Mark W. Clemens

About

Dr. Mark W. Clemens is a pioneering plastic surgeon whose research centers on advancing reconstructive breast surgery through robotic-assisted techniques. His major contributions lie in developing and validating the robotic-assisted latissimus dorsi harvest (RALDH), a minimally invasive alternative to the traditional open approach that eliminates the need for a back incision. Clemens’ landmark 2014 paper (81 citations) established RALDH as a viable option for delayed-immediate breast reconstruction in radiated patients, while his 2020 comparative study (42 citations) demonstrated that the robotic approach reduces donor-site complications and opioid requirements. Most notably, he led the first prospective FDA investigational device exemption study for robotic plastic surgery (2022, 11 citations), a pivotal achievement that earned FDA 510(k) clearance for robotic-assisted latissimus dorsi harvest—marking a historic milestone as the first FDA-approved indication for robotic plastic surgery. With over 130 combined citations across these key works, Clemens has fundamentally shifted the paradigm in reconstructive microsurgery, offering patients less invasive options with improved recovery. His work continues to shape the future of robotic applications in plastic surgery.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Robotic-Assisted Latissimus Dorsi Harvest in Delayed-Immediate Breast Reconstruction

   81 citations · 2014
2. 2
   Comparing Outcomes of Robotically Assisted Latissimus Dorsi Harvest to the Traditional Open Approach in Breast Reconstruction

   42 citations · 2020
3. 3
   Prospective Pilot Study of Robotic-Assisted Harvest of the Latissimus Dorsi Muscle: A 510(k) Approval Study with U.S. Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemption

   11 citations · 2022

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links