Illume Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa
Dr. Jenna G. Cusic
Dr. Jenna Cusic is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is thrilled to return to the Midwest and her prior home of Milwaukee, joining Illume. She practices plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery of the face, body, and breast.
She was first captivated by plastic surgery during middle school, which quickly transformed into her lifelong passion. She personally understands the impact that plastic and reconstructive surgery can impart on an individual. At a young age she underwent repair of eyelid ptosis (drooping). After surgery she no longer had to “create the appearance of me every day, I was me.”
Dr. Cusic was raised in North Dakota and completed her undergraduate education at the University of North Dakota, earning the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. She graduated medical school from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine as the youngest in her class, receiving a multitude of honors, scholarships, and awards for scholastic achievement and research. She then completed a six-year integrated plastic surgery residency training program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Subsequently, her surgical training was further elevated through two distinguished surgical fellowships, including an ASAPS endorsed Aesthetic Surgery fellowship.
Dr. Cusic’s goal is to understand each patient’s desire in relation to their physical concern and create a tailored plan to help facilitate the expression or restoration of their inside beauty through their outward function and appearance.
“I look forward to the privilege of being a part of your journey.”
Dr. Cusic's Education
Undergraduate Education:
- University of North Dakota (graduated Summa Cum Laude)
Medical School:
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine, (youngest in her class)
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- Received numerous honors, scholarships, and awards for scholastic achievement and research.
Residency:
- Six-year integrated Plastic Surgery residency program at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Fellowships:
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One-year ASAPS (American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) endorsed Aesthetic Surgery fellowship under Dr. Kiya Movassaghi in Eugene, Oregon
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One-year Hand Surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas
Dr. Cusic's Honors, Awards, & Recognitions
- Top Doctor, Milwaukee Magazine – 2026, 2025, 2024
- Best Research Paper (“Effects of Calcitonin-containing Media on Calcium Concentrations in Injured Peripheral Nerves of Rats”), MCW Department of Plastic Surgery – 2018
- Axel and Agnes Kongslie Memorial Scholarship Endowment Award (Excellence in Medical Research), UNDSMHS – 2012
- Dr. James Kelleher Award (Overall Academic Achievement), UNDSMHS – 2010
- Ray F. Duggan Scholarship – 2011, 2010, 2009
Dr. Cusic's Community Service & Extracurricular Activities
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Member of Breast Program Leadership Committee, ProHealth
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Jan 2021 – present
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Plastic Surgeon advisor to Savage Support
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March 2026 – presentSupports local breast cancer patients beyond their medical care
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The Aesthetic Foundation’s Externship Program Task Force Member
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May 2024-current
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Assists medical students without home Plastic Surgery programs obtain exposure to plastic surgery
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Women Aesthetic Surgeons Committee member
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2024-current
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The Aesthetic Foundation Externship Program Mentor
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2024-2025
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Representative for The Aesthetic Society to the American Medical Association Women Physicians Section Associate Network
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May 2024 – current
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Carroll University Preceptor for Physician Assistant Students
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Dec 2024 to Jan 2025, April 2025
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Member of the Young Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (YAPS)
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2024
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BigWig for Susan G Komen Foundation to raise money for breast cancer
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March 2023
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Member of PSI-90 Improvement Project Team, ProHealth
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2021-2023
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Director-At-Large for Waukesha County Medical Society
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2021 – present
Dr. Cusic's Research
2020: “Prepectoral Implant-based Breast Reconstruction with Poly-4-Hydroxybutyrate for Pocket Control and without the use of ADM” under Dr. Movassaghi, Movassaghi Plastic Surgery Aesthetic Fellowship
2019: “Heterotopic Ossification after Distal Biceps Repair: Lessons Learned from Referrals and a Selected Review of the Literature” under Dr. Mehlhoff, Baylor College of Medicine
2019: “Anatomy of the central slip insertion” under Dr. Netscher with Jenny Lee Nguyen, Baylor College of Medicine
2018: “Volar pad re-suspension” under Dr. Hani Matloub and Dr. Anne Argenta, MCW Department of Plastic Surgery
2017: “Near Infrared Light Effect on Nerve Regeneration” under Dr. Hani Matloub, MCW Department of Plastic Surgery
2016: “Calcitonin and Calcitonin Receptor Expression after Peripheral Nerve Injury” under Dr. Ji-Geng Yan, MCW Department of Plastic Surgery
2013: “Spindle Cell Lipoma of the Neck: Review of the Literature and Case Report” under Dr. Hani Matloub and Dr. James Sanger, MCW Department of Plastic Surgery
2012: “Management of Closed Degloving Injuries: Review of the Literature and Aburn Center’s Experience” under Dr. William Mohr, Regions Hospital Burn Center
2011: “Association between Travel Distance and Type of Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction.” under James Beal, Ph.D., Sahmoun, Ph.D., UNDSMHS
2006: “Personality Styles” under Vikki McCleary, Ph.D., UNDSMHS
Dr. Cusic's publications
2024: Movassaghi K, Gilson A, Stewart C, Cusic J, Movassaghi A. Prepectoral Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruciton with Poly-4- Hydroxybutyrate for Pocket Control without the Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix: A 4-year review, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2024; 154 (1): 15-24
2021: Cusic J, Garbuzov A, Katira K, et al. Use of Vein Grafting to Overcome Stenosis of Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2022; 10(1): e4021; doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004021
2020: Movassaghi K, Cusic J. Chapter 1. Shaping the Breast: Optimizing Outcomes in Breast Augmentation. In: Movassaghi K. Shaping the Breast. Springer Nature Switzerland; 2021: 1-34
2019: Gehring M, Yang K, Cusic J, Ramamurthi A, Matloub H, Argenta A. A Novel Surgical Technique for Resuspension of Digit Pulp Tissue After Degloving Injuries. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2019; 7:e2600; doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002600
2017: Cusic J, Venditto C, Matloub H, Nemiroff, P. Chapter 28. Hyperbaric Oxygen in Skin Grafts and Flaps. In: Whelan H, Kindwall E. Hyperbaric Medicine Practice. 4th Ed.. Best Pusblishing Company. 2017: 812-833
2016: Cusic J, Hettinger P. Chapter 90. Infiltration and Extravasation Injuries. In: Lin S, Hijjawi J. Pearls of Wisdom Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Boards Review. 3rd Ed. McGraw-Hill Education. 2016: 841-849
2016: Dzwierzynski W, O’Connor E, Cusic J. Chapter 77. Ear Reconstruction. In: Lin S, Hijjawi J. Pearls of Wisdom Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Boards Review. 3rd Ed. McGraw-Hill Education. 2016: 743-750
2015: Machol J, Cusic J, O’Connor E, et al. Spindle Cell Lipoma of the Neck: Review of the Literature and Case Report. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2015; 3(11): e550; doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000000405
2009: Wu M., Audet A., Cusic J, et al. Broad DNA Repair Responses in Neural Injury are Associated with Activation of the IL-6 Pathway in Cholesterol-fed Rabbits. Journal of Neurochemistry, 2009; 111(4):1011-1021
Dr. Cusic's Professional Society Memberships
American Society of Plastic Surgeons Active Member
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Active Member
Wisconsin Medical Society Member