Learn how two NY-based plastic surgeons have created a shared surgical suite model that helps private practitioners expand their reach, reduce overhead, and deliver high-end patient care through hospital-grade safety, luxury amenities, and a strategic membership structure.
By Oren Tepper, MD, and Evan Garfein, MD
At 497 Greenwich Street, where Tribeca meets Hudson Square, we founded Greenwich Street Surgical (GSS) with a bold vision: to redefine the outpatient plastic surgery experience for both patients and surgeons alike. Located at the crossroads of convenience and calm, GSS offers discreet luxury just steps from the West Side Highway, Holland Tunnel, FDR Drive, and Brooklyn Bridge, yet feels a world away, tucked among the cobblestone charm of Greenwich and Spring Streets.
Luxury Meets Function: A Space Designed for Excellence
Designed as a best-in-class, shared office-based surgery (OBS) practice, GSS offers a rare opportunity for aesthetic surgeons: the ability to operate in a private setting that combines uncompromising hospital-grade safety with the elegance and comfort of a five-star hotel, without the responsibility of full-time ownership. Exclusively dedicated to aesthetic procedures, GSS prioritizes patients by blending clinical excellence with hospitality-inspired design.
Hospital-Grade Infrastructure in a Boutique Setting
Spanning nearly 6,000 square feet, GSS was built by a healthcare real estate team with deep expertise in hospital and ASC (Ambulatory Surgery Center) construction. Every detail, from the clinical infrastructure to the interior finishes, was intentionally selected to provide a seamless and comfortable experience. The space meets rigorous safety standards and maintains AAAASF (Class C) accreditation, in full compliance with OSHA regulations.
Surgical Suites with Surgeon-Centric Design
Inside, GSS features three fully equipped operating suites with in-wall medical gas and suction, two private pre-operative bays, three PACU bays, and a central nursing station.
Physicians benefit from a private entrance that provides direct access to the lounge, locker room, and operating rooms, completely separate from patient areas to ensure privacy and streamline workflow.
Patient Experience with Five-Star Hospitality
From the moment patients walk through the street-level entrance, they are greeted by a hospitality-forward environment. A dedicated elevator transports them downstairs to the private surgical suite, where they can securely store personal belongings. All anesthetic care is provided solely by board-certified anesthesiologists who work alongside a full-time medical director and dedicated nursing team, ensuring patients receive top-tier care from consultation through recovery.
Concierge Recovery and Personalized Amenities
We paid special attention to the recovery experience. Patientsโ families or escorts have access to a spacious waiting room outfitted with Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV, refreshments, and outdoor seating in warmer months.
Additional concierge-style offerings include:
- Partnerships with nearby luxury hotels for overnight recovery stays at preferred rates
- Access to a private duplex apartment inside the facility, staffed by private-duty RNs available 24-hours a day upon request
- In-room dining options from a personalized menu
- Coordinated car service for door-to-door transportation
These thoughtful details and considerations reflect our belief that healing and recovery are just as important as the surgical procedure itself.
A Strategic Platform for Aesthetic Surgeons
GSS isnโt just a surgical facilityโitโs a strategic platform for aesthetic providers. While hospitals and traditional ASCs provide the necessary infrastructure, they often fall short for aesthetic surgeons, offering limited control over scheduling and staffing, long patient waitlists, high procedural costs, and environments that lack the privacy and luxury todayโs patients expect.
Flexible, Prestigious, Turnkey Practice Expansion
For surgeons looking to expand their footprint in New York without the overhead of owning a full-time OR, GSS provides a turnkey solution. Utilization of our suites allows physicians to operate in a prestigious setting with top-tier amenities, enhancing their brand image while optimizing for cost and flexibility. Unlike many shared office spaces, GSS was designed to allow each surgeon to practice in such a way that the facility feels as if it was his or her own. There are no individual surgeon names, diplomas, or vacation pictures in the surgical space.
