Dr. Pirko
Maguina

Dr. Pirko Maguina is an award-winning plastic surgeon recognized for his excellence in patient care, education, and social responsibility. Born in Germany, he is fluent in German, Spanish, and English. Dr. Pirko is the medical director of Ideal Plastic Surgery in Sacramento, California, and is known for his extensive experience as one of the most active plastic surgeons in the country. Dr. Pirko has been a board-certified plastic surgeon since 2009 and leads a team that performs over 14,000 plastic surgeries per year, including facial surgeries, primarily face and neck lifts, as well as breast surgeries and body surgeries such as tummy tucks and butt lifts.

Dr. Pirko also treats patients seeking weight loss, accompanying them through their comprehensive physical transformation process, which involves essential aspects of nutrition and physical activity to achieve lasting results. Dr. Pirko is an active member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree, Dr. Pirko graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree from Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru. Dr. Pirko completed his general residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and a residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also completed a research fellowship in burn surgery at the University of California, Davis, and at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Northern California.

Publictions and Research

Dr. Pirko has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles in plastic surgery journals and has presented at dozens of national and international meetings, including:

• Kirkland-Khyn H, Teleten O, Joseph R, Maguina P. Descriptive study of hospital-acquired and community-acquired pressure ulcers/lesions. Wound Manag Prev. 2019 Feb;65(2):14–19.
• Ramírez JI, Thomas DM, Neal DJ, Maguina P. A new target for injury prevention: summer braids. J Burn Care Res. 2018 Oct 23;39(6):911–914. doi:10.1093/jbcr/iry005.
• Ramírez JI, Ridgway CA, Lee JG, Potenza BM, Sen S, Palmieri TL, Greenhalgh DG, Maguina P. The unrecognized epidemic of electronic cigarettes. J Burn Care Res. 2017 Jul-Aug;38(4):220–224.
• Mirmanesh M, Borab Z, Gantz M, Maguina P. Periprocedural laser scar therapy protocol: a pilot survey of plastic surgeons’ practices. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2017 Jun;41(3):689–694. doi:10.1007/s00266-017-0862-7. PMID:28374298.
• Gal S, Ramírez JI, Maguina P. Autologous fat grafting does not improve the appearance of burn scars: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. Burns. 2017 May;43(3):486–489. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2016.09.019. PMID:28041747.
• Ramírez JI, Maguina P. Invasive conidiobolomycosis can be successfully treated in burn survivors. J Burn Care Res. 2017 Jan-Feb;38(1):e460–e463. PMID:27294856.
• Romanowski KS, Barsun A, Kwan P, Teo EH, Palmieri TL, Sen S, Maguina P, Greenhalgh DG. Hashish oil burns: a 7-year perspective on a growing problem. J Burn Care Res. 2017 Jan-Feb;38(1):e165–e171. PMID:27058582.
• Maguina P, Kirkland-Walsh H. Prevention of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers: the approach of a team of burn surgeons. J Burn Care Res. 2014 Sep-Oct;35(5):e287–e293.
• Jensen G, Bertelotti R, Greenhalgh D, Palmieri T, Maguina P. Honey oil burns: a growing problem. J Burn Care Res. 2014 May 12.
• Maguina P, Vélez M. Review of the use of epinephrine solution in 400 consecutive cases of burn reconstruction. J Burn Care Res. 2013 Sep-Oct;34(5):e35–e37.
• Maguina P, Busse B, Emelin J. Mini-abdominoplasty in burn reconstruction. J Burn Care Res. 2012 Mar-Apr;33(2):e39–e42.
• Greenhalgh DG, Chang P, Maguina P, Combs E, Sen S, Palmieri TL. The ABC daycare disaster in Hermosillo, Mexico. J Burn Care Res. 2011 Oct 6.
• Rehabi B, Golshanara N, Maguina P. Experience of the burn unit in the treatment of giant melanocytic nevi: a 10-year review. J Burn Care Res. 2011 Jul;32(4):475–480.
• Maguina P, Busse B. Local tissue flaps: definitive treatment of chronic blisters after chemical burns. J Burn Care Res. 2011 Jul;32(4):e140.
• Maguina P, Chaar MY, Nadimi S, Szczerba SM. Subcision with wire dissector as an approach to HIV-related lipoatrophy. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 May;125(5):206e–208e.
• Maguina P, Hoffman R, Szczerba S. Autologous dermal graft in breast reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Apr;125(4):170e–171e.
• Maguina P, Paulius KL, Kale S, Kalimuthu R. Fasciocutaneous flaps from the thigh for scrotal reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Jan;125(1):28e–30e.
• Szczerba SM, Paulius KL, Nadimi S, Maguina P. Wire subcision as a treatment for nipple inversion. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 Jun;123(6):206e–207e.
• Paulius KL, Maguina P. Percutaneous ultrasound-assisted trigger finger release. Hand (NY). 2009 Mar;4(1):35–37.
• Paulius K, Maguina P, Mejia A. Ultrasound-guided treatment of hand fractures. Orthopedics. 2008 Dec;31(12).
• Maguina P, Grubb K, Kalimuthu R. Immediate breast reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Dec;122(6):223e–224e.
• Paulius K, Napoles P, Maguina P. Thigh burn associated with laptop use. J Burn Care Res. 2008 Sep-Oct;29(5):842–844.
• Maguina P, Jean-Pierre F, Grevious MA, Malk AS. Posterior interosseous branch paralysis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Aug;122(2):97e–99e.
• Maguina P, Kalimuthu R. Posterior rectal hernia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2008 Jul;122(1):46e–47e.
• Paulius KL, Young M, Maguina P. Antibiotic accounts. Orthopedics. 2008 May;31(5):450–452.
• Maguina P, Shah-Khan M, An G, Hanumadass M. Chemical burns of the scalp following hair highlights. J Burn Care Res. 2007 Mar-Apr;28(2):361–363.
• Maguina P, Palmieri TL, Greenhalgh DG. Treadmills: a preventable source of pediatric friction burns. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2004 Mar-Apr;25(2):201–204.
• Maguina P, Palmieri TL, Curri T, Nelson K, Greenhalgh DG. The circle of safety. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2004 Jan-Feb;25(1):124–127.
• Maguina P, Palmieri TL, Greenhalgh DG. Partial-thickness skin grafting for scrotal reconstruction. Burns. 2003 Dec;29(8):857–862.
• Maguina P, Palmieri TL, Greenhalgh DG. Car seat heaters: a potential burn hazard. J Burn Care Rehabil. 2003 Sep-Oct;24(5):315–316.
• Ditmars DM Jr, Maguina P. Sporotrichosis on the skin of the neck. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998 Feb;101(2):504–506.

