Alap Patel, MD, was born and raised in Southern California. He moved to Upstate New York for his undergraduate and medical school studies at the University of Rochester and is now back in California as an Integrated Plastic Surgery Resident at UCSF.

Dr. Patel has broad interests in all areas of plastic surgery, with particular interests in general oncologic reconstruction, aesthetic facial surgery, hand surgery, and body contouring. He recently completed a year-long research fellowship under the guidance of Dr. Scott L. Hansen, Chief of Plastic Surgery at UCSF. During this fellowship, Dr. Patel had numerous abstract presentations and manuscript publications. He also completed a year-long fellowship through the UCSF Center of Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia (CHESA), which allowed him to expand his interests in providing sustainable surgical care for individuals with lower socioeconomic status in the San Francisco area. With his strong background in public health from his studies in Rochester, NY, Dr. Patel continues to have a strong interest in the crossroads between public health and plastic surgery, exemplified by his research portfolio.

In his free time, Dr. Patel enjoys exploring the Bay Area, whether spending a weekend in Napa Valley or hiking in the Muir Woods, located just north of SF. He also enjoys playing tennis, running, and is an avid football fan.