Dr Melinda Costa is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and one of a handful of double-fellowship trained Craniofacial Plastic Surgeons in the United States.

Dr. Costa specializes in the most technically demanding facial surgical techniques. Dr. Costa is one of only a few Pediatric Plastic Surgeons in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Possessing years of elite surgical training experience and an artistic eye, Dr. Costa provides outcomes to correct, restore, and enhance the face and body.

Her Adult specialties include facial feminization, facelift, lip lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and fat grafting. Her Pediatric specialties include cleft repair, neonatal ear molding, otoplasty, microtia (ear reconstruction), congenital nevi, dermoid cysts, juvenile breast deformities, gynecomastia, polydactyly, and ear remnants.

ARTISTRY

Dr. Costa Minored in Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania. Her artistic abilities integrate with her medical knowledge to deliver results that enhance form as well as function.

CLEFT CARE

Dr. Costa is the Medical Director of the Cleft and Craniofacial Program at Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose, CA.

Under her leadership, the program has been accredited by the American Cleft Palate- Craniofacial Association (ACPA).

Patient-centric and a doctor first-and-foremost, she works closely and attentively with her patients and their families to understand their individual goals before creating a customized procedure plan that maximizes positive health and aesthetic results.

EXPERT TRAINING

Dr. Costa holds two degrees from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania: a BS in Biological Basis of Behavior with a Minor in Fine Arts as well as her Medical Degree, MD.

Dr. Costa is a Fellow of the reknowned American College of Surgeons (FACS).

DUAL FELLOWSHIP TRAINED

Dr. Costa completed a rigorous surgical residency in Plastic Surgery in 2012 at the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, and held the prestigious Tsao Global Health Pediatric Plastic Surgery Fellowship organized by USC, Shriners’ Hospital for Children and Operation Smile. Dr. Costa went to a second fellowship, becoming a Von Deilen-Curtis Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery Fellow at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

There, she trained under Roberto Flores, Associate Professor of Reconstructive Surgery, Director of the Cleft Lip and Palate Program and Craniofacial Fellowship Program, now at New York University.

Thereafter, and although Dr. Costa received comprehensive training and experience thus far, she elected to work with Dr. Kyle Keojampa, in gender affirming facial feminization surgery. Dr. Costa worked extensively with Dr. Keojampa, applying the best surgical techniques and pre-surgical individualized, custom planning to provide the most outstanding care and best results.

Over the past 15 years, she has authored dozens of publications in the fields of breast reconstruction, cleft care, fat grafting, and wound healing.

Her passion for helping children has brought her across the world to places like Guwahati Tanzania, and where she’s worked as a volunteer surgeon with Operation Smile, Inc. and Rotoplast to deliver life-changing cleft procedures.

Dr. Costa has clinical privileges with Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose, El Camino Hospital, Los Gatos and Mountain View, Regional Medical Center, San Jose and a myriad of private practice surgery centers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area including Austin Surgery Center in San Francisco, Los Gatos Surgery Center, Bascom Surgery Center, and Silicon Valley Surgery Center.

Dr. Costa is currently in private practice in San Jose, California, one mile from downtown Los Gatos, 50 miles south of San Francisco, in the medical corridor of Stanford Hospital Southbay, and Good Samaritan Hospital, San Jose, CA.

Education & Training

Dr. Costa completed her residency in plastic surgery in 2012 at University of Southern California and held prestigious fellowships at USC/Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles (Global Health Pediatric Plastic Surgery) and Indiana University School of Medicine (Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery).

Over the past 14 years, she has authored dozens of publications in the fields of wound healing, breast reconstruction, cleft repair, and fat grafting. Her passion for helping children has brought her across the world to places like Tanzania, where she’s worked as a volunteer surgeon with Operation Smile to deliver life-changing cleft procedures.

Languages

Dr. Costa is fluent in Spanish and English.

Professional Memberships

Dr. Costa is a member of several prestigious medical associations, including:

Publications

Dr. Costa has invested in a robust level of academic activity:

