Dimitris G. Placantonakis, MD

Dr Placantonakis misdiagnosed my MRI which showed a very small brain lesion. He immediately scheduled an unnecessary biopsy surgery on what he called a brain tumor. He proceeded to tell me it would be dangerous to wait and even held my hand when I cried. I was very scared and went to get a second opinion at Cornell where Dr Schwartz immediately suggested it was not a tumor. My third opinion was at Columbia university and both suggested I wait approx 6 weeks and get a new MRI. Thanks to Dr. Theodore Schwartz at Cornell and Dr. Jeffrey Bruce at Columbia, I waited and It turns out it’s not a tumor and the lesion is going away on its own, already 1/2 the size.

Dr. Placantonakis has an impressive ability to connect with his patients and emphasize with them. His bedside manners are great until things go wrong. He performed a brain surgery on me extracted a benign tumor. While the surgery went well, there were complications which caused irreparable damage to my optic nerve. The fact that the damage was done during the surgery is not my personal opinion, rather a medical one as it is now a stated fact in my medical record, yet he never took ownership of it. On the contrary his externalized an extremely aggressive behavior towards me when I tried to discuss it, despite of the fact that I told him this damage would not make me think less of him. If the damage for the result of inevitability or lack of competence will never be known because the only person who can make that assessment is him. This incident happened in 2019, but it was recently that I came to question his competence with regard to a different tumor that is still alive in my… brain. Because its critical location any type of surgical intervention would almost certainly leave me deaf. My best chance is to outlive the tumor and hope the day that any kind of intervention is needed will never come, as stated by three of his own colleagues + a surgeon not affiliated with NYU. Yet, when I recently saw Dr. Placantonakis durinng an extremely rushed visit that lasted no more than 5 minutes he told me that I should radiate it, despite the fact that the tumor is not growing, as not been growing and poses no threat to my health. What doctor who puts the health of the patient first would ever make sure a recommendation?

Dr. Placantonakis saved my vision. I was diagnosed with a giant pituitary adenoma, which was pushing against my optic chaism and causing loss of peripheral vision in both eyes. Dr. Placantonakis and his nurse practitioner, Andrea Leonard, arranged all my pre operative exams on an expedited basis. My surgery went very well with most of the tumor removed and vision improved. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Placantonakis and his staff for taking good care of me and I highly recommend them.

Dr. Placantonakis performed my spinal fusion surgery in 2014 and he did an amazing job. I;m fortunate that he was my surgeon for me emergency surgery. He was friendly and made the process as comfortable as possible. Most importantly, he is clearly a genius and knows what he is doing. Thank you.

I am writing this review to help anyone who is considering using this doctor . This doctor is the worst doctor ever . He is the most egotistical person . His surgery performed was a disaster . Upon asking him questions he did not respond . He is defensive and rude . Dies not answer questions . This doctor has been the worst ever . He is non caring and incompetent. Shame on this doctor . . He treats families poorly . Shame on him !!!!

I've never left a review for a doctor but if I can help someone with this I will. I was scheduled for surgery with him and had it. I had major complications afterwards to find out he didn't even preform the surgery I gave him consent to. And when I woke up unable to move the one side of my body he was defensive and in denial. He told my family different versions of the surgery and when they asked politely for more explanations he became disgusting , rude and didn't want to answer questions despite my family's attempt to ease his attitude they would tell him "we are not blaming you we are sure you did a good job but we just want you to explain to us how the surgery actually went given we heard or perhaps interpreted different stories" and he would refuse to answer. When my family asked for a hospital meeting he lied and said he was attacked . Apparently trying to find out why someone came out of his OR paralized was something he didn't want to answer to. It took 3 physicians to come to… the same conclusion for him to believe what had happened to me was real. I had read reviews on him before my surgery and dismissed them because NYU truly is a lovely hospital. My biggest mistake.

Dr.Placantonakis is a egotistical mess and has absolutely no empathy for his patients. Rude and non caring .Arrogant and incompetent.

Wonderful gifted surgeon