Top 7 Trigeminal Neuralgia Experts in NYC (2026)
Last updated: December 2025
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) can feel unreal when you’re in it: sudden, electric, shock-like facial pain that can be triggered by everyday things like talking, chewing, brushing your teeth, or even a light touch or cool breeze [1].
If you’re in New York City, you have access to multiple major neurosurgery programs that treat TN every day. The hard part is knowing who to see and what options actually exist beyond “try another medication.”
Below is:
an overview of TN and how treatment evolved, and
a curated list of 7 NYC-area specialists known for treating trigeminal neuralgia
Important note: “Top” lists are never perfect or universal. This is not a ranking and not medical advice. It’s a practical starting point based on publicly available clinical focus, leadership roles, and TN-specific treatment offerings.
Overview: What trigeminal neuralgia is (and why specialist care matters)
Trigeminal neuralgia is a facial pain condition involving the trigeminal nerve, the main sensory nerve of the face. Many patients describe pain that is sudden, severe, brief, and shock-like, often with clear triggers (touch, eating, talking) [1].
Why it’s often misdiagnosed (or delayed)
TN symptoms can overlap with dental pain, sinus issues, TMJ problems, migraines, and other facial pain syndromes. That’s why many patients bounce between dentists, ENTs, and multiple providers before landing with a team that treats facial pain disorders specifically [2].
The “big picture” treatment paths
Most modern TN care falls into a few buckets:
Medication management (often first-line)
Microvascular decompression (MVD) when imaging and symptoms suggest nerve compression and the patient is a good surgical candidate
Minimally invasive percutaneous procedures (balloon compression, radiofrequency lesioning, glycerol rhizolysis) for select patients
Stereotactic radiosurgery (like Gamma Knife) in specific situations
Neuromodulation options for complex or refractory cases
Top TN programs typically offer more than one approach because TN is not one-size-fits-all [3].
The history behind trigeminal neuralgia (and the people who shaped today’s treatments)
Early descriptions and naming
1756: French physician Nicolas André coined the term “tic douloureux.” [4]
1773: English physician John Fothergill published the first full and accurate clinical description of TN (it was even called “Fothergill’s disease” for a time). [5]
The “why” behind classic TN: vascular compression
1934: Neurosurgeon Walter Dandy was among the first to report an association between vascular compression and “tic douloureux,” laying groundwork for the compression theory that later drove surgical innovation. [6]
The medication milestone
1962: Carbamazepine emerged as a breakthrough medical therapy for TN and remains one of the best-known first-line medications historically associated with TN treatment. [7]
Procedures that defined modern TN care
Microvascular Decompression (MVD): Popularized and developed in the 1960s by Peter J. Jannetta, with early MVD procedures for TN reported in the mid-1960s. [8]
Radiofrequency rhizotomy/thermocoagulation: Described by Sweet and Wepsic (1974) as a major advance in percutaneous treatment. [9]
Glycerol rhizotomy: First case series published in 1981 (Håkanson). [10]
Balloon compression: Introduced and first described by Mullan and Lichtor (1983). [11]
Radiosurgery (Gamma Knife era): Radiosurgery traces to pioneering work by Lars Leksell, who treated TN with early stereotactic techniques and helped drive Gamma Knife development. [12]
This is why TN treatment today is so “menu-like”: different options were invented to match different patient realities (age, health, imaging findings, symptom pattern, recurrence risk, prior procedures).
The top 7 trigeminal neuralgia experts in NYC (not ranked)
Dr. Raymond F. Sekula, Jr., MD
NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University
If you’re specifically looking for a high-volume TN surgical practice, Dr. Sekula is prominently associated with trigeminal neuralgia evaluation and microvascular decompression.
Director of a Facial Pain and Spasm Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. [13]
Often a fit for: classic TN (especially with suspected neurovascular compression), patients seeking experienced MVD evaluation.
Dr. Christopher Winfree, MD
NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University
For patients whose facial pain is complex, recurrent, or not a perfect “textbook” TN case, it can help to see someone focused on pain and nerve treatments beyond only decompression.
Columbia’s TN program describes Dr. Winfree as a leading neurosurgical pain and nerve specialist, with involvement in neuromodulatory techniques. [13]
Often a fit for: TN or facial pain requiring broader pain-neurosurgery expertise and complex care planning.
Dr. Philip E. Stieg, MD, PhD
Weill Cornell Medicine
Weill Cornell highlights Dr. Stieg’s role in TN care and microvascular decompression.
Chair of Neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medicine with experience in microvascular decompression for TN. [14]
Often a fit for: patients evaluating MVD at a major academic center with access to multiple treatment pathways.
