AmyS.ColwellMD

Plastic Surgery • Boston, MA

Massachusetts General Hospital

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Office
55 Fruit St
Boston, MA 02114
Phone+1 617-643-5963

Fax+1 617-643-5964
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Summary

I am a board certified plastic surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. I am originally from South Dakota and completed my general and plastic surgery residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Combined Harvard Plastic Surgery Training program. I am Professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School. My expertise is in reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery and managing changes in the body and face related to aging, childbirth, and weight loss. I give national lectures and teach instructional courses to my colleagues on techniques in breast reconstruction and abdominoplasty in plastic surgery. I am also Co-Editor of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, which is the #1 plastic surgery journal in the world. I have been invited as a visiting professor at Yale, Pittsburgh, and Dartmouth Hitchcock to teach about current breast reconstruction techniques and advances in body contouring and I Ann a board examiner.

Education & Training

Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical SchoolResidency, Plastic Surgery, 2005 - 2008
Stanford Health Care2003 - 2005
Brigham and Women's HospitalResidency, Surgery, 2000 - 2005
University of Minnesota Medical SchoolClass of 2000
University of South DakotaB.S., 1995
University of South DakotaB.S., 1995

Certifications & Licensure

CA State Medical License 2002 - Present
MA State Medical License 2007 - 2024
ME State Medical License 2020 - 2021
American Board of Plastic Surgery Plastic Surgery

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Editorial Board Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2016
MGH One Hundred 2013
Nathaniel Bowditch Award 2013
Leonard R. Rubin Award - Best Paper American Association of Plastic Surgeons, 2011
President’s Award - Best Paper from Member Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2010
Second Place Oral Presentations Bariatric Workshop, 2007
Alumni Honors Plaque Alpena Alumni, 2006
John A. Mannick Award BWH, 2006
Teaching Excellence BWH, 2003
Peter Bent Brigham Surgical Scholar BWH, 2001
MMF Medical Student Achievement Award Minnesota Medical Foundation, 2000
Janet M Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation University Minnesota, 2000
AOA Junior Year Honor Society University Minnesota, 1999
AOA Academic Scholarship University Minnesota, 1999
Outstanding Sophomore in Pharmacology University Minnesota, 1997
Outstanding Performance in Sophomore Pathology University Minnesota, 1997
Pharmacia-UpJohn Award, Microbiology/Infectious Disease University Minnesota, 1997
Outstanding Achievement, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology University Minnesota, 1997
Matas Scholarship University Minnesota, 1997
Barry Greimann Scholarship University Minnesota, 1996
Alumni Scholarship University Minnesota, 1996
Fellow (FACS) American College of Surgeons
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Clinical Trials

Patient Controlled Tissue Expansion for Breast Reconstruction Start of enrollment: 2011 Oct 01
Completed
Not Applicable
AirXpanders AeroForm Tissue Expander System for Breast Reconstruction Start of enrollment: 2015 Nov 12
Completed
Not Applicable

