Dr. Sam S. Rizk
Dr. Sam S. Rizk MD, FACS
Website:
www.drsamrizk.com ,
www.rhinoplasty-pedia.com
Address: 1040 Park Ave, New York, NY 10028
Phone: 212.452.3362
Dr. Sam S. Rizk MD, FACS is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon operating in New York City. He is highly respected for his rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty and septoplasty procedures, having produced advanced techniques and ground-breaking work. He also does facelifts, necklifts and eyelid surgeries. Dr. Rizk combines his background as a sculptor with that of a medically-trained surgeon to render the most quality procedures to his patients. Dr. Rizk brings 16 years of combined surgical experience which includes not only cosmetic surgery but reconstructive surgery and head and neck surgery at some of NYC's best hospitals including New York Hospital, Memorial Sloan-kettering Cancer Center, Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospitals. He teaches his advanced techniques at plastic surgery conferences worldwide.
Q: What are your credentials?
Dr. Rizk: I am a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon by the American Board of Surgery in Facial Plastic & reconstructive surgery and in the Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. My training includes an accelerated honors program at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor where I received a medical degree. At the University of Michigan, I was part of the integrated pre-medical medical school program (Inteflex) which accepted students directly from high school. I did an internship in general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, then a residency in Otolaryngology/head and neck surgery/facial plastic surgery at New York Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Finally, I did an American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery - Certified fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery in California. Afterwards I returned to my native New York to open a private practice and join the staff of Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital, both New York University Medical School affiliates, to teach and practice facial plastic surgery.
Q: What kind of praise have you received?
Dr. Rizk: I have been honored for my innovative work in the field with induction into The Rhinoplasty Society, a non-profit organization comprised of the most respected nasal surgeons in the world. Membership is through invitation only and is extended to industry trailblazers who are deeply committed to aesthetic and reconstructive nasal surgery. I was selected as a Top Doctor listed in Castle Connolly's Top Doctors: New York Metro Area for four consecutive years starting in 2010. I received the coveted Harvard University Scholarship in 1984.
Q: What sets you apart from other facial plastic surgeons?
Dr. Rizk: I have developed my own techniques and published methods for tailoring and customizing my procedures to the patient's facial structure and degree of aging, rather than "one size" (or in this case, one procedure) for all. My advances in the field with tissue sealants, high definition 3d telescopes as well as the stronger Endotines instead of stitches have resulted in natural outcomes with a rapid recovery and hidden, smaller incisions. I was one of first to do the combined endonasal rhinoplasty and sinus/septal surgery procedures, the pioneer of the 3 dimentional-virtual rhinoplasty surgeries, which have dramatically increased precision and decreased recovery for rhinoplasty surgery. I incorporate various tissue sealants as well as shorter scars for a more rapid recovery and quicker return to normal daily activities. I believe my newer techniques are tailored more precisely for younger patients and male patients. I also use tissue glue instead of conventional packing after rhinoplasty. I feel packing creates more swelling, is painful, and distorts the appearance of the nose.
Q: What is the best age to get a rhinoplasty?
Dr. Rizk: There is no standard age for getting a rhinoplasty. Instead, you should consider getting a rhinoplasty when you have stopped growing, as your nose is still developing before you reach your full maturity. For most, this is the time after puberty. I would generally say that for girls, that age is 16 and for boys, 18. However, everyone develops differently and there are plenty of exceptions to this rule. Some girls and boys don not stop growing up until their early twenties. If you choose to get rhinoplasty at an age before your full growth reach, the facial structures are still in the process of growing and this includes the bone and cartilage found in the nose.
Q: You are one of the only plastic surgeons to offer Platelet-rich Plasma as a facial rejuvenation technique. What is this?
Dr. Rizk: Platelet-rich Plasma or PRP, is found in the blood and used in application for facial rejuvenation and other aesthetic medicine. Increasing the number of these platelets and growth factors in the blood can have regenerative effects on the skin, slowing or reversing the signs of aging. PRP is blood that contains higher concentrations of platelets and growth factors than normal blood. These substances stimulate stem cells to produce collagen and blood vessels, in turn slowing or reversing the signs of aging. I use PRP treatments in areas where dermal fillers, neurotoxins and lasers aren’t always effective, including around the eyes and mouth. Our bodies naturally produce stem cells that help us heal by stimulating the growth of collagen, as well as blood vessels that deliver oxygen to bodily tissues. Platelets and growth factors found in the blood stimulate stem cells, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains three to five times as many of these substances as normal blood. PRP has been used for years to heal wounds and for other purposes. Research suggests that PRP therapies may eventually be able to treat everything from fine lines and wrinkles to acne scarring and rosacea. The procedure works by using a patient's blood (about 20cc) in a centrifuge and spun in order to separate the blood from the growth factors, platelets and stem cells. This rejuvenative mixture is then micro-injected in areas of the face where signs of aging have appeared, such as the areas surrounding the eyes, cheeks, mouth and forehead.
