SUMMARY
The research of Basel A. Sharaf, M.D., D.D.S. focuses on enhancing functional and aesthetic outcomes through innovative approaches in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Sharaf's work seamlessly integrates advanced technology with personalized care, spanning multiple domains. These domains include facial surgery, breast and body contouring, and craniomaxillofacial reconstruction.
By leveraging virtual surgical planning (VSP) and 3D printing, Dr. Sharaf seeks to develop patient solutions driven by artificial intelligence (AI) to improve surgical precision, optimize patient outcomes and elevate the standard of patient-centered care.
Watch Mayo Clinic's documentary about 3D printing, Pursuing Possible, to learn more.
Focus areas
- Aesthetic breast and body contouring. Dr. Sharaf leads clinical trials and research studies to compare various surgical techniques for breast surgery and body contouring. He focuses on achieving aesthetically natural and lasting results. His research also investigates the use of innovative drug modalities such as tranexamic acid to reduce postoperative complications and liposomal bupivacaine to optimize pain management and enhance patient comfort during recovery. These studies aim to refine surgical protocols, improve patient outcomes, and advance the standard of care in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.
- Craniomaxillofacial reconstruction. Dr. Sharaf developed Expedited Preoperative Point-of-Care Reduction of Fractures to Normalized Anatomy and Three-Dimensional Printing to Improve Surgical Outcomes, also known as EPPOCRATIS. This novel approach brings virtual planning and 3D printing to the forefront in facial fractures treatment, with the goal of added precision. Dr. Sharaf's research emphasizes personalized treatment plans and surgical rehearsals, allowing multidisciplinary teams to optimize patients' outcomes and engagement through preoperative surgical planning and patient-specific 3D models.
- Facial aging and gender dimorphism. Through a grant-funded project supported by the Dalio Foundation and Mayo Clinic's Center for Digital Health, Dr. Sharaf employs AI-assisted statistical shape modeling to assess how facial bones differ between men and women and among different ethnicities, as well as how these bones differ throughout life with aging. The goal is to develop AI-assisted facial surgical solutions that are customized to a patient's gender, age and ethnicity.
- Precision surgery innovation. Dr. Sharaf leads efforts to develop innovative solutions for surgical navigation for facial and brain surgery. These solutions seek to make craniofacial and intracranial stereotactic surgeries more accurate. A U.S. patent has been filed for this technology.
- Surgical education and training. Dr. Sharaf developed innovative approaches to teaching facial surgical anatomy. Research in facial anatomy focuses on using 3D photogrammetry to create detailed digital models from anatomic specimens, equipping trainees with the skills needed for advanced surgical procedures.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Sharaf's research makes patient care better by using advanced technologies such as 3D modeling, VSP, and AI to make surgeries more precise and personalized. For patients, this means fewer surgical errors, faster recoveries and better results.
Dr. Sharaf's work in gender-affirming surgeries helps align how patients look with their identities, improving their mental well-being. In facial reconstruction, these innovations restore function and appearance. These surgeries also give patients confidence and a better quality of life. Dr. Sharaf's goal is to ensure every surgery is safe, efficient and tailored to the needs of each patient.
Professional highlights
- Associate director, Neural Engineering and Precision Surgery Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, 2024-present.
- Course director, Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course, 2023-present.
- Member, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, 2021-present.
- Practice chair, Center for Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 2021-present.
- Medical director, Plastic Surgery inpatient units, Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester, Saint Marys Campus, 2015-present.
- Top Doctor, Minnesota Monthly, 2021-2024.
- Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning Award, Mayo Clinic Center for Digital Health in partnership with Mayo Clinic Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity with support from Dalio Philanthropies, 2023.
- Award of Distinction for Mendelson Advanced Facial Anatomy Course, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, 2023.