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Multimodality Imaging of Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction Techniques, Complications, and Tumor Recurrence.
Sara Mozayan, Janice N Thai, Faezeh Sodagari, Amy S Colwell, Jonathan M Winograd, Margarita V Revzin, Hagar Mahmoud, Shinn-Huey S Chou, Stamatia V Destounis, Reni S Bu...> ;Radiographics. 2024 May 1
2 citations
A Decade of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Lessons Learned in 3035 Immediate Implant-Based Breast Reconstructions.
Alex M Lin, Roberto Lorenzi, Juliette E Van Der Hulst, Eric C Liao, William G Austen Jr, Alexandra Webster, Smith, B., Colwell, A.> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2024 Feb 1
Current Outcomes in Breast Reconstruction.
Joseph J Disa, Amy S Colwell, Kevin C Chung> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2023 Oct 1
Measuring Outcomes in Aesthetic Surgery by Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons.
Amy S Colwell, Elie P Ramly, Kevin C Chung> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2024 Jan 1
Does Concomitant Umbilical Hernia Repair Increase the Risk of Complications in Abdominoplasty? A Propensity Score Matched Analysis.
Justin C McCarty, Roberto Lorenzi-Mendez, Seth Fruge, Amy S Colwell, Hamaguchi, R.> ;Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2023 Aug 17
Health Policy Emphasis in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Amy S Colwell, Kevin C Chung, Joseph N Fahmy> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2023 Mar 1
Contemporary Lower Body Lift.
Amy S Colwell> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2023 May 1
How to Review a Paper.
Kevin C Chung, Amy S Colwell> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 Dec 1
2 citations
Why Do Manuscripts Get Rejected?
Amy S Colwell, Frankie K Wong, Kevin C Chung> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 Nov 1
Clinical and Oncologic Safety in Modern Breast Reconstruction.
Amy S Colwell, Kevin C Chung> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 Oct 1
2 citations
An Overproliferation of Systematic Review Studies.
Kevin C Chung, Shannon M Wood, Amy S Colwell> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 Sep 1
The Ideal Ideas and Innovations Article.
Amy S Colwell, Aaron Weinstein, Kevin C Chung> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 Jul 1
2 citations
Prospective examination of psychological risk and maintenance factors for body image distress after mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction.
Hilary Weingarden, Sabine Wilhelm, Jamie M Jacobs, Julia Carrellas, Curtis Cetrulo, William Gerald Austen Jr, Amy S Colwell> ;Body Image. 2022 Sep 1
2 citations
How to Run a Meeting.
Amy S Colwell, Kevin C Chung> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 Jun 1
ASO Visual Abstract: One-Year Experience of Same-Day Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Protocol.
Michelle C Specht, Bridget N Kelly, Eleanor Tomczyk, Olivia A Ford, Alexandra J Webster, Barbara L Smith, Michelle A Gadd, Amy S Colwell, Eric C Liao> ;Annals of surgical oncology. 2022 May 17
7 citations
One-Year Experience of Same-Day Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Protocol.
Michelle C Specht, Bridget N Kelly, Eleanor Tomczyk, Olivia A Ford, Alexandra J Webster, Barbara L Smith, Michelle A Gadd, Amy S Colwell, Eric C Liao> ;Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2022 Sep 1
Change.
Amy S Colwell, Aaron Weinstein, Kevin C Chung> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2022 May 1
11 citations
Risk of Developing Breast Reconstruction Complications: A Machine-Learning Nomogram for Individualized Risk Estimation with and without Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy.
George E. Naoum, Alice Y. Ho, Amy Shui, Laura Salama, Saveli Goldberg, Waleed Arafat, Jonathan M. Winograd, Amy S. Colwell, Barbara L. Smith, Alphonse G. Taghian> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Nov 10
7 citations
The safety of performing breast reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heather R. Faulkner, Suzanne B. Coopey, Eric C. Liao, Michelle C. Specht, Barbara L. Smith, Amy S. Colwell> ;Breast Cancer. 2021 Oct 15
4 citations
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy versus Skin-Sparing Mastectomy: Does Saving the Nipple Impact Short- and Long-Term Patient Satisfaction?
Bridget N. Kelly, Heather R. Faulkner, Barbara L. Smith, Jenna E. Korotkin, Conor R. Lanahan, Carson Brown, Michele A. Gadd, Michelle C. Specht, Kevin S. Hughes, T. Sa...> ;Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2021 Sep 8
2 citations
An Algorithm for Management of Cosmetic and Reconstructive Patients with Textured Implants: An Institutional Experience.
Amy S. Colwell, Leslie R Lamb, Eleanor Tomczyk, Heather R. Faulkner, Michelle C. Specht> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 May 1
Reply: Recent Advances in Implant-Based Reconstruction.
Amy S. Colwell> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 May 1
2 citations
Introduction to "Management of Patients with Textured Implants".
Allen Gabriel, Michele A. Manahan, Amy S. Colwell> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 May 1
1 citations
Plastic Surgery of the Breast: A 75-Year Journey.
Maurice Y. Nahabedian, Joseph J. Disa, Amy S. Colwell> ;Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2021 Feb 1
4 citations
Correction of Suboptimal Results in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction
Amy S. Colwell> ;Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2020 Nov 17
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Books/Book Chapters