Articles

1. Ptasznik A, Urbanowska E, China S, Costa MA, et al. Crosstalk between BCR/ABL oncoprotein and CXCR4 signaling through a Sac family kinas in human leukemia cells. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2002; 196(5): 667-8.
2. Costa MA, Wu C, Pham BV, Chong AK, Pham HM, Chang J. Tissue engineering of flexor tendons: Optimization of tenacity proliferation using growth factor supplementation.  Tissue Engineering, 2006; 12(7): 1937-43.
3. Kryger GS, Chong AK, Costa M, Pham H, Bates SJ, Chang J. A comparison of tenacities and mesenchymal stem cells for use in flexor tendon tissue engineering. Journal of Hand Surgery, 2007; 32(5): 597-605.
4. Satterwhite TS, Chong AK, Luo J, Pham H, Costa M, Longaker MT, Wyss-Coray T, Chang J.  In vitro analysis of transforming growth factor-beta1 inhibition in novel transgenic SBE-luciferase mice. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2007; 59(2): 207-13.
5. Chong AK, Satterwhite T, Pham HM, Costa MA, Luo J, Longaker MT, Wyss-Coray T, Chang J. Live imaging of Smad2/3 signaling in mouse skin wound healing. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2007; 15(5): 762-6.
6. Nguyen J, Costa MA, Vidar MA, Shahabi, A, Hernandez A, Chan L, Sener J, Wong Effect of immediate reconstruction on postmastectomy surgical site infection. Annals of Surgery, 2012; 256(2): 326-33.
7. Costa MA, Rommer E, Peric M, Nguyen J, et al. Incidence of surgical site infection is not affected by method of immediate breast reconstruction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2013; 132(1): 20e-9e.
8. Costa MA, Borzabadi-Farahani A, Lara-Sanchez P, Jacobson L, Clarke N, Hammoudeh J, Urata M, Magee III W.  Partial craniofacial duplication: A review of the literature and case report.  Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, 2013; pii:S1010-5812(13)00146-7.
9. Murage KP, Costa MA, Tholpady SS, Friel M, Havlik RJ, Flores RL. Complications associated with neonatal mandibular distraction osteogenesis in the treatment of Robin sequence.  Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2014; 25(2): 383-7.
10. Costa MA, Tu MM, Murage KP, Tholpady SS, Engle, WA, Flores, RL. Robin sequence: Mortality, causes of death, and clinical outcomes.  Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2014; 134(4): 738-745.
11. Costa MA, Murage KP, Tholpady SS, Flores, RL. Airway compromise following palatoplasty in Robin Sequence: improving safety and predicability. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2014; 134(6):937e-45e.
12. Tholpady S, Costa M, Matt B, Havlik R, Flores, R. Successful neonatal mandibular distraction osteogenesis in patients with concomitant laryngomalacia. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2014; 134(4 Suppl 1:8.
13. Costa MA, Ackerman L, et al. Spring-Assisted Cranial Vault Expansion in the Setting of Multisutural Craniosynostosis and Anomalous Venous Drainage: Case Report. Journal of Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2015; 10, 1-6.
14. Tholpady SS, Costa MA, Matt B, Socas J, Haddad I, Flores, RL. Mandibular distraction for Robin sequence associated with laryngomalacia. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2015; 26(3):826-30.
15. Costa MA, Yao C, Gillenwater J, Ho G, Abrishami S, Magee WP. Telemedicine in Cleft Care: The experience at Shriners Hospital for Children, Los Angeles. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2015; 26(4): 1116-20.
16. Flores RL, Greathouse ST, Costa M, Tahiri Y, Soleimani T, Tholpady SS. Defining failure and its predictors in mandibular distraction for Robin sequence. Journal of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, 2015 43(8):1614-9.
17. Greathouse ST, Costa M, Ferrera A, Tahiri Y, Tholpady SS, Havlik RJ, Flores RL. The Surgical Treatment of Robin Sequence. Ann Plast Surg, 2015 Sept 28(epub ahead of print).
18. Yao CA, Taro TB, Wipfli HL, Gillenwater JT, Costa MA, Gutierrez RD, Magee W 3^rd. The Tsao Fellowship in Global Health: A Model for International Fellowships in a Surgery Residency. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2016; 27(2):282-5.

Book Chapters:

• Costa MA, Chapter author, USMLERx Step 2 Question Review, edited by Le T, Shivaram A, Klein J, et al. 2007.
• Costa MA, Chapter author, USMLE Step 2 Online Test Bank, edited by Le T, Shivaram A, Klein J, et al. 2007.

