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
- United Student Resources
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- First Health PPO
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- TRICARE East Select
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Optimum Choice
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Police and Fire Clinic
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Indemnity
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- CIGNA PPO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Medicare FFS
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- OA Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Employee Health Plan
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Medicare Direct
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- CIGNA EPO
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Network OA
- Aetna Classic 3500
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CareFirst EPO
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- First Health PPO
- Choice POS II
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Administrators
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna HMO
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- IH-POS Plus
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Sentara Health
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Navigate
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- HighMark
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Choice POS
- Aetna Basic
- UHC Passport
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- POS OA
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- United Healthcare Choice
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- TRICARE for Life East
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- IH-POS
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-Open HMO
- Beech Street PPO
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- IH-PPO
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- IH-HMO
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)