Our Background
Personal Profile
Prof.Dr. Alexandre Mendonça Munhoz, M.D., PhD.
Dr. Alexandre Mendonça Munhoz is a renowned plastic surgeon based in São Paulo, Brazil, with extensive experience and a distinguished academic and clinical background. Dr. Munhoz has held key academic and leadership positions, including preceptor of the Plastic Surgery Residency Program at FMUSP, head of the Breast Reconstruction Group at Hospital das Clínicas (HC-FMUSP), and currently serves as coordinator of the Breast Reconstruction Sector at the Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (ICESP). He is also a Professor for Master’s and Doctoral fellow-ship at the Hospital Sírio-Libanês’ Research Institute (IEP-HSL).
In his clinical practice, Dr. Munhoz specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, body contouring post-bariatric procedures, and advanced silicone implant techniques. He pioneered the subfascial transaxillary “scarless” breast augmentation approach with several peer-reviewed publications worldwide and has introduced innovations in the use of ergonomic gel implants with nanosurfaces in South America. As a highly respected figure in his field, he has published over 195 scientific articles—more than 135 indexed in PubMed—and serves as a reviewer of major international journals including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Breast, and Annals of Plastic Surgery. He has received numerous national and international awards for scientific excellence, including the Plastic and Reconstructive Journal Best Cosmetic Paper/2023. Dr. Munhoz is also actively involved in professional societies and educational initiatives, shaping the next generation of plastic surgeons through his work an international speaker and Key Opinion Leader in the field of Breast Plastic Surgery.
Education
1989 - 1994
University of São Paulo School of Medicine (FMUSP)
Dr. Munhoz completed his six-year medical degree at the highly prestigious FMUSP, widely regarded as one of the most respected medical institutions in Latin America. Throughout his training, he benefited from FMUSP’s exceptional clinical infrastructure, cutting-edge research environment, and a multidisciplinary teaching approach that integrates science, ethics, and patient care. Immersed in a competitive and intellectually stimulating environment, he developed a strong foundation in medical knowledge, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning. His education at FMUSP not only shaped his identity as a physician but also instilled in him the discipline, empathy, and academic excellence required for advanced surgical training and future specialization.
1995 - 1996
Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine (HC-FMUSP)
During his two-year residency in General Surgery, Dr. Munhoz received extensive training that honed his technical abilities and deepened his clinical insight. This period allowed him to master essential surgical techniques while developing a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to care. The high clinical volume and complexity of cases at HC-FMUSP fostered his ability to perform diverse surgical scenarios with precision. This foundational training proved essential in preparing him for his later specialization in Plastic Surgery, providing the technical rigor, clinical discipline, and holistic perspective necessary for excellence in the field.
1997 - 1999
Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine (HC-FMUSP)
He completed a three-year residency in Plastic Surgery at the renowned HC-FMUSP, one of the most prestigious and demanding training centers for plastic surgery in Latin America. During this highly competitive program, he received advanced training in both aesthetic and reconstructive procedures, working alongside some of the most respected surgeons in the field. The residency provided intensive hands-on experience with complex surgical cases, fostering technical mastery, precision, and innovation. The high volume and diversity of procedures, combined with a rigorous academic environment, equipped him with the expertise, critical thinking, and refined surgical skills essential for excellence in modern plastic surgery.
Key Opinion Leader (K.O.L.)
Prof. Dr. Alexandre Mendonça Munhoz, M.D., PhD.
Global K.O.L. in Breast Surgery and Silicone Gel Implants
Dr. Munhoz, is an internationally recognized KOL in the field of breast surgery, with a career spanning over 25 years dedicated to both aesthetic and reconstructive breast procedures. He has played a prominent role in advancing surgical techniques involving silicone gel breast implants, fat grafting, and innovative approaches to post-mastectomy reconstruction.
Throughout his career, Dr. Munhoz has been invited to speak at leading international congresses across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, the Middle East, and Latin America. His lectures focus on cutting-edge developments in breast aesthetics, implant technology, surgical safety, and long-term outcomes—sharing clinical experience and evidence-based practices with plastic surgeons around the world.
Academic Titles
Titles and Thesis
2004: Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree.
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine at the University of São Paulo (FMUSP).
Research focused on DIEP flap and microsurgical breast reconstruction, specifically analyzing the anatomy basis for a predictable flap dissection.
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Munhoz et al. Importance of lateral row perforator vessels in deep inferior epigastric perforator flap harvesting. Plast Reconstr Surg. 113(2): 517-524.
2006: Doctor of Science (PhD) degree.
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine at the University of São Paulo (FMUSP).
Research focused on perforator vessels as a recipient pedicle for DIEP flap and microsurgical breast reconstruction, specifically analyzing the clinical experience and risk factors.
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Munhoz et al. Perforator flap breast reconstruction using internal mammary branches as a recipient site: an anatomical and clinical analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 114(1): 62-68.
2014: Postdoctoral of Plastic Surgery.
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine at the University of São Paulo (FMUSP).
Research focused on breast reconstruction following skin and nipple-sparing mastectomy, specifically analyzing the clinical experience and risk factors.
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Munhoz et al. Clinical outcomes following nipple-areola-sparing mastectomy with implant-based breast reconstruction: a 12-year experience with an analysis of factors for complications. Breast Cancer Research Treat. 140(3): 545-555.
Through his academic leadership, innovation, and international educational outreach, Dr. Munhoz continues to set new standards in the field of breast surgery, influencing practice and policy across continents. Dr. Munhoz has also played a pioneering role in introducing several state-of-the-art technologies to Latin America, now widely used in both aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery. These include:
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1999: Pioneer in performing the first Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction in Latin America in 2000, bringing advanced autologous microsurgical techniques to the region.
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2001: Leading role in the integration of plastic surgery techniques into breast-conserving oncologic procedures—a practice now widely known as oncoplastic surgery—helping to optimize aesthetic and oncologic outcomes for patients undergoing partial mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer.
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2003: Form-stable anatomical textured implant: Also known as “gummy bear” implants, maintaining their shape over time, providing a natural breast contour.
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2005: Implant-tissue expanders (implant-expanders): Devices combining the features of a breast implant and a tissue expander in a single-stage system, allowing gradual volume expansion and breast shaping with a single device.
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2013: Porcine-derived acellular dermal matrices (ADM): Biological scaffolds that support soft tissue integration and are used to reinforce the implant pocket in breast reconstructions.
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2014: Fat grafting systems with purification technology: Closed-loop fat processing devices that improve the viability and safety of autologous fat grafts for use in breast contour refinements.
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2016: Nanotextured ergonomic implants: Designed to mimic the natural movement and softness of the breast, these implants combine smooth silk surface behavior with enhanced tissue interaction, reducing complications such as capsular contracture.
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2018: RFID-enabled tissue expanders: Next-generation expanders incorporating Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) microchips for non-invasive volume control, precise expansion tracking, and improved MRI compatibility in oncologic settings.
Pioneer in new technologies in breast surgery
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