William Samson, MD, FACS

Page Updated: April 19, 2024

William Samson, MD, FACS

Before & After Photos

Dr. William Samson is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery at New York Plastic Surgical Group.

With nearly 20 years of experience practicing in New York City, Dr. Samson performs a wide variety of services. However, he has a particular interest in breast reconstruction and aesthetic breast surgery.

Dr. Samson first developed his interest in cancer as an undergraduate at Tufts University. While earning his bachelors of science, he participated in an independent research program at The Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. He continued his research work in the Department of Tumor Immunology, as a Research Fellow, before enrolling in medical school. Dr. Samson obtained his medical degree at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Following his medical degree, Dr. Samson completed five years of General Surgery at Cornell. He then spent four years training in Plastic Surgery. The first three years were at Emory University and New York Presbyterian Hospital – Combined Cornell and Columbia University Programs. His final year of Plastic Surgery training consisted of a Microsurgery and Breast Reconstruction Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After completing nine clinical years of training, Dr. Samson was recruited to Mount Sinai West, where he served as the Associate Chief of Plastic Surgery, and he was the Director of the Plastic Surgery Academic Program. He has participated in the training of over 75 plastic surgery residents.

Dr. Samson’s academic contributions have been presented at numerous regional and national plastic surgery conferences. He has written extensively on several topics including microvascular reconstructive surgery and aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.

Dr. Samson has been a recipient of Castle Connolly’s Prestigious Top Doctor Award for every consecutive year, since 2019. He is internationally recognized for his work as a plastic surgeon.

Dr. Samson is the absolute best. He’s obviously a world-class surgeon I’ve never had an easier recovery or more pleasant hospital experience, and he was pragmatic, thoughtful, realistic, and kind throughout the process. His work is beautiful. I don’t know why I waited so long – he changed my life! I’m finally comfortable running!

Real Patient Testimonial

Education

1991-1995: M.D. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine; New York, NY
1986-1990: B.S. Tufts University; Medford, MA

Training

2003-2004: Fellow in Microsurgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY
2002-2003: Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery: New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia and Cornell Combined Program in New York, NY
2001-2022: Resident in Plastic Surgery: New York Presbyterian Hospital- Columbia and Cornell Combined Program in New York, NY
2000-2001: Resident in Plastic Surgery: Emory University in Atlanta, GA
1999-2000: Chief Resident in General Surgery: New York Presbyterian Hospital- Cornell in New York, NY
1995-1999: Resident in General Surgery: New York Presbyterian Hospital- Cornell in New York, NY
1990-1991: Research Fellowship: Department of Tumor Immunology The Dana Farber Cancer Institute Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA

Teaching

Director, Plastic Surgery CME Program. Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospitals- 2004-2017
Coordinator of On-Call Schedule, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospitals- 2004-2017
Peri-Operative Committee. Mount Sinai West- 2007-2018

Affiliations/Certifications

Castle Connolly Top Doctor- 2023
American Board of Plastic Surgery, Re-certification #6974- June 2015
American Board of Plastic Surgery, Certificate #6974- November 2005
American Board of Surgery. Certificate #46704- October 2001
Medical License, New York, Certificate #206174- March 1997
Diplomat, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery
Member, Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member, New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons

