Meet Dr. Azizzadeh

Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS
Director, The Facial Paralysis Institute
Associate Clinical Professor – Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, the founder and Director of The Facial Paralysis Institute, is a Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon who is deeply committed to the treatment of individuals with facial paralysis and Bell’s palsy. Dr. Azizzadeh is a plastic surgeon who is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. His expertise in facial plastic surgery has made him one of the most sought-after surgeons in the world. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh has been featured in The New York Times, Discovery Health, the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Dr. Oz Show and The Doctors television show for his unique expertise in the field.

After graduating from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA at the top of his class, Dr. Azizzadeh completed a six-year residency program in Head & Neck Surgery/Facial Plastic Surgery at the UCLA Center for Health Sciences. He then completed a sub-specialized fellowship in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Harvard Medical School with special emphasis on Bell’s palsy and facial reanimation. This prestigious fellowship position for Dr. Babak Azizzadeh was available to only one surgeon in the United States.

Dr. Azizzadeh is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and the Director of Facial Reconstruction at the Center for Advanced Head & Neck Surgery.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Azizzadeh, is also the co-editor of the upcoming definitive textbook Facial Nerve. He has also published numerous articles in such peer-reviewed journals as Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Laryngoscope. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh is regularly asked to present both nationally and internationally on facial paralysis. In fact, Dr. Azizzadeh was one of the Keynote Speakers at the 2013 Acoustic Neuroma Association Symposium and was just awarded the honor of being co-chairman, along with Dr. William Slattery III, of the 2017 13th International Facial Nerve Symposium by the Sir Charles Bell Society—the largest interdisciplinary symposium for facial nerve experts.

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine and has been a facial reanimation surgeon at the House Clinic Center for Facial Nerve Function for the past 10 years. He is also the co-director of the USC Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship Program sanctioned by the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Azizzadeh is a plastic surgeon that is the Course Director of the “Advances in Facial & Reconstructive Surgery” Symposium at Cedars Medical Center and has been co-director of the Annual Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Multi-Specialty Plastic & Reconstructive Symposium for the past 7 years.

As a former Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School and a clinical faculty at UCLA, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh has been actively involved in teaching facial plastic surgery to residents and medical students. He has also been actively engaged in clinical and basic science research for facial paralysis reconstruction and facial nerve disorders. He has collaborated with Nobel Laureate Dr. Louis Ignarro and has received many honors and grants for his research endeavors.

In addition to his busy surgical practice in which he is one of only a handful of surgeons in the world to perform facial paralysis procedures at high volume, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh has also been actively involved in several humanitarian causes. He is he founder and Director of the Facial Paralysis & Bell’s Palsy Foundation – a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing research in facial nerve disorders and providing pro-bono surgery to those in need. Dr. Azizzadeh is a plastic surgeon who also works with the Global Smile Foundation, traveling to third-world countries in order to treat children with cleft lip and palate disorders. Additionally, he is involved with the Reconstructive Surgery Program of the R.O.S.E. Fund (Regaining One’s Self-esteem), a national non-profit organization committed to ending violence against women and children.

View the Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

What Makes Dr. Azizzadeh One of the Best Facial Paralysis Surgeons?

Dr. Azizzadeh is a facial paralysis surgeon who takes a holistic approach to patient care. He allocates time and resources to learn about a patient, then crafts a custom treatment plan for him or her. In doing so, Dr. Azizzadeh helps his patients achieve their desired treatment results.

By working with Dr. Azizzadeh, a patient receives comprehensive support throughout all stages of treatment. As a world-renowned expert in facial paralysis surgery, Dr. Azizzadeh knows that each patient requires extensive care and support. Thus, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh takes the time to understand what his patient’s facial paralysis surgery treatment goals are, and develops a treatment plan accordingly.

Dr. Azizzadeh is a plastic surgeon who is also dual-certified in head and neck surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and his expertise separates him from other facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Whereas a typical facial plastic surgeon takes a standard approach to different procedures, Dr. Azizzadeh works closely with a patient to customize each treatment plan. This allows a patient to undergo a procedure that provides the best-possible results.

Why Should You Choose Dr. Azizzadeh to Treat Facial Paralysis?

Facial paralysis is complex, and it is important to partner with a facial paralysis surgeon who knows the ins and outs of the head, neck and related structures. By partnering with Dr. Azizzadeh, a patient can undergo a personalized treatment to address his or her facial paralysis symptoms.

Dr. Azizzadeh has many years of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and head and neck surgery experience. He has performed surgeries to treat facial paralysis, Bell’s palsy, synkinesis, and related conditions. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh also offers a wide range of non-surgical treatments to help his patients improve facial muscle coordination and enhance facial symmetry.

Schedule a Treatment Consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh Today

Dr. Azizzadeh is a plastic surgeon who is happy to meet with an individual to discuss facial paralysis treatment options. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh, please call us today at (310) 657-2203.