Jose Guilherme Christiano, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a board-certified plastic surgeon, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is also Board-certified in General Surgery, Trauma, and Surgical Critical Care.

Dr. Christiano received his medical degree from Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas da Santa Casa de Sao Paulo in Brazil. Following graduation, he served in the Brazilian Army as a flight surgeon. He then returned to Santa Casa and completed his residency in general surgery, as well as a fellowship in medical and surgical critical care.

Upon coming to the United States, Dr. Christiano joined the University of Connecticut as an intern in general surgery. He transferred to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville after his internship, where he completed general surgery training and a fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care. Dr. Christiano then moved to Baltimore for plastic surgery residency at the Johns Hopkins University/University of Maryland program. Dr. Christiano has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Scott B. Frame, M.D. Memorial Trauma Scholarship, the Howard C. Filston Administrative Chief Resident Award, the Hiram Crutchfield Resident Teaching Award, and the Kimball Maull Lectureship In Surgery Award, among others.

In addition to being a member of several professional medical organizations, Dr. Christiano has presented his work at meetings throughout the United States. He has been involved in several research studies. He also devotes time to plastic surgery education, both at the local level as teaching faculty in our plastic surgery residency, and nationally as part of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' In-Service Examination Committee. Dr. Christiano has a wide array of professional interests including microsurgery, breast reconstruction, reconstruction after cancer and trauma, abdominal wall reconstruction, wound healing, reconstruction for complications associated with cardiac devices, transgender surgery, post-massive weight loss reconstruction, body contouring, and cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Christiano speaks English and Portuguese. He enjoys his time away from the hospital with his wife and son. Together, they ski, bike, swim, play soccer, and enjoy the outdoors.

Languages

English, Portuguese

Certified Specialties

Clinical Informatics - American Board of Preventive Medicine

Plastic Surgery - American Board of Plastic Surgery

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Surgery, Plastic Surgery (SMD)

Connect with Jose G. Christiano, M.D.

Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Residency, Plastic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 2008 - 2010

Fellowship, Surgical Critical Care, University of Tennessee Medical Center-Knoxville. 2005 - 2008

Residency, Surgery (General Surgery), University of Tennessee Medical Center-Knoxville. 2003 - 2005

Internship, Surgery (General Surgery), University of Connecticut Health Center. 2002 - 2003

Fellowship, Surgical Critical Care, Children's Hospital (Hospital das Clinicas) (Brazil). 2000 - 2002

Residency, Surgery (General Surgery), Children's Hospital (Hospital das Clinicas) (Brazil). 1999 - 2000

Education

MD | Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas da Santa Casa de Sao Paulo (Brazil). 1997

Awards

Joseph E. Losee, MD, Teaching Award. 2020

Kimball I. Maull Lecturer In Surgery Award. 2015

Howard C. Filston Administrative Chief Resident Award. 2008

Hiram Crutchfield Resident Teaching Award. 2008

Scott B. Frame, MD Memorial Trauma Scholarship. 2006

Resident Trauma Paper Competition - National Finalist. 2006

Scott B. Frame, MD Memorial Trauma Scholarship. 2005

University of Tennessee Resident Research Day Research Award. 2005

Resident Trauma Paper Competition (ACS TN Chapter) - Winner. 2005

Resident Trauma Paper Competition (ACS COT Region 4) - Winner. 2005

ACS Resident Award for Exemplary Teaching - Nominee by Univ. of TN Graduate School of Medicine. 2005

Publications

Journal Articles

Patient-Reported Outcome (PROMIS) Scores Improve After Gender-Affirming Mastectomy.

Sweitzer KR, Milek D, Escandón JM, Sanderson D, Christiano JG

Annals of plastic surgery.. 2025 March 194 (3):281-285. Epub 1900 01 01.

Single versus Double Drainage for Immediate Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Escandón JM, Aristizábal A, Langstein HN, Christiano JG, Gooch JC, Prieto PA, Skinner KA, Weiss A, Manrique OJ

Aesthetic plastic surgery.. 2024 September 48 (17):3304-3316. Epub 01/12/2024.

Predictors for Prolonged TE-to-Implant Exchange During Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Single Institution Experience.

Escandón JM, Langstein HN, Christiano JG, Gooch JC, Prieto PA, Aristizábal A, Weiss A, Manrique OJ

Aesthetic plastic surgery.. 2024 June 48 (11):2088-2097. Epub 08/10/2023.

Qualitative Assessment of the Experiences of Transgender Individuals Assigned Female at Birth Undergoing Gender-Affirming Mastectomy for the Treatment of Gender Dysphoria.

Christiano JG, Punekar I, Patel A, McGregor HA, Moskow M, Anson E

Transgender health.. 2024 April 9 (2):143-150. Epub 04/03/2024.

Latissimus dorsi flap with immediate fat transfer (LIFT) for autologous breast reconstruction: Single institution experience.

Escandón JM, Langstein HN, Christiano JG, Aristizábal A, Gooch JC, Weiss A, Manrique OJ

American journal of surgery.. 2024 February 228 :185-191. Epub 09/20/2023.

The Value of a Co-surgeon in Microvascular Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Escandón JM, Mascaro-Pankova A, DellaCroce FJ, Escandón L, Christiano JG, Langstein HN, Ciudad P, Manrique OJ

Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open.. 2024 February 12 (2):e5624. Epub 02/05/2024.

Prepectoral versus subpectoral two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction: U.S. medical center experience and narrative review.