Q: What kind of Platelet-rich Plasma Procedures do you offer and how are they used?
Dr. Rizk: I use platelet-rich plasma therapies to treat the areas around the eyes and mouth area. I use them via PRP injections. Injections involving platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are the latest wave in facial rejuvenation. PRP injections may be effective in delicate areas such as the tear trough, adding plumpness and improving skin texture. They can also be used to treat crow’s feet. Platelet-rich plasma is also contained in filler products used to treat deep or fine lines and wrinkles in the perioral area — the area around the mouth. It should be noted that the effects may be short-lived in some cases. And as with any medical treatment, there is always a chance of side effects with PRP facial rejuvenation.. Facial rejuvenation with PRP is also known as PRP facial rejuvenation, blood facelift and Blood PRP Lift.
Q: What is a revision rhinoplasty and how do you approach one?
Dr. Rizk: A revision rhinoplasty is a rhinoplasty surgery performed after a primary one, often due to a patient’s dissatisfaction with the results of the first. This surgery is used to correct any flaws left over from the primary rhinoplasty. If you are unsatisfied with the results of your rhinoplasty procedure, you may be thinking of having another procedure to address your aesthetic and/or functional concerns. Revision rhinoplasty surgery is one of my core specialties. I have a multifarious approach, in which I repair a range of problematic conditions. I restore and correct collapses, saddle noses, asymmetric noses, drooping tips, pinched tips, pointy tips, an inverted V deformity, a hanging columella, external valve collapse, an open roof deformity and also improve the patient's breathing ability. A patient may have more than one revision rhinoplasty procedure depending on their aesthetic goals.
Q: What is a septoplasty?
Dr. Rizk: A septoplasty is a surgical procedure necessary to correct a deviated septum, which causes a host of problems including difficulty breathing, sinus infections, nasal congestion, nosebleeds, headaches, post-nasal drip and sleeping problems such as sleep apnea. A septum is made of bone and cartilage that separates that nasal cavity of the nose into two spaces. When the septum is deviated, it is displaced from its normally occurring position in the middle of the nose. Instead it is located somewhere to the side or is crooked. When this misalignment is significant, the problems become severe enough to require a septoplasty surgery. During a septoplasty, the deviated septum is positioned to the center of you nasal cavity or is restructured to lose its crooked appearance. This may entail cutting pieces of your septum before placing them in a proper position.
Q: What is eyelid surgery for?
Dr. Rizk: Eyelid Surgery, also called a blepharoplasty is used to correct problems arising from the lower and upper eye areas, which includes the eyelids. As we age, the upper and lower eyes develop loose skin and excess fat that creates puffiness. I prefer minimally invasive techniques to remove excess skin and fat and rejuvenate the upper and lower lids. Most patients are able to return to normal activity within one week, looking more refreshed and youthful. I utilize an advanced scar-less technique using an incision inside the lower lid (transconjunctival) and reduce wrinkles with laser surfacing or skin excision as indicated. Blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve sight by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision. The procedure is usually performed in an office with local anesthesia in as little as 45 minutes. Blepharoplasty can be combined with a facelift or BOTOX® treatments to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet or dark circles under the eyes.
Q: How else are you involved in the plastic surgery community?
Dr. Rizk: I teach these techniques at conferences worldwide. I have been recognized for my humanitarian efforts, performing free reconstructive surgery and operating on those in need. An active member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) FACE-TO-FACE Program, I use my surgical expertise to improve lives. I am on the medical advisory board of Little Baby Face Foundation. I also hold membership inThe Rhinoplasty Society, Inc. I have published some landmark articles on facelifts, rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty surgeries describing new techniques to be applied differently to younger and older patients. My medical textbook contributions address many issues for rapid recovery as well as custom approaches for rhinoplasty and facelift surgery. My article in Plastic and Reconstructive surgery journal provides a new algorithm for evaluating the lower lid, including the scar-less transconjunctival approach and fat repositioning instead of removal to avoid the hollow look.
