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Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (FPRS) Fellowship

Program summary

Virginia Mason's Department of Facial Plastic Surgery offers a one-year fellowship program in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery accredited by American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). The Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship (FPRS) provides hands-on training and exposure to the breadth of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. The fellowship includes a high volume, state-of-the-art service using nationally-recognized, system-based approaches to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, including adult cosmetic surgery, rhinoplasty, facial rejuvenation, cosmetic oculoplasty, microvascular surgery, and a large volume of reconstructive procedures.

Under the leadership and supervision of Fellowship Director Michael Nuara, MD, the fellow performs a minimum of 500 cases, with opportunities to participate as part of a multidisciplinary team in robust clinic and inpatient care.

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed an ACGME or RCPSC-accredited residency in otolaryngology or plastic surgery. Our program currently participates in the SF Match Process, therefore, candidates must complete the AAFPRS Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship online application. Find more information on eligibility and how to apply.

At this time we are not accepting applications from graduates of International Medical Schools outside of the U.S., unless completed residency at U.S. residency program and have unlimited ECFMG certification.

Curriculum

The primary goal of the Fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is to give the fellow the clinical and surgical skills to excel in a otolaryngology career and serve as an ambassador for themself, the profession and Virginia Mason. Specifically, the fellowship curriculum aims to teach requisite cognitive and technical aspects of surgical facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, including:

  • Understanding relevant processes, their presentation and management
  • Analysis and interpretation of radiographic data
  • Understanding the indications and contraindications for procedures
  • Pre- and post-procedure care of the patient
  • Recognition and management of complications
  • Appropriate documentation and reporting
  • Appropriate communication with the patient and the multidisciplinary team
  • Research, presentation and publication in the field

How to apply

To apply, see full details at the AAFPRS Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery webpage and submit the application with all required materials. Applications must be submitted by March 1 of the year prior to the start of fellowship training.

If you have questions, please contact Mindy Vu.

  • Corin Kinkhabwala, MD

    2025 - 2026
    Corin Kinkhabwala, MD -     Current VMFH FPRS Fellow
    Residency: Medical University of South Carolina
     

  • Program director

    Michael Nuara, MD

    Michael Nuara, MD
    Rhinoplasty/Gender Affirmation Facial Surgery/Microvascular/Facial Nerve/Aesthetics
     

    Faculty

    Alana Aylward, MD

    Alana Aylward, MD
    Microvascular / Head and Neck Reconstruction / Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator
     

    Peter Kally, MD

    Peter Kally, MD
    Oculoplastics
      

    AJ Flaherty, MD

    AJ Flaherty, MD
    Gender Affirmation Facial Surgery/Rhinoplasty/Mohs/Melanoma
      

    Stephen Bayles, MD

    Stephen Bayles, MD
    Otolaryngology (Ear Nose and Throat), Head and Neck Reconstruction
     

    Kathleen C Y Sie, MD

    Kathleen C Y Sie, MD (Seattle Children's Hospital)
    Microtia
     

    G. Nina Lu, MD

    G. Nina Lu, MD (Seattle Children's Hospital)
    Microtia
     

    Prabhat K. Bhama, MD

    Prabhat K. Bhama, MD (Providence - Everett)
    Facial Nerve/Rhinoplasty/Mohs
     

    Wayne F. Larrabee, MD

    Wayne F. Larrabee, MD (Larrabee Center)
    Aesthetics/Technology
      

    Jeff Teixeira, MD

    Jeff Teixeira, MD (U.S. Army)
    Research
      

    Craig Murakami, MD, FACS

    Craig Murakami, MD, FACS
    Didactics/Anatomy Lab
      
      

  • 2025 - 2026 – Corin Kinkhabwala, MD, Current VMFH FPRS Fellow

    2024 - 2025 – Joanna Jacobs, MD, Kaiser Permanente NW (Portland, OR)

    2023 - 2024 – Arron Cole, MD, NYP-Cornell/Brooklyn Methodist

    2022 - 2023 – Lucy Shi, MD, Lenox Hill NYC

    2021 - 2022 – AJ Flaherty, MD, VMMC

    2020 - 2021 – Sarah Kidwai, MD (UW), Northwell / Long Island

    2019 - 2020 – Jonnae Ostrom (UW), Tucson ENT/U of AZ

    2019 - 2020 – Jeff Teixeira, MD (UW/Army), Walter Reed

    2018 - 2019 – Katie Brandstetter, MD (UW), Kaiser Oakland
      
      

  • 2025

    • Kinkhabwala, C.M., Russel, S.M., Jacobs, J. et al. Cheek Augmentation for Gender Affirmation. Curr Otorhinolaryngol (2025) Rep 13, 2.
    • Lehmann RJ, Kruglik CP, Nuara MJ, Cole AM. Gender-Affirming Rhinoplasty: A Scoping Review. Laryngoscope. 2025.

