Dr. David Hidalgo, MD FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Hidalgo began his practice at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) as a reconstructive microsurgeon. He reconstructed the most challenging facial, breast and body defects, often requiring complex microsurgical tissue transplantation techniques. He developed an innovative procedure for jaw reconstruction in cancer patients while there. This involved transferring the fibula bone from the leg to the face after shaping it into an exact replica of the jaw segment removed. The bone circulation was restored in the neck with microsurgical techniques. This seminal work was reported in five key publications that brought Dr. Hidalgo international acclaim. His method of jaw reconstruction became, and has remained, the standard of care around the world. He started a fellowship training program at Memorial and became the Chief of the Plastic and Reconstructive Service there. He served in that capacity for eight years before leaving to begin a private practice in aesthetic surgery in 2001.
Today, Dr. Hidalgo sees patients and operates within his Park Avenue facility that is affiliated with Weill-Cornell Medical College (New York-Presbyterian Hospital). He holds the academic title of Clinical Professor of Surgery at that institution. He is an invited expert at international, national, and regional meetings where he lectures on facial and body contouring surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons, as well as many regional societies.
Dr. Hidalgo's Video Biography
Educational Background
At Georgetown University Dr. David Hidalgo completed a double major in Fine Arts (studio painting) and Biology, graduating magna cum laude. After earning his M.D. degree, also at Georgetown, he began eight years of specialized training in general surgery and plastic surgery at New York University, one of the top programs in the country. The NYU health care system includes Bellevue Hospital, which provided one of the broadest and highest volume independent operating experiences for residents and fellows in the country. At the time, the NYU program was at the forefront for both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, having pioneers in both disciplines on staff. Upon training completion, he was dual certified by the American Board of Surgery (general surgery) and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Hidalgo attended New York University, home of the country’s premier plastic surgery training program. After a distinguished early career in reconstructive surgery he entered private practice to focus exclusively on aesthetic surgery. His curriculum vitae chronicles his academic achievements.
Awards, Press and Associations
His numerous honors include the James Barrett Brown Award, arguably one of the most prestigious awards given by his peers. The Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation selected Dr. Hidalgo in 2002 to be their National Visiting Professor, a unique honor that carried his expertise to many universities across the U.S. and Canada during that year. He has served for eight years as the Cosmetic Section Editor for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the most highly regarded journal in the specialty.
A respected source for the popular press, Dr. Hidalgo has been quoted in Allure, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, O (The Oprah Magazine), Town & Country, Vogue and W. He has appeared on CBS, ABC News and CNBC. He has been cited in New York Magazine as one of the best plastic surgeons every year since the listings began, and is included in America's Top Doctors.
Art
“Art allows me to appreciate fine nuances in shape and form that are critical to achieving an optimal result in plastic surgery procedures, whether it is a facelift, a breast reduction, or a rhinoplasty. I believe there is no better method for training and refining your eye than to be continually engaged as a visual artist.”
Scientific Writing
Dr. Hidalgo has written over 100 scientific papers and is unique among his peers in making significant contributions to both reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery. His landmark paper on jaw reconstruction ranked 6/25 of the most cited papers in plastic surgery over the past 50 years. His more recent randomized control study on tear-drop shaped versus round breast implants provided key data supporting the removal of shaped implants from the market.
Philanthropy
Our practice donates a portion of every surgical fee to philanthropic activities. Our areas of focus are medical research and education.
