Dr. Saman, The Surgeon
Dr. Saman is a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, specializing in rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation. Unique among his peers, he is fellowship-trained in both head and neck oncologic surgery and facial plastic surgery. Before returning to NYC, Dr. Saman was the Medical Director of Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery in Dallas.
With a background as an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, and extensive fellowship training in reconstructive and facial aesthetic surgery across the USA, France, Turkey, and Spain, Dr. Saman possesses a unique skill set and vision that distinguish him in his field.
Dr. Saman is one of the few surgeons in the United States formally trained in Preservation Rhinoplasty, as well as ultrasonic and scarless rhinoplasty techniques. He is also among the select few nationwide who perform a true extended deep plane facelift, the most natural and long-lasting face lifting technique available. Not all surgeons are created equal; while many may claim they perform true preservation or ultrasonic rhinoplasty, or deep plane facelifting, few actually do. Dr. Saman has won multiple national and international awards as a top surgeon, further highlighting his expertise and dedication to his craft.
Dr. Saman’s approach is holistic, focusing on achieving elegant, natural outcomes. He is committed to avoiding the fake or overdone plastic surgery look, grounding his work philosophy in artistic expression.
Given the exceptional quality of Dr. Saman’s work, many patients travel from far and wide to consult with him. After years of successful practice in Dallas, where he built one of the most prestigious rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation centers in the area, Dr. Saman has decided to move his practice back to New York City.
Dr. Saman, the Artist
Dr. Saman comes from a family of artists, which has profoundly shaped his approach to plastic surgery. His mother is an accomplished painter, and his father was a literary man and poet. Growing up immersed in the arts, Dr. Saman developed a keen eye for beauty and a deep appreciation for artistic expression.
This artistic upbringing heavily influences Dr. Saman’s view of plastic surgery. He is not just another plastic surgeon who is technically excellent; he is an artist who has mastered the techniques of plastic surgery to create customized and stylized results for his patients. For Dr. Saman, each procedure is a work of art, carefully crafted to enhance the natural beauty of each individual. His unique perspective allows him to deliver outcomes that are not only technically precise but also elegantly harmonious, ensuring that his patients look their best and feel their best.
Understanding the importance of artistry in plastic surgery means recognizing that true beauty is about more than just technique; it’s about having the vision and skill to bring that beauty to life. Dr. Saman’s artistic background and mastery of surgical techniques set him apart, allowing him to provide results that are as unique and beautiful as his patients.
Educational Background
Undergraduate
- Bachelor of Science, Neuroscience, UT Dallas
Medical School
- MD, UT Health San Antonio
- Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School
Post-Graduate Training
- Surgery Internship, Saint Vincent Catholic Hospital, NYC
- Otolaryngology Residency, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, NYC
- Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship, Texas Health Care
- Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Fellowship, AAFPRS
- Preservation Rhinoplasty Fellowship
Board Certification
- Diplomate, American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Diplomate, American Board of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery
Leadership and Teaching
- Medical Director, Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery, HCA Medical City
- Faculty, American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery DFW Fellowship Program
- Faculty, AO Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Training Program
- Program Director, International Facial Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship
- Membership and Affiliation
- Fellow, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Fellow, International Society of Rhinoplasty Surgeons
- Fellow, American Academy of Facial Cosmetic Surgery
- Member, European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery
- Member, Rhinoplasty Society of Europe
- Member, North American Skull Base Society
- Member, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Dr. Saman’s Journey to Medical Education
Dr. Saman was born in Tehran, Iran to a Persian father and an Azerbaijani mother. He moved to the United States at the age of 15. He has always been driven by a wide range of passions, seamlessly blending right-brain creativity with left-brain logic. During his undergraduate years, he found it challenging to balance his love for visual and cinematic arts, theater, philosophy, and human studies with his fascination for natural sciences, physics, and psychology. While academic paths typically demand a choice between a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science, Dr. Saman desired the freedom to explore both realms.
He attended the University of Texas at Dallas, where he majored in Neuroscience, immersing himself in the study of the human brain, cognition, and behavior. This journey ultimately led him to medicine, where he discovered the perfect harmony of art and science in enhancing and preserving human well-being.
During his undergraduate studies, Dr. Saman took time off to study at the Université de Paris, where he immersed himself in French Language and Humanities. This experience led to many months of backpacking across Europe, during which he worked as a part-time street musician, dabbling in flamenco guitar. Upon his return, he completed his undergraduate degree and was accepted at the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio.
