Hidden Gems: Meet Mossi Salibian, MD

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mossi Salibian, MD.

Hi Dr. Salibian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Originally from the East Coast, Boston then NY for my College and Medical School (Boston) and then for Residency in Surgery and Plastic Surgery (NY) my first job however was in CA. I was hired at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center as a Plastic Reconstructive Surgeon and basically hit the ground running having just completed my training. Kaiser gave me an excellent opportunity to work in a busy setup where I did not need to worry about marketing or advertising. I had an excellent experience with reconstructive plastic surgery as we took care of patients who needed breast reconstruction after mastectomies, children with cleft lip and palate, various cancers that we collaborated with orthopedic, general surgery, neurosurgery, and urology teams that required removal and reconstruction. All in all, gave me a strong start and provided with a diverse cadre of cases to present for my Boards in Plastic Surgery a year later and passed.

At Kaiser however, cosmetic surgery is not the goal of a medical need health insurance company. I was performing an otoplasty (ear pinning) on a 16-year-old boy one day at Kaiser when the anesthesiologist mentioned he worked also with a Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills and that I might want to consider visiting him. I had moved to LA without knowing anyone, did have distant relatives but most of my friends and colleagues were back in the East Coast. I did visit him on a Saturday morning when he was performing a face and neck lift; and realized maybe I should consider going into private practice… Hence after two years at Kaiser, which added to my surgical confidence in being the main surgeon in a wide range of Plastic and Surgical issues, I transitioned to part-time at Kaiser for another six months and then to full-time Private Practice since April of 2004. In my private practice, I now perform all surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures for men and women for the face and neck, chest, breast, and body and do continue in the reconstructive arena of Plastic Surgery for breast cancer reconstruction and Poland Syndrome.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Leaving Kaiser and starting private practice was from grounds up, was an interesting journey from finding an office space to rent, fixing up office furniture, my desk and bookcase to being on the call panel at Cedars-Sinai and St Johns Health Center in Santa Monica. The trauma calls, ranging from simple lacerations in kids to major car accidents and assault victims, kept me busy and with due time, built my referral and patient base that continues to grow two decades in. Plastic Surgery being a referral or mostly elective surgical subspecialty, the local and world economy does affect our work and livelihood. Hence with the mortgage and housing crisis in 2007 and 2008, we did have a dip, then again as most of us did during the Pandemic and more recently with the writers and actors strikes, we did see a downward trend in patients coming in and booking for procedures. However, my continued work in reconstructive surgery has kept me afloat during most of the economic downturns that we all have experienced.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do perform the whole vast gamut in cosmetic plastic surgery for men and women. Face and neck lift, eyelids and eyebrows, nasal cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, ear pinning, and cosmetic procedures for the breasts, chest, abdomen, arms, and thighs. In addition, I have nurtured a unique niche in Poland Syndrome reconstruction for the chest that has developed without the full pectoral muscle. I perform custom-made implant placement to symmetrize the chest and breast for patients with Poland Syndrome. It is a rare congenital finding that occurs in any race and ethnicity all around the world but is more common in men than in women.

In our field, it is important to start off and be a busy surgeon, that goes for all surgical sub-subspecialties that we have as it is correctly stated that the first five years AFTER one has completed all the training needed and obtained their Board Certifications and completed the Fellowships that we create our own personal “fellowships” where we are truly in total control of our work and fully responsible for the outcome. Los Angeles does provide the population’s density, cultural diversity as well as socioeconomical opportunities to start a practice and grow. The strategy of growth is different for everyone, it requires introspection to realize what are the best qualities that can nurture a burgeoning practice, serving a community, engaging in academics, and growth.

How do you think about happiness?
We provide all–encompassing care for our patients; we make sure that all the needs are met and all the Ts are crossed and Is are dotted before having our patients undergo surgery to assure their safety and successful recovery, and we stay connected with our patients thereafter for years to come as they become a member of our growing patient family. Few plastic surgeons in the Beverly Hills area provide reconstructive breast surgical care for their patients, I am one of the few who believe it is an important service as witnessing the transformation in our patients is humbling and heartfelt, and deeply rewarding. Making patients feel good inside and out makes me feel fulfilled.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://drsalibian.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmossi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MossiSalibianMD
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mossi-salibian-126368b