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Sarah R. Akkina
Rating: 4.9 of 5
( out of 178 reviews )

Sarah R. Akkina, MD, MSc

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Imaging & Neurosciences Center

Salt Lake City
801-585-3223

South Jordan ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ Center

Otolaryngology/ENT
South Jordan
801-585-3223

  • Sarah Akkina, MD, MS, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Utah ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ. Dr. Akkina’s clinical interests include, functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty, aging face (including surgical treatments and injectables), facial trauma, cancer reconstruction, facial nerve damage, congenital anomalies including microtia, and vascular malformations.


    Dr. Akkina is a Stanford fellowship-trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon and a board-certified Otolaryngology - Head and Neck surgeon. Her passion for personalized patient care and surgical excellence helps her provide an exceptional experience for her patients. Dr. Akkina also teaches advanced surgical trainees and performs research in the field of facial plastic surgery focused on automating image analysis and improving clinical outcomes.

    While Dr. Akkina is a Colorado native, she left the region after high school to study and train throughout the country. She is an ivy league alumna of the ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Pennsylvania, a medical school alumna of the ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Michigan, and a residency graduate from the ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Washington. She is thrilled to finally return to the mountain west to provide clinical care and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

    For appointments, please call 801-585-FACE (3223)

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
    American Board of Otolaryngology

    Patient Rating

    Rating: 4.9 out of 5
    4.9 /5
    ( out of 178 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    August 28, 2025
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    We had a small concern, but she explained the situation and we set a date for 6 months out to see if there were positive changes. She reassured us that our concerns were valid, but a natural part of the healing.

    August 27, 2025
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Wonderfully kind, caring, pleasant, professional group

    August 21, 2025
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Akkina is friendly, professional, knowledgeable and competent. Excellent doctor.

    August 21, 2025
    SOUTH JORDAN HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    She is very professional and great at understanding patient wants, then comparing that with what can be done. Explains in detail. Respectful and honest. Best of all, no pressure to make a quick decision.

    August 21, 2025
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Akkina is very very Professional, good listener and very knowledgeable about all aspects of her job. She is very respectful and very helpful

    August 21, 2025
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    What a delightful, competent doctor. She performed excellent surgery on my friend and I trust her abilities.

    August 18, 2025
    SOUTH JORDAN HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr. Akkina is the consumate professional. I am forever grateful for her skills that provided an excellent outcome. At the same time, she is so very kind and professional.

    July 17, 2025
    CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Excellent Doctor that really cares for her patients weelbeing!

    July 13, 2025
    SOUTH JORDAN HEALTH CENTER
    Rating: 5 out of 5

    Dr Akkina is an outstanding surgeon who cares about the concerns of patient, proving recommendations for healing.

    See More Patient Comments

  • Sarah Akkina, MD, MS, is an Assistant Professor and Director of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Utah ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ. Dr. Akkina’s clinical interests include, functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty, aging face (including surgical treatments and injectables), facial trauma, cancer reconstruction, facial nerve damage, congenital anomalies including microtia, and vascular malformations.


    Dr. Akkina is a Stanford fellowship-trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon and a board-certified Otolaryngology - Head and Neck surgeon. Her passion for personalized patient care and surgical excellence helps her provide an exceptional experience for her patients. Dr. Akkina also teaches advanced surgical trainees and performs research in the field of facial plastic surgery focused on automating image analysis and improving clinical outcomes.

    While Dr. Akkina is a Colorado native, she left the region after high school to study and train throughout the country. She is an ivy league alumna of the ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Pennsylvania, a medical school alumna of the ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Michigan, and a residency graduate from the ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Washington. She is thrilled to finally return to the mountain west to provide clinical care and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

    For appointments, please call 801-585-FACE (3223)

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
    Dermatology -Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Board Certification
    American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
    American Board of Otolaryngology