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pearls of Wisdom
Chapter: Body Contouring.
Colwell ASEditors: Samuel J. Lin, John B. Hijjawi.McGraw-HillEdition 2nd,2011
Atlas of Body Contouring after Massive Weight Loss.
Chapter: Commentary on Brachioplasty.
Colwell ASEditors: Borud LJ.Cine-Med2008
Wound Healing.
Chapter: Fetal wound repair.
Colwell AS, Longaker MT, and Lorenz HPEditors: Falabella A and Kirsner RS.Taylor and Francis2005

Abstracts/Posters

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy in Patients with Previous Breast Surgery: Comparative Analysis of 123 Immediate Reconstructions.
Alex Lin B.S., Robert Neuman M.D., William G Austen Jr. M.D., Jonathan Winograd M.D., Eric C Liao M.D. Ph.D., Curtis L Cetrulo Jr. M.D., Barbara L. Smith, M.D. Ph.D.,A..., Plastic Surgery Research Council, 3/1/2014
Breast Reconstruction Outcomes Following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Radiation Therapy.
Richard G Reish M.D., Alex Lin B.S., William G Austen Jr. M.D., Jonathan Winograd M.D., Eric C Liao M.D. Ph.D., Curtis L Cetrulo Jr. M.D., Barbara L. Smith, M.D. Ph.D...., Plastic Surgery Research Council, 3/1/2014
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy in Patients with Previous Breast Surgery: Comparative Analysis of 123 Immediate Reconstructions.
Alex Lin B.S., Robert Neuman M.D., William G Austen Jr. M.D., Jonathan Winograd M.D., Eric C Liao M.D. Ph.D., Curtis L Cetrulo Jr. M.D., Barbara L. Smith, M.D. Ph.D.,A..., Massachussets Chapter American College of Surgeons, 12/1/2013
Impact of Prior Radiation Therapy on Post-operative Complications in Nipple Sparing Mastectomy and Immediate Reconstruction: A Case-Matched, Risk-Adjusted Cohort Study.
Rong Tang, MD, Kari J. Kansal, MD, Lan Lei, MD, Suzanne B. Coopey, MD, Amy S. Colwell, MD, Michele A. Gadd, MD, Michelle C. Specht, MD, Alphonse Taghian, MD PhD, Willi..., SSO 62nd Annual Cancer Symposium, National Harbor, MD, 1/1/2013
Early Results of Therapeutic and Prophylactic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction in BRCA Mutation Carriers.
Lan Lei, MD, Kari J. Kansal, MD, Rong Tang, MD, Amy S. Colwell, MD, Suzanne B. Coopey, MD, Michelle C. Specht, MD, Michele A. Gadd, MD, William G. Austen, Jr., MD, Bar..., SSO 62nd Annual Cancer Symposium, National Harbor, MD, 1/1/2013
Breast Reconstruction Outcomes Following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
Amy S. Colwell, M.D., Oren Tessler, M.D., Alex M. Lin, Eric Liao, M.D., Jonathan Winograd, M.D., Curtis L. Cetrulo, M.D., Rong Tang, M.D.,Barbara L. Smith, M.D., Willi..., Plastic Surgery Research Council, Santa Monica, CA, 1/1/2013
Immediate Breast Reconstruction Is Associated With A Lower Incidence Of Lymphedema Compared to Mastectomy Alone: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Cynthia L. Miller, BS , Melissa N. Skolny, MSHA, Lauren S. Jammallo, BS, Jean O'Toole, PT, MPH, Nora Horick, MS, Mina Shenouda, MD, Betro T. Sadek, MD, Michelle C. Spe..., American Association of Plastic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, 1/1/2013
Breast Reconstruction Outcomes Following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
Amy S. Colwell, M.D., Oren Tessler, M.D., Alex M. Lin, Eric Liao, M.D., Jonathan Winograd, M.D., Curtis L. Cetrulo, M.D., Rong Tang, M.D.,Barbara L. Smith, M.D., Willi..., American Association of Plastic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, 1/1/2013
Eligibility for Nipple Sparing Mastectomy May be Safely Expanded.
Suzanne B. Coopey MD, Rong Tang MD, Lan Lei MD, Kari Kansal MD, Amy S. Colwell MD, Michele A. Gadd MD, Michelle C. Specht MD, William G. Austen, Jr. MD, Barbara L. Smi..., American Society of Breast Surgeons, Chicago, IL, 1/1/2013
Current Concepts in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation: Lessons Learned from the Development of a Reconstructive Transplantation Program to the Institution’s F...
