Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and Hand Surgery Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Switzerland
Prof. Dr. Yves Harder is a leading figure in the fields of plastic, reconstructive, aesthetic surgery, and hand surgery. He currently serves as the Head and Medical Director of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and Hand Surgery at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland. With over 25 years of experience, Prof. Harder has a passion for advancing reconstructive microsurgery, particularly in the areas of breast and lower extremity surgery. He has authored more than 200 publications, including peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, contributing significantly to the surgical community. His work continues to inspire through both his clinical practice and ongoing research efforts, focusing on improving patient outcomes and surgical techniques in his specialties.
Profile
Orcid
Education
Prof. Harder completed his medical education at the University of Basel, Switzerland, graduating in 1994. He specialized in general surgery and plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery (FMH). His academic journey continued with a research fellowship at the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Research at the University of Saarland, Germany, where he focused on non-invasive strategies to prevent ischemic tissue necrosis. Later, he completed a clinical fellowship in reconstructive surgery at Johannesburg, South Africa. Prof. Harder continued to build on his expertise with a postdoctoral lecture qualification (Habilitation) at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. His academic career includes positions at the University Hospital Geneva, Technische Universität München, and the University of Lausanne. He currently holds the position of full professor at the University of Lausanne.
Experience
Prof. Yves Harder has extensive experience across various prestigious institutions. After completing his education, he served as a consultant surgeon at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland. In 2010, he moved to Germany, where he became Senior Consultant at Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, and Associate Professor at the Medical Faculty of the Technische Universität München. He was pivotal in building the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery in Lugano, Switzerland, which he led from 2014. In 2024, he took on the leadership of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and Hand Surgery at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) in Lausanne. He is a highly regarded educator, researcher, and clinician, dedicated to advancing reconstructive surgery techniques and improving patient care worldwide.
Research Focus
Prof. Harder’s research primarily revolves around reconstructive microsurgery, focusing on innovative approaches for breast and lower extremity reconstruction. His expertise spans lymphatic and orthoplastic surgery, with significant contributions to improving the outcomes of mastectomy and breast reconstruction procedures, including autologous fat grafting, prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction, and non-surgical preventive strategies for ischemic flap tissue. His studies also investigate the use of nanofat in enhancing vascularization and tissue integration. Additionally, Prof. Harder has a keen interest in optimizing aesthetic surgery techniques, particularly in the field of breast aesthetics. His ongoing research endeavors seek to refine surgical approaches, minimize complications, and enhance recovery for patients undergoing reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries. Prof. Harder is also committed to educating future surgeons, actively engaging in the teaching of pre- and postgraduate students as well as residents in training.
Publication Top Notes
- Sensory preservation in reduction mammoplasty using the nipple-areola complex-carrying pedicle technique for gigantomastia: A systematic review and meta-analysis 📝
- Repeated Autologous Fat Grafting Significantly Increases Mastectomy Flap Thickness in Pre-Pectoral Multi-Stage Composite Expander-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction 🔬
- Autologe Brustrekonstruktion und Bestrahlung: Konsensus-Bericht der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Mikrochirurgie (DAM) 📚
- The Effects of Systemic Tranexamic Acid Administration on Drainage Volume, Length of Hospital Stay, and Postoperative Complications in Reduction Mammaplasty 💉
- The Effects of Systemic Tranexamic Acid Administration on Drainage Volume, Duration of Drain Placement, and Length of Hospital Stay in Skin- and Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies with Immediate Expander-Based Breast Reconstruction 🏥
- Albumin-To-Alkaline Phosphatase Ratio as a New Early Predictive Marker of Axillary Response in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy 📊
- Nanofat Improves Vascularization and Tissue Integration of Dermal Substitutes without Affecting Their Biocompatibility 🧬
- Smooth Operator: Nanotextured Breast Tissue Expanders Are Associated with Lower Rates of Capsular Contracture 🧪
- Correction of Post-Surgical Temporal Hollowing with Adipo-Dermal Grafts: A Case Series 💉
- The Influence of Inset and Shaping of Abdominal-Based Free Flap Breast Reconstruction on Patient-Reported Aesthetic Outcome Scores—A Systematic Review 🩺
- Short-Term Periodic Fasting Reduces Ischemia-Induced Necrosis in Musculocutaneous Flap Tissue 🍏