Aldona Spiegel, MD

John F., Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Chair in Surgical Innovation and Technology, Department of Surgery
Professor of Clinical Plastic Surgery, Academic Institute
Chief, Division of Surgical Innovation, Department of Surgery
Houston Methodist
Weill Cornell Medical College


Biography

Dr. Aldona J. Spiegel is an Professor of Clinical Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) at Weill Cornell School of Medicine and Texas A&M, Director of the Center for Breast Restoration, and newly appointed Chief, Division of Innovation, in the Department of Surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital.  She received her Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ottawa, trained in general surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore Maryland and completed her plastic surgery residency and microsurgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Texas.  Following her microsurgery fellowship, Dr. Spiegel trained directly under her mentor and the pioneer of the DIEP flap microsurgical reconstruction, Dr. Robert Allen.  Dr. Spiegel went on to become one of the first surgeons to routinely perform this advanced microsurgical breast reconstruction in Houston. She received further training in super microsurgery for the treatment of lymphedema through lymph node transfer techniques and serves on the scientific advisory board for the Corrine Becker Lymphedema Foundation.  Dr. Spiegel is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. She has been in practice for over 20 years and has performed over 4000 breast reconstruction cases. Her main field of clinical expertise and scientific interest is advanced breast reconstruction procedures. She specializes in autologous muscle-preserving perforator flaps, focuses on functional aspects of breast restoration, including lymph node transfer,  composite breast reconstruction techniques after nipple sparing mastectomy, pre-pectoral direct to implant breast reconstruction, fat grafting procedures and has pioneered techniques for restoration of sensation in microsurgical breast procedures.

Dr. Spiegel’s innovative nature and passion for improving breast reconstruction techniques has led her to create and patent two dermal matrix designs for use in breast reconstruction. She pioneered the technique now widely used to reestablish breast sensation following mastectomy and recently started a preceptorship program for plastic surgeons in which she teaches her specialized techniques during live surgery. Dr. Spiegel is an active principle investigator and mentor working with a research fellow on several grants and numerous research studies. She actively participates in plastic surgery resident training for Houston Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, instructing residents in the highly skilled area of microsurgical breast. Recognizing and understanding the necessity of providing advocacy, understanding, and up to date educational tools, Dr. Spiegel established The Pink Sisters Support Group for her patients. 

Dr. Spiegel is a consultant and member of the medical advisory boards for Mentor Worldwide Inc., and the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation and an active and contributing member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS), American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM), The Aesthetic Society, Plastic Surgery Research Council, Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons, Texas Medical Association and Harris County Medical Society, ARSM Women’s Microsurgery Group (WMG), National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), Society for Leading Medicine, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, and holds leadership positions in the ASRM, ASRM WMG, ASPS, and NAPBC.  She is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Group for Advancement of Breast Reconstruction and the current President of the Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Dr. Spiegel’s technical skill, artistic eye, and unwavering priority of patient focused care has propelled her to having and international presence in plastic and reconstructive surgery and has become a highly sought-after surgeon and speaker.  She travels extensively to lecture and teach surgical techniques through educational live surgery presentations and has been involved in the development of microsurgical breast centers around the world. She is the author, editor and reviewer for multiple publications including The Breast Journal, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Annals of Plastic Surgery and the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery and has authored two textbooks, written over 50 articles and book chapters and has given more than 200 lectures around the world.

 

Description of Research

Dr. Spiegel's main field of clinical expertise and scientific interest is advanced breast reconstruction procedures. She specializes in autologous muscle-preserving perforator flaps and has performed over a thousand microsurgical reconstructive procedures. In addition, she focuses on functional aspects of breast restoration, including lymph node transfer and has pioneered techniques for restoration of sensation in microsurgical breast procedures. Dr. Spiegel also specializes in composite breast reconstruction techniques after nipple sparing mastectomy, direct to implant breast reconstruction, and fat grafting procedures.

Areas Of Expertise

Microsurgery Breast Reconstruction Breast sensation DIEP flaps SGAP flaps TAP flaps SIEA flaps Direct to Implant Pre-Pectoral Lymphedema Fat Grafting
Education & Training

Residency, Baylor College of Medicine
Clinical Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine
Internship, Johns Hopkins University
MD, University of Ottawa
Publications

Staged breast reconstruction utilizing primary nipple repositioning surgery prior to nipple-sparing mastectomy
Shih, L, Doval, A, Burns, HR, Kaplan, J, Ellsworth, WA, Chevray, PM, Spiegel, AJ & Friedman, JD 2024, , Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, vol. 91, pp. 249-257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2024.02.042

Strategic Approaches to Intraflap Anastomosis: Navigating Conjoined DIEP Flap Reconstruction-A Comprehensive Roadmap
Parikh, JA, Bombardelli, J, Doval, A & Spiegel, AJ 2024, , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. E5627. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000005627

