Dr. Zizmor, New York’s Cosmetic Dermatologist to the People, Retires

As the adage goes: Make loads of money giving people beautiful clear skin, then retire to study Talmud. At least that’s the plan for Dr. Jonathan Zizmor—a long-time dermatologist in New York who became famous because of his tacky ads on the subway—according to a report from the New York Daily News.

Zizmor’s subway ads were really something—at once colorful, low-grade, and hopeful, despite the fact that they seemed to exhibit the scam services of Dr. Nick from The Simpsons more than, say, a licensed dermatologist who was once listed as one of the best doctors in New York. The doctor was letting the general public know that fraxel lasers and chemical peels could ameliorate your skin, and likely your life, at a low cost, and all from convenient location of his Park Avenue office.

In 2009, Zizmor, now 70, told Business Insider that when his business opened, his clients mostly were “fancy-schmancy people, but I wanted to see the rest of the world. Most people don’t even know a dermatologist.” So he took to placing subway ads, beginning in the early 80’s. In that time, his face has not seemed to age much, which, I guess, makes sense.

In 2003, The New Yorker took note of a new ad by Zizmor, who had moved to Riverdale from Manhattan, which paid homage to New Yorkers rather than showing a before-and-after face collage that would normally accompany his ads. The magazine noted that Zizmor allowed his rabbi to use his Riverdale home for meetings, and that people had begun to recognize his face around town.

“Women knock him down! With skin questions!” [Mrs. Zizmor] said.



“People, in a way, love me,” Dr. Zizmor said. “It’s really amazing.”



“I think they have a warm feeling,” Mrs. Zizmor said. “People like things that stick around.”



“They see my face all the time,” he said.



“Your punim,” Mrs. Zizmor said fondly.



“My punim,” Dr. Zizmor said, with satisfaction.

Zizmor now spends his time studying Talmud, the Daily News reported a family member as saying.

But what’s forever are Zizmor’s ads (how long until one pops up on eBay for like $100?). Here are five of his TV spots, which are just a fantastic watch. “Thank you Dr. Zizmor.”