Curtis L. Cetrulo, Jr., M.D., FACS , Jonathon Winograd, M.D., FACS, Camille Kotton, M.D, James W. May, Jr., M.D., FACS, Michael J. Yaremchuk, M.D., FACS, Amy S. Colwel..., American Association of Plastic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, 1/1/2013
Breast Reconstruction Outcomes Following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
Amy S. Colwell, M.D., Oren Tessler, M.D., Alex M. Lin, Eric Liao, M.D., Jonathan Winograd, M.D., Curtis L. Cetrulo, M.D., Rong Tang, M.D.,Barbara L. Smith, M.D., Willi..., New England Society of Plastic Surgeons, Newport, RI, 1/1/2013
Breast Reconstruction Outcomes Following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.
Amy S. Colwell, M.D., Oren Tessler, M.D., Alex M. Lin, Eric Liao, M.D., Jonathan Winograd, M.D., Curtis L. Cetrulo, M.D., Rong Tang, M.D.,Barbara L. Smith, M.D., Willi..., American Society of Plastic Surgeons, San Diego, CA, 1/1/2013
“Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy.”
Colwell AS, FORCE – Forces Against Hereditary Breast Cancer Meeting, Orlando, FL, 1/1/2012
Infection Following Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: Salvage Rates and Predictors of Success. Poster Presentation
Reish R, Damjanovic B, Austen WG, Liao E, Winograd J, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, American Association Plastic Surgeons, San Francisco, CA, 1/1/2012
Infection Following Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: Salvage Rates and Predictors of Success.
Reish R, Damjanovic B, Austen WG, Liao E, Winograd J, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, Plastic Surgery Research Council, 1/1/2012
Decision-Making in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: 447 Consecutive Cases.
Colwell AS, New England Society Plastic Surgeons, 1/1/2012
Management of Positive Subareolar Margins in Nipple Sparing Mastectomies.
Camp MS, Coopey SB, Tang R, Specht M, Greenup RA, Colwell AS, Smith BL, American Society of Breast Disease, 1/1/2012
AAPS Award Paper Update: Comparative Analysis of Single Stage Direct-to-Implant vs. Two Stage Tissue Expander-Implant Reconstruction: 742 Consecutive Cases.
Colwell AS, Damjanovic B, Medford-Davis L, Zahedi B, Hertl C, and Austen WG, European Society Plastic Surgeons, 1/1/2012
Decision-Making in Breast Reconstruction: 447 Consecutive Cases.
Colwell AS, Northeastern Society Plastic Surgeons, Boston, MA, 1/1/2012
Infection Following Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: Salvage Rates and Predictors of Success.
Reish R, Damjanovic B, Austen WG, Liao E, Winograd J, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, 1/1/2012
Cost and Outcome Analysis of Breast Reconstruction Paradigm Shift.
Fitzpatrick A, Gao L, Smith B, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, Winograd J. Yaremchuk M, Austen W, Liao E, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, New Orleans, LA, 1/1/2012
XPAND Study: Patient-Activate Controlled Tissue Expander System for Breast Reconstruction: A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
Chun Y, Ascherman J, Johnson D, Berkowitz R, Zeidler K, Desai A, Castle J, Morris D, Evans G, Hollenbeck S, Colwell AS, Alizadeh K, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Boston, MA, 1/1/2012
Infection Following Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: Salvage Rates and Predictors of Success.
Reish R, Damjanovic B, Austen WG, Liao E, Winograd J, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, Massachusetts Chapter American College of Surgeons, Boston, MA, 1/1/2012
Incidence of Bleeding and Thrombosis in 80 Consecutive Patients Undergoing Truncal Contouring with Perioperative Heparin DVT Prophylaxis.
Colwell AS, Damjanovic B, Northeastern Society Plastic Surgeons, Amelia Island, FL, 10/1/2011
Evidence-based Protocol for Infection Control in Immediate Implant-based Breast Reconstruction.
Colwell AS, Craft RO, Damjanovic B, Northeastern Society Plastic Surgeons, Amelia Island, FL, 10/1/2011
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Lectures