Dr. Ramesh P. Babu, MD
Director of Neurosurgery at BronxCare Health System
If you want an NYC-based neurosurgeon whose practice messaging strongly emphasizes trigeminal neuralgia and cranial nerve surgery, Dr. Ramesh P. Babu is positioned squarely in that lane.
Dr. Babu is a board-certified neurosurgeon and serves as Director of Neurosurgery at BronxCare Health System.
He has focused experience in the evaluation and surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia, including microvascular decompression (MVD) and percutaneous cranial nerve procedures. His training lineage is connected to Dr. Peter Jannetta, the pioneer of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia [18].
Often a fit for: patients seeking a TN-focused consultation with clear explanation of both surgical and non-surgical treatment options, particularly those looking for experienced leadership in cranial nerve disorders.
Dr. Joshua Bederson, MD
Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai features Dr. Bederson in TN care through microvascular decompression.
Performs microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery for trigeminal neuralgia. [15]
Often a fit for: patients considering MVD within a large hospital system offering alternative facial pain treatments.
Dr. Anthony D’Ambrosio, MD
NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone lists Dr. D’Ambrosio as a neurosurgeon who performs TN surgery.
Performs microvascular decompression to relieve trigeminal neuralgia symptoms. [16]
Often a fit for: patients seeking NYU-based evaluation for surgical TN options.
Dr. Mitchell E. Levine, MD
Lenox Hill Hospital / Northwell Health
Northwell’s Lenox Hill program is one of the NYC hubs that explicitly lists a full set of facial pain services.
Career focus includes facial pain, trigeminal neuralgia, radiosurgery, neuromodulation, and percutaneous procedures. [17]
Often a fit for: patients wanting a system offering multiple procedural options within one center.
Conclusion: How to choose the right TN specialist in NYC
When you’re comparing trigeminal neuralgia specialists, the best question is rarely “Who’s #1?” It’s:
Do they treat TN frequently (not occasionally)?
Can they clearly explain what type of TN you likely have and why?
Do they offer more than one procedure option if you’re not a fit for MVD?
Do you feel heard, and do you understand the plan after the visit?
If you’re looking for a New York City neurosurgeon with a clear focus on trigeminal neuralgia and cranial nerve pain, Dr. Ramesh Babu is a strong option to prioritize for a consultation, particularly if you want an experienced surgical opinion on whether microvascular decompression (MVD) is appropriate for you.
If you’re living with facial pain that sounds like trigeminal neuralgia, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ramesh Babu to get a clear diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan focused on long-term relief.
References
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Trigeminal Neuralgia Fact Sheet.
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/trigeminal-neuralgiaZakrzewska JM, Linskey ME.
Trigeminal neuralgia. BMJ. 2014.
https://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g474Cleveland Clinic.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9639-trigeminal-neuralgiaAndré N.
Observations pratiques sur les maladies de l’urètre. Paris, 1756.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1520037Fothergill J.
Medical Observations and Inquiries. 1773.
https://archive.org/details/medicalobservati01fothDandy WE.
Concerning the cause of trigeminal neuralgia. Archives of Surgery. 1934.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/547644Blom S.
Trigeminal neuralgia: its treatment with carbamazepine. The Lancet. 1962.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673662910124Jannetta PJ.
Microsurgical approach to the trigeminal nerve for tic douloureux.
Journal of Neurosurgery. 1967.
https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/26/1/article-p159.xmlSweet WH, Wepsic JG.
Controlled thermocoagulation of trigeminal ganglion and rootlets.
Neurosurgery. 1974.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4846118/Håkanson S.
Trigeminal neuralgia treated by glycerol injection. Neurosurgery. 1981.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6786219/Mullan S, Lichtor T.
Percutaneous microcompression of the trigeminal ganglion.
Journal of Neurosurgery. 1983.
https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/59/6/article-p1007.xmlLeksell L.
Stereotactic radiosurgery. Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica. 1951.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14869838/Columbia University Department of Neurosurgery.
Facial Pain and Spasm Program.
https://www.neurosurgery.columbia.edu/patient-care/conditions/facial-pain-and-spasmWeill Cornell Medicine – Department of Neurological Surgery.
https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.orgMount Sinai Health System – Neurosurgery.
https://www.mountsinai.org/care/neurosurgery/services/trigeminal-neuralgiaNYU Langone Health – Neurosurgery.
https://nyulangone.org/conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/treatmentsNorthwell Health / Lenox Hill Hospital – Facial Pain Center.
https://www.northwell.edu/neurosciences/facial-painNYC Brain Surgery – Dr. Ramesh P. Babu, MD.
https://nycbrainsurgery.org
