Noah Sands, MD, Facial Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery

04/04/2025

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” I love yoga - it makes everything better.

03/10/2025

That’s a wrap! 8 years in the most exciting (dare I say the best) city in the world. I’ve never cried more or felt more impassioned than I have over the last few months. It’s a testament to the depth and meaningfulness of the relationships I’ve made and the endless memories filed in my heart. I feel very fortunate for the opportunity to live in New York, especially as a Canadian, and for all that the city has given me. The Catskills, the Hamptons, living in West Village, Williamsburg and Tribeca, runs on the West Side Parkway, cycling laps around the Park and out and to Nayak and back, yoga with skyline views, all the Equinoxes, 10,000 + walking steps per day, group meditation, chasing the night, brunches with friends (and their dogs), all of the sporting events and wild local fan base, impromptu gatherings, the randomness and happenstance, family visiting, Halloween for grown-ups, the Rockefeller tree lighting, all the pasta you could possibly consume, the arts and the music, speakeasys, walks and rooftops at sunset, memorable Jewish community events and galas, 60 people in a small apartment watching the Super Bowl, operating with valued colleagues, great staff, dynamic residents/fellows, music in the OR, conversations with interesting (and global) patients.
It’s all world class. I’ll miss all of it. I loved (almost) every minute. I’m so grateful for all that I experienced, all the people I came to love, and all that I feel. Fair well New York City. The intensity is in my bones forever.

12/21/2024

After eight profoundly memorable and fulfilling years in New York City and with the deepest of emotions, I’ll be moving to LA in the Spring of 2025 to pursue new challenges in private practice and new beginnings living on the West Coast.

I’m very excited to be joining two colleagues with a New York pedigree in Dr. Jason Litner and Dr. Peyman Solieman . I’ve looked up to them for many years as successful, quality surgeons and genuine individuals. I met Jason when I was a medical student on visiting elective in 2006 and have considered him a long-time mentor. In many ways, he inspired me to follow my chosen career path. To be joining him in practice 19 years later is uniquely special.

I’ve long felt a magnetic pull to an outdoorsy, active, healthy lifestyle and I’m looking forward to the change of pace that California brings. I will miss New York City, my close friends/community and colleagues beyond words. I’ve made more memories and have had more vibrant, fun, once-in-a-lifetime shared experiences than I can possibly count. New York is such an exhilarating place. While not always easy, it always makes you feel something.

In many ways, I came as a boy and will be leaving as a passionate, inspired and focussed man. I want to make the absolute most of my future opportunities and strive to be a top surgeon in the mecca of cosmetic surgery.

I am forever indebted to Mount Sinai for the ability to work at a world class medical center, join a dynamic facial plastics division, help train residents and fellows (one of the best parts of the job) and for giving me a platform for personal and professional growth. Coming from Canada, this has been a dream academic career. I feel very, very lucky in so many ways. While it’s difficult to leave so much behind, I’m thoroughly looking forward to what lies ahead.

12/21/2024

10/09/2024

Rhinoplasty using patient’s own rib cartilage, upper and lower blepharoplasty, chin implant with neck liposuction for a handsome fellow. Nose is still swollen at 4 months but a lot straighter. While side by side the facial difference is quite measurable, to an unknowing observer he’ll look like he got a good night’s sleep 😴.

09/28/2024

Revision rhinoplasty for a fellow health professional to help correct manifestations of prior surgery using her own rib cartilage. She has very pretty facial features and is a good example of numerous minor changes that go a long way. A lot of the focus was improving symmetry, straightness and camouflaging irregularities given thinner skin envelope.

09/25/2024

Revision rhinoplasty at 5 months for a sweet patient who didn’t like her nose for years including contour irregularities and poor airflow.
This sort of case takes 3-4 hours (assuming rib isn’t required) and can be fairly painstaking as the tissue planes are a mess, and it requires a large number of cartilage grafts and various techniques for camouflage. Highly rewarding however!

09/22/2024

Lower lid blepharoplasty to help reduce the heavy/tired appearance of the lower eyelids. In this procedure herniated fat is removed either through the skin or through the inner pink of the eye (done here), generally with a modest trimming of the redundant skin.
While also a byproduct of advancing age, some individuals are genetically more prone to puffy lids at a younger age. Think of tennis balls in a mesh bag. Some people have tighter/denser partition (mesh) that keeps the normal fat (tennis balls) contained around the eyeball. Others have a looser mesh that allows the fat to shift outward through the partition. Surgery removes some of the tennis balls to help freshen up the lids. 🎾 👁️.

09/21/2024

It’s not the story of speed and performance that I wanted to tell, but it became one of resilience, strength and mental fortitude that in retrospect is so much more meaningful. After 10 months of intense but positively focussed training, I had a rough bike crash 3 weeks before the race that left me with a dislocated finger, too many wounds and road burns to count, a totaled helmet and completely shattered confidence. It hurt to sleep, shower and change. I had PTSD getting back on the bike and was terrified to turn a corner or reach for my water bottle. It brought me to one of the deepest lows I’ve ever felt as I was on the verge of quitting. I drew support and encouragement from those close to me and those who had been there before as the day approached. I drew tremendous inspiration from my Iron-buddy who was dealing with unimaginable adversity and tragedy in the meanwhile. Sam initially convinced me to start training with him after his father was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, to help him deal with the grief. A month before the race, his dad passed. A week before the race, one of his best friends drowned in a freak accident in open water. As he willed himself to the start line, his remarkable story of bravery carried me there too. It’s a miracle we even made it there. Through our own difficult journey, we each became an Ironman and fulfilled a shared dream that once seemed impossible - neither of us even knew how to swim. I’ve never felt more emotion than through the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile ride (without my speed bike) and 26.2 mile marathon. Nothing seems insurmountable anymore. ‘It’s not training, it’s a lifestyle’ - Sam Andrew
‘Noah, you are an Ironman’ - some of the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.
I owe a forever thank you to those who put up with me (noone more than my sweetheart girlfriend + my family and friends) through nearly 500 hours of training. Lots of concessions were made and I am forever indebted for the patience, understanding and support. Many patients and work colleagues also kept my spirits high throughout the journey ❤️.

09/19/2024

A common thing I hear from patients is ‘I just want the bump down.’ While occasionally suitable, often this is overly simplistic especially for higher bridges as the anatomy changes once it’s taken down.
While this patient agreed to a more comprehensive change, her tip would have appeared flatter and more down-turned had only the hump been addressed, effectively leaving the nose with no shape. Here the tip was supported, raised, projected and refined to be harmonious with the new bridge.