Women’s College Hospital is an academic ambulatory hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. The Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery provides residents and fellows with training in congenital and developmental breast differences, breast reconstruction, gender-affirming surgery and aesthetic surgery, with an emphasis on patient-centred care, surgical decision-making and progressive operative independence.
Address
Women’s College Hospital
76 Grenville St.
Toronto, ON M5S 1B1
Phone
(416) 323-6400
Website
Clinical and Surgical Education
Residents gain experience in immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, including tissue expander and implant-based reconstruction, direct-to-implant reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix, and pedicled flaps. A distinctive aspect of the rotation is exposure to risk-reducing (prophylactic) mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction for patients at high risk of breast cancer. This experience is closely integrated with Women’s College Hospital’s high-risk breast clinic and research program, providing opportunities to learn about hereditary cancer risk, multidisciplinary care and shared decision-making around preventive surgery and reconstruction.
Training also includes correction of congenital and developmental breast differences, breast reduction, mastopexy, breast augmentation and revision surgery.
Gender-affirming surgery is a core component of the educational experience. Through the multidisciplinary Transition-Related Surgery Program, residents develop skills in consultation, shared decision-making, operative planning and postoperative care for transgender and gender-diverse patients. Surgical training includes masculinizing chest surgery and feminizing breast surgery using a range of techniques, with opportunities for exposure to genital gender-affirming surgery through collaboration with the broader surgical team.
Residents also receive training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body with Women’s College Hospital faculty, both on site and in private clinics.
Teaching and Research
The rotation emphasizes continuity of care, from initial consultation through surgery and follow-up, alongside the principles of safe ambulatory surgery. Residents learn within an interdisciplinary team and develop skills in inclusive communication, informed consent and the ethical dimensions of reconstructive and aesthetic care.
Teaching includes didactic sessions, case-based discussions and supervised operative experience. Residents and fellows have opportunities to participate in research and quality improvement in breast reconstruction, gender-affirming surgery and aesthetic surgery, including patient-reported outcomes, surgical outcomes and equitable access to care.
