About dr. Nicholas Flugstad, MD
Dr. Nicholas Flugstad is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He has established himself as a talented and compassionate surgeon with a desire to offer his patients a detailed and thorough approach to their treatment, resulting in the highest level of safety and satisfaction.
Plastic surgery is a unique and ever-advancing field to which Dr. Flugstad is fully dedicated and enthusiastic about with his patients. The term “plastic” does not imply the use of plastic or any other material, but refers to the plastic surgeon’s ability to “mold” or “shape.” In other words, plastic surgeons have the ability to use the body’s tissues (or implants) to refresh, reshape, rebuild, and reconstruct all areas of the body. With roots in general surgery, transplant surgery, burn surgery, hand surgery, and other disciplines, plastic surgery employs some of the most exciting and difficult procedures in use today.
Background & Training
Dr. Flugstad was raised here on the Eastside, in the neighboring town of Redmond. Growing up, he was influenced by the careers of his father and his uncle, who are both longtime physicians and active members of the Seattle community. After graduating from Wheaton College cum laude with a degree in Chemistry, Dr. Flugstad attended the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Flugstad chose plastic surgery because it offers the most delicate, technically advanced procedures, and the ability to take care of a wide variety of surgical patients. Dr. Flugstad completed an additional rotation in plastic surgery at the University of Wisconsin, Madison to broaden his experience in his chosen field. He received his medical degree in 2008, and was the only student from his graduating class to match into a plastic surgery residency. So he began his rigorous, integrated six-year residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Dr. Flugstad took advantage of a wide array of educational opportunities throughout his training in Wisconsin. He participated in hundreds of surgical cases in free tissue transfer surgery for breast (DIEP flap), extremity, and head and neck reconstruction. His other emphases included hand surgery, craniofacial trauma, cleft lip and palate, sarcoma reconstruction, skin cancer reconstruction, and chronic wound surgery. During his third year of residency, Dr. Flugstad spent two months at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. This was an elective focused on head and neck cancer and head and neck microsurgical reconstruction. While serving as chief resident, he ran a dedicated service and clinic for Veterans, including spinal cord injury patients. He also staffed a chief resident cosmetic clinic.
Following graduation from his residency, Dr. Flugstad sought out a one-year comprehensive cosmetic fellowship, with emphasis on breast and body surgery, at the Hunstad Kortesis Center for Plastic Surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina, one of only 12 fellowship programs nationwide that has been endorsed by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Hunstad is world renowned for his expertise in liposuction, tummy tuck, body contouring, and face lifting.
Research
Dr. Flugstad has authored multiple publications in the field of plastic surgery. He has also presented his work at several national meetings, including the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the Plastic Surgery Research Council, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Dr. Flugstad was also invited to present his work on nerve injury and repair in Melbourne, Australia.
Most recently, he has co-authored a book chapter on purse string gluteoplasty, a method of buttock lifting and augmentation using the patient’s own tissue that was invented by his mentor, Dr. Hunstad. His ongoing research has focused on breast augmentation surgery, including methods of decreasing capsular contracture, the most common complication of breast augmentation surgery. Dr. Flugstad is also studying the safety and efficacy of anatomic shaped breast implants.
Dr. Flugstad has performed research in a wide variety of areas such as peripheral nerve injury, lower extremity reconstruction, wound healing, breast implants, breast augmentation, face lifts, and body contouring. His work has been published in several prestigious journals, including the Journal of Aesthetic Surgery. He has contributed to several textbooks, including Neligan’s Plastic Surgery, Lin’s Plastic Surgery Board Review, and The Endoscopic Atlas of Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Flugstad and his family reside in Bellevue where they are active members of the community. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including cycling, hiking, running, and downhill skiing. His favorite places to visit in the Northwest are the San Juan Islands, Whistler and Mount Rainier.