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