Sonia Kukreja-Pandey, MD

Specialty: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Department of Head & Neck/Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

 Request an Appointment

Cancers Treated:

Specializing In:

  • Lymphatic surgery
  • Microvascular surgery
  • Breast reconstruction: implant-based and autologous
  • Skin cancer-related MOHS defects reconstruction
  • Soft tissue sarcoma-related extremities reconstruction

Research Interests:

  • Head and neck lymphedema
  • Lymphedema in the extremities

Biography

I grew up and trained in India, practiced as a Plastic Surgeon in Namibia for a decade and then undertook  specialized reconstructive surgery fellowship trainings in the US, particularly from Vanderbilt University and Cleveland Clinic.

Being trained in general plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, microsurgery, and lymphatic surgery,  I draw from a wide toolbox and work closely with other specialists to ensure each patient receives coordinated, and thoughtful reconstruction. Training and practice across different countries and cultures has shaped my appreciation for each patient’s unique background and priorities. My approach is centered on understanding each patient’s goals, providing evidence based solutions, simplifying complex reconstructive options and tailoring them to individual needs.

A cancer diagnosis marks the beginning of a complex and often overwhelming journey. While eliminating cancer is the most critical milestone, achieving long-term quality of life afterwards is equally important. As a reconstructive plastic surgeon in a cancer center,  I see myself as a problem-solver—at times a “plumber,” a “hole-plugger,” or a builder—working to preserve or restore form and function affected by cancer surgery or radiation.

My special expertise lies in the prevention and treatment of lymphedema through lymphatic surgery and I am fortunate to have an excellent team of lymphedema therapists here for optimizing patient outcomes.

Positions

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

  • Assistant Professor of Oncology
  • Department of Head & Neck/Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Background

Education and Training

  • 1996-2003 - MD - Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

Residency

  • 2007-2010 - Plastic Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
  • 2003-2006 - General Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India

Fellowship

  • 2023-2024 -Lymphatic Supermicrosurgery Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
  • 2022-2023 - Lymphedema research- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
  • 2021-2022 - Craniofacial Surgery fellowship- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
  • 2020-2021 - Microsurgery research lab - Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
  • 2016 - Microsurgery fellowship (J&J), Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, India
  • 2012 - Facial Plastic Surgery fellowship (DAFPRS), Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Board Certification

  • Medical Council of India
  • Health Professional Council of Namibia

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery
  • Association of Plastic Surgeons of India

Publications

  Full Publications list on PubMed

Kukreja-Pandey S, Ozmen BB, Schwarz GS. Robotic-Assisted Lymphatic Supermicrosurgery for Breast Lymphedema-A Case Report and Literature Review. Ann Plast Surg. 2025 Jul 1;95(1):105-110. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000004364. Epub 2025 Apr 29. PMID: 40298892; PMCID: PMC12321348.

Pandey SK, Fahradyan V, Orfahli LM, Chen WF. Supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis vs. vascularized lymph vessel transplant - technical optimization and when to perform which. Plast Aesthet Res. 2021;8:47. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2021.61

Kukreja-Pandey S, Gaxiola-Garcia MA, Moheeputh N, Chen WF. Current and Future Implications of Lymphedema Surgery in Head and Neck Reconstruction. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2024 Nov;36(4):567-574. doi: 10.1016/j.coms.2024.07.007. Epub 2024 Aug 31. PMID: 39217087.

Xie, Qingping MD; Louveau, Antoine PhD; Pandey, Sonia MD; Zeng, Weifeng MD; Chen, Wei F. MD. Rewiring the Brain: The Next Frontier in Supermicrosurgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 153(2):p 494e-495e, February 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010933

Chen WF, Pandey SK, Lensing JN. Does Liposuction for Lymphedema Worsen Lymphatic Injury? Lymphology. 2023;56(1):3-12. PMID: 38019875.