Photo of Amy S. Colwell, MD

Amy S. Colwell, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital
Phone: (617) 643-5963
Fax: (617) 643-5964


acolwell@partners.org

Photo of Amy S. Colwell, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital
Phone: (617) 643-5963
Fax: (617) 643-5964


acolwell@partners.org

Visualize Collaborations

Amy S. Colwell, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

EDUCATIONAL TITLES

  • Professor, Surgery, Harvard Medical School
  • Assistant in Surgery, Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital

HCC PROGRAM AFFILIATION

Research Abstract

The focus of my research is in improving outcomes for breast cancer patients. One of my specific aims is to be able to counsel patients on which surgical procedure may benefit them most by gathering information through standardized surveys from breast cancer patients who have already gone through the process. Another specific aim is to collect data to support and justify a novel technique for immediate implant breast reconstruction which improves aesthetic outcomes. Lastly, I have a general interest in continuing to advance and optimize breast reconstruction techniques.

Publications from Harvard Catalyst Profiles

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  • Verdial FC, Anderman KJ, Daly AE, Ozmen T, Kwait R, Oseni TS, Colwell AS, Specht MC, Gadd MA, Smith BL. The Age-Old Question in Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Is Older Age a Contraindication? Ann Surg Oncol 2025. PubMed
  • Bejar-Chapa M, Caragher SP, Gfrerer L, Valerio IL, Colwell AS, Winograd JM. Diagnosis and Management of Neuropathic Breast Pain. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2024; 12:e6266. PubMed
  • Thai JN, Sodagari F, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Revzin MV, Mahmoud H, Mozayan S, Chou SS, Destounis SV, Butler RS. Multimodality Imaging of Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction Techniques, Complications, and Tumor Recurrence. Radiographics 2024; 44:e230070. PubMed
  • Shanno JN, Daly AE, Anderman KJ, Santa Cruz HS, Webster AJ, Pride RM, Specht MC, Gadd MA, Oseni TO, Verdial FC, Ozmen T, Kwait R, Colwell AS, Smith BL. Positive Nipple Margins in Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Management of Nipples Containing Cancer or Atypia. Ann Surg Oncol 2024. PubMed
  • Lin AM, Lorenzi R, Van Der Hulst JE, Liao EC, Austen WG, Webster A, Smith BL, Colwell AS. A Decade of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Lessons Learned in 3035 Immediate Implant-based Breast Reconstructions. Plast Reconstr Surg 2023. PubMed
  • Colwell AS. Discussion: Comparing Direct-to-Implant and Two-Stage Breast Reconstruction in the Australian Breast Device Registry. Plast Reconstr Surg 2023; 151:938-939. PubMed
  • Naoum GE, Ioakeim MI, Shui AM, Salama L, Colwell A, Ho AY, Taghian AG. Radiation Modality (Proton/Photon), Timing, and Complication Rates in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving 2-Stages Expander/Implant Reconstruction. 2022. PubMed
  • Weingarden H, Wilhelm S, Jacobs JM, Carrellas J, Cetrulo C, Austen WG, Colwell AS. Prospective examination of psychological risk and maintenance factors for body image distress after mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction. 2022; 42:120-125. PubMed
  • Specht MC, Kelly BN, Tomczyk E, Ford OA, Webster AJ, Smith BL, Gadd MA, Colwell AS, Liao EC. One-Year Experience of Same-Day Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Protocol. Ann Surg Oncol 2022. PubMed
  • Naoum GE, Ho AY, Shui A, Salama L, Goldberg S, Arafat W, Winograd J, Colwell A, Smith BL, Taghian AG. Risk of Developing Breast Reconstruction Complications: A Machine-Learning Nomogram for Individualized Risk Estimation with and without Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2021. PubMed
  • Faulkner HR, Coopey SB, Liao EC, Specht M, Smith BL, Colwell AS. The safety of performing breast reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breast Cancer 2021. PubMed
  • Kelly BN, Faulkner HR, Smith BL, Korotkin JE, Lanahan CR, Brown C, Gadd MA, Specht MC, Hughes KS, Oseni TS, Colwell AS, Coopey SB. Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy versus Skin-Sparing Mastectomy: Does Saving the Nipple Impact Short- and Long-Term Patient Satisfaction? Ann Surg Oncol 2021. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Lamb LR, Tomczyk E, Faulkner H, Specht MC. An Algorithm for Management of Cosmetic and Reconstructive Patients with Textured Implants: An Institutional Experience. Plast Reconstr Surg 2021; 147:39S-43S. PubMed
