About Dr. Chris Lakhiani

Dr. Chrisovalantis (Chris) Lakhiani, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in peripheral nerve surgery, microsurgical reconstruction, facial reanimation, and complex wound care. He serves as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and is a partner at The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction, with offices in Red Bank and Neptune, New Jersey.

Dr. Lakhiani received his undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary and went on to attend medical school at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, in his native state of New Jersey. There, he was awarded the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha research scholarship to investigate novel anti-inflammatory agents at the University of Sydney. He continued to pursue further scientific advancement later in medical school with a dedicated year of research in plastic surgery techniques and tissue imaging at the renowned University of Texas Southwestern Department of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Lakhiani was chosen to attend the internationally recognized integrated Plastic Surgery Residency program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, in Washington, DC. At Georgetown, he learned from international leaders in extremity reconstruction, lymphedema, and hand, trunk, and breast reconstruction. During his time in DC, he also spent additional time at the Curtis National Hand Center in Baltimore learning from leaders in the field of hand surgery.

Following this, he was accepted to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, the top microsurgery training fellowship in the world, for his fellowship in reconstructive microsurgery and peripheral nerve surgery. Dr. Lakhiani learned from founders in the fields of head and neck reconstruction, lymphedema, toe transfer, facial paralysis, and brachial plexus reconstruction.

Dr. Lakhiani is an innovator in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and he regularly shares his knowledge by presenting at national and international conferences. He has written over 40 peer-reviewed publications, several textbook chapters, and presented his scientific work at national and international conferences dozens of times. He has received many awards for both his research and clinical expertise.

Dr. Lakhiani's clinical practice focuses on conditions that require specialized microsurgical expertise — from chronic pelvic pain caused by pudendal nerve entrapment, to facial paralysis requiring free functional muscle transfer, to limb-threatening wounds requiring free flap reconstruction. Patients travel from across the country to seek his care, often after years of unsuccessful treatment elsewhere.

His approach to every patient begins with listening. Dr. Lakhiani believes that patients with complex problems deserve a thorough evaluation, a clear explanation of their options, and a surgeon who partners with them in their care.

Education & Training

Clinical Focus

• Pelvic pain and pudendal nerve surgery
• Facial paralysis and reanimation
• Peripheral nerve decompression, repair, and transfer
• Double crush syndrome
• Lower extremity nerve compression syndromes
• Microsurgical free tissue transfer
• Limb salvage and complex wound reconstruction
• Amputation care, TMR, and RPNI
• Head and neck cancer reconstruction
• Sternal, chest wall, and abdominal wall reconstruction

Multidisciplinary Clinics

• Facial Nerve Clinic — Co-directed with Dr. Dayan. Comprehensive evaluation and surgical treatment for facial paralysis and facial nerve disorders.
• Pelvic Pain Clinic — With pelvic floor physical therapy, PM&R, and urology. Multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment for chronic pelvic pain of neural origin.
• Lower Extremity Salvage & Amputee Clinic — Coordinated surgery, prosthetics, physical therapy, and rehabilitation for patients facing limb-threatening conditions or living with amputation.

Research & Publications

Dr. Lakhiani has authored 42 peer-reviewed publications and 3 textbook chapters. He regularly presents his work at national and international conferences. His current research focuses on improving outcomes for patients with neuropathic pain syndromes, facial paralysis, and microsurgical reconstruction.

Awards & Honors

• Monmouth Magazine Top Doctors (2025)
• Chang Gung / Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Reconstructive Microsurgery Fellow Merit Scholarship (2019)
• MedStar Georgetown Plastic Surgery Research Award (2019)
• MedStar Georgetown Plastic Surgery Resident Teacher Award (2019)
• MedStar Georgetown Plastic Surgery Research Award (2018)
• PRS Global Open Case Report of the Year (2017)
• The Christopher Attinger Research Travel Scholarship (2017)
• MedStar Georgetown Plastic Surgery Clinical Excellence Award (2016)
• MedStar Resident HeRO of the Year (2016)
• MedStar Good Catch Patient Advocacy Award (2015)
• MedStar Georgetown Plastic Surgery Limb Salvage Award (2015)
• Best Resident Abstract, American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (2014)
• First Place Abstract, American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2013)
• First Place Abstract, The Rhinoplasty Society (2012)
• Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship (2009)

Board Certification & Professional Memberships

• American Board of Plastic Surgery — Board Certified
• Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS)
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
• American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM)
• American Society for Peripheral Nerve (ASPN)

Personal

Dr. Lakhiani is a native of New Jersey. Outside of the operating room, he is an avid astrophotographer.