In addition to cranial base surgery, Dr. Costantino also specializes in adult craniofacial reconstruction and has performed over 500 cranioplasties primarily using implants that he designed. He has also developed minimally invasive techniques for the endoscopic removal of recurrent nasopharyngeal cancer. Dr. Costantino explains that, “Previously, this cancer has been considered either surgically untreatable or the surgery was extremely disfiguring and morbid.” With new surgical methods, Dr. Costantino goes on to say, “Our success rate is comparable to open procedures, but with much lower complication rates and no facial disfigurement.” In addition, he has also participated in one of the largest chordoma resection series in the world.
Dr. Costantino has invested his time in training future surgeons as well. He created three fellowship programs for fully trained head and neck surgeons. Two at St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center for cranial-based surgery and facial plastic surgery. The third at Mount Sinai for reconstructive microvascular surgery. Dr. Costantino says, “The highest calling, of course, is taking care of patients. But it is a step beyond that when you can help train other surgeons and caregivers. There is a genuine level of satisfaction knowing that someone you have helped train is making a difference in a patient’s life.”
Dr. Costantino has published more than 170 peer-reviewed articles, chapters, and abstracts, and delivered more than 300 lectures. His most notable past publications include the first reported use of distraction osteogenesis to regrow a missing segment of jawbone (mandible) in a human. He has been the Principle Investigator or Co-Principle Investigator for a number of IRB studies, one of which resulted in the FDA clearance of a new category of implantable biomaterials (hydroxyapatite cement). Additionally, he is the only surgeon to have twice won the Ben Shuster Basic Research Award and the Ira Tresley Research Awards from the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. He is also the recipient of the Ralph Millard Award for outstanding basic research from the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation.
He is dual board certified in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive surgery, and Joint Counsel Certified in Head & Neck Surgical Oncology. In 2007 he became the Founder & Executive Director of the New York Head & Neck Institute. Dr. Costantino graduated from Northwestern University School of Medicine with highest honors, while his undergraduate education was achieved at the University of Notre Dame. He also served four years in the Air Force as Director of Medical Education, at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
In addition, Dr. Costantino has been selected by Castle-Connolly as one of the nation’s top doctors within his specialty (Otolaryngology and Oncology), and in the field of Oncology every year for nearly 20 years.
To Learn more about Brain and Spine Surgeons of NY, please visit www.bssny.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Costantino, please call 914-292-3367.