  • Naoum GE, Oladeru OT, Niemierko A, Salama L, Winograd J, Colwell A, Arafat WO, Smith B, Ho A, Taghian AG. Optimal breast reconstruction type for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mastectomy followed by radiation therapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2020; 183:127-136. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Taylor EM. Recent Advances in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2020; 145:421e-432e. PubMed
  • Colwell AS. Correction of Suboptimal Results in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction. Aesthet Surg J 2020; 40:S38-S44. PubMed
  • Naoum GE, Salama L, Niemierko A, Vieira BL, Belkacimi Y, Colwell AS, Winograd J, Smith B, Ho A, Taghian AG. Single Stage Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction has less Complication Rates Than Tissue Expander/Implant and Comparable Rates to Autologous Reconstruction in Patients Receiving Postmastectomy Radiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019. PubMed
  • Lin AM, Christensen JM, Liao EC, Cetrulo CL, Smith BL, Austen WG, Winograd J, Colwell AS. Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy on Permanent Implants or Tissue Expanders: Which is Better? Ann Surg 2019. PubMed
  • Tang R, Acevedo F, Lanahan C, Coopey SB, Yala A, Barzilay R, Li C, Colwell A, Guidi AJ, Cetrulo C, Garber J, Smith BL, Gadd MA, Specht MC, Hughes KS. Incidental breast carcinoma: incidence, management, and outcomes in 4804 bilateral reduction mammoplasties. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019; 177:741-748. PubMed
  • Jimenez RB, Hickey S, DePauw N, Yeap BY, Batin E, Gadd MA, Specht M, Isakoff SJ, Smith BL, Liao EC, Colwell AS, Ho A, Januzzi JL, Passeri J, Neilan TG, Taghian AG, Lu HM, MacDonald SM. Phase II Study of Proton Beam Radiation Therapy for Patients With Breast Cancer Requiring Regional Nodal Irradiation. J Clin Oncol 2019. PubMed
  • Naoum GE, Salama L, Ho A, Horick NK, Oladeru O, Abouegylah M, Daniell K, MacDonald S, Arafat WO, Smith BL, Colwell AS, Taghian AG. The Impact of Chest Wall Boost on Reconstruction Complications and Local Control in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2019. PubMed
  • Mastroianni M, Lin A, Hughes K, Colwell AS. Proliferative Lesions Found at Reduction Mammoplasty: Incidence and Implications in 995 Breast Reductions. Plast Reconstr Surg 2018. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Mehrara B. Editorial: US FDA Breast Implant Postapproval Studies-Long-term Outcomes in 99,993 Patients. Ann Surg 2018. PubMed
  • Colwell AS. Discussion: Comparing Therapeutic versus Prophylactic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Does Indication Inform Oncologic and Reconstructive Outcomes? Plast Reconstr Surg 2018; 142:316-317. PubMed
  • Colwell AS. Discussion: Enhanced Recovery Pathway in Microvascular Autologous Tissue-Based Breast Reconstruction: Should It Become the Standard of Care? Plast Reconstr Surg 2018; 141:852-853. PubMed
  • Sobti N, Ji E, Brown RL, Cetrulo CL, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Austen WG, Liao EC. Evaluation of Acellular Dermal Matrix Efficacy in Prosthesis-Based Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2018; 141:541-549. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Christensen JM. Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2017; 140:44S-50S. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Taylor E, Specht M, Orringer JS. Optimizing Nipple Position following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2017; 5:e1490. PubMed
  • Smith BL, Tang R, Rai U, Plichta JK, Colwell AS, Gadd MA, Specht MC, Austen WG, Coopey SB. Oncologic Safety of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy in Women with Breast Cancer. J Am Coll Surg 2017; 225:361-365. PubMed
  • Colwell AS. Discussion: Should Immediate Autologous Breast Reconstruction Be Considered in Women Who Require Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy? A Prospective Analysis of Outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg 2017; 139:1289-1290. PubMed
