The building on East Galbraith Road has a subtle vintage feel to it. There isn’t much signage. As soon as you enter the parking lot, you forget about it. However, a patient starts to notice the difference between the waiting area and the consultation chair. It’s not flashy. It’s not the sophisticated advertising of a Beverly Hills clinic trying to go viral on Instagram. In a way that is becoming less common, Kurtzman Plastic Surgery feels like a real doctor’s office.
Dr. Lawrence Kurtzman has been doing this for more than 40 years, which is a long time in any profession, but especially in one where trends change more quickly than patients can keep up, and techniques change every few years. He established his practice in Cincinnati long before the term “med spa” entered the cultural lexicon. He graduated from Hahnemann University, a name that is still respected in older medical circles. It’s difficult to ignore the way that history has shaped the area. The piece has a purposeful, almost obstinately classical feel to it.
| Keys | Values |
|---|---|
| Practice Name | Kurtzman Plastic Surgery |
| Lead Surgeon | Dr. Lawrence Kurtzman, MD |
| Medical School | Hahnemann University |
| Board Certification | Board Certified Plastic Surgeon |
| Years of Experience | Over 40 years in the medical field |
| Location | 5050 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236 |
| Phone | 513.891.4440 |
| Specialties | Facelift, Rhinoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Body Contouring |
| Non-Surgical Services | Botox, Lip Fillers, Microneedling, Dermal Fillers |
| Charitable Work | Medical Director for Operation Smile |
| Hours | Mon–Fri, closed weekends |
| Staff | Medical Estheticians on staff |
If you walk into the practice on a weekday, you’ll probably see a small staff moving in the leisurely rhythm of longtime colleagues. The lighter cosmetic procedures, such as microneedling, dermal fillers, and lip injections, which have practically become a rite of passage for women in their thirties, are handled by medical estheticians. In contrast, the surgical calendar operates at a different pace. rhinoplasties, facelifts, lifts, and breast augmentations. Patients consider these procedures for years before making a reservation.

For some time now, investors and large aesthetic chains have been circling the cosmetic surgery market, purchasing independent practices and turning them into franchises with branded aftercare kits. Kurtzman has maintained his independence for whatever reason. This seems to be deliberate. Patients appear to enjoy that. It is less common than people think for a board-certified surgeon to conduct the consultation, perform the surgery, and see you at follow-up.
The charitable aspect of the work is intriguing. Kurtzman is the medical director of Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization that provides children with cleft conditions with reconstructive surgery in nations where access to such care is scarce. A surgeon may change over time as a result of this type of work. The proportions. the endurance. The knowledge that a person’s face is more than just a canvas; it is something they must inhabit.
Contrary to popular belief, the Cincinnati cosmetics market is highly competitive. Every month, hundreds of people look for cosmetic surgeons within a fifteen-mile radius on Yelp. New clinics open. Older ones change their names. Influencer surgeons attract attention with nearly flawless before-and-after photos. In this context, a practice that consistently uses the same address, phone number, and surgeon begins to gain a subtle sense of legitimacy.
It’s still unclear whether the future belongs to the consolidating chains or the boutique independents as the industry changes. However, the lights at 5050 East Galbraith remain on for the time being. The phone is ringing nonstop. And patients continue to enter in search of something more akin to a conversation than a transaction. Maybe that’s the whole point.