Escandón JM, Weiss A, Christiano JG, Langstein HN, Escandón L, Prieto PA, Gooch JC, Manrique OJ

Annals of translational medicine.. 2023 December 2011 (12):411. Epub 06/20/2023.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy and immediate two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Escandón JM, Aristizábal A, Christiano JG, Langstein HN, Manrique OJ

Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS.. 2023 September 84 :447-458. Epub 06/09/2023.

Autologous breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap in obese patients: Time-to-event analysis.

Escandón JM, Catanzaro M, Christiano JG, Gooch JC, Weiss A, Langstein HN, Manrique OJ

Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS.. 2023 September 84 :605-617. Epub 06/14/2023.

Functional return after implant-based breast reconstruction: A prospective study of objective and patient-reported outcomes.

Patel AU, Day SJ, Pencek M, Roussel LO, Christiano JG, Punekar IR, Koltz PF, Langstein HN

Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS.. 2020 May 73 (5):850-855. Epub 12/11/2019.

Bilateral pectoralis major flaps for salvage of left ventricular assist device deep pocket infection.

Mitchell DC, Ayers B, Patel AU, Chacon MA, Wood K, Barrus B, Prasad SM, Gosev I, Christiano JG.

European Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2019; 43: 97-102.

Pedicled Flap Closure as an Adjunct for Infected Ventricular Assist Devices.

Roussel LO, Khouri JS, Christiano JG

Annals of plastic surgery.. 2017 June 78 (6):712-716. Epub 1900 01 01.

Redesigned Electronic Medical Notes Allow Automated Clinical Data Extraction and Decrease Provider Documentation Time.

Christiano JG

Plastic and reconstructive surgery.. 2016 November 138 (5):953e-954e. Epub 1900 01 01.

Evolution of abdominal wall reconstruction: development of a unified algorithm with improved outcomes.

Koltz PF, Frey JD, Bell DE, Girotto JA, Christiano JG, Langstein HN

Annals of plastic surgery.. 2013 November 71 (5):554-60. Epub 1900 01 01.

Repair of recurrent cleft palate with free vastus lateralis muscle flap.

Christiano JG, Dorafshar AH, Rodriguez ED, Redett RJ

The Cleft palate-craniofacial journal : official publication of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.. 2012 March 49 (2):245-8. Epub 07/25/2011.

Lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast presenting as a discrete mass.

Christiano JG, Duncan LD, Bell JL

The American surgeon.. 2012 January 78 (1):E38-40. Epub 1900 01 01.

Closed reduction of laterally displaced fracture/dislocation of the mandibular condylar process in a child.

Christiano JG, Dorafshar AH, Tufaro AP, Manson PN

The Journal of craniofacial surgery.. 2011 July 22 (4):1504-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Clinical experience with the delay phenomenon in autologous breast reconstruction with the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap.

Christiano JG, Rosson GD

Microsurgery.. 2010 October 30 (7):526-31. Epub 1900 01 01.

Clinical significance of isolated intraperitoneal fluid on computed tomography in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma.

Christiano JG, Tummers M, Kennedy A

Journal of pediatric surgery.. 2009 June 44 (6):1242-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Books

Grabb and Smith's Plastic Surgery (2013)

Chapter: Reconstruction of the Scalp, Calvarium, and Forehead

Ratings & Comments

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Ratings

Care provider's discussion of any proposed treatment (options, risks, benefits, etc.)

4.5

Likelihood of recommending this care provider to others

4.3

Explanations the care provider gave you about your problem or condition

4.5

Care provider's efforts to include you in decisions about your care

4.5

Concern the care provider showed for your questions or worries

4.4

Patient Comments

5.0

The Dr. Was compassionate and gave me full attention and offered solutions to my problems.

Nov 17, 2024

2.6

Dr. Christiano seemed a bit dismissive of my concerns [...]

Nov 16, 2024

1.0

Seemed like he had no interest in what I wanted and could have cared less.

Aug 31, 2024

5.0

I received a lot of information from the doctor and I was satisfied that he was an excellent doctor.

Jun 21, 2024

5.0

He is a caring physician.

Jun 19, 2024

5.0

Dr. Christiano is wonderful. He really listens, and supports my decisions that I've made

Jan 26, 2024

1.0

[...] I felt he was not taking me serious [...]

Dec 15, 2023

3.8

While the provider listened and answered any questions I had, I had a major surgery and the instructions and expectations along the way were not informative. When I brought up a couple of Issues I was just lead to It will get better rather than what could help It Improve. [...]

Dec 05, 2023

5.0

I like seeing this doctor because he's very good very thorough

Sep 15, 2023

5.0

Knowledgeable, thorough & direct. Also honest, patient & respectful.

Jul 12, 2023

5.0

This provider shows sympathy, skill & knowledge and exercises caution with me during my visits. It's a safe, comfortable atmosphere. I feel like I am in good hands with the level of care I am shown by this provider and all the staff in this office. I am grateful to have Dr Christiano as my surgeon.

May 12, 2023

5.0

Good.

Jan 06, 2023

1.8

He was condescending and rude. [...] was one of the worst providers I have ever seen.

Oct 28, 2022

1.8

He was not very helpful he did not spend more than ten minutes [...]

Oct 21, 2022

5.0

Excellent!

Jul 29, 2022

5.0

Dr. Christiano is a wonderful doctor and a great man!

Jul 29, 2022

5.0

He was very kind and receptive as well as knowledgeable and trustworthy.

Apr 29, 2022

5.0

Excellent! Very knowledgeable & thorough.

Apr 14, 2022