Breast Reconstruction following Mastectomy: Pearls and Pitfalls in 2014.
1/1/2014
Single Stage Breast Reconstruction with ADM Course
San Diego, CA - 1/1/2013
Body Contouring after Massive Weight Loss.
Cambridge, MA - 1/1/2013
New Horizons in Breast Reconstruction. Breast Cancer New Horizons Current Controversies.
Boston, MA - 1/1/2013
“One-stage Implant Reconstruction: Implant Support Products”
Nottingham, U.K. - 1/1/2012
“One-stage Implant Reconstruction: Case Selection/Decision-Making”
Nottingham, U.K. - 1/1/2012
“Avoiding Complications”
Nottingham, U.K. - 1/1/2012
“One-stage Tips and Tricks”
Nottingham, U.K. - 1/1/2012
Abdominoplasty and Body Contouring after MWL
1/1/2012
What to Watch for in Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery. Breast Cancer New Horizons Current Controversies.
Boston, MA - 1/1/2012
Complications in Body Contouring Panel. “Complications Following Truncal Contouring: Prevention and Management,”
Woodstock, VT - 1/1/2012
ADM in Breast Reconstruction Panel: “Direct-to-Implant and Beyond.”
Boston, MA - 1/1/2012
Single-Stage vs. Two-Stage Breast Reconstruction Panel: “Single Stage Direct-to- Implant Breast Reconstruction.”
New Orleans, LA - 1/1/2012
“Single Stage Direct to Implant Breast Reconstruction: Technical Pearls”
Nottingham, U.K. - 1/1/2011
“Single Stage Direct to Implant Breast Reconstruction: Clinical Results”
Nottingham, U.K. - 1/1/2011
Body Contouring after MWL
1/1/2011
Decision-Making in Implant-based Breast Reconstruction
1/1/2011
“Decision-Making in Breast Reconstruction”
Yale University, New Haven, CT - 1/1/2011
Journal Club Breast
1/1/2010
Peri-operative Management of Plastic Surgery Patients in Breast Reconstruction and Body Contouring
1/1/2010
Current Concepts in Breast Reconstruction Panel
MA - 1/1/2010
Journal Club
1/1/2009
Breast Anatomy
1/1/2009
Nipple Sparing Mastectomy - Optimizing Reconstruction
1/1/2009
“Nipple Sparing Mastectomy: Optimizing Mastectomy and Reconstruction”
Virgin Islands - 1/1/2009
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Press Mentions

Study Shows Positive Outcome in Breast Reconstruction SurgeryMarch 21st, 2014
New Approach for Breast Reconstruction SurgeryMarch 21st, 2014
The Nipple Sparing Mastectomy: Promising Safety Results for Improved Aesthetic OutcomesAugust 11th, 2016
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