Dr. Diego Pereira, _{MD., FRCSC.}

Dr. Diego Pereira joined The Plastic Surgery Clinic in 2024 upon completing his fellowship under the direction of Dr. Jamil Ahmad. His extensive training with the surgeons at the clinic means that his surgical technique allows him to achieve natural looking results across the multiple procedures he performs including breast surgery, abdominoplasty, body contouring after weight loss, liposuction and fat transfer, and hand rejuvenation.

Dr. Pereira was first trained in his native country Brazil, where he acquired his MD from the University of Sao Paulo, School of Medicine, followed by a residency in general surgery. Upon receiving his medical degree, Dr. Pereira pursued three years of a Plastic Surgery Residency program, in conjunction with an MBA which he completed in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

Within this period, he also found the time to complete a Breast Reconstruction Fellowship at his alma mater, the University of Sao Paulo, School of Medicine. Between 2018 and 2023, Dr. Pereira completed yet another Plastic Surgery Residency, this time at the University of Ottawa, before embarking on an Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship here at the clinic.

During his extensive academic career, Dr. Pereira received various accolades. In 2009 he was the recipient of the Edmundo Vasconcelos Award for best performance in the surgical disciplines. His publications have also garnered him some notoriety with the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery residents. His paper on using a hemi-abdominal flap in Breast Reconstruction surgery granted him the Antonio Prudente Award.

During his UOttawa days, his writings on lymphatic reconstruction, and the quality of surgery-reporting respectively won Best Research Project at the Dr. Stan Labow Resident Research Day presentations (a distinction he received two years in a row). His paper on lymphovenous bypass won the Graeme Barber Award also at the University of Ottawa, where he was most recently named Best Resident Teacher.

As a diligent academic and researcher, Dr. Pereira has numerous publications pertaining to plastic surgery techniques, post-operative healing, breast reconstruction, and health administration, to name a few. His work can be found in an array of reputable journals such as, but not limited to: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Annals of Surgery, International Journal of Colorectal Disease, and the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery.

He has also presented scientific lectures at both national and international meetings across North America, including at the Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (CSAPS), the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). He’s also presented findings during many conferences held by the University of Ottawa such as during the Dr. Stan Labow Resident Research Day and Collins Surgical Day.

Having been appointed Chief Resident in 2021, after serving as a resident representative, Dr. Pereira has experience in advocacy for patients and providers alike. He has extensively analyzed reporting guidelines, quality improvement initiatives, and surgical protocol. It helps that he has a business administration background to ground his work in the industry.

Dr. Pereira has built connections across hospital networks within Canada, giving him a wider breadth of professional development opportunities and referral sources. During his fellowship at The Plastic Surgery Clinic, Dr. Pereira also worked as a clinical associate at the University Health Network (UHN) and St. Michael’s Hospital where he completed hand surgeries and general plastic surgery.

Dr. Pereira’s aesthetic surgery experience and research has focused on breast reconstruction, breast reduction, abdominoplasty, pain management, post-operative healing, and quality assurance. He works alongside Drs. Lista, Ahmad, and Austin to advance the practice of aesthetic plastic surgery through continued research.

Dr. Pereira sits on the Brazilian Medical Council, and is certified by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. He completed equivalency examinations and currently sits on The Medical Council of Canada. He is also certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and The American Board of Plastic Surgery