    2024

    • Baylor C, Bamer A, Brown C, Jin JL, Teixeira J, Nuara M. The Communicative Participation Item Bank-Gender-Diverse Version: Item Bank Calibration and Short Form. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2024;33(2):952-968.
    • Flaherty, A.J. et al.Perspective: Gender-affirming care and a call to action. AAO-HNS Bulletin. 2024.
    • Jin JL, Baylor C, Teixeira J, Yorkston K, Nuara M. Reframing transgender communication in gender-affirming communication care: Comfort and confidence are the main goals. Int J Speech Lang Pathol. 2024 Oct;26(5):750-764.
    • Shi LL, Lacey M, Teixeira J, Hendershot K, Hohman M, Kidwai S, Flaherty AJ, Nuara MJ. Analysis of Cephalometric Differences of the Midface and Upper Face in Males and Females: A Radiographic Study. J Craniofac Surg. 2024.

    2023

    • Chou DW, Layfield E, Prasad K, Shih C, Brandstetter K. Gender and Ethnic Diversity in Academic Facial Plastic Surgery. Laryngoscope. 2023;133(8):1869-1874.
    • Flaherty AJ, Stone AM, Teixeira JC, Nuara MJ. Feminization Rhinoplasty. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2023;31(3):407-417.
    • Jacobs J, Flaherty AJ. Re: "Sex Differences in Adult Facial Three-Dimensional Morphology: Application to Gender-Affirming Facial Surgery" by Bannister et al. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2023;25(6):455.
    • Nguyen E, Flaherty AJ, Akkina SR, Kidwai S, Nuara MJ. Patient-Reported Functional and Aesthetic Outcomes of Underlay Articulated Alar Rim Grafts in Functional Septorhinoplasty. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2023;25(3):274-275.
    • Montgomery EA, Patel JA, Boone RE, Teixeira JC, Vincent AG, Hohman MH. Rare Manifestation of Sjögren's Syndrome as Unilateral Facial Paralysis: A Case Report and Literature Review. Mil Med. 2023 Jul 22;188(7-8):e2805-e2808.
    • Perez PI, Hendershot K, Teixeira JC, Hohman MH, Adidharma L, Moody M, Kidwai S, Lacey M, Johnson S, Nuara MJ. Analysis of Cephalometric Points in Male and Female Mandibles: An Application to Gender-Affirming Facial Surgery. J Craniofac Surg. 2023;34(4):1278-1282.
    • Shi LL, Pudney J, Brangman S, Parham K, Nuara M. Head & Neck Trauma in the Geriatric Population. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2023;56(6):1183-1201.
    • Stone, A.M., Russel, S.M., Flaherty, A.J. et al. Best Practices for LGBTQIA + Patient Care in Otolaryngology. Curr Otorhinolaryngol. 2023; Rep 11, 229–239.
    • Teixeira J, Jin JL, Baylor C, Nuara M. Modifying the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) for individuals receiving gender-affirming communication care: Stakeholder feedback from cognitive interviews. J Commun Disord. 2023;102:106312.

    2022

    • Garcia-Rodriguez, L, Flaherty, A.J. From the Education Committees: Gender-affirming care provided by the Otolaryngologist. AAO-HNS Bulletin. 2022.

    2021

    • Andrews JE, Jones NN, Moody MP, Vincent AG, Teixeira JC, Thomas RF, Hohman MH. Nasoseptal Surgery Outcomes in Smokers and Nonsmokers. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2021;23(4):283-288.
    • Hohman MH, Jastrzembski ME, Choe N, Nuara MJ, Teixeira JC, Vincent AG. 3D-Printed Custom Cutting Guides Facilitate Frontal Cranioplasty in Gender Affirmation Surgery. J Craniofac Surg. 2021;32(7):e668-e670.
    • Ostrom JY, Teixeira JC, Nuara MJ. Blepharoplasty Approach to the Orbital Rim: A Novel Approach for Select Patients Presenting for Gender Affirming Facial Plastic Surgery. J Craniofac Surg. 2021;32(2):705-707.
    • Teixeira JC, Ostrom JY, Hohman MH, Nuara MJ. Botulinum Toxin Type-A for Lip Augmentation: "Lip Flip". J Craniofac Surg. 2021;32(3):e273-e275.

    2020

    • Flaherty AJ, Sharma A, Crosby DL, Nuara MJ. Should Gender-Affirming Surgery Be Prioritized During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;163(6):1140-1143.
    • Teixeira JC, Morrison SD, Brandstetter KA, Nuara MJ. Is There an Increasing Interest in Facial Feminization Surgery? A Search Trends Analysis. J Craniofac Surg. 2020;31(3):606-607.

    2016

    • Brandstetter KA, Patel KG. Craniofacial Microsomia. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2016;24(4):495-515.
    • Patel K, Brandstetter K. Solid Implants in Facial Plastic Surgery: Potential Complications and How to Prevent Them. Facial Plast Surg. 2016 Oct;32(5):520-31.