Jun. 3--Whether you covet
Angelina's pouty lips or Leonardo's nose, beware the cosmetic surgeon who promises you celebrity looks.
"People come into the office with pictures," said Dr. Martin Kessler, chief of plastic surgery at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside. "I tell them, 'This is not you,'" because they're starting from a whole different place.
A consultation should last 30 to 45 minutes, Kessler said, noting that, in the case of face-lifts: "You're going to commit yourself to placing a knife on your face."
Kessler said patients should seek experienced surgeons who are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who belong to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
All surgeons can do plastic surgery, Kessler said, but those who are board-certified in the specialty have completed residency training and an exam.
Dr. Alan Gold, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and head of a Great Neck ambulatory plastic surgery center, said patients might also consider doctors board-certified in ophthalmology and otolaryngology -- eye, ear, nose and throat specialties -- for cosmetic eyelid and nose procedures.
And Dr. Hillard Warm, chief of plastic surgery at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, said patients seeking implants, such as those used for breast enhancement, should ask what kind will be used.
"The surgeon should tell them what's cutting edge and what's on the horizon," Warm said.
Surgeons should reveal that full tummy tucks can leave wide scars, Warm said. And smokers should be told nicotine constricts blood vessels, which can lead to skin loss, healing and scarring problems.
Cosmetic surgery should be done in a licensed hospital or an accredited ambulatory surgical facility, said Dr. Richard D'Amico, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and chief of plastic surgery at New Jersey's Englewood Hospital. Information on accredited New York office-based facilities can be found at www.health.state.ny.us.
Gold, the Great Neck plastic surgeon, says patients seeking office-based surgery should check surgeons' credentials.
"One of the things you should look for is if they are doing procedures in their office, they should only do procedures for which they are credentialed in a local hospital," said Gold, who has surgical privileges at several Long Island hospitals.
Hospital privileges are important because complications during office-based surgery might lead to hospitalizations, said Dr. Lyle Leipziger, plastic and reconstructive surgery chief at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park and Manhasset's North Shore University Hospital.
And Leipziger warned against surgery for the wrong motive. He said: "Having trouble in a marriage is a bad reason."
Here is a sampling of top LI doctors selected by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. To find all 800 top LI doctors, with complete information on hospital affiliations, board status and medical education, go to newsday.com/topdoctors
TOP DOCS
PLASTIC SURGERY
Dr. John Anton, 138 Old Town Rd., Southampton; 631-283-9100.
Dr. Arnold Breitbart, 1155 Northern Blvd., 516-365-3511.
Dr. Alexander Dagum, Stony Brook University Medical Center;
631-444-8210.
Dr. Gregory DeVita, 650 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-466-7000.
Dr. Vincent DiGregorio, 999 Franklin Ave., Garden City; 516-742-3404.
Dr. Naishad Doctor, 2000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre; 516-678-2517.
Dr. Elliot Duboys, 864 W. Jericho Tpke., West Hills; 516-921-2244.
Dr. Marc Elkowitz, 107 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-773-9200.
Dr. Joseph Feinberg, 1201 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; 516-869-6200.
Dr. David Funt, 19 Irving Place, Woodmere; 516-295-0404.
Dr. Pamela Gallagher, 190 E. Jericho Tpke., Mineola; 631-661-2579.
Dr. Alan Gold, 833 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-498-2800.
Dr. William Groeger, 1490 Broadway, Hewlett; 516-887-5502.
Dr. Ron Israeli, 833 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-498-8400.
Dr. Alex Keller, 900 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-482-1100.
Dr. Martin Kessler, The Plastic Surgery Group, 650 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-536-5858.
Dr. Lyle Leipziger, 825 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-465-8787.
Dr. Frederick Lukash, 1129 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; 516-365-1040.
Dr. Mark Silberman, 650 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-466-7000.
Dr. Roger Simpson, 999 Franklin Ave., Garden City; 516-742-3404.
Dr. B. Donald Sklansky, 833 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-504-1800.
Dr. Arthur Wise, 1 Expressway Plaza, Roslyn Heights; 516-484-4100.
DERMATOLOGY
Dr. Pamela Basuk, 2011 Union Blvd., Bay Shore; 631-666-2900.
Dr. Charisse Dolitsky, 604 E. Park Ave., Long Beach; 516-432-0011.
Dr. Jeanne Franck, 520 Franklin Ave., Garden City; 516-741-1055.
Dr. Barbara Hisler, 1300 Union Tpke., New Hyde Park; 516-326-0333.
Dr. Leonard Kristal, 2001 Marcus Ave., Lake Success; 516-352-6151.
Dr. Richard Miller, 200 Main St., Setauket; 631-751-7070.
Dr. Daniel Siegel, 994 Jericho Tpke., Smithtown; 631-864-6647.
ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIABETES & METABOLISM
Dr. John Aloia, 222 Station Plaza North, Mineola; 516-663-3511.
Dr. Seth Friedman, 560 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-466-6165.
Dr. Marie Gelato, 26 Research Way, East Setauket; 631-444-0580.
Dr. Paul Margulies, 444 Community, Manhasset; 516-627-1366.
Dr. Craig Wexler, 285 Sills Rd, East Patchogue; 631-758-5858.
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Dr. David Bernstein, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-4281.
Dr. Peter Ells, 3 Technology Dr., East Setauket; 631-444-5220.
Dr. Ira Goldman, 310 E. Shore Rd., Great Neck; 516-487-7677.
