About Gary Arishita, MD

Dr. Arishita was born and raised in Petaluma, California. After graduating from the University of California, Davis with highest honors in Physiology, he pursued his medical degree in the US Air Force. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant and studied medicine at the F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland and graduated in 1987. It was in medical school that he became interested in breast reconstruction and decided to become a plastic surgeon. After graduation, he returned to California to study general surgery to best prepare for a future in plastic surgery. As a resident, he authored presentations and a paper on a new method of diagnosing non-palpable breast lesions. In 1992, he completed his general surgery residency at David Grant USAF Medical Center, California. He worked as a general surgeon for two years and treated patients with breast cancer. These experiences have been invaluable in caring for patients battling breast cancer. Dr. Arishita moved to San Antonio in 1994 to begin his plastic surgery residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. He completed a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery, Louisville, Kentucky. After completing residency in 1997, he was selected to join the staff at Wilford Hall and train future Air Force plastic surgeons. Breast reconstruction remained his primary interest and he served as the lead microvascular plastic surgeon for many years. While on staff at Wilford Hall, he performed the majority of free flap breast reconstructions in the Air Force. He taught breast reconstruction to plastic surgery residents from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. Dr. Arishita left the Air Force in 2008 having completed 25 years of military service. During his career, he served many roles - general surgeon, plastic surgeon and as commander. Breast reconstruction was his primary reason for choosing plastic surgery and remained his area of interest throughout his service. He worked to write breast cancer clinical protocols for the Air Force requiring breast reconstruction education during treatment. He remained surgically active, despite being called upon to servie as a leader during his latter years in the Air Force. He was the Chief Plastic Surgeon for the US Air Force from 2003-2008. Dr. Arishita joined PRMA in 2008 and has been able to pursue his mission of providing reconstruction to breast cancer patients. He has been annually recognized as one of ""America's Top Surgeons."" Dr. Arishita's area of professional interest is breast reconstruction and he performs all types of breast reconstruction surgery. He utilizes all techniques ranging from free tissue transfers to implants, tissue expanders and fat grafting.