Multidisciplinary Center for Facial, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery

Columbia doctors from three specialities—otolaryngology, dermatology, and ophthalmology—have joined together at the Center for Facial, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery to offer a variety of synergistic services for the first time at a single ColumbiaDoctors location. 

The new center at 880 Third Avenue in Midtown East provides patients with a unique interdisciplinary approach. 

“This type of collaboration is the wave of the future,” says Faramarz Samie, MD, PhD, vice chair of the Department of Dermatology and associate professor of dermatology. Dr. Samie, a specialist in Mohs micrographic surgery, shares patients with the other specialties.

“For a lot of patients with skin cancer on the eyelids, for example, we need to consult with specialists in ophthalmology,” he says. 

Having specialists in all three disciplines in one location is unusual, says Bryan Winn, MD, associate professor of ophthalmology at CUMC, but “it makes the multidisciplinary approach very easy and discussions and clinical decisions can be made in real time.”

As an oculoplastic surgeon, Dr. Winn often works with an otolaryngologist to treat the same patient. “We frequently work together on the surgical reconstruction of patients who have complex injuries spanning the face, nose, eyelids, and orbit,” Dr. Winn says. “Having a multidisciplinary team work together in these cases greatly benefits the patient and allows us to achieve overall better outcomes.”

Other Columbia physicians in otolaryngology, ophthalmology, and dermatology have moved into the new Third Avenue office, joining the Columbia University Laser Vision Center and the Voice and Swallowing Institute, which caters to professional singers and others with vocal dysfunction.

Services for patients have expanded at Third Avenue, including an increase in Mohs surgery availability to five days a week and the relaunch of cosmetic and laser services. Most of the services offered by ColumbiaDoctors Dermatology are available for same-day or next-day appointments.

Jeff Ballinger

To schedule an appointment, call the Third Avenue office at 212-305-9535.