Awards

Castle Connolly Top Doctor NY Metro Area 2019-2024

Presentations

2003- Intra-abdominal prefabrication of composite colo-jejunal or gastro-jejunal conduits for total esophageal reconstruction. Samson, W., Bains, M., and Cordeiro, P. The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting. Kauai, Hawaii.
2003- Intra-abdominal prefabrication of composite colo-jejunal or gastro-jejunal conduits for total esophageal reconstruction. Samson, W., Bains, M., and Cordeiro, P. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Senior Residents Conference. Los Angeles, California.
2004- Incidence of Peri-operative Complications Following Microsurgical Reconstruction of 211 Septuagenarians and Octogenarians. Babak J. Mehrara, MD, Michael A. Howard, MD, William Samson, MD, Peter G. Cordeiro, MD, FACS, Joseph J. Disa, MD, Robin Schoelle, PA. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA.
2008- The Correction of Significant Post-Augmentation Boundary Deformities with Capsulorrhaphy and Alloderm. Sultan MR, Smith ML, Samson W. Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA (Awarded Best Clinical Presentation).
2010- Use of a Combined Autologous Dermal-Muscle Flap Pocket as an Alternative to Acellular Dermal Allografts in Immediate Breast Reconstruction. Greaney, P., Samson, W. The New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons. New York, NY.
2011- Minimizing Stage-Two (MiST) – Smith ML, Sultan MR, Clarke-Pearson EM, Dayan JH, Samson W, Vornovitzky M Breast Cancer Coordinated Care Conference Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
2011- Double-Dipping in the Obese Hemi-Abdomen – Gandolfi B, Dayan E, Clarke-Pearson EM, Dayan J, Samson W, Sultan M, Smith ML – Beth Israel Medical Center Annual Resident Research Day (1st Place – Outstanding Essay, 2nd Place – Best Presentation).
2011- Modification of the Wise Pattern Skin Resection for Mastectomy and Immediate Breast Reconstruction in Patients with Macromastia or Severe Breast Ptosis Samson W, Schwartz J, Dayan JH, Smith ML, Sultan MR – Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgery Annual Meeting. Amelia Island, FL
2011- Minimizing Stage-Two (MiST): Evaluating the Indications and Efficacy of 102 Simultaneous Breast Reconstruction and Contralateral Balancing Procedures in Reducing the Need for “Stage-Two” Operations. – Clarke-Pearson EM, Dayan JH, Sultan MR, Samson W, Vornovitsky M, Smith ML – Chang Gung Mayo Clinic Symposium, Taipei, Taiwan.
2011- Bilateral Breast Reconstruction Using Multiple Flaps from a Single Hemi-Abdomen – Gandolfi B, Dayan E, Clarke-Pearson EM, Dayan J, Samson W, Sultan M, Smith ML – Chang Gung Mayo Clinic Symposium, Taipei, Taiwan.
2011- Minimizing Stage-Two (MiST): Evaluating the Indications and Efficacy of 102 Simultaneous Breast Reconstruction and Contralateral Balancing Procedures in Reducing the Need for “Stage-Two” Operations. – Clarke-Pearson EM, Dayan JH, Sultan MR, Samson W, Vornovitsky M, Smith ML – New York Surgical Society. New York, NY
2012- Using Angiosome-Based Flap Design to Extend the Utility of the Abdominal Donor Site in the Obese Patient. – Gandolfi BM, Dayan JH, Samson W, Dayan E, Smith ML – American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting. Las Vegas, NV (Awarded Outstanding Clinical Paper Presentation).
2012- Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer for the Treatment of Lymphedema: Novel Harvest of Lateral Chest Wall Lymph Nodes Supplied by the Thoracodorsal Artery. Dayan E, Dayan J, Sultan M, Samson W, Smith M, – Beth Israel Medical Center Annual Resident Research Day Conference.
2012- Use of Magnetic Resonance Angiography and Indocyanine Green for Vascularized Groin Lymph Node Transfer: Anatomic Study and Clinical Correlation. Dayan JH, Dayan, E, Kagen A, Cheng MH, Sultan MR, Samson W, Smith ML – 2nd European Conference on Supermicrosurgery – In Search of the Ideal Surgical Treatment of Lymphedema, Barcelona, Spain.
2012- Modification of the Wise Pattern Skin Resection for Mastectomy and Immediate Breast Reconstruction. Samson W, Schwartz J, Vogel S, Dayan JH, Smith ML, Sultan MR – American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting. Las Vegas, NV