Separating Myth from Reality in Breast Implants: An Overview of 30 Years of Experience
McGuire, PA, Glicksman, C, McCarthy, C & Spiegel, A 2023, , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vol. 152, no. 5, pp. 801E-807E. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000010488

Modern Approaches to Breast Neurotization
ONeill, RC & Spiegel, AJ 2023, , Clinics in Plastic Surgery, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 347-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2022.10.003

Preoperative Imaging Mapping of DIEP Perforators and Intraoperative Selection: Does It Correlate?
Gravina, P, Singh, A, Conlon, C & Spiegel, A 2023, , Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 205-210. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2110-0350

Telomerase mRNA Enhances Human Skin Engraftment for Wound Healing
Chang, DF, Court, KA, Holgate, R, Davis, EA, Bush, KA, Quick, AP, Spiegel, AJ, Rahimi, M, Cooke, JP & Godin, B 2023, , Advanced Healthcare Materials, vol. 13, no. 2, 2302029, pp. e2302029. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202302029

Medial Retraction for Internal Mammary Vessel Exposure: The Struggle Is No Longer Real
Shuck, JW, Ellsworth, WA, Echo, A & Spiegel, AJ 2022, , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vol. 150, no. 6, pp. 1357E-1358E. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000009706

Pyoderma gangrenosum after deep inferior epigastric perforator flap: How prompt diagnosis and treatment can avoid surgical debridement and further morbidity
Bombardelli, J, Parikh, J, Morkuzu, S & Spiegel, AJ 2022, , JPRAS Open, vol. 33, pp. 42-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpra.2022.05.009

Antitumor Immunity from Abdominal Flap-Embedded Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine
Liu, X, Mai, J, Meng, C, Spiegel, AJ, Wei, W & Shen, H 2022, , International Journal of Nanomedicine, vol. 17, pp. 203-212. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S341394

Efficacy of Closed Incision Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Abdominal Donor Site After Free Flap Breast Reconstruction
Doval, AF, Chegireddy, V, Beal, L, Arroyo-Alonso, C, Zavlin, D, Spiegel, AJ & Ellsworth, WA 2021, , Wounds, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 81-85.

Efficacy of Closed Incision Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Abdominal Donor Site After Free Flap Breast Reconstruction
Doval, AF, Chegireddy, V, Beal, L, Arroyo-Alonso, C, Zavlin, D, Spiegel, AJ & Ellsworth, WA 2021, , Wounds, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 81-85.

Post-mastectomy sensory recovery and restoration
Hamilton, KL, Kania, KE & Spiegel, AJ 2021, , Gland Surgery, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 494-497. https://doi.org/10.21037/gs.2020.03.22

Post-mastectomy sensory recovery and restoration
Hamilton, KL, Kania, KE & Spiegel, AJ 2021, , Gland Surgery, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 494-497. https://doi.org/10.21037/gs.2020.03.22

Breast Implant Utilization Trends in USA versus Europe and the Impact of BIA-ALCL Publications
Jalalabadi, F, Doval, AF, Neese, V, Andrews, E & Spiegel, AJ 2021, , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. E3449. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003449

Safety of Routine Pedicle Division during Delayed Breast Augmentation following Free Flap Breast Reconstruction
Rose, JF, Doval, AF, Zavlin, D, Ellsworth, WA, Echo, A & Spiegel, AJ 2021, , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vol. 147, no. 6, pp. 1271-1277. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000007956

Refining the Rib-sparing Approach in Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction: Keys to Success
Hamilton, K, Zavlin, D, Doval, AF & Spiegel, AJ 2022, , Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 263-269. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1731762

How to Maximize Aesthetics in Autologous Breast Reconstruction
Wagner, RD, Hamilton, KL, Doval, AF & Spiegel, AJ 2020, , Aesthetic surgery journal, vol. 40, no. Suppl 2, pp. S45-S54. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaa223

2020 special issue: Twenty years of breast reconstruction: Past, present, and future
Spiegel, A, Kania, K & Hamilton, KL 2020, , Breast Journal, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 39-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbj.13716

Incidental Findings in CT and MR Angiography for Preoperative Planning in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Wagner, RD, Doval, AF, Mehra, NV, Le, HB, Niziol, PA, Ellsworth, WA & Spiegel, AJ 2020, , Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. e3159. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003159

Delayed Oncoplastic Repair-After Radiotherapy Surgical Technique: My Approach
Spiegel, A & Jessica, R 2020, . in S Kronowitz, J Benson & N Maurizio (eds), Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Management of the Breast., 2.1, CRC Press, pp. 171-175. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003005476