Dr. Ravi Garg is a distinguished plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in complex head and neck surgery, cranio/maxillofacial reconstruction, and microvascular techniques. Currently serving as Director of Plastic and Cranio/Maxillofacial Surgery and Director of Head and Neck Microvascular Surgery at the Scripps Prebys Cancer Center in San Diego, California, Dr. Garg brings together exceptional surgical skill, academic excellence, and a deep commitment to patient care.
Academic Foundation and Training
Dr. Garg's journey in medicine began at Stanford University, where he demonstrated early academic prowess by earning dual Bachelor's degrees—a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Cultural and Social Anthropology and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. His undergraduate achievements were recognized with induction into Phi Beta Kappa, one of the nation's most prestigious academic honor societies. This unique combination of humanities and sciences reflects Dr. Garg's holistic approach to medicine, understanding patients not merely as cases but as individuals within broader social and cultural contexts.
He continued his academic excellence at Boston University School of Medicine, graduating summa cum laude in 2010 and earning membership in Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. His outstanding performance also garnered him the Merck Manual Award and induction into the Gold Humanism Honors Society, recognizing not only his medical knowledge but also his compassionate approach to patient care.
Dr. Garg's surgical training represents the gold standard in plastic and reconstructive surgery. After completing his medical internship at the University of California, San Francisco, he pursued postdoctoral research at Stanford University under the mentorship of Dr. Geoffrey C. Gurtner, focusing on wound healing and regenerative medicine. He then completed an integrated six-year plastic surgery residency at the University of Wisconsin, followed by an elite craniomaxillofacial fellowship at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. This comprehensive training equipped him with expertise across the full spectrum of craniofacial and head and neck surgical challenges.
Clinical Expertise and Specialization
Dr. Garg's clinical practice encompasses some of the most complex procedures in craniomaxillofacial and head and neck surgery. His expertise in microvascular surgery—transplanting tissue from one part of the body to another with microscopic reconnection of blood vessels—has revolutionized outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer, traumatic injuries, and congenital abnormalities. He has helped pioneer techniques such as the "Radial Forearm Snake Flap," a novel approach to oral cavity and oropharyngeal reconstruction that significantly reduces donor site complications while maintaining excellent functional outcomes.
Dr. Garg has pioneered the fibula free flap “jaw in a day” reconstructive procedure at both the University of Kansas and within the Scripps Health System. This innovative procedure allows for the restoration of both the jaw bone structure and dentition and is performed in collaboration with a maxillofacial prosthodontist.
His work in craniofacial surgery addresses both pediatric and adult patients with conditions ranging from cleft lip and palate to complex jaw deformities. At the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he served as Director of the Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic, Dr. Garg provided comprehensive care for patients with orofacial clefts, and craniofacial differences, coordinating multidisciplinary teams to address speech, dental, and maxillofacial concerns throughout patients' developmental years.
Dr. Garg has also established himself as an authority in facial skeletal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition affecting millions of Americans.
His research has illuminated socioeconomic disparities in access to surgical treatment and demonstrated the efficacy of jaw surgery in carefully selected patients. He regularly collaborates with sleep medicine specialists, pulmonologists, and dental professionals to provide comprehensive care for this challenging condition.
Research Contributions and Academic Impact
Dr. Garg's commitment to advancing surgical knowledge is evidenced by his prolific research portfolio, including over 30 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals such as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Microsurgery, and the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. His work spans fundamental science, clinical outcomes research, and technical innovations.
His early research at Stanford University explored the molecular mechanisms of wound healing, particularly the role of focal adhesion kinase in scar formation and tissue regeneration. This work, supported by grants from the Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine, has implications for improving outcomes in diabetic ulcers, burn reconstruction, and surgical wound management.
His clinical research has addressed critical gaps in surgical care, including risk factors for complications following microvascular reconstruction, optimization of recipient vessel selection in challenging cases, and development of classification systems for complex facial fractures. His 2019 systematic review examining whether functional nasal surgery can treat chronic headaches was recognized with the Best Head and Neck Reconstruction Paper award at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons national meeting.
Dr. Garg has also championed health equity research, publishing landmark studies on socioeconomic disparities in access to jaw surgery for sleep apnea and outcomes following head and neck reconstruction. This work has informed policy discussions and highlighted the need for more equitable access to specialized surgical care.