  • Kim JYS, Colwell AS, Disa JJ. Introduction to "Advances in Breast Reconstruction". Plast Reconstr Surg 2017; 140:4S-5S. PubMed
  • Mastroianni M, Lin AM, Smith BL, Austen WG, Colwell AS. Nipple Loss following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2016; 138:24e-30e. PubMed
  • Clarke-Pearson EM, Lin AM, Hertl C, Austen WG, Colwell AS. Revisions in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: How Does Direct-to-Implant Measure Up? Plast Reconstr Surg 2016; 137:1690-9. PubMed
  • Tang R, Coopey SB, Merrill AL, Rai U, Specht MC, Gadd MA, Colwell AS, Austen WG, Brachtel EF, Smith BL. Positive Nipple Margins in Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies: Rates, Management, and Oncologic Safety. J Am Coll Surg 2016. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Smith BL. Complications After Mastectomy and Immediate Breast Reconstruction for Breast Cancer: How does the Community Compare? Ann Surg 2015. PubMed
  • Mattos D, Gfrerer L, Reish RG, Hughes KS, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Yaremchuk MJ, Austen WG, Liao EC. Lifetime Costs of Prophylactic Mastectomies and Reconstruction versus Surveillance. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015; 136:730e-40e. PubMed
  • Mattos D, Gfrerer L, Ling IT, Reish RG, Hughes KS, Halpern EF, Cetrulo C, Colwell AS, Winograd JM, Yaremchuk MJ, Austen WG, Liao EC. Occult Histopathology and Its Predictors in Contralateral and Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomies. Ann Surg Oncol 2015. PubMed
  • Miller CL, Colwell AS, Horick N, Skolny MN, Jammallo LS, O'Toole JA, Shenouda MN, Sadek BT, Swaroop MN, Ferguson CM, Smith BL, Specht MC, Taghian AG. Immediate Implant Reconstruction Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of Lymphedema Compared to Mastectomy Alone: A Prospective Cohort Study. Ann Surg 2015. PubMed
  • Tang R, Coopey SB, Colwell AS, Specht MC, Gadd MA, Kansal K, McEvoy MP, Merrill AL, Rai U, Taghian A, Austen WG, Smith BL. Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy in Irradiated Breasts: Selecting Patients to Minimize Complications. Ann Surg Oncol 2015; 22:3331-7. PubMed
  • Ascherman JA, Jacoby A, Alizadeh K, Appel J, Berkowitz RL, Castle J, Chun YS, Colwell AS, Desai AR, Downey SE, Evans G, Fallucco M, Halperin T, Hollenbeck S, Johnson DJ, Mohebali K, Morris D, Stokes T, Sudarsky LA, Zeidler KR. Aeroform vs Saline Tissue Expansion in Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Clinical Study. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015; 136:84. PubMed
  • Frederick MJ, Lin AM, Neuman R, Smith BL, Austen WG, Colwell AS. Nipple-sparing mastectomy in patients with previous breast surgery: comparative analysis of 775 immediate breast reconstructions. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015; 135:954e-962e. PubMed
  • Reish RG, Lin A, Phillips NA, Winograd J, Liao EC, Cetrulo CL, Smith BL, Austen WG, Colwell AS. Breast reconstruction outcomes after nipple-sparing mastectomy and radiation therapy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015; 135:959-66. PubMed
  • Scheflan M, Colwell AS. Tissue Reinforcement in Implant-based Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2014; 2:e192. PubMed
  • Zeidler KR, Berkowitz RL, Chun YS, Alizadeh K, Castle J, Colwell AS, Desai AR, Evans G, Hollenbeck S, Johnson DJ, Morris D, Ascherman JA. AeroForm patient controlled tissue expansion and saline tissue expansion for breast reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Plast Surg 2014; 72 Suppl 1:S51-5. PubMed
  • Reish RG, Lin AM, Austen WG, Winograd J, Liao EC, Cetrulo CL, Smith BL, Colwell AS. Abstract 25: breast reconstruction outcomes after nipple-sparing mastectomy and radiation therapy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2014; 133:991. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Tessler O, Lin AM, Liao E, Winograd J, Cetrulo CL, Tang R, Smith BL, Austen WG. Breast reconstruction following nipple-sparing mastectomy: predictors of complications, reconstruction outcomes, and 5-year trends. Plast Reconstr Surg 2014; 133:496-506. PubMed
  • Coopey SB, Tang R, Lei L, Freer PE, Kansal K, Colwell AS, Gadd MA, Specht MC, Austen WG, Smith BL. Increasing eligibility for nipple-sparing mastectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 2013; 20:3218-22. PubMed
