Lutfi Al-Khouja, MD
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Areas of Expertise
My Specialties
- Hernia repair
- Abdominal wall reconstruction
- Minimally invasive surgery
Get to Know Me
I’m a surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). I specialize in hernia surgery and complex abdominal wall reconstruction, which involves rebuilding the abdominal wall if it has been damaged or weakened.
A hernia happens when the abdominal wall in your body gets weak or tears. This lets organs or tissue push through. I treat many kinds of hernias, including groin (inguinal), belly button (umbilical), and hernias that form at the site of an old surgery scar (incisional).
I also treat hernias that come back after being repaired. Some patients have large or complex problems with the abdominal wall. This can happen after surgery to remove a tumor or after past operations.
I’m an expert in open surgery, laparoscopic surgery (small cuts and a tiny camera), and robotic surgery (small cuts and robotic tools that I control). This allows me to choose the best option for each patient’s needs. When it’s safe and appropriate, I use minimally invasive methods, which use smaller cuts. This can mean less pain and a faster recovery.
For more complex cases, I rebuild the abdominal wall to make it strong and stable again so it can work normally. At MSK, I work closely with plastic and reconstructive surgeons, surgical oncologists, and other experts to give you one complete treatment plan.
I know that surgery can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve already had multiple operations or are facing a cancer diagnosis. I start with listening to your concerns, goals, and expectations. I take the time to explain your condition and treatment options, so you can make decisions that feel right to you. Not every hernia needs surgery right away. Together, we will decide on the best course of care.
If you do need surgery, I’ll be with you at each step of the process, from planning, preparing, recovering, and follow-up care. I want to not only provide durable repair but also improve comfort, restore function, and help you return to the activities you love. I believe the best results come from careful planning, clear communication, and working together as a team.
Outside of work, I enjoy running, tennis, traveling, and being outdoors. I value staying active and know how important it is for my patients to return to what matters most to them.
I'm a surgeon, which is a doctor with special training in many types of surgery.
- Assistant Attending Surgeon
My Specialties
- Hernia repair
- Abdominal wall reconstruction
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Robotic surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery
Education
- Bachelor of Science, University of California Riverside
- MD, University of California, Los Angeles
Residencies
- General Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center
Board Certifications
- General Surgery
Awards and Honors
- Dr. Ninh Nguyen Chairman's Excellence Award, University of California, Irvine Medical Center (2021)
- Dr. Sherif Emil's Fawzia Gadallah Award, University of California, Irvine Medical Center (2020)
- Surgical Resident Award for Outstanding Teaching, University of California, Irvine Medical Center (2019)
- Golden Scalpel Award for Medical Student Teaching, Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center (2017)
Insurance Information
Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
Starting January 1, 2027, MSK will no longer be in-network for Healthfirst Medicare plans. This applies to all Healthfirst Medicare Advantage plans and dual-eligible Medicare Advantage special needs plans.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
This is a dual payer plan, which means 2 health insurance companies share this plan. MSK providers are out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
This plan is in-network at our New York sites only.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
Your plan may not cover visits to our New York sites. Please call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your health plan covers.
In Network Coverage Type
TBD
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
HMO (City Employee Health Plans Gold and Gold Care Only)
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
Learn more about the insurance plans that participate with MSK.
If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.
Health plans can change at any time. Call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your plan covers. Make sure it covers the MSK location where you’ll get care.
If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.
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Contact and Location
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Colleagues
Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.
Clinical Trials
Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.
You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.
Search clinical trialsResearch and Publications
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Al-Khouja’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
See all on PubMedPatient Reviews
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