    Education history

    Fellowship Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery - Stanford ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ School of Medicine Fellow
    Fellowship National Institutes of ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ - Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery - ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Washington Research Fellow
    Residency Otolaryngology - ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Washington Resident
    Graduate Training Clinical Research - ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Michigan School of Public ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ M.Sc.
    Professional Medical Medicine - ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Michigan Medical School M.D.
    Undergraduate ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ and Societies, International ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ - ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵ of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Wei EX, Green A, Pepper JP, Akkina SR (2025). Increasing Incidence of Facial Nerve Disorders in the United States from 2007 to 2022. Laryngoscope. ()
    2. Wei EX, Green A, Akkina SR, Pepper JP Co-senior authors (2024). Facial Nerve Disorders: Sociodemographic Predictors and Temporal Trends in Dynamic Facial Reanimation in a National Administrative Claims Database. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med, 27(1), 32-38. ()
    3. Johnson AW, Akkina SR, Bevans SE (2024). Maxillomandibular Fixation: Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Contemporary Techniques in Adults. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med, 27(1), 98-105. ()
    4. Fullerton Z, Wei EX, Akkina SR, Kimura K, Kandathil C, Most SP (2024). Handheld Ultrasound Detection of Supratrochlear Artery in Forehead Flap Surgery: A Feasibility Study   . Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med.
    5. Okland TS, Akkina SR, Perrault D, Most SP (2023). The Single-Stage Melolabial Flap for Internal Lining of Full Thickness Defects of the Nasal Ala . Am J Otolaryngol.
    6. Akkina SR, Saurey TG, Middleton NA, Mattson NR, Brummet S, Phillips JO, Chambers CB, Moe KS, Mudumbai RC (2021). Factors Associated with Ocular Injury in Orbital Fracture Patients: Who Requires Urgent Ophthalmic Evaluation? Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. ()
    7. Akkina SR, Shabbir A, Lahti A, Mudumbai RC, Chambers CB, Moe KS, Phillips JO (2020). Quantifying Eye Alignment in Orbital Fracture Patients: The Digital Hess Screen. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med, 22(6), 427-432. ()
    8. Akkina SR, Kim RY, Stucken CL, Pynnonen MA, Bradford CR (2019). The current practice of open neck mass biopsy in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer: A retrospective cohort study. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol, 4(1), 57-61. ()
    9. Akkina SR, Ma CC, Kirkham EM, Horn DL, Chen ML, Parikh SR (2019). Does drug induced sleep endoscopy-directed surgery improve polysomnography measures in ÈËÆÞÖгöÊÓƵren with Down Syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea? Acta Otolaryngol, 138(11), 1009-1013. ()
    10. Akkina SR, Kim RY, Stucken CL, Pynnonen MA, Bradford CR (2018). Is There a Difference in Staging and Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Tumors Between Tertiary Care and Community-Based Institutions? Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol, 3(4), 290-295. ()
    11. Leibman RS, Richardson MW, Ellebrecht CT, Maldini CR, Glover JA, Secreto AJ, Kulikovskaya I, Lacey SF, Akkina SR, Yi Y, Shaheen F, Wang J, Dufendach KA, Holmes MC, Collman RG, Payne AS, Riley JL (2017). Supraphysiologic control over HIV-1 replication mediated by CD8 T cells expressing a re-engineered CD4-based chimeric antigen receptor. PLoS Pathog, 13(10), e1006613. ()
    12. Hu S, Neff CP, Kumar DM, Habu Y, Akkina SR, Seki T, Akkina R (2016). A humanized mouse model for HIV-2 infection and efficacy testing of a single-pill triple-drug combination anti-retroviral therapy. Virology, 501, 115-118. ()
    13. Akkina SR, Novis SJ, Keshavarzi NR, Pynnonen MA (2016). Academic institution pilot study shows far fewer diagnoses of sinusitis than reported nationally. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol, 1(5), 124-129. ()
    14. Patel SA, Liu JJ, Murakami CS, Berg D, Akkina SR, Bhrany AD (2016). Complication Rates in Delayed Reconstruction of the Head and Neck After Mohs Micrographic Surgery. JAMA Facial Plast Surg, 18(5), 340-6. ()
    15. Novis SJ, Akkina SR, Lynn S, Kern HE, Keshavarzi NR, Pynnonen MA (2016). A diagnostic dilemma: chronic sinusitis diagnosed by non-otolaryngologists. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 6(5), 486-90. ()
    16. Pynnonen MA, Lynn S, Kern HE, Novis SJ, Akkina SR, Keshavarzi NR, Davis MM (2015). Diagnosis and treatment of acute sinusitis in the primary care setting: A retrospective cohort. Laryngoscope, 125(10), 2266-72. ()
    17. Dombecki C, Shah MM, Eke-Usim A, Akkina SR, Ahrens M, Sturm L, Washer L, Foxman B (2015). The impact of role models on hand hygiene compliance. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 36(5), 610-2. ()
    18. Lin GC, Akkina S, Chinn S, Prince ME, McHugh JB, Carey T, Zacharek MA (2014). Sinonasal inverted papilloma: prognostic factors with emphasis on resection margins. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base, 75(2), 140-6. ()
    19. Lin GC, Scheel A, Akkina S, Chinn S, Graham M, Komarck C, Walline H, McHugh JB, Prince ME, Carey TE, Zacharek MA (2013). Epidermal growth factor receptor, p16, cyclin D1, and p53 staining patterns for inverted papilloma. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol, 3(11), 885-9. ()
    20. Akkina R, Berges BK, Palmer BE, Remling L, Neff CP, Kuruvilla J, Connick E, Folkvord J, Gagliardi K, Kassu A, Akkina SR (2011). Humanized Rag1-/- γc-/- mice support multilineage hematopoiesis and are susceptible to HIV-1 infection via systemic and vaginal routes. PLoS One, 6(6), e20169. ()
    21. Berges BK, Akkina SR, Remling L, Akkina R (2009). Humanized Rag2(-/-)gammac(-/-) (RAG-hu) mice can sustain long-term chronic HIV-1 infection lasting more than a year. Virology, 397(1), 100-3. ()
    22. Berges BK, Akkina SR, Folkvord JM, Connick E, Akkina R (2008). Mucosal transmission of R5 and X4 tropic HIV-1 via vaginal and rectal routes in humanized Rag2-/- gammac -/- (RAG-hu) mice. Virology, 373(2), 342-51. ()

    Review

    1. Akkina SR, Bevans SE, Johnson AW (2025). Techniques for Maxillomandibular Fixation: Old and New. [Review]. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.
    2. Akkina SR, Most SP (2021). Treatment of the Crooked Nose. [Review]. Clin Plast Surg, 49(1), 111-121. ()
    3. Akkina SR, Parikh SR (2018). Pediatric Septoplasty. [Review]. Oper Tech Otolayngol Head Neck Surg, 29(2), 66-69.
    4. Berens AM, Akkina SR, Patel SA (2017). Complications in facial Mohs defect reconstruction. [Review]. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 25(4), 258-264. ()

    Book Chapter

    1. Akkina SR, Sie KCY (2025). Chapter 22: Surgery for Velopharyngeal Dysfunction: Furlow Palatoplasty. In Cleft Palate and Velopharyngeal Dysfunction.
    2. Akkina SR, Patel PN, Most SP (2023). Grafts in Rhinoplasty. In Comprehensive Rhinoplasty: Structural and Preservation Concepts.
    3. Akkina SR, Most SP (2023). Treatment of the Asymmetric Nose. In Comprehensive Rhinoplasty: Structural and Preservation Concepts.

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