Licenses and Certifications

• State of California: #A104210 License: Since June 2008
• Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
• Member of the American College of Surgeons

Professional associations

Dr. Pirko has been accepted into numerous professional associations and has been active in both leadership positions on professional committees and as a reviewer for professional publications, including:

• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American Burn Association
• American College of Surgeons: Member
• American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons
• American Association of Pediatric Plastic Surgeons
• American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
• Former President of the Sacramento Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Member of the Advisory Board of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
• California Society of Plastic Surgery
• Global Health Task Force, Davis Medical Center, University of California
• Healthy Lives and Well Being, Davis Medical Center, University of California
• President of Continuing Medical Education, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California
• Resurge International, Member of the Surgery Committee
• American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, Education Committee
• American Burn Association, International Committee
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Public Service Committee
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Annual Meeting Program and Instructional Course Committee
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Volunteer Steering Committee in Plastic Surgery
• Q&S Committee, Davis Medical Center, University of California – Since 2012
• Reviewer, Journal of Burn Care and Research
• Reviewer: Burns
• Reviewer: Burns Open
• Reviewer: Wound Care

Awards and recognition

• 2024 Top Doctors Sacramento Magazine, December 2024.
• 2023 Top Doctors Sacramento Magazine, December 2023.
• 2022 Top Doctors Sacramento Magazine, December 2022.
• 2021 Top Doctors Sacramento Magazine, December 2021.
• 2020 Top Doctors Sacramento Magazine, December 2020.
• 2019 Top Doctors Sacramento Magazine, December 2019.
• Maguina P. Research Grant from the IAFF Burn Foundation.
• University of California Davis. Employee Excellence Award for Excellence in Social Responsibility.
• University of California Davis. Award for Excellence in Education.