Paymon Sanati-Mehrizy, M.D.

Meet Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy

Dr. Paymon Sanati-Mehrizy is an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, specializing in pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgery. With his robust skillset and diverse training background, he’s an excellent addition to the Children’s Health plastic surgery department.

Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy earned his medical degree and completed his residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, where he was exposed to a wide range of plastic surgery procedures in a busy academic center that equipped him with a solid foundation.

After his residency, Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy moved to Seattle to complete his adult and pediatric craniofacial surgery fellowship at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital. Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy joined the faculty at UT Southwestern in September 2023.

"As a new surgeon at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, I feel well prepared because of my experiences at busy academic centers across the country. I was surrounded by excellent educators and mentors at the forefront of craniofacial surgery," Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy says. "This is one of the reasons I wanted to practice at UT Southwestern, because of its excellent reputation, established team of doctors, and focus on teaching, research, and innovation."

Pediatric Craniofacial Surgeon in Dallas, Texas

Craniofacial surgery is a complex field that tends to be most successful with multidisciplinary care, where you have craniofacial surgeons working with neurosurgeons, ENTs, orthodontists, ophthalmologists, speech and language pathologists, and specialized pediatricians – all focused on caring for children who have complex needs.

Working at a teaching hospital such as Children’s Medical Center allows Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy to see pediatric patients with craniofacial anomalies in Dallas and collaborate with other experts. The hospital also serves as a hub for referrals from across the DFW area and state of Texas for children requiring more intricate procedures and trauma care.

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy focuses on complex conditions and procedures including cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis, minimally invasive strip craniectomy, orthognathic (jaw) surgery, and vascular anomalies. He is dedicated to building solid relationships with his patients and their families.

"Taking care of children is what first drew me to plastic surgery. The care children are given early on dictates what road they end up on. It's essential that these patients receive excellent care from the start," Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy says. "I want to be a part of the difference we can make in their lives and strive to develop trust, partnership, and respect at the foundation."

Innovation in Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery in Dallas, Texas

Craniofacial surgery has a rich history within the realm of plastic surgery. Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy acknowledges its pivotal role in the field's development.

After a period of ensuring the safety of craniofacial operations at its inception, the field now has a strong focus on innovation and research. At UT Southwestern, Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy is actively involved in spearheading technologies using augmented reality and virtual surgical planning.

The ultimate goal is to utilize these technologies to make craniofacial surgeries safer, quicker, and more successful. By employing extended reality, augmented reality, and virtual surgical planning, surgeons can eventually create 3D surgical plans and view them in extended reality while in the operating room.

"The initial focus is on using this technology for training and educating medical students, residents, and fellows. The future is to revolutionize the care of these patients by incorporating augmented reality in the operating room," Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy says.

Personal Note

Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy moved to Dallas with his wife and young daughter. Having a one-year-old child has deepened his connection with his patients. He better understands the challenges, fears, and desires these families are experiencing.

He is proud to work at a hospital that offers services such as therapy, social work, and psychology.

"There are numerous support structures in place UT Southwestern to help children and parents," Dr. Sanati-Mehrizy says.