Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews Back to Top

Home > WI Providers > Plastic Surgeons

Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS

(1 Rating)

Specializes in: Plastic Surgery

University of Michigan Medical School

Professional interests include: free flap reconstruction, breast reconstruction, vulva problems, and more.

20 S Park Street Suite 360
Madison, WI 53715

(608) 263-7500

Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS is a plastic surgeon in Madison, WI specializing in plastic surgery. She graduated from University of Michigan Medical School. Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS 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:

20 S Park Street Suite 360
Madison, WI 53715

Address:

2349 Deming Way Suite 100
Middleton, WI 53562

Address:

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

Address:

600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792

Some issues Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS 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.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“Last October, Raichik posted a video of Dr. Katherine Gast, co-director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's UW Health gender services program, describing gender-affirming operations.”—"When Libs of TikTok tweets, threats increasingly follow", USA Today, November 2023

“Dr. Katherine Gast had become accustomed to the odd social media comment or email from someone who does not support or understand gender affirmation procedures she provides to her transgender...”—"Far-right influencers are targeting individual doctors. Some see echoes of the 'anti-abortion playbook.'", NBC News, October 2022

“"We were trying to protect the patient," said Dr. Katherine Gast, Vetens' surgeon.”—"A Transgender Woman's 'Bait-And-Switch' $92,000 Surgery Bill", KHN, July 2018

doctor visit	19

**Gender**
Male	15
Female	38

**Age**
From 65 to 74	21
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	18

Hypertension	58
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	34
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	36
Dementia	0
Cancer	26

doctor visit	14
plastic surgery procedures	39
reconstructive surgery	39
tissue transfer	39
wound repair (e.g. stitches)	39

**Gender**
Male	13
Female	46

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	33

Hypertension	46
High Cholesterol	37
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	58
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	20
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

**Gender**
Male	12
Female	20

**Age**
From 65 to 74	0
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	16

Hypertension	0
High Cholesterol	0
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	41
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

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2018 - 2020

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS for Medicare patients.

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

doctor visit	16
plastic surgery procedures	39
reconstructive surgery	39
tissue transfer	39
wound repair (e.g. stitches)	39

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2018 - 2020

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS.

**Gender**
Female	10
Male	4

**Age**
85 and over	0
75 to 84	0
Less than 65	6
65 to 74	2

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS From 2018 - 2020

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS treated were depression, hypertension, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	10
High Cholesterol	7
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	5
Depression	13
Chronic Kidney Disease	5
Asthma	0
Osteoporosis	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	5
Atrial Fibrillation	0
Cancer	2
Dementia	0

Education & Training

Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS graduated from University of Michigan Medical School. She completed residency at University of Michigan Affiliated Hospitals. She is certified by the Plastic Surgery and has a state license in Wisconsin.

Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School

Residency: University of Michigan Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Plastic Surgery

Licensed In: Wisconsin

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS 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

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Katherine Mary Gast, MD, MS from all over the web to help you find the right in Madison, WI.

Overall Rating

(1 Rating)

Leave a Review

Reviews Left On DocSpot

Overall Rating: 5.0 2023-01-06

Always have a good experience with her

Biography

Dr. Katherine Gast's medical specialty is plastic surgery. Her areas of expertise include the following: cosmetic treatments, panniculectomy (removal of excess skin), and free flap reconstruction. Dr. Gast is affiliated with UW Health and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She attended medical school at the University of Michigan Medical School. For her residency, Dr. Gast trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Michigan.