Lisa Gfrerer, MD, PhD

Dr. Gfrerer performed 2 stages of facial reanimation and am finally seeing the results. I had facial paralysis for about 8 years and until I met her I wasn’t hopeful anything would work. I now have some function of my face and I really feel it’s a result of her surgical expertise.

Dr. Gfrerer performed 2 stages of facial reanimation and am finally seeing the results. I had facial paralysis for about 8 years and until I met her I wasn’t hopeful anything would work. I now have some function of my face and I really feel it’s a result of her surgical expertise. Just be prepared to wait in her office for a while when you have an appointment.

I had a very positive experience with Dr. Gferer. She was very thorough and answered all of my questions.

I totally love her and her extremely caring, and helpful team. I feel extraordinarily lucky I found her just in the nick of time. She’s lovely; empathetic caring, thoughtful, gifted and experienced. She performed two post bc diagnosis recon surgeries- and results are as good as I could ever have hoped for. That’s after another consult with a highly regarded man where I was told my desired result was unlikely and would take many surgeries over a much longer period of time. I think she’s a rare and amazing practitioner.

I had a terrible experience with Dr. Gfrerer and am writing this in hopes that I can help someone else avoid the same. Dr. Gfrerer performed a procedure on my foot one year ago. I was planning to have the procedure mid-August, and needed to be 100% functional when I began teaching at the beginning of September. Dr. Gfrerer assured me that I would be. One year later I still am not. In my consultation, Dr. Gfrerer also told me that I would be able to walk on my heal but not the ball of my foot post procedure, but I woke from the procedure to find that I had to be non-weight-bearing (on crutches) for a week. At my follow-up appointment with the nurse practitioner (not Dr. Gfrerer), I was told that I would need physical therapy and that it would be at least 2 months until I was back to normal activities! After the procedure, I developed painful nodules on the ball of my foot. With persistence, I was able to get an appointment with Dr. Gfrerer. This was the first time I had seen her, 2… months after the procedure. When Dr. Gfrerer examined my foot, she said it was "weird." Yes, that is a direct quote. I had an MRI at 4 months. In my follow-up video appointment with Dr. Gfrerer, she said that I should see a podiatrist for the issues because she didn't know much about feet. Then why did she operate on my foot?! That was the last I heard from Dr. Gfrerer. No follow-up. No checking to see if I was okay. She was done with me. At the end of January, I filed a complaint with Weill Cornell Patient Services. The letter I received with the outcome of the review stated that I had received standard care and that my surgeon's recommendation to see a podiatrist was appropriate because the nodules "were in a different area than the surgery." However, I have an MRI, diagnostic ultrasound, and 2 podiatrists who say otherwise. I wrote a response, but Weill Cornell was not interested in what I had to say. And so a year later, I am still paying for out-of-pocket treatments in hopes that someday I will be able to walk normally again. I understand that there are risks with a procedure, but doctors should be required to give complete, accurate information pre-surgery so that patients can make informed decisions about whether to proceed. And if there are complications, they should take responsibility and help the patient rather than dismiss them. If you are considering having Dr. Gfrerer perform surgery on you, I strongly suggest that you get a second opinion and make sure that you are fully informed before moving forward. And if it doesn't go as planned, don't expect her to be there for you.

Dr. Gfrerer is an excellent surgeon who cares about her patients. I had 2 surgeries, a GON decompression and a LON transection, and both were completed without complications. I would highly recommend her to other patients with similar problems.

Dr. Gfrerer answered every question which I asked during my consultation. I feel more confident to face to my surgery.

Very conscientious. Thoughtful. Eager to find a solution..

My first time with Dr. Gfrerer I was a little nervous but her and her team made my visit the most comfortable doctors visit I had in a while. They were efficient and kind with me. They offered me snacks and water and made sure I was comfortable throughout the whole process. Can’t wait to be back for my follow up.

I am happy with my results from dr. Gfrerer.