2012- Aesthetic Scrotal Reconstruction with Bilateral Innervated Anterolateral Thigh Flaps – Dayan J, Clarke-Pearson E, Dayan E, Sultan M, Samson W, Smith ML – American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery Annual Meeting. Las Vegas, NV
2012- Comparison of irradiated versus non-irradiated DIEP flaps in patients undergoing immediate bilateral DIEP flap reconstruction and unilateral post-mastectomy radiation – Clarke-Pearson EM, Chadha M, Dayan J, Samson W, Sultan MR, Boolbol SK, Smith ML – Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Boston, MA
2012- Revision of Wise Pattern Breast Reduction with Vertical Procedures. Sultan MR, Smith ML, Dayan JH, Samson W – Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Boston, MA
2012- Does Post-Mastectomy Radiation Therapy (PMRT) after Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap (DIEP) Reconstruction Increase Complications? Chadha M, Clark-Pearson E, Dayan J, Boolbol SK, Samson W, Harrison LB, Smith ML – American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
2013- The Use of Reverse Lymphatic Mapping in Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer: A New Technique to Facilitate Lymph Node Harvest and Minimize the Risk of Lymphedema at the Donor Site. Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Naples, FL
2013- Facial Reanimation in the Locally Aggressive Head and Neck Cancer Population using Nerve to Masseter Transfer: Expanding the Role for Dynamic Reconstruction following Oncologic Resection. Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Naples, FL
2013- Idiopathic Hypersensitivity Skin Reaction Following Mastectomy and Immediate Breast Reconstruction. Schwartz JA, Samson W, Sultan MR, Smith ML, Dayan J, Silvers DN – 18th Annual Multidisciplinary Symposium on Breast Disease & 37th Annual Symposium of the American Society of Breast Disease, Amelia Island, FL
2013- Utility of Pre-Operative MRA in Assessing Gracilis Flap Vascular Anatomy. Schwartz JA, Smith ML, Dayan JH, Sultan MR, Kagen A, Iyer AR, Samson W – Plastic Surgery Research Council – Santa Monica, CA
2013- Failure of Cross-Face Nerve Graft to gracilis Free Flap Salvaged with Alternate Side Free Gracilis Muscle Transfer for Moebius Facial Paralysis – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – 12th International Facial Nerve Symposium, Boston, MA
2013- Free Gracilis Transfer for 2-year-old Boy with Recurrent Fibromatosis Requiring Facial Nerve Sacrifice – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – accepted for presentation
– 12th International Facial Nerve Symposium, Boston, MA
2013- Failed Facial Reanimation with Sural Nerve Graft Salvaged with Free Gracilis Muscle Transfer – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – accepted for presentation – 12th International Facial Nerve Symposium, Boston, MA
2013- Primary Treatment of Facial Paralysis in the Oncologic Setting in Patients with Proximal Facial Nerve Sacrifice – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – accepted for presentation – 12th International Facial Nerve Symposium, Boston, MA
2013- Social Media Trends in Plastic Surgery – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – Beth Israel Annual Resident Research Conference, New York, NY
2013- Utility of Pre-operative MRA in Assessing Gracilis Flap Vascular Anatomy. Schwartz JA, Smith M, Dayan JH, Sultan M, Kagen A, Iyer A, Samson W. St. Luke’s- Roosevelt Hospital Center, Department of Surgery Annual Research Day. New York, NY.
2013- Modified Transverse Upper Gracilis Flap (TUG) Harvest – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J – Beth Israel Annual Resident Research Conference, New York, NY
2013- Factors Influencing Incidence and Type of Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction in an Urban Multidisciplinary Cancer Center – Iskander M, Dayan E, Lucido D, Dayan J, Samson W, Sultan M, Boolbol S, Smith M – Beth Israel Annual Resident Research Conference, New York, NY
2013- Developing a Lymphatic Surgery Program in the United States: Successful Treatment of Lymphedema with Vascularized Groin Lymph Node Transfer to the Wrist Using a Multi-modal Approach – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W and Dayan J –World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Chicago, IL, July 2013.
