James Chelnis

Board-Certified Oculofacial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Founder and Medical Director, Manhattan Face & Eye

Dr. James Chelnis is a nationally recognized oculofacial plastic surgeon, celebrated for his refined aesthetic judgment, technical precision, and naturally elegant facial rejuvenation results. He specializes in eyelid, facial, and neck rejuvenation, using an approach rooted in safety, balance, and artistic restraint—enhancing rather than altering one’s appearance.

He earned his medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at SUNY Buffalo, followed by an internal-medicine internship at Carney Hospital. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the Ross Eye Institute—a clinically intensive and surgically advanced program known for exceptional operative training and strong fellowship match outcomes.

Following this, he completed an elite fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Hamilton Eye Institute, where he received advanced training in eyelid and facial surgery, deep-plane face and neck lifting, and natural fat transfer. He further refined his aesthetic surgical techniques working closely with Dr. John Fezza, a nationally recognized leader in facial rejuvenation and fat-grafting.

Dr. Chelnis has been an invited speaker across 5 continents including Australia, Japan, Brazil, and the UK, outside of North America. Throughout his career has presented on advanced eyelid surgery, fat transfer rejuvenation, facial and neck lifting, and evolving strategies in natural face and eye aesthetics.

In his academic role, he serves as faculty at both Mount Sinai Hospital and the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE), where he has regularly taught residents, mentors future surgeons, and contributes to training in oculoplastic and aesthetic facial surgery.

At Manhattan Face and Eye, Dr. Chelnis has built a foundation in research where he has served as principal investigator in multiple trials that have resulted in novel treatment protocols and devices that have achieved FDA indications in aesthetic and eye health. Dr. Chelnis is a recognized specialist in dry eye disease and ocular surface dysfunction. He has led and published clinical research on advanced therapies for dry eye including neuromuscular and structural treatments of the eyelid and peri-orbital area. For example, his study “Dynamic Muscle Stimulation of the Periocular Area for Improvement of Blinking in Dry Eye Patients” demonstrates measurable improvements in tear-break up time, meibomian gland function, blink quality and lower lid laxity in patients with dry eye disease. Another study shows that combining intense pulsed light (IPL) with multifrequency radio-frequency (RF) significantly improved meibomian gland expression and dry eye symptoms under his leadership. These publications underscore his dual focus on structural/anatomic eyelid factors and cutting-edge therapeutic technologies in ocular surface care.

At Manhattan Face & Eye, Dr. Chelnis combines surgical, injectable, laser-based and regenerative treatments into bespoke plans tailored to patients seeking subtle, lasting refinement, discretion, and natural expression. He is dual-board-certified in oculofacial plastic surgery and ophthalmology, fellowship-trained, a Fellow of the AmericanCollege of Surgeons (FACS), and widely recognized for his meticulous technique and compassionate care.