  • Craft RO, Damjanovic B, Colwell AS. Evidence-based protocol for infection control in immediate implant-based breast reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg 2012; 69:446-50. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Gadd M, Smith BL, Austen WG. An inferolateral approach to nipple-sparing mastectomy: optimizing mastectomy and reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg 2010; 65:140-3. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Breuing KH. Primary nipple reconstruction with AlloDerm: is a dermal flap always necessary? Plast Reconstr Surg 2009; 124:260e-2e. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Breuing KH. Improving shape and symmetry in mastopexy with autologous or cadaveric dermal slings. Ann Plast Surg 2008; 61:138-42. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Wright L, Karanas Y. Near-infrared spectroscopy measures tissue oxygenation in free flaps for breast reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 2008; 121:344e-345e. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Longaker MT, Peter Lorenz H. Identification of differentially regulated genes in fetal wounds during regenerative repair. Wound Repair Regen 2008; 16:450-9. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Slavin SA, May JW. Breast augmentation after reduction mammaplasty: getting the size right. Ann Plast Surg 2008; 60:372-4. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Borud LJ. Fat grafting to the breast revisited: safety and efficacy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2008; 121:701-2. PubMed
  • Breuing KH, Colwell AS. Inferolateral AlloDerm hammock for implant coverage in breast reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg 2007; 59:250-5. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, May JW, Slavin SA. Lowering the postoperative high-riding nipple. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 120:596-9. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Yun R, Krummel TM, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Keratinocytes modulate fetal and postnatal fibroblast transforming growth factor-beta and Smad expression in co-culture. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 119:1440-5. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Faudoa R, Krummel TM, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Transforming growth factor-beta, Smad, and collagen expression patterns in fetal and adult keratinocytes. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 119:852-7. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Borud LJ. Autologous gluteal augmentation after massive weight loss: aesthetic analysis and role of the superior gluteal artery perforator flap. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 119:345-56. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Krummel TM, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Early-gestation fetal scarless wounds have less lysyl oxidase expression. Plast Reconstr Surg 2006; 118:1125-9; discussion 1130-1. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Krummel TM, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Fetal and adult fibroblasts have similar TGF-beta-mediated, Smad-dependent signaling pathways. Plast Reconstr Surg 2006; 117:2277-83. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Krummel TM, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. An in vivo mouse excisional wound model of scarless healing. Plast Reconstr Surg 2006; 117:2292-6. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Krummel TM, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Wnt-4 expression is increased in fibroblasts after TGF-beta1 stimulation and during fetal and postnatal wound repair. Plast Reconstr Surg 2006; 117:2297-301. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Buntic RF, Brooks D, Wright L, Buncke GM, Buncke HJ. Detection of perfusion disturbances in digit replantation using near-infrared spectroscopy and serial quantitative fluoroscopy. J Hand Surg [Am] 2006; 31:456-62. PubMed
  • Colwell AS, Krummel TM, Kong W, Longaker MT, Lorenz HP. Skin wounds in the MRL/MPJ mouse heal with scar. Wound Repair Regen 2006; 14:81-90. PubMed
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