Dra. Mariângela Santiago initiated her professional career when in 1980 she was awarded a medical degree by the Universidade Católica (Catholic University) in Salvador, Bahia.

As a requisite to a specialization in Plastic Surgery, she spent two years (1981-1982) as a Resident in General Surgery at the Hospital Manoel Vitorino, also in Salvador, Bahia

After being admitted to the Hospital dos Defeitos da Face (Hospital for Facial Defects), a well-known teaching hospital located in Sao Paulo, Dra. Mariângela spent the years 1983 - 1984 undergoing training as a Resident in Plastic Surgery - standing-out within the specialized area of Craniomaxilofacial Surgery. This type of surgery focuses on facial defects that may come about from such things as birth defects or accidents.

At the end of her residency period she was immediately invited to become a staff member at the Hospital dos Defeitos da Face by the then director Prof. Dr. Paulo de Castro Correia. Throughout her career and until today, Dra. Mariângela, has maintained her association as staff member of this hospital.

In 1986 she participated in an additional period of specialized training in the area of Craniomaxilofacial Surgery at the Universidad Autonoma in México City, under the orientation of Prof. Dr. Fernando Ortiz Monastério, an individual who is widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers in the development of Craniomaxilofacial Surgery. To this date, Dra. Mariângela is invited yearly by Prof. Dr. Monastério, along with a handful of select Craniomaxilofacial specialists from around the world, to take part in discussions of advance issues related to this practice.

During the following years she concentrated her activities at the Hospital dos Defeitos da Face, focusing on the following surgical specialties: Esthetic, Reparative, Congenital, Trauma and Maxillo-facial.

Within the national and international sphere of Plastic Surgery, specially in scientific congresses, she has been recognized for her work in the area related to 'Anatomical Facial Rejuvenation', an area which focuses on making the face look younger through the anatomical repositioning of the deep facial muscles.

During the years 2004 and 2005 Dra. Mariângela was named 'Regent' (chief-instructor) for the Plastic Surgery Teaching Service at the Hospital dos Defeitos da Face, considered in Brazil as an important teaching-hospital for the training of Plastic Surgeons.

During these past 23 years of activities, and because of being a woman, she has acquired a close understanding of the needs of her female patients, allowing her to create a philosophy regarding 'Feminine Vision of Plastic Surgery' which she applies daily with her patients.

Dra. Mariângela Freitas Lima Santiago
CREMESP - License Number 45.138 - awarded by the Regional Council of Medicine for the State of Sao Paulo. top