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Dr. Sunishka Wimalawansa

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Meet Dr. Wimalawansa

Sunishka Wimalawansa, MD, MBA

Dr. Sunishka Wimalawansa is a board-certified plastic surgeon, with additional specialized fellowship training in Hand and Microsurgery. He specializes in cosmetic rejuvenation, cancer reconstruction (skin cancer, and complex oncologic reconstructions), hand and upper extremity surgery (including complex limb salvage), peripheral nerve surgery, and microsurgical reconstruction.


He brings an abundance of talent and expertise to the medical team serving Ohio's Greater Dayton area.


This gifted surgeon is dedicated to providing personalized care to his patients and is well-known for his expertise in reconstructive surgery following traumatic limb amputations and cancer treatment.


He also specializes in a new field of microsurgery—Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)—which aims to help amputees treat painful nerve and phantom limb symptoms often seen after a major amputation.


More of Dr. Wimalawansa's specialties include the following:

  1. Hand surgery, which involves surgical procedures performed on the hand and wrist to treat a wide range of conditions, from injuries and congenital deformities to degenerative diseases, with the goal of restoring hand function and aesthetics.
  2. Peripheral nerve surgery focuses on treating conditions and injuries involving the peripheral nervous system, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or nerve entrapment, through surgical interventions to alleviate pain and restore nerve function.
  3. Mangled limb salvage reconstruction surgery is a complex procedure designed to save and reconstruct severely damaged or mangled limbs, often resulting from traumatic accidents, aiming to restore limb functionality and appearance.
  4. Workers' comp surgery, or surgery related to workers' compensation, refers to medical procedures provided to injured workers to help them recover from work-related injuries, with the goal of returning them to their jobs safely and efficiently.
Contact Us

Congratulations to Dr. Wimalawansa Voted Top Hand Surgeon in Dayton 2021 from Dayton Magazine!

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Education

Dr. Wimalawansa received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his residency programs in General and Plastic surgery at Ohio’s distinguished Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. His educational resume includes:


He is certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with the additional subspecialty certification of added qualifications in hand and upper extremity surgery. He specializes in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the extremities, face, breast, and body.


As an Assistant Professor at Wright State University, he continues his passion for education while training the next generation of Plastic Surgeons.

Specialties

He uses the most advanced technology and techniques available to provide the most successful outcomes possible for his patients. Dr. Wimalawansa uses his extensive surgical skills to focus on restoring both the cosmetic appearance and the function of body structures damaged by congenital defects, disease, and trauma.


He applies his perfectionist nature to everything he does from cosmetic aesthetics to reconstructive surgery. His patients know they can rely on Dr. Wimalawansa’s warm and caring nature to help ease their anxiety during office visits and surgical procedures, and know they are in good hands.


Call 937-949-8457 to request an appointment with Dr. Wimalawansa.

Publications

1.    Guest Journal Editors: Kadakia SP, Wimalawansa SM. Special Edition: Complications in Head and Neck Reconstruction. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. February 9, 2023; 37(1):1-82. PMID: 36776803.

 

2.    Pak K, Anderson SR, Langenfeld T, Tan K, Slijepcevic A, Wimalawansa SM, Ducic Y, Wax M, Kadakia SP. Microvascular head and neck reconstruction with an autologous arteriovenous loop: multicenter series of 36 patients. Head & Neck.  May 2023; 45(5):1237-1243. PMID: 36891641.

 

3.    Anderson SR, Spitz HC, Williams MK, Wimalawansa SM. Reconstructing a chronic, malunited Galeazzi fracture with distal radial ulnar joint instability: a simple, modified technique. BMJ Case Reports. November 2, 2022; 15(11):e250484. PMID: 36323448.

 

4.    Anderson SR, Wimalawansa SM, Lans J, Eberlin KR, Valerio IL. Targeted muscle reinnervation of the brachial plexus region: a cadaveric and clinical study. Orthoplastic Surgery.  September 2, 2022; 9: 116-121. PMID: pending.

 

5.    Anderson SR, Vincent JA, Wimalawansa SM. Multi-staged management of a mangled, exploded-hand crush injury with long-term outcome: the critical link between surgery and therapy. BMJ Case Reports.  May 20, 2022; 15(5):e248429. PMID: 35606023.

 

6.    Bashorun OH, Anderson SR, Mulenga CM, Wimalawansa SM. Multiple simultaneous venous flow-through free flap salvage for multi-finger revascularizations. BMJ Case Reports. March 4, 2022; 15(3):e247413. PMID: 35246436.

 

7.    Anderson SR, Harrison LM, Wimalawansa SM. Treatment of painful snapping extensor pollicis longus tendon subluxation: description of technique. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery – Case Connector. March 25, 2021; 11(1). PMID: 33764926.

 

8.    Parrish AJ, Anderson SR, Mulenga MA, Wimalawansa SM, Kadakia SP. Revisiting the cervicodeltopectoral flap for reconstruction of cutaneous head & neck defects: technique description and case correlates. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. April 1, 2021; 33(2):669-671. PMID: 34292242.

 

9.    Wimalawansa SM, Lygrisse D, Anderson SR, Eberlin KR, Westenberg R, Schultz S, West J, Valerio IL. Targeted muscle reinnervation in partial hand amputations. Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Online. May 28, 2021; 9(5):e3542. PMID: 34881140.

 

10.    Anderson SR, Harrison LM, Garret CC, Wimalawansa SM, Kadakia SP. Potential Complications with Cryo-Preserved Cadaveric Veins in Arteriovenous Loop Formation for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. Jan 7, 2021; 32(5):1874-1876. 10.1097/SCS.0000000000007413. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33427784.