Teaching and Mentorship
Education forms a cornerstone of Dr. Garg's professional mission. Throughout his career, he has trained medical students, residents, and fellows in the art and science of reconstructive surgery. His dedication to teaching was formally recognized with the Faculty Teaching Award from the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2024, and the Plastic Surgery Resident Research Award at the University of Wisconsin in 2018.
Dr. Garg serves on complex head and neck surgery panels and moderates sessions for the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. He also delivers lectures and grand rounds presentations at academic medical centers, sharing his expertise with multidisciplinary audiences. His educational talks have addressed topics ranging from management of oral pathology and free flap reconstruction to intraoperative navigation in craniofacial surgery and the management of obstructive sleep apnea, reaching audiences of surgeons, sleep medicine specialists, speech pathologists, and dentists.
He has contributed multiple book chapters to authoritative surgical textbooks, including comprehensive reviews on scapular reconstruction of the mandible, speech and swallowing disorders in children with clefts, and reconstructive approaches to nasal defects. These educational resources serve as references for surgeons worldwide.
As a faculty instructor for the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Basic Course, Dr. Garg has helped train the next generation of craniomaxillofacial surgeons in fundamental techniques including occlusal splints for orthognathic jaw surgery and reconstructive head and neck surgery, as well as dental anatomy and extraction procedures.
Innovation and Surgical Technique Development
Throughout his career, Dr. Garg has developed and refined surgical techniques that improve patient outcomes while reducing complications. His "Transoral Alar Batten Graft" technique provides functional improvement for patients undergoing orthognathic jaw surgery, addressing nasal breathing difficulties that commonly accompany jaw repositioning procedures.
His modification of the genioglossus muscle advancement procedure—used in treating obstructive sleep apnea— improves chin aesthetics while maintaining the functional benefits of the operation. This attention to both form and function exemplifies his comprehensive approach to patient care.
Dr. Garg's collaborative research on minimally invasive approaches to mandibular reconstruction has pushed the boundaries of what's possible with microvascular surgery, reducing surgical trauma while achieving excellent reconstructive outcomes. His systematic analysis of these techniques provides evidence-based guidance for surgeons worldwide.
Professional Recognition and Service
Dr. Garg's contributions have earned him numerous accolades throughout his career.
Notable honors include the Best Case/Best Save award at the Annual Oncologic and Reconstructive Microsurgery Course in 2023, and the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Resident Scholar Award in 2017. He is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has earned Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons.
He actively serves the surgical community through manuscript review for leading journals including FACE: Journal of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. His participation in professional societies—including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, and American Head and Neck Society—keeps him engaged with the latest advances and connects him with colleagues worldwide.
Global Health Commitment
Dr. Garg's dedication to surgical care extends beyond borders. He has participated in global health missions, including a plastic surgery trip to Leon, Nicaragua, partnering with Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua. These experiences reflect his belief that high-quality surgical care should be accessible to all, regardless of geographic or economic circumstances.
His early involvement with the South Asian Preventive Health Outreach Program at Stanford University, where he served as president, demonstrated his longstanding commitment to addressing health disparities in underserved communities.
A Comprehensive Approach to Patient Care
What distinguishes Dr. Garg's practice is his comprehensive, patient-centered approach. Whether addressing a child born with a cleft lip, an adolescent with a jaw deformity, an adult with sleep apnea or nasal obstruction, or a patient facing new diagnosis of head and neck cancer, he combines technical excellence with genuine compassion. His background in anthropology informs his understanding of the profound psychological and social dimensions of facial difference and surgical intervention.
Dr. Garg works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams—including speech pathologists, orthodontists, prosthodontists, and maxillofacial specialists—to ensure coordinated, comprehensive care. He remains accessible to patients and families, recognizing that surgical decisions are deeply personal and require thoughtful discussion of risks, benefits, and alternatives.
As Director of Plastic and Cranio/Maxillofacial Surgery at the Scripps Prebys Cancer Center, Dr. Garg continues to advance the field through clinical innovation, research excellence, and dedication to teaching. His work transforms lives—restoring function, improving aesthetics, and enabling patients to live with confidence and dignity.