Introducing the Elite Surgical Partner Program
Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of GSS are the amenities around the surgeon membership. Recently, we unveiled a first-of-its-kind membership model for surgeons, inspired by the loyalty structures of top-tier airline programs. Designed to recognize and reward surgeons based on their annual surgical hours at our facility, the program offers distinct tiers. Each tier unlocks escalating perks that support surgeon success, comfort, and growthโfrom priority OR scheduling and administrative concierge services to marketing support, and even custom embroidered scrubs. Surgeons who commit more time to the facility receive exclusive benefits such as dedicated OR block access and VIP amenities, reinforcing our mission to create a premium, surgeon-first experience. With real-time hour tracking, rollover benefits, and end-of-year bonus OR credits, the Elite Surgical Partner Program goes beyond a rewards systemโitโs a community-building initiative designed to foster loyalty, streamline workflows, and elevate the standard of private surgical care.
Shared Space, Shared Excellence: Business & Branding Tips
Whether youโre expanding your patient base or elevating your practice environment, a secondary location like GSS offers a meaningful edgeโparticularly in serving our clientele of fashion, finance, and entertainment professionals.
From a business perspective, operating a shared space like GSS allows us to maximize utilization while maintaining accreditation standards and continuously investing in the top equipment, staff, and infrastructure. More importantly, it fosters a collaborative ecosystem of leading providersโone that supports shared excellence while preserving individual practice identities.
If youโre a physician considering launching a shared surgical suite, here are a few key considerations:
- Define your business model: Decide whether your facility will support long-term co-practice or flexible rental. Consider forming a business entity or operating under an existing LLC to streamline liability and tax considerations.
- Ensure legal and regulatory compliance: The facility must meet all local, state, and federal codes, especially for multi-physician use. Each provider should hold individual malpractice insurance, licensure, and board certifications. Familiarize yourself with the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute, which govern relationships and referral arrangements.
- Vet your partners thoughtfully: A shared space reflects the collective reputation of all its users. Choose tenants carefully not only based on clinical skill but also on professionalism and brand alignment.
- Clarify branding and boundaries: Establish clear expectations around signage, digital presence, social media, and online reviews. Patients must be able to distinguish between providers to protect each practiceโs individual brand integrity.
Final Thoughts: Innovation Meets Community in Aesthetic Care
Greenwich Street Surgical was created not just as a destination for surgery, but as a reimagining of what a surgical experience can be. It is a space where safety meets sophistication, where collaboration replaces competition, and where the future of aesthetic and reconstructive care is being shaped in real time. Weโre proud to offer this facility to both our patients and fellow surgeons, and hope our model inspires others to pursue innovative, patient-centered approaches to care and practice growth. PSP
Photos courtesy of Oren Tepper, MD, and Evan Garfein, MD.
Oren Tepper, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He is internationally recognized for pioneering stem cell therapy and 3D surgical innovation. Tepper serves as director of aesthetic and craniofacial surgery at Montefiore Medical Center and associate professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Evan Garfein, MD, is the chief of plastic surgery at Montefiore Medical Center and professor of surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. A board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he specializes in breast and body aesthetics. Heโs published extensively, holds biomedical patents, contributed to breast reconstruction equity legislation, and trained at Columbia, Harvard, and NYU.
Authorsโ Acknowledgments:
We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their roles in Greenwich Street 497 and Greenwich Street Surgical. Atkins Companies (Cory Atkins), RP Builders Group (Rich Privitera, Dave Roman), Newman Design Architects (Brian Newman, Paul Green), MP Interior Design (Michelle Patane), Montefiore Health System Facilities & Real Estate (Edward Pfleging, Tina Macica, Thomas Tropea, Shiva Shahdi), Montefiore Fine Art Program (Jodi Moise), Montefiore Marketing (Loreen Babcock), Montefiore Public Relations (Joseph Solmonese), Montefiore Faculty Group Practice (Jeff Short, Vinnie Pierino, Austin Horan, Peter Semzcuk), Photography by Arabelle LLC (Arabelle Berman), Tribeca Surgiworks (Genevieve Mercurio, Maryellen Jurgensen, Dr Edward Decter), and Dr Arthur Perry.