Podium Presentations

1. Costa MA, Ross H. Hand-Assisted laparoscopic Sigmoid Colectomy: Technique and Result. Pennsylvania Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 2004.
   Advisor: Howard Ross, M.D., University of Pennsylvania
2. Costa MA, Sherman R. Pressure Necrosis of the Scalp Necessitating Free Tissue Transfer.  California Society of Plastic Surgeons, Palos Verdes, California; 2010.
   Advisor: Randy Sherman, M.D., University of Southern California
3. Costa MA, Nguyen J et al. Does immediate breast reconstruction affect surgical site infection? Data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). American College of Surgeons, Southern California Chapter, Santa Barbara, California: Accepted to General Plenary Session; 2011.
   Advisor: Alex Wong, M.D.
4. Costa MA, Nguyen J et al. Does immediate breast reconstruction affect surgical site infection? Data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Plastic Surgery Research Council, Louisville, Kentucky; 2011.
5. Costa MA, Nguyen J et al. Does type of immediate breast reconstruction affect surgical site infection? Data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). American College of Surgeons, San Francisco, California.
   Advisor: Alex Wong, M.D., University of Southern California; 2012.
6. Costa MA, Magee W. Partial Craniofacial Duplication: A review of the literature and case report. Senior Residents Conference, Tampa, Florida; 2012.
7. Costa MA, Magee W. Partial Craniofacial Duplication: A review of the literature and case report. 12th International Congress on Cleft Lip/Palate and Related Craniofacial Anomalies, Orlando, Fl; 2013.
   Advisor: William P. Magee III, M.D., D.D.S.
8. Costa MA, Yao C et al. Telemedicine in cleft care: The experience at Shriners Hospital for Children, Los Angeles.  International Society of Craniofacial Surgery. Jackson Hole, Wyoming; 2013.
   Advisor: William P. Magee III, M.D., D.D.S.
9. Costa MA, Tu M, Tholpady S, Flores, RL. Robin sequence: Mortality, risk stratification, and clinical outcomes. American Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Association. Indianapolis, IN; 2014.
10. Costa MA, Tu M, Havlik R, Tholpady S, Flores, RL. Cardiac and neurologic anomalies in Robin sequence: Incidence and clinical implications.  American Cleft   Palate – Craniofacial Association. Indianapolis, IN; 2014.
11. Costa MA, Murage K, Tu M, Friel M, Havlik R, Tholpady S, Flores, RL. Airway outcomes following cleft palate repair in Robin sequence. American Cleft Palate  – Craniofacial Association. Indianapolis, IN; 2014.
12. Tholpady SS, Costa MA, Matt B, Socas J, Haddad I, Flores, R. Successful neonatal mandibular distraction osteogenesis in patients with concomitant laryngomalacia.   American Cleft Palate – Craniofacial Association. Indianapolis, IN; 2014.
13. Costa MA, Murage K, Tu M, Friel M, Havlik R, Tholpady S, Flores, RL. Robin sequence: Redefining treatment recommendations through evidence based outcomes. JK Berman Annual Resident Research Day. Indianapolis, IN; 2014.
14. Tholpady SS, Costa MA, Matt B, Socas J, Haddad I, Flores, R. Successful neonatal mandibular distraction osteogenesis in patients with concomitant laryngomalacia. Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons.  White Sulphur Springs, WV; 2014.
15. Costa MA, Murage KP, Tholpady SS, Flores, RL. Airway compromise following palatoplasty in Robin Sequence: improving safety and predicability. American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Chicago, IL; 2014.
16. Tholpady SS, Costa MA, Matt B, Socas J, Haddad I, Flores, R. Successful neonatal mandibular distraction osteogenesis in patients with concomitant laryngomalacia. American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Chicago, IL; 2014.
17. Costa MA, Tholpady S, et al. Predicting Failure of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis for Infants with Robin Sequence: A Bi-Institutional Study. American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association,Palm Springs, CA; 2014.

Poster Presentations

1. Costa MA, Nguyen J et al. Does type of immediate breast reconstruction affect surgical site infection? American Association of Plastic Surgeons, Boca Raton, Florida; 2011.
   Advisor: Alex Wong, M.D.
2. Murage KP, Costa MA et al. Outcomes analysis of mandibular distraction osteogenesis in Robin sequence. International Society of Craniofacial Surgery. Jackson Hole, Wyoming; 2013. Advisor: Roberto Flores, M.D.
3. Costa MA, Tholpady S, et al. Predicting Failure of Mandibular Distraction Osteogenesis for Infants with Robin Sequence: A Bi-Institutional Study. American Association of Plastic Surgeons. 2014. Advisor: Roberto Flores, M.D.
4. Costa MA, Ackerman L, et al. Cranial Vault Expansion in the Setting of Multisutural Craniosynostosis and Anomalous Venous Drainage: A Method of Avoiding Intracranial Venous Hypertension. American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association, Palm Springs, CA; 2014.

Education

• ^{2013 – 2014} Fellow in Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery
  Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
  Director: Roberto L. Flores, MD
• ^{2012 – 2013} Fellow in Global Health Pediatric Plastic Surgery
  Shriners Hospital for Children, Los Angeles
  University Of Southern California, Los Angeles
  Director: William P. Magee III, MD, DDS
• ^{2009 – 2012} Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  University of Southern California
  Resident in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• ^{2006 – 2009} Department of Surgery
  University Of Southern California
  Intern, Resident in General Surgery
• ^{2001 – 2006} University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  Doctor of Medicine
• ^{1996 – 2000} University of Pennsylvania
  Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
  Major: Biological Basis of Behavior, Minor: Fine Arts
  Magna Cum Laude
  Honors Distinction in Major