“Muscle-sparing and free TRAM flap breast reconstruction.” Disa JJ, Pusic AL, Zhong T.  In: Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Breast. Hall-Findlay EJ, Evans G, eds.   St. Louis: Saunders; 2010: 93.

“Mandibular reconstruction.” Disa JJ. In: Current Reconstructive Surgery. Serletti JM, Taub PJ, Wu LC, Slutsky DJ, eds. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2013: 445-455.

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“Latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction.” McCarthy CM, Disa JJ. In: Cosmetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. Evans GRD, Nahabedian MY, eds. St. Louis: WB Saunders; 2009.

“Breast reconstruction: implant and nipple reconstruction.” Disa JJ, McCarthy CM. In: Principles of Cancer Reconstructive Surgery. Butler CE, Fine NA, eds. New York: Springer; 2008.

“Principles of breast reconstruction.” McCarthy CM, Disa JJ. In: Cancer Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice. Stubblefield M,O’Dell M, Custodio C, Fitzpatrick T, eds. New York: Demos; 2007: 115.

“Mandible reconstruction.” Disa JJ, Hidalgo, AD. In: Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. 6th ed. Thorne CH, Bartlett SP, Aston SJ, et al., eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2007: 428-437.

“Breast reconstruction: a comparison of autogenous and prosthetic techniques.” Disa JJ, McCarthy, CM. In: Advances in Surgery. Cameron J, ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Science; 2005: 39:97.

“Rehabilitation after treatment for cancer of the breast.” Disa JJ, Petrek JA. In: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 7th ed. Devita VT, Helmman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2005: 1478.

“Breast reconstruction: prosthetic techniques.” Disa JJ. In: Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. 6th ed. Thorne CH, Bartlett SP, Aston SJ, et al., eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

“Free flap reconstruction.” Mastorakos DP, Disa JJ. In: Revision Surgery in Otolaryngology. Edelstein DR, ed. New York: Thieme; 2009: 235-46.

“Muscle-Sparing and Free TRAM Flap Breast Reconstruction.” Disa JJ, Pusic AL, Zhong T. In: Hall-Findlay EJ, Evans G, eds.  Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Breast, Britain:  Saunders Elsevier 2010; 93. 2010.

“Mandibular Reconstruction.” Disa JJ. In: Current Reconstruction Surgery: Serliti JM, Taub PJ, WU LC, Slufsky DJ. McGraw-Hill: New York. 2013p;445-455. 2013.

“Breast Reconstruction- Current Perspectives and State of the Art.” Disa JJ, Weichman KE. In: Tech, book edited by Aldona J Spiegel. Published July 31, 2013 ISBN 978-953-51-1181, under CC by 3.0 license. 2013.

“Reconstruction, Lentigo Maligna Melanoma.” Cohen LE, Connolly KL, Disa JJ. Springer International Publishing. Switzerland 2017. 123-135 doi:20.2007/978-3-319-43787-3_10.

“Principles of Breast Reconstruction in Cancer.” Disa JJ. Nelson JA, Kuo TT, McCarthy CM. In: Second Edition. Cancer Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice. Springer Publishing Company. New York 2019; 71-79. 2019.

 

Selected Publications

Cohen LE, Bogue JT, Jin J, Disa JJ. Explantation in Tissue Expander and Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction with Acellular Dermal Matrix: How to Avoid Early Reconstructive Failures. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Apr 1;147(4):579e-586e. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000007702. PMID: 33710042.

Dabic S, McCarthy CM, Matros E, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Nelson JA. 26 Years of Textured Implants and BIA-ALCL: Continued Vigilance and Counseling Are Warranted. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Sep 1;148(3):517e-518e. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008270. PMID: 34346912.

Vorstenbosch J, McCarthy CM, Shamsunder MG, Polanco TO, Dabic S, Wiser I, Matros E, Dayan J, Disa JJ, Pusic AL, Cavalli MR, Encarnacion E, Lee M, Mehrara BJ, Nelson JA. Smooth versus Textured Implant Breast Reconstruction: Patient-Reported Outcomes and Complications. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Nov 1;148(5):959-967. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008411. PMID: 34705770.

Coldwell A, Disa JJ. Breast Reconstruction Awareness 2021: Impactful Recent Literature. Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Oct. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008626.

Coriddi M, Myers P, Mehrara B, Nelson J, Cordeiro PG, Disa J, Matros E, Dayan J, Allen R, McCarthy C. Management of postoperative microvascular compromise and ischemia reperfusion injury in breast reconstruction using autologous tissue transfer: Retrospective review of 2103 flaps. Journal of Microsurgery. 2021 Dec 2. DOI: 10.1002/micr.30845. PMID: 34854501.

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Disa’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Joseph J. Disa discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

No disclosures meeting criteria for time period


If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.

The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


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