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Home > WI Providers > Hand Surgeons

Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD

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Specializes in: Hand Surgery and Plastic Surgery

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Professional interests include: tendon transfer, breast reconstruction, replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement), and more.

1675 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792

(608) 263-7502

Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD is a hand surgeon in Madison, WI specializing in hand surgery and plastic surgery. He graduated from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD is affiliated with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, UW Health, University of Wisconsin Health (UW Health) and UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MEDICAL FOUNDATION INC.

Office Locations

Address:

1675 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792

Address:

20 S Park Street Suite 360
Madison, WI 53715

Address:

2500 Overlook Terrace William S. Middleton Mvh (607)
Madison, WI 53705

Address:

4621 Eastpark Boulevard
Madison, WI 53718

Some issues Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD can help you with:

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is surgery to restore the appearance of the breast, usually after a mastectomy. The choice of how to proceed after the removal of a breast is a deeply personal one, with some women opting to wear a prosthetic form in a bra, and others choosing to embrace their new breastless form as a reminder of their strength and survival. Those options are perfectly acceptable, but many women feel most comfortable with their missing breast tissue surgically replaced. Breast reconstruction can be part of a patient's return to normal after experiencing breast cancer.

There are a few different methods used to create the round shape of the breast on the chest. A flap of fat, skin, and muscle can be taken from the side, abdomen or buttock and implanted on the chest to create a breast from the patient's own tissue. Alternatively, the skin over the chest may be gradually stretched to allow for the placement of an implant. Stretching of the skin is done using expanders, which are similar to breast implants, except they increase in size when saltwater solution is injected into them. Many women also choose to combine the flap procedure with implant placement to achieve their desired result. Once the new breast shape is formed, a nipple can be created and even tattooed to match the other side.

Reconstruction may be done in a single surgery or broken up into multiple procedures:

Immediate reconstruction rebuilds the breast right after mastectomy. This method is not recommended if additional chemotherapy or radiation is needed after surgery.
Delayed reconstruction occurs after chemotherapy or radiation has been given. These treatments may decrease the volume or alter the color of the reconstructed breast, so they should be completed before the breast is rebuilt. This type of reconstruction may happen weeks, months, or even years after mastectomy.
Staged reconstruction splits the reconstructive process into two parts. The first part inserts temporary expanders to stretch the skin and is done immediately after breast removal surgery. The second part replaces the expanders with implants after chemotherapy or radiation treatments have been given.

Breast reconstruction is not perfect. The two breasts may not always look exactly identical, although they will be close. There may be small scars, and a loss of sensation in the reconstructed breast. A reconstructed breast will not produce milk, so patients may have trouble breastfeeding. Still, reconstruction is a great option for women who want that part of their appearance back.

Replacement Arthroplasty (Joint Replacement)

Joint replacement, sometimes also called arthroplasty, is an option when a joint becomes severely damaged by disease or injury. The damaged cartilage of the joint is surgically removed, the ends of the bones in the joint are resurfaced, and a prosthetic is installed. Most prosthetic joints are made of a metal piece that fits into a plastic sleeve so that they glide smoothly. A joint replacement increases stability in the damaged area and decreases pain. The hip and knee are the two joints most commonly replaced, but joint replacement can also be performed on the ankle, shoulder, elbow and even fingers.

Although joint replacement is one of the safest and most reliable medical procedures available, it is still a major surgical procedure. All surgical procedures carry risks, such as infection or blood clots. For this reason, doctors try to help their patients avoid surgery for as long as they can. Taking arthritis medications, losing weight, avoiding high impact sports such as running, taking supplements such as glucosamine or chondroitin, or having joint injections may allow a patient to enjoy life without the need for surgery.

After having joint replacement surgery, patients can expect some pain the first few days as they recover. Physical therapy is an important part of recovery, and it can decrease complications and increase future mobility. As soon as possible, returning to low impact sports such as swimming, walking or biking can stretch and heal the new joint. A prosthetic joint can last 15 - 20 years and cannot be further damaged by degenerative diseases such as arthritis, so once it is done patients should be pain-free for many years.

Tendon Transfer

Tendons are rope-like fibers that connect muscles to bone. Tendon transfer surgery is a procedure that can be used to restore function to a muscle or tendon that no longer works due to injury or nerve damage. During the procedure, a neighboring tendon is 'borrowed' from an area where it is not necessary and repositioned to function in place of the damaged muscle or tendon.

Tendon transfer surgery can be performed on the arms, hands, feet, or other areas of the body where a muscle becomes unable to pull on its tendon. A nearby tendon is detached from its bone, but kept connected to its muscle, nerves, and blood supply. The loose end is connected to the bone that the patient could not move. After the attachment heals, the patient will be able to move that part of the body by flexing the newly connected muscle.

One of the benefits to tendon transfer surgery is that it does not have to be performed right away after an injury. It can be successful even if the affected area has been paralyzed for years. It does take time to retrain the brain to use a different muscle for movement, but the surgery is a powerful option to restore needed motion.

doctor visit	11

**Gender**
Male	16
Female	19

**Age**
From 65 to 74	19
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	46
High Cholesterol	46
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	0
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

doctor visit	65

**Gender**
Male	35
Female	46

**Age**
From 65 to 74	36
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	23

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	33
Dementia	0
Cancer	14

doctor visit	153

**Gender**
Male	45
Female	86

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	119
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	75
From 75 to 84	27
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	27
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	26
Dementia	9
Cancer	15

doctor visit	93
plastic surgery procedures	14
reconstructive surgery	14
tissue transfer	14
wound repair (e.g. stitches)	14

**Gender**
Male	61
Female	67

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	110
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	67
From 75 to 84	29
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	52
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	23
Dementia	0
Cancer	19

doctor visit	64

**Gender**
Male	48
Female	57

**Age**
From 65 to 74	65
From 75 to 84	24
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	52
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	17
Dementia	0
Cancer	21

doctor visit	102

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2016 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD treated as a hand surgeon in Madison, WI were reconstructive surgery, plastic surgery procedures, wound repair (e.g. stitches) and tissue transfer.

doctor visit	83
plastic surgery procedures	14
reconstructive surgery	14
tissue transfer	14
wound repair (e.g. stitches)	14

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2016 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD.

**Gender**
Female	27
Male	20

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	22
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	0
75 to 84	8
Less than 65	2
65 to 74	26

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD From 2016 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	26
High Cholesterol	22
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	12
Depression	14
Chronic Kidney Disease	11
Asthma	0
Osteoporosis	3
Heart Failure	4
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	2
Diabetes	9
Atrial Fibrillation	2
Cancer	6
Dementia	0

Education & Training

Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD graduated from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He is certified by the Plastic Surgery and has a state license in Wisconsin.

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Residency: Penn State Hershey Medical Center

Board Certification: Plastic Surgery

Licensed In: Wisconsin

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

UW Health

University of Wisconsin Health (UW Health)

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MEDICAL FOUNDATION INC

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Brett Foster Michelotti, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Allergan Inc.	$97 NATRELLE $97
Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.	$51 XIAFLEX $51

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$148

Biography

Dr. Brett Michelotti's specialties are plastic surgery and hand surgery. Dr. Michelotti's areas of expertise include facial problems, surgical repair, and carpal tunnel surgery. He obtained his medical school training at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and performed his residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He is professionally affiliated with UW Health and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.