2013- Vascularized Thoracodorsal and Lateral Thoracic Artery-based Lymph Node Transfer for the Treatment of Lymphedema: Technique and Case Series – Dayan E, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W, Dayan J –World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Chicago, IL, July 2013.
2013- Factors Influencing Incidence and Type of Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction in an Urban Multidisciplinary Cancer Center – Iskander M, Dayan E, Lucido D, Dayan J, Samson W, Sultan M, Boolbol S, Smith M – American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting.
2013- Vascularized Thoracodorsal and Lateral Thoracic Artery-Based Lymph Node Transfer for the Treatment of Lymphedema: Technique and Case Series – Dayan E, Smith, M, Sultan, M, Samson, W, Dayan, J – Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. – September 2013
2013- Primary Treatment of Facial paralysis in the Oncologic Setting in Patients With Proximal Facial Nerve Sacrifice – Dayan E, Smith, M, Sultan, M, Samson, W, Dayan, J – Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. – September 2013
2013- Demystifying Vascularized Groin Lymph Node Transfer: Use of Four Physiologic and Anatomic Modalities for Precise Harvest of Lymph Nodes – Dayan E, Smith, M, Sultan, M, Samson, W, Dayan, J – Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. – September 2013
2013- The Diagonal Upper Gracilis (DUG) Free Flap : A Safe and Improved Alternative to the TUG Flap – Dayan E, Smith M, Samson W, Sultan M, Dayan J – American Society of Plastic Surgeons, San Diego, CA – October 2013 – Awarded Best Paper Presentation for the Reconstructive 1 Session
2013- Demystifying Vascularized Groin Lymph Node Transfer: Using Four Physiologic and Anatomic Modalities for Precise Harvest of Lymph Nodes – Dayan E, Smith M, Samson W, Sultan M, Dayan J – American Society of Plastic Surgeons, San Diego, CA – October 2013
2013- Vascularized Thoracodorsal and Lateral Thoracic Artery-Based Lymph Node Transfer for the Treatment of Lymphedema: Technique and Case Series – Dayan E, Smith M, Samson W, Sultan M, Dayan J – American Society of Plastic Surgeons, San Diego, CA – October 2013
2013- Primary Treatment of Facial Paralysis in the Oncologic setting in Patients with Proximal Facial Nerve Sacrifice – Dayan E, Smith M, Samson W, Sultan M, Dayan J – American Society of Plastic Surgeons, San Diego, CA – October 2013
2013- Review of Perforator Flap Imaging with High Resolution MRA – Kagen, A, Hossain R, Dayan E, Maddula S, Samson W, Dayan J, Smith M. – Proceedings of the 99th Annual Meeting for the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), Chicago, IL. 2013
2014- Management of Extended Sacral and Perineal Defects: When Standard Flap Options are Not Enough – Schwartz J, Dayan J, Smith M, Sultan M, Samson W – 2014 Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, Providence, RI
2014- Free Flap Breast Reconstruction in Patients with Sickle Cell Trait – Schwartz J, Vogel S, Sultan M, Smith M, Dayan J, Samson W –2014 Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, Providence, RI
2016- Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Blocks with Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine Reduce Length of Stay Following Abdominally-Based Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction – Andreas M Lamelas, MD Eric M Jablonka, MD, Julie N Kim, MD, Tomer Avraham, MD, William Samson, MD, FACS, Mark R Sultan, MD, Joseph H Dayan, MD, Mark L Smith, MD, FACS – 2016 New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons, New York, NY (Awarded 1st Place, Resident Competition).
Optimizing Results in Patients with Glandular Ptosis Undergoing Nipple-Preserving Mastectomy and Immediate Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction – Andreas M. Lamelas, MD; Eric M. Jablonka, MD; Cara L. O’Neill, PA-C, MS; Samantha R. Rogalski, PA-C, MS; Mark L. Smith, MD, FACS; Mark R. Sultan, MD; William Samson, MD, FACS – 2016 BC3 Breast Cancer Coordinated Care, Washington, DC
Optimizing Results in Patients with Glandular Ptosis Undergoing Nipple-Preserving Mastectomy and Immediate Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction – Andreas M. Lamelas, MD; Eric M. Jablonka, MD; Cara L. O’Neill, PA-C, MS; Samantha R. Rogalski, PA-C, MS; Mark L. Smith, MD, FACS; Mark R. Sultan, MD; William Samson, MD, FACS – 2016 26th Annual Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference, Las Vegas, NV