In his first year of medical school, Dr. Saman had a life-changing encounter. While dining with his then-girlfriend, now wife and accomplished pediatric dentist, they were waited on by a young Syrian man who shared his story of being born with a cleft lip. His facial anomaly wasn’t repaired, leading to years of shame and isolation. This heartfelt story deeply moved both Dr. Saman and his wife, inspiring them to dedicate their lives to improving facial anomalies.
In 2006, the couple founded Chance to Smile, a non-profit organization aimed at providing education, social support, and medical care for individuals born with cleft lip and palate. By 2007, the student-run organization had grown to over 100 members, reflecting their commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by facial anomalies.
Dr. Saman’s career path had become clear, guided by a newfound sense of purpose. He had discovered his calling, a career that seamlessly blended his artistic passions with his scientific curiosity for a higher good. Determined to become a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he dove in headfirst, fully committed to this journey. Meanwhile, his wife pursued her training in pediatric dentistry, specializing in cleft lip and palate care.
Their shared dedication led them to organize medical mission trips to Mexico and Nicaragua, where they provided volunteer medical services. During these missions, Dr. Saman had the privilege of working under the esteemed late Fernando Ortiz Monasterio. They also established support groups and registries for affected families in South Texas and offered educational programs for local health practitioners.
In recognition of his dedication and efforts, Dr. Saman was peer-nominated and inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. In 2006, his commitment to advancing medical knowledge earned him a Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), allowing him to complete a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. His journey then took him to Sevilla, Spain, where he completed a clinical rotation in facial cosmetic surgery, further honing his expertise and deepening his passion for his craft.
Residency and Formal Surgical Training
Upon his return, Dr. Saman was one of the fortunate only four surgeons per year nationwide who were accepted into the prestigious New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai to continue his training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in Manhattan.
Determined not to be confined to a single specialty, Dr. Saman sought out the training and mentorship of specialists in plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, dermatologic surgery, and head and neck surgery. He had the privileged opportunity to learn from pioneers in these fields who generously opened their operating room doors and shared their wisdom with him. He is particularly indebted to Donald Wood-Smith, M.D., the Chairman of the Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, for his invaluable mentorship.
During his training, Dr. Saman used his vacation and elective times to travel the country and further his education. He completed a mini-fellowship with John Mulliken, M.D., at Boston Children’s Hospital. In 2012, he was selected for the highly coveted facial plastic and reconstructive surgery advanced training program, an additional year of specialized training under the auspices of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, with the esteemed Yadro Ducic, MD, whom Dr. Saman admires greatly as a mentor and a friend. During that year alone, Dr. Saman performed over two thousand head and neck and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeries, including microvascular head and neck reconstructive surgeries and complex skull base surgeries.
Career as an Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Upon completing his formal training, Dr. Saman was recruited by HCA hospital systems as the Medical Director of Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery, tasked with creating their first center of excellence for North Texas in Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery. Working alongside excellent colleagues, he helped establish the largest head and neck cancer center in Collin County, a feat of which he is immensely proud.
For several years, Dr. Saman performed both cosmetic and oncologic/reconstructive surgery. Deeply involved in caring for cancer patients, the center took on some of the most complex head and neck cancers, often treating patients who had been turned away by smaller centers. Dr. Saman formed deep bonds with patients and their families as they navigated their journeys to beat cancer, creating many impactful memories during those times.
Simultaneously, Dr. Saman served as the acting Chief of Facial Trauma Surgery and a teaching faculty member at AO CMF, the international organization involved in the standardization of facial trauma reconstructive protocols. At their Level I trauma center, patients were care-flighted for some of the most complex facial trauma cases, including ballistic injuries to the face and more. Dr. Saman spent countless hours reconstructing faces that were sometimes unrecognizable at first, dedicating his skills to restoring both function and appearance.
Decision to Focus on Facial Aesthetic Surgery
Over time, Dr. Saman’s interest in cosmetic surgery deepened. He began evaluating patients not only from a reconstructive standpoint, focusing on fixing defects, but also from an aesthetic perspective, ensuring that the results looked beautiful. Despite his extensive experience and training in facial plastic surgery, he continually honed his skills, always striving to be the best surgeon and physician he could be.
Dr. Saman traveled to South America, Turkey, France, and Spain to learn from some of the world’s leading experts in facial aesthetic surgery and rhinoplasty. He had the distinct privilege of learning firsthand from Dr. Yves Saban and Dr. Teoman Dogan, among others. These two masters, in particular, have profoundly influenced his approach and aesthetics in rhinoplasty.
Today, Dr. Saman’s practice is dedicated solely to facial aesthetic surgery. While he performs the full range of facial plastic surgery procedures, his practice is particularly focused on rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation. Dr. Saman is committed to excellence, ensuring that his patients receive the best care and achieve the most beautiful, natural results possible.