 

11.    Anderson SR, Rako KM, Wimalawansa SM. Reconstructing complex open back wounds with a modified minimal-access keystone flap. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery – Case Connector. December 24, 2020; 10(4):e20.00128. PMID: 33449550.

 

12.    Guest Journal Editors: Kadakia SP, Wimalawansa SM. Special Edition: Technological advances in head and neck reconstruction. Facial Plastic Surgery. December 24, 2020; 36(6):679-680. PMID: 33368120.

 

13.    Anderson SR, Wimalawansa SM, Roubaud MS, Mericli AF, Horne BR, Valerio IL. Targeted muscle reinnervation following external hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation: an anatomic description of technique and clinical case correlates. Journal of Surgical Oncology. Sept 3, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/jso.26189. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32885434.

 

14.    Anderson SR, Scott BA, Harrison LM, Wimalawansa SM, Kadakia SP. Common carotid-to-internal jugular arteriovenous loop for single-stage microsurgical reconstruction in the vessel-depleted neck: description of technique and clinical case correlates. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. Aug 28, 2020; 32(2):711-715. DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000006953. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32868729.

 

15.    Book chapter: Parrish AJ, Scott BA, Wimalawansa SM, Kadakia SP. Management of deep soft tissue injuries of the face. Medical and Surgical Management of Facial, Orbital, and Eyelid Trauma. Publisher: Springer. Accepted for publication (pending press): July 26, 2020.

 

16.    Anderson SR, Wimalawansa SM, Markov NP, Fox JP. Cannabis abuse or dependence and post-operative outcomes after appendectomy and cholecystectomy: a propensity score-matched analysis. Journal of Surgical Research. 2020; 255:233-239. PMID: 32570125.

 

17.    Metoyer GT, Anderson SR, Horne BR, Mancho SN, Wimalawansa SM. Preserving the knee in the setting of high segmental tibial bone and massive soft tissue loss using vascularized distal tibial bone docking and a foot fillet flap: a case report. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Case Connector. 2020;10(2):e0496. PMID: 32649142.

 

18.    Harrison LM, Anderson SR, Wimalawansa SM. Case Report: Outcome of Early Motion Protocol for Total Hand Replantation, One and Two Year Postoperative Results. Journal of Hand and Microsurgery. 2019; 00:1-5. PMID: 33335378.

 

19.    Schneider A, Srinivas M, Hijji F, Jerkins D, Wimalawansa SM. Anatomic Considerations and Reconstruction of the Thumb Flexor Pulley System. Techniques in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. 2019;23(4):191-195. PMID: 31188276.

 

20.    Sharma P, Wimalawansa S, Gould G, Johnson R, Excoffon K. Adeno-associated virus 5 transduces adipose-derived stem cells with greater efficiency than other adeno-associated viral serotypes. Human Gene Therapy. 2016;27(6):219-27. PMID: 27820963.

 

21.    Wimalawansa S, Rodriguez Lopez R, Garcia de Lucas F, De Smet L, Dorweiller M, Boin M, Degreef I. Salvage of the failed Achilles tendon interposition arthroplasty for DRUJ instability after ulnar head resection. Hand. 2016. PMID: 28832196.

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1558944716676251

 

22.    Warren W, Droz N, Wimalawansa SM, Mancho S, Bernstein J. It’s not always what it seems: necrotizing fasciitis mimicking angioedema. SkinMed. 2016;14(1):45-6. PMID: 27072731.

 

23.    Wimalawansa SM, Fox JP, Johnson RM. The measurable cost of complications for outpatient cosmetic surgery in patients with mental health diagnoses. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2014;34(2):306-16. PMID: 24497616.

 

24.    Bates B, Wimalawansa SM, Monson B, Rymer MC, Shapiro R, Johnson RM. A simple cost-effective method of microsurgical simulation training: the turkey wing model. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. 2013;29(9):615-8. PMID: 24019174.

 

25.    Wimalawansa SM, AlSamkari R. Unusual presentation of hemochromatosis as isolated metacarpophalangeal joint osteoarthritis: a case report. Hand. 2011;6(3):329-32. PMID: 22942860.

 

26.    Wimalawansa S, McKnight A, Bullocks JM. Socioeconomic impact of ethnic cosmetic surgery: trends and potential financial impact the African-American, Asian, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern communities have on cosmetic surgery. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2009;23(3):159-62. PMID: 20676308.

 

27.    Wimalawansa SM, Shankar VS, Simmins DJ, Wimalawansa SJ. The mechanism of bone resorption by cyclosporin: involvement of the NO-cGMP pathway. Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions. 2000;1(2):141-3. PMID: 15758508.

 

28.    Wimalawansa SM, Wimalawansa SJ. A novel pharmacological approach to prevention of musculoskeletal losses associated with simulated microgravity. Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions. 2000;1(1):35-41. PMID: 15758523.

 

29.    Wimalawansa SM, Chapa T, Fang L, Yallampalli C, Simmons D, Wimalawansa SJ. Frequency-dependent effect of nitric oxide donor nitroglycerin on bone. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2000;15(6):1119-25. PMID: 10841180.

 

30.    Wimalawansa SM, Wimalawansa SJ. Simulated weightlessness-induced attenuation of testosterone production may be responsible for bone loss. Endocrine. 1999;10(3):253-260. PMID: 10484289.

 

31.    Wimalawansa SM, Chapa MT, Wei Jingna N, Westlund Karin N, Quast MJ, Wimalawansa SJ. Reversal of weightlessness-induced musculoskeletal losses with androgens: quantification by MRI. Journal of Applied Physiology. 1999;86(6):1841-6. PMID: 10368347.

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