Dr. Natalia Ziolkowski
_{MD, PhD, FRCSC}

Dr. Natalia Ziolkowski is a board-certified plastic surgeon whose approach to aesthetic surgery combines clinical excellence, scientific rigour, and a genuine commitment to patient care. Known for her calm, thoughtful demeanour and compassionate approach, Dr. Ziolkowski believes that exceptional surgical care begins with listening. She takes the time to understand each patient’s individual goals and concerns and is committed to achieving natural-looking results that reflect the person behind the procedure.

Dr. Ziolkowski completed her residency in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Toronto, one of the largest plastic surgery training programs in North America. During her training, she served in multiple Chief Resident roles across several of Toronto’s leading hospitals and completed dedicated training in aesthetic surgery. She was awarded the Neville and Vivienne Poy Fund in Aesthetic Surgery, a scholarship providing advanced training opportunities in aesthetic surgery to senior residents at the University of Toronto.

Her clinical and academic accomplishments have been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions. Most notably, Dr. Ziolkowski was the recipient of the prestigious Dr. A. Ross Tilley Foundation Scholarship, a national award presented through the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons to a graduating plastic surgery resident committed to practising in Canada who exemplifies the humanitarian, clinical, and academic standards established by Dr. Tilley. She was also awarded the Hugh G. Thompson Humanitarian Award, recognizing a trainee who demonstrates a commitment to humanitarianism, collegiality, honesty, generosity, and mentorship.

Alongside her clinical training, Dr. Ziolkowski pursued an extensive career in research. She completed a PhD at the University of Toronto through the Surgeon Scientist Training Program and Clinician Investigator Program. Her doctoral research focused on SCAR-Q, a patient-reported outcome measure developed to better understand the experiences and outcomes of children and adults living with surgical, traumatic, and burn scars. Her work reflects a longstanding interest in not only how surgery is performed, but how patients experience its results.

Dr. Ziolkowski has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed publications spanning plastic and reconstructive surgery, aesthetic surgery, breast reconstruction, scars, burns, surgical outcomes, and patient care. Her research has appeared in leading medical journals including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Burns, and BMJ Open. She has presented her research at national and international scientific meetings and has served as a peer reviewer for both Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Following her residency, Dr. Ziolkowski expanded her surgical experience internationally as a Western Australia Burn Fellow at Fiona Stanley Hospital State Burns Unit and Perth Children’s Hospital Pediatric State Burns Unit. She subsequently returned to Canada, where she serves as an Academic Burn Surgeon at Hamilton Health Sciences and an Assistant Professor at McMaster University. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Teaching, mentorship, and advocacy have also been important throughout Dr. Ziolkowski’s career. She has taught and mentored medical students and surgical residents, served on numerous committees within the University of Toronto’s Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, and was elected by her peers as a Resident Wellness Champion, helping to establish the program’s first formal surgical residency wellness curriculum. For many years, she also volunteered with burn survivorship and burn prevention initiatives through The Hospital for Sick Children.

Dr. Ziolkowski’s relationship with The Plastic Surgery Clinic began before joining the practice as a permanent member of its surgical team. She previously worked at the clinic as a locum staff physician, giving her firsthand experience with its approach to aesthetic surgery and patient care. Today, she brings to the clinic a dynamic combination of accomplished surgical training, academic curiosity, and warmth. For Dr. Ziolkowski, the best surgical result is one that begins with trust, respects the individuality of each patient, and helps them feel confident in the care they receive.