Professor & Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery Chief, Surgical Services, VA New Jersey Health Care System Director, Lymphedema Program, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) 140 Bergen Street Room E level Newark, NJ 07103 Phone: (973) 972-0221 Fax: (973) 972-0006
Additional Links:
Medical Expertise
Plastic Surgery
Oncologic Reconstruction
Breast Reconstruction
Lymphedema Surgery
Aesthetic Surgery
Hospital Affiliation
University Hospital, Newark
Insurance Participation
Insurance Participation: with Provider Number (where applicable) The information below is subject to change and should not be relied upon until after
it is verified with the insurance company. In addition, psychiatric providers should
be contacted directly for information on their participation with managed care and
insurance companies.
Dr. Alex Wong is a nationally renowned plastic surgeon specializing in complex reconstructive surgery,
including microsurgery. He has more than 15 years of advanced experience treating patients with challenging
defects and complex wounds caused by a broad range of conditions, with particular expertise in
reconstruction following cancer treatment and trauma. His clinical practice focuses on complex breast
reconstruction, lymphatic surgery, and the treatment of difficult wounds. He is committed to restoring form,
function, mobility, comfort, and quality of life for patients facing the physical consequences of cancer, surgery,
radiation, trauma, and other causes of significant tissue loss or injury.
Dr. Wong develops individualized reconstructive plans tailored to each patient's goals, anatomy, prior
treatment, and healing capacity. He works closely with multidisciplinary teams to guide patients through
complex care before, during, and after cancer treatment. The clinical challenges he encounters in practice
directly inform the central questions of his laboratory and translational research program.
As an NIH-funded scientist and educator, Dr. Wong leads a research program focused on the fundamental
biology and therapeutic potential of tissue regeneration. The Wong Laboratory investigates mechanisms and
therapies to stimulate lymphatic growth and tissue regeneration after injury from surgery and/or radiation
therapy. By studying interactions among blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, inflammation, biomaterials, and the
wound environment, his team seeks to develop treatments that enhance tissue repair, prevent long-term
complications, and improve patients' quality of life.
In addition to his clinical, research, and educational roles, Dr. Wong serves in key administrative leadership
positions, including Chief of Surgery at the VA, Vice Chair in the Department of Surgery, and Associate Director
of the MD/PhD Program.
Education
MD, 2002, Harvard Medical School, Division of Health and Sciences & Technology
Licensure & Certification
Medical Licensure New Jersey
Certification American Board of Plastic Surgery - Plastic Surgery
Relevant Publications
Shah P, Pillari B, Margiotta N, Devisetti N, Wong AK. Efficacy of vascularized lymph node transfer for lower
extremity lymphedema: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 395 patients from 25 peer-reviewed studies.
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 2026;116:131'147. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2026.03.005.
Bokman CL, Yu RP, Davuluru S, et al., Wong AK, Hong YK, Zhang-Nunes SX. Association of decreased
lymphatic vessel density with postoperative eyelid edema. Frontiers in Ophthalmology. 2026;7:1689146.
doi:10.3389/fopht.2025.1689146.
Phondge V, Dornbrand-Lo M, Deshpande P, Wong AK. Beyond swelling: A review of postoperative
lymphedema in aesthetic surgery. Lymphatics. 2025;3:326.
Deshpande P, Dornbrand-Lo M, Phondge V, Kelly P, Wong AK. Tissue engineering approaches for
lymphedema: Biomaterial innovations and clinical potential. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology.
2025;13:1537050.
Deshpande P, Phondge V, Wong AK, Granick MS. The effectiveness of currently available synthetic skin
therapies. Surgical Technology International. 2025;45:sti451837. doi:10.52198/25.STI.45.WH1837.
Syed-Abdul MM, Tian L, Samuel T, Wong A, Hong YK, Dacosta RS, Lewis GF. Glucagon-like peptide-2
stimulates lacteal contractility and enhances chylomicron transport in the presence of an intact enteric
nervous system. Gastroenterology & Hepatology Advances. 2024;3:954'964.
doi:10.1016/j.gastha.2024.06.009.
McGraw JR, Sulkar RS, Amro C, et al., Wong AK, Kovach SJ III, Matros E, Azoury SC. Analysis of the
microsurgery fellowship match: 2019'2022 update. Microsurgery. 2024;44:e31217. doi:10.1002/micr.31217.
Sung C, Wang J, Chang J, Wong AK. Review of treatment strategies after lymphadenectomy: From molecular
therapeutics to immediate microsurgical lymphatic reconstruction. Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and
Lymphatic Disorders. 2024;12:101844. doi:10.1016/j.jvsv.2024.101844.
Swerdlow M, Vangsness KL, Kress GT, Georgescu A, Wong AK, Carr AL. Determining accurate dye
combinations for sentinel lymph node detection: A systematic review. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Global Open. 2024;12:e5598. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000005598.
