ABOUT DR. SMITH

Dr. Smith is world-renowned for his expertise in microsurgery and breast reconstruction. He is passionate about innovation and excellence in patient care. Dr. Smith's clinical work has earned him numerous Patients' Choice Awards and physician recognition including listings in Castle Connolly's Top Doctors in Plastic Surgery, Top Doctors for Cancer, and America's Top Doctors, Newsweek Magazine's America's Top Doctors for Cancer, New York Magazine's Best Doctors, Best Doctors in America and New York Super Doctors.  

Dr. Mark L. Smith is System Vice-Chairman in the Department of Surgery and Vice-President of the Surgical Service Line for Northwell Health System. He also serves as Director of Reconstructive Oncology for Northwell Health Cancer Institute and the Executive Director of the Friedman Center for Breast and Lymphatic Surgery. Dr. Smith is a full Professor of Surgery at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

Prior to joining Northwell, Dr. Smith served as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center and was Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He was Director of Plastic Surgery for Continuum Cancer Centers of New York, a multi-hospital cancer program that includes Mount Sinai's Beth Israel, St. Luke's and Roosevelt Medical Centers, as well as New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He also served as Director of the Friedman Center for Lymphedema Research and Treatment, which he founded while at Mount Sinai. Dr. Smith is an expert in Breast Reconstruction and Head and Neck Reconstruction and is double-fellowship trained in Microsurgery and Craniofacial Surgery. Prior to becoming Chief of Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, he was Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery and Director of the Continuum Craniofacial and Cleft Palate Center. Dr. Smith has published and been invited to speak nationally and internationally on Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction, Head and Neck Reconstruction, Facial Reanimation, Lymphedema Surgery, Lipedema, Oncoplastic Surgery, Craniofacial Surgery and Pediatric Plastic Surgery. He has been an international medical volunteer for the past twenty years and has performed reconstructive surgery and taught local surgeons in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central America and South America.

Dr. Smith received his B.A. from Cornell University and his M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He undertook his General Surgery and Plastic Surgery residency training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He completed two fellowships, one in Microvascular and Oncologic Reconstruction at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the other in Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at University of Washington's Harborview Hospital and Seattle Children's Hospital. 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

An expert in complex reconstructive surgery, Dr. Smith was the first surgeon to perform Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstructions in New York City. He has trained and mentored over 100 residents and attending surgeons in plastic surgery, including many surgeons who now specialize in DIEP flap reconstruction.  

Dr. Smith recently published the results of his new protocol for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) after DIEP Flap Reconstruction.  By implementing a multimodal non-narcotic pain control regimen, including long-acting local anesthetics, the study demonstrated a 95% reduction in inpatient narcotic requirement and allowed most patients to leave the hospital on the second day after surgery (rather than the national average of 4-5 days). 

In addition to Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flaps, Dr. Smith performs Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery (SIEA) flaps, Profunda Artery Perforator (PAP) flaps, Transverse and Diagonal Upper Gracilis (TUG and DUG) flaps and Gluteal Artery Perforator (GAP) flaps for breast reconstruction.

Additional publications on DIEP flap reconstruction:

The efficacy of simultaneous breast reconstruction and contralateral balancing procedures in reducing the need for second stage operations.

Comparison of irradiated versus non irradiated DIEP flaps in patients undergoing immediate bilateral DIEP reconstruction with unilateral post mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT).

Bilateral breast reconstruction from a single hemiabdomen using angiosome-based flap design.

Factors influencing incidence and type of postmastectomy breast reconstruction in an urban multidisciplinary cancer center.

Conjoint deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps: case series of two patients with subfascial communication of the deep inferior epigastric vein.

Modern perforator flap imaging with high-resolution blood pool MR angiography.

ONCOPLASTIC SURGERY

Dr. Smith is a pioneer in Oncoplastic Surgery. He published one of the first case series in the United States using oncoplastic techniques for breast conservation in patients with breast cancer. He has been an invited lecturer nationally and internationally on oncoplastic reconstruction and the use of perforator flaps. Dr. Smith developed the Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Program at Continuum Cancer Centers of New York.  

LYMPHEDEMA SURGERY

Dr. Smith and his colleague were the first surgeons in North America to perform successful vascularized lymph node transfer to the wrist for the treatment of lymphedema. They also developed a technique called "Reverse Lymphatic Mapping for Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer" to minimize the risk of causing lymphedema in the donor extremity. Their work has been shared at numerous national and international conferences and recently accepted for publication in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In 2012, they were invited to Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv to perform the first vascularized lymph node transfers in Israel. They also were invited to demonstrate their work at the International Symposium on Lymphatic Surgery in Taipei, Taiwan where they performed a live surgical demonstration of Reverse Lymphatic Mapping for Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer before an international audience of 150 microsurgeons. Dr. Smith is Director of the Friedman Center for Breast and Lymphatic Surgery (www.FriedmanCenter.org). He is one of the Co-Founders of the American Society for Lymphatic Surgery. (Update - Dr. Smith is currently only performing immediate lymphatic reconstruction at time of lymph node removal)

Additional publications on lymphatic surgery:

Heterotopic vascularized lymph node transfer to the medial calf without a skin paddle for restoration of lymphatic function: Proof of concept.

Considerations for Clinicians in the Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Recommendations from a Multidisciplinary Expert ASBrS Panel : Part 1: Definitions, Assessments, Education, and Future Directions.

Considerations for Clinicians in the Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema, Recommendations from an Expert Panel: Part 2: Preventive and Therapeutic Options.

The use of magnetic resonance angiography in vascularized groin lymph node transfer: an anatomic study.

PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Smith's career has been dedicated to innovating treatments for patients with challenging reconstructive needs resulting from cancer, trauma and birth defects. He and his staff are committed to ensuring that patients and families are given the guidance they need to make the right decisions. Care is provided in a compassionate and respectful environment.

Your Consultation

Dr. Smith sees patients at Friedman Center for Breast and Lymphatic Surgery.

Facilities

Dr. Smith has relocated his surgical practice to  Long Island Jewish Hospital and Huntington Hospital on Long Island. He sees patients in Great Neck at the Friedman Center for Breast and Lymphatic Surgery at 600 Northern Blvd., Suite 310.