About Robert S. Reiffel, MD

Wouldn’t you want to be treated by someone who Health Grades has ranked in the Top 10% in the entire country for patient satisfaction? Wouldn’t you want to be treated by someone who Castle-Connolly, New York Magazine, and Westchester Magazine have consistently ranked among the best, as voted on by other physicians, who get to see the good and the bad and have chosen Dr. Reiffel as the one to whom they would send their family, year after year? It only makes sense to follow those recommendations. A 1968 graduate of Yale University, Robert S. Reiffel received his M.D. from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, in 1972. He completed a 5 year internship and residency in general surgery at The Roosevelt Hospital in New York City from 1972-1977. He then completed his Plastic Surgery Residency at the prestigious Institute for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at New York University from 1977-1979, training at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital as part of the program. He was part of the elite team of plastic surgeons who reattached the hand of the young female musician who was pushed under a New York City subway train. After finishing his plastic surgery training, Dr. Reiffel went on to complete a Hand Surgery Fellowship at New York University Medical Center from 1979-1980. The hand surgery training has made him optimally qualified to perform ultra precise surgery, for the accuracy required in that area is much more demanding than in other fields. He applies those qualities to every endeavor he undertakes in all aspects of plastic and cosmetic surgery. As a result of his training, he has been board certified by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, has received a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. After completing his training, Dr. Reiffel continued to excel in his field, winning First Prize in the Senior Division of the 1980 Scholarship Contest sponsored by the Educational Foundation of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He has written multiple journal articles and book chapters on plastic surgery and is past Chairman of the Plastic Surgery Section of the Department of Surgery in White Plains Hospital, where he is the Past-President of the Medical Staff. Not only is he talented in plastic surgery, but his aesthetic eye is also expert, as evidenced by his award for the Best Original Photographic Exhibit in the 1993 Greater New York Orchid Show. This prompted the naming of his office “Artistic Plastic Surgery,” where his multiple photographs are on exhibit. The facility focuses not only on successful surgery, but also on patient safety and patient satisfaction, having been accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the same organization that accredits hospitals. The entire staff of Artistic Plastic Surgery recognizes how important it is to talk to and listen to patients. They understand the importance of making patients feel comfortable and answering all their questions, large and small. They understand that patients want a comfortable, reassuring environment that will help them overcome their natural anxieties. Prior to your procedure, you will receive a tour of the operating room, if you like, and personally be introduced to all the staff members who will play a role in your surgical care. You will be educated as to what is necessary before the surgery, and what to expect afterwards, in terms of pain management, healing time, activity limitations, post-surgical make-up, etc. Dr. Reiffel is proud of the fact that he has been selected multiple times by the Castle Connolly Guide and New York Magazine as one of the best doctors in the New York area. Those publications derive their recommendations from other physicians, who are asked where they would send a family member for treatment. Other physicians get to see the good and the not so good, and they choose the best. Health Grades has ranked him among the top 10 % in the entire country in terms of patient satisfaction. Ultimately, the goal is either to restore what was, or create what never was, while always achieving a result which is completely natural looking. It is important for patients to understand the specific goals of the planned treatment, and the specific reasons why alternative treatments have not been chosen, because no amount of execution will make up for a bad plan.