James S. Andersen, M.D., serves as director of City of Hope’s Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. He also serves as supervisor of consultants in Dermatology and Ophthalmology.
The goal of Dr. Andersen's clinical practice has been to improve the aesthetic and functional results of reconstructive surgery after cancer. In addition, he believes that cancer patients require compassionate personal consultations about their choice to have reconstructive surgery in order to choose which procedure is best suited for them medically, as well as emotionally.
Dr. Andersen’s practice focuses on reconstructive surgery after treatment of cancers of the breast, head and neck, extremity and torso. Working with the nationally recognized team of oncologic surgeons at City of Hope, Dr. Andersen has been able to achieve dramatic enhancement of the quality and durability of the reconstructed breast by utilizing tissue-sparing techniques combined with transplantation of a patient’s own tissue to form a new breast after mastectomy. This combination of procedures has been perfected at City of Hope to allow certain patients to obtain a result with a minimum of visible scarring.
Dr. Andersen also has special interest in secondary reconstructive surgery of the breast in patients where initial efforts at breast reconstruction have failed. He also has developed a new surgical procedure for reconstruction of the nipple and areolar that provides lasting aesthetic quality.
In addition to this clinical work, Dr. Andersen’s research interests include evaluation of the safety and efficacy of silicone gel-filled and cohesive silicone gel-filled breast implants used in breast reconstruction. He also serves as a clinical associate professor of Surgery at the University of Southern California Medical Center, where he twice received the annual teaching award from the Department of Plastic Surgery given by the senior residents.
Dr. Andersen received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1983. Following his graduation, he received surgical training at the University of Pennsylvania, completing residencies in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery, and a research fellowship in the Harrison Department of Surgical Research. He obtained further specialized training in complex reconstructive procedures as a microsurgical fellow at the University of Southern California. He is board certified in plastic surgery, and he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Andersen has presented diverse talks at local and national meetings, as well as writing and reviewing for numerous peer-reviewed publications.