Dr. Vasile

Dr. Julie Vasile is an ABPS board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive training in microsurgical breast reconstruction. She has operative privileges at Northern Westchester Hospital, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, and New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital.

Dr. Vasile graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with the highest Summa Cum Laude honor and 4.0 GPA. She was inducted into the Order of Omega Honor Society. During her studies in college and medical school, Dr. Vasile conducted basic laboratory research in the S.A. Localio General Surgical Laboratory at NYU Medical Center. The research was on the angiogenesis (vascular supply) of colon cancer cells. Dr. Julie Vasile received her doctor of medicine degree from Albany Medical College, where she was inducted into the prestigious honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha, and received the W. Brandon Macomber Honorary Award for achievement, proficiency, interest, and potential in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Skill And Excellence Through Training

Dr. Vasile completed a broad, five year general surgical training program at Montefiore Medical Center, Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein Weiler Medical Center, and North Central Bronx Hospital in Bronx, New York. Dr. Julie Vasile was a chief resident in general surgery during the last year of training and was entrusted to additional duties as co-administrative chief resident. The general surgery training program resulted in presentations on biliary abnormalities and lead to a publication in the Obesity Surgery journal. 

Dr. Julie Vasile completed an additional residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery with the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group at Nassau University Medical Center, North Shore University Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Winthrop University Hospital, Southside Hospital, and DayOp Ambulatory Surgical Center. Dr. Vasile was a chief resident in plastic and reconstructive surgery during the last year of training, and again was entrusted to additional duties as co-administrative chief resident. The plastic and reconstructive training program lead to a presentation on the use of allograft in reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery to plastic surgeons in Beijing, China, a presentation on different surgical techniques and outcomes with the umbilicus (belly button) during abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedures to plastic surgeons at the Long Island Annual Clinic Day, and a presentation on the treatment of the lower lip in facial paralysis to plastic surgeons at the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, and New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Julie Vasile completed a full year of fellowship training in microsurgical perforator flap breast reconstruction at the Center for Advancement of Breast Reconstruction at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai with Dr. Joshua L. Levine and Dr. Robert J. Allen.

Dr. Julie Vasile is passionate about perforator flap breast reconstruction surgery. Perforator flap breast reconstruction is a surgical technique that allows for autologous (your own skin and fat) reconstruction without harming the muscle. Her training and continued interest to keep abreast of surgical advances has resulted in operative experience with the following flaps: deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP), superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA), superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP), inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP), transverse upper gracilis (TUG), transverse upper thigh perforator (TUT), intercostal artery perforator (ICAP), thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP), deep femoral artery perforator (DFAP), profunda artery perforator (PAP), lateral thigh flap (LTP), and lumbar artery perforator (LAP) flaps.

Research and Innovation

Dr. Vasile is an editor of the Perforator Flaps for Breast Reconstruction book, and authors of book chapters, journal articles, and presentations related to breast reconstruction using the perforator flap technique (click curriculum vitae to see more.)

Dr. Julie Vasile is considered a world authority on using MRA imaging for perforator flap breast reconstruction. Dr. Vasile’s research created protocols for using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to accurately map out the small vessels in donor site tissue (abdomen, buttock, thigh, and lateral thorax), thus identifying the best vessel and tissue to use for microsurgical breast flap reconstruction. She started the first MRA perforator flap program that accurately and simultaneously mapped out non-abdominal and abdominal tissue with radiologist Dr. Prince in 2008 at Weill Cornell.

Advance knowledge of the best vessel to use can help the surgeon identify suitable patients for perforator flap breast reconstruction and can shorten the operating time. In contrast with other imaging modalities, MRA does not expose patients to radiation. This continuing research collaboration is an effort to improve efficiency and safety for the procedure.

Dr. Julie Vasile recently authored a peer reviewed journal article on double or stacked breast flaps. Stacked or double flaps are when two flaps are used to make one breast. Dr. Vasile has tremendous and successful experience with stacked DIEP flaps for reconstruction of one breast to match the volume of the other breast, and with double flaps in both breasts (four flap breast reconstruction.)

An extended DIEP flap 4 flap procedure uses the standard DIEP flap along with the fat on the sides of the abdomen (DCIP flap). It allows the creation of two breasts using the abdominal tissue and sides of the abdomen to meet reconstruction volume and tissue requirements. This is a technically more complicated procedure, but can reliably provide adequate volume in one stage. Double flaps can be a powerful reconstruction tool in the right patient.

The world's first 6 flap procedure that used the front, sides, and lower back fat was done at Northern Westchester Hospital in February 2017 to successfully yield enough tissue for reconstruction of two breasts in a very thin woman. The world's second 6 flap procedure was done again with the same team at Northern Westchester Hospital.

Preoperative MRA information, attention to details, minimizing risk with a thorough preoperative consultation, nursing team dedicated to breast flap reconstruction, two surgeon team of which each surgeon fellowship trained specifically in perforator flap breast reconstruction are some of the factors that has led to her excellent patient outcomes.

Successful Outcomes

Dr. Vasile started the perforator flap breast reconstruction program at Northern Westchester Hospital, Mt. Kisco, NY in 2011. From 2011 to 2018, she has a 0.5% flap fail rate in Westchester, NY.

Prior to Northern Westchester Hospital, Dr. Vasile started a perforator flap breast reconstruction program at Stamford Hospital. Dr. Vasile had a 0% flap failure rate in Stamford, CT, from 2009 to 2010.

An interest of Dr Vasile’s is in lymph node transfer for the possible improvement in lymphedema (arm swelling after axillary node dissection or congenital leg swelling). The lymph node transfer can be done in conjunction with a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) or superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap procedure for breast reconstruction; or the lymph node can be transferred microsurgically on its own blood supply to the site of lymphedema.

Our Practice

Dr. Vasile’s private offices are located in Stamford, Connecticut, New York City and New Windsor, NY. Appointments may also be scheduled at the Breast Institute of Northern Westchester Hospital, Mt. Kisco NY and in New Windsor, NY. Please click here Office Location for more information on the physical office location.

During the consultation, your desires will be attentively listened to. You can expect that the consultation will be very informative, enabling you to make educated decisions regarding achieving your goals. Our goal is to work with you to restore your form and self-confidence. We recognize the courage and inner strength needed to seek out a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and we will do our best to make it a positive experience.

If you are not located near the hospital, we can help you arrange accommodations nearby. If you qualify, we can help you apply for a grant to assist with transportation costs and can direct you to reduced rate lodging.

Insurance companies are mandated by a federal law to provide patients with breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. This includes microsurgical perforator flap breast reconstruction procedures. Surgical procedures to make an unoperated breast more symmetrical with the reconstructed breast are also covered. Dr. Vasile is an out of network provider with insurance carriers. Our billing coordinator has experience with different insurance carriers and can answer questions regarding coverage.

Dr. Vasile performs perforator flap microsurgical breast reconstruction as a team, with another reconstructive surgeon that is also fellowship trained in perforator flap breast reconstruction. Dr. Vasile works with Dr. Joshua Levine, whose practice is also solely dedicated to breast reconstruction using a patient's own tissue with perforator flaps.