Dr. Barry Glanzman, 152 E. Main St., Huntington; 631-421-2185.
Dr. James Grendell, 222 Station Plaza N., Mineola; 516-663-2066.
Dr. Matthew McKinley, 2800 Marcus Ave., Lake Success; 516-622-6076.
Dr. Kristin Naso, 223 Hampton Rd., Southampton; 631-283-0090.
OPHTHALMOLOGY
Dr. Philip Ferrone, 600 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-466-0390.
Dr. Alan Marks, 2110 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; 516-627-5113.
Dr. Peter Michalos, 365 County Road 39-A, Southampton; 631-283-8604.
Dr. Grace O'Malley, 186 Old Towne Rd., Southampton; 631-283-3533.
Dr. Louis Pizzarello, 137 Hampton Rd., Southampton; 631-283-5152.
Dr. John Romanelli, 222 E. Main St., Smithtown; 631-724-4488.
Dr. Steven Rubin, 600 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-465-8444.
Dr. Joseph Weinstein, 4212 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpage; 516-731-4800.
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
Dr. Allan Abramson, LIJ Medical Center, 270-05 76th Ave.,
New Hyde Park; 516-470-7555.
Dr. Michael Gordon, 430 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park; 718-470-8922.
Dr. Richard Litman, 251 E. Oakland Ave., Port Jefferson; 631-928-0188.
Dr. Michael Setzen, 33 E. Shore Rd., Manhasset; 516-482-8778.
Dr. Maisie Shindo, Stony Brook University Hospital; 631-444-8242.
Dr. Jay Youngerman, 875 Old Country Rd., Suite 200, Plainview; 516-931-5552.
OTHER SPECIALTIES
ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY
Dr. Vincent Bonagura, 865 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-622-5070.
Dr. Sharon Markovics, 1129 Northern Blvd., Manhasset; 516-365-6077.
Dr. Daniel Mayer, 263 E. Main St., Smithtown; 631-366-5252.
Dr. Michael Richheimer, 1855 Union Blvd., Bay Shore; 631-665-6363.
Dr. Marc Sicklick, 123 Grove Ave., Cedarhurst; 516-569-5550.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Dr. Burke Cunha, 222 Station Plaza N., Mineola; 516-663-2507.
Dr. Eileen Hilton, 225 Community Dr., Great Neck; 516-470-6900.
Dr. Diane Johnson, 222 Station Plaza N., Mineola; 516-663-2505.
Dr. Bernard Nash, 500 Montauk Hwy., West Islip; 631-587-7733.
Dr. Anne Sacks-Berg, 120 New York Ave., Huntington; 631-423-9809.
Dr. Carol Singer, 270-05 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-7290.
MATERNAL & FETAL MEDICINE
Dr. Victor Klein, 900 Northern Blvd., Great Neck; 516-466-0778.
Dr. Alan Monheit, Stony Brook University Medical Center; 631-444-4686.
Dr. Burton Rochelson, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-4458.
REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY
Dr. Steven Brenner, 2001 Marcus Ave., Lake Success; 516-358-6363.
Dr. Michael L. Lydic, 6 Technology Dr., East Setauket; 631-444-4686.
Dr. David Rosenfeld, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-2229.
NEPHROLOGY
Dr. Steven Fishbane, 200 Old Country Rd., Mineola; 516-663-2169.
Dr. Joseph Mattana, 100 Community Dr., Great Neck; 516-465-3010.
Dr. John Wagner, 410 Lakeville Rd., New Hyde Park; 516-465-5260.
NEURORADIOLOGY
Dr. Avi Setton, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-3021.
CHILD & ADOLESCENT
PSYCHIATRY
Dr. Gabrielle Carlson, Stony Brook University Medical Center;
631-632-8840.
Dr. Carmel Foley, Schneider Childrens Hospital, 269-01 76th Ave., New Hyde Park; 718-470-3550.
Dr. Victor Fornari, North Shore University Hospital, 400 Community Dr., Manhasset; 516-562-3051.
Dr. Judith Greenberg, 410 E. Main St., Centerport; 631-754-4060.
Dr. John Pomeroy, The Cody Center for Autism, 5 Medical Dr., Port Jefferson Station; 631-632-3070.
PSYCHIATRY
Dr. Cathy Budman, North Shore-LIJ Health System Department Psychiatry & Neurology, Manhasset; 516-562-3223.
Dr. Patrick Carone, 2000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre; 516-766-2871.
Dr. Jovita Crasta, 2277 Grand Ave., Baldwin; 516-377-5408.
Dr. Jack Nass, 580 Sunrise Hwy., West Babylon; 631-321-7697.
Dr. William Packard, 887 Old Country Rd., Riverhead; 631-727-3596.
Dr. Arthur Rifkin, 585 Plandome Rd., Manhasset; 516-456-6557.
Dr. Bruce Rosen, 222 E. Middle Country Rd., Smithtown; 631-265-6868.
How they were picked
Newsday.com/topdoctors helps consumers choose physicians identified as top doctors by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a Manhattan publisher of consumer guides to doctors.
Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected as a Castle Connolly doctor. For a full description of the evaluation process, go to newsday.com/topdoctors.
Newsday was not involved in the selection.
To see the whole list . . .
Who else is on the list of Top Doctors?
There are more than 6,000 listings in the New York Metro Area edition
of "Top Doctors," published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. The soft-cover list price is $24.95. For more information, go to castleconnolly.com, or call 800-399-DOCS.
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