Luxury Meets Medicine: Inside New York City’s Most Stunning Doctor’s Offices

Doctors’ offices usually rank at the bottom of a list of uninspired spaces, to say the least. Typically, cold and sterile environments to visit only when you need to, and avoid going to them for as long as you can; it’s safe to say that they’re not an enjoyable way to spend your time. However, some doctors across a range of fields, most notably in the rarefied circles of elite medical care in New York, are disrupting the norm by creating settings that are destinations for wellness and oases for relaxation. They’re also a showpiece for design, contemporary art, and pure luxury.

The bottom line is that they’re places where you want to be and go out of your way to frequent. Essentially, they redefine what a trip the doctor means.

The following three medical practices in the city are prime examples:

Bensonhurst Dental Care

Dread no more. Who would have thought that a quiet corner of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, would be home to one of the country’s most in-demand celebrity dentist offices? The Rubinshtein family runs this one-stop shop for oral care that counts musicians, actors, and professional sports players as longstanding patients, many of whom travel from all over the world for an appointment.

Photo: Courtesy of Petro Onysko (Onysko Production)

Alexander is a laser dentist, and his wife, Marina, specializes in cosmetics and restorative care. One of their sons, Geoffrey, is a periodontist, and the other, Daniel, follows in his mom’s footsteps and has a reputation for his stunning porcelain veneer work.

Think of Bensonhurst Dental Care as a cool downtown art gallery combined with the amenities and services of a five-star hotel. Spread over three levels in a historic brownstone, it’s a space where your stress levels drop as soon as you walk in.

“People have a fear of going to the dentist because they’re associated with someone poking uncomfortable tools in your mouth,” says Daniel. “We wanted our patients to feel like they are visiting their best friend’s house and are excited to be there.”

Photo: New York City. Courtesy of Florian Wehde / Unsplash

The fashion-forward waiting area features a wall laden with plants and artworks by their patients that portray hip-hop legends. Inside, wood and stone elements, contemporary white walls, more plants, and velvet sofas and chairs figure in throughout the airy space.

Spa-like pampering perks include nine treatment suites with high ceilings and flat-screen televisions where patients are treated to smoothies, lavender-scented towels, soft blankets, ergonomic soft leather exam chairs, noise-canceling headphones, portable chargers and a rotation of room-scents.

There’s also VIP parking with a backdoor entrance and a separate waiting room for those who want total privacy, a conference room if you need to work or have a Zoom, and an in-house dental lab with a master ceramist. And get this: each patient has a dedicated concierge who ensures their appointment is as seamless and pleasurable as possible.

“You’re excited when you’re going on vacation and staying at an incredible hotel like the Aman,” says Daniel. “I want to bring Aman to the dentist.”

Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue

Located in Midtown Manhattan and spanning the top seven floors of a high-rise building, the Shafer Clinic offers plastic surgery, a skin and laser lab, metabolic aesthetics, and facials. It’s where cutting-edge medical care-cum- indulgence comes to life.

Photo: Courtesy of Shafer Clinic

Dr. Shafer, specializing in aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, designed the modern minimalist yet elegant interiors. Selling points include the towering 20-foot ceilings, oversized windows allowing plenty of natural light, custom Vénus et Fleur flower arrangements, luxe fabrics, and contemporary couches and chairs.

But there are many more thoughtful touches like the velvet blankets in the waiting room, the scent of Tom Ford candles permeating through every room, and a pantry stocked with every imaginable snack and drink- yes, even top-shelf tequila and fine wine.

Here come the “wow” factors: the clinic’s collection of world-class art and more than two dozen one-of-a-kind oversized crystal artifacts, the unobstructed views of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings and a 1,300 square-foot wraparound terrace where Dr. Shafer hosts product launch parties complete with deejays and acrobat shows.

Photo: Courtesy of Shafer Clinic

And for jet-setting patients who come in from all corners of the globe, Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue offers a helicopter service from JFK. The helipad is a few blocks away, and patients are greeted by a chauffeured Bentley when they deplane, who whisks them to the clinic.

“We find that our guests arrive early for their appointments and linger well after they’re done. Some even bring their computers and work,” says Dr. Shafer. “They’re comfortable here, and we invite them to treat it like home except one where their every need and desire is catered to.”

Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery

Founded by renowned dermatologist and laser surgeon Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery practice is ground zero for skincare innovation.

Located at Hudson Yards, the ultra-modern space fused with industrial undertones has been hailed as “the office of the future” and treats a range of conditions, from hair loss and complex scars to extreme acne. Dr. Bhanusali is acclaimed for medical and cosmetic dermatology and has become a go-to for A-List models and musicians.

Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Bhanusali, Dr. Shah + HDLS Team

Martha Stewart and Hailey Bieber are among the many boldfaced clients, and it’s no wonder why. You can’t help but succumb to bliss when you enter and are hit with a brightly lit long hallway designed to feel like you’re being transported to another world. The beams in the ceiling are slanted to create a portal effect, a feature designed to help patients leave the hustle of city life behind.

The swanky treatment rooms have a sleek white aesthetic with pops of color, and as you make your way further through the office, another transition tunnel awaits. This one is a gateway to Aesthetica Skin Lab, offering the “impossible to book” facials. The lab is dimly lit, full of flickering candles and plays soft ambient music.

Photo: Courtesy of Hudson Derm

Post-treatment, patients can decompress over a glass of champagne, a hydration drink, or any beverage they choose in one of the lounges with mood lighting.

“I want people to come here and forget about the craziness of everyday life,” says Dr. Bhanusali. “You are at a doctor but not in the traditional way.”