Introduction

Breast augmentation has emerged as one of the most sought - after cosmetic procedures in the United States, remaining at the top of the list for over a decade. It is estimated that more than 5 million women in the USA have undergone breast augmentation, with a significant 90% of them opting for the procedure after having children. Impressively, 79% of those who underwent the surgery reported satisfaction with the results. For women in New York City with flat breasts, achieving the desired bust size and shape can bring a boost in self - confidence and a more positive body image. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the top hospitals and surgeons in New York City for breast augmentation, helping you make an informed decision.

Importance of Breast Augmentation

The shape and size of breasts play a crucial role in a woman's self - esteem. Many women with flat breasts often feel self - conscious when wearing swimsuits, form - fitting, or low - cut tops. Moreover, factors such as pregnancy, weight loss, or natural aging can lead to a decrease in breast volume and firmness. Breast augmentation offers a long - term solution to these concerns, allowing women to regain their pre - pregnancy figure, enhance their body proportions, and ultimately feel more confident in their own skin.

Criteria for Evaluating Breast Augmentation Surgeons and Hospitals

When choosing a hospital or surgeon for breast augmentation, several important criteria should be considered:

• Surgeon's Experience and Skill: A highly experienced surgeon with a proven track record in breast augmentation is essential. Look for surgeons who have performed numerous successful procedures and have positive patient reviews. Their skills in handling different types of breast implants, making precise incisions, and achieving natural - looking results are crucial.
• Board Certification: Surgeons should be board - certified by recognized organizations such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This certification ensures that the surgeon has met strict standards of education, training, and professional practice.
• Range of Services: A good hospital or surgeon should offer a variety of breast augmentation options, including different types of implants (silicone or saline), implant placement techniques, and the possibility of fat transfer breast augmentation. They should also be able to perform related procedures like breast lift, breast reduction, and breast reconstruction.
• Patient Care and Support: The quality of patient care from the initial consultation to post - operative follow - up is vital. A caring and supportive medical team will ensure that patients are well - informed, comfortable during the process, and have their concerns addressed promptly.
• Facility Accreditation: The hospital or surgical facility should be accredited by a recognized agency. This accreditation guarantees that the facility meets high standards of safety, cleanliness, and medical equipment.
• Cost and Payment Options: Breast augmentation costs can vary widely depending on the surgeon, the type of implants used, and the complexity of the procedure. It is important to have a clear understanding of the total cost and explore available payment options, such as insurance coverage, financing plans, or credit card acceptance.

Top Surgeons for Breast Augmentation in New York City

Dr. Nadia Afridi

Dr. Nadia Afridi is a well - known cosmetic surgeon in New York City, highly regarded for her breast augmentation procedures. She is a board - certified plastic surgeon and an associate fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Afridi has a caring approach, treating her patients like friends and always being available to answer their post - operation calls.

• Procedure Considerations: When performing breast augmentation, Dr. Afridi takes into account four key factors: the site of breast implant placement, the site of the incision, the type of implant (silicone or saline), and the size of the breast implant. Her surgeries typically last 1 - 2 hours and are performed under general anesthesia. Incisions are made in less noticeable areas, such as the armpit, the underside of the breast, and around the areola, minimizing the visibility of scars.
• Specialties: In addition to breast augmentation, Dr. Afridi offers mommy makeovers, body contouring, and facial treatments. She also has the expertise to perform breast augmentation revision for patients who are not satisfied with their previous breast augmentation results, correcting issues like wrinkling, bottoming out, and capsular contracture.
• Cost: The estimated cost of breast augmentation with Dr. Afridi is $8900.
• Location: Her office is located at 815 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021, between 75th St & 74th St on the Upper East Side. The phone number is (212) 421 - 5100.
• Pros and Cons:
  • Pros: Board - certified, very helpful and informative, accommodating staff, offers multiple breast augmentation procedures, uses “try on the look” to determine the best size and shape for patients, accepts credit card and insurance.
  • Cons: Appointments are by appointment only.

Dr. Richard Swift

Dr. Richard Swift is a board - certified plastic surgeon in New York City, known for his high - quality cosmetic surgeries. He has received numerous prestigious awards for his experience and expertise in the field.

• Pre - and Post - Operative Care: Dr. Swift provides detailed consultations on surgical techniques, alternative treatments, and pre - and post - operative care. He advises patients to refrain from vigorous exercise the day before the breast augmentation procedure, take a shower with antimicrobial soap the night before, and avoid applying lotions or creams on the treatment area. After the surgery, patients may experience swelling and tenderness in the breasts. They can usually return to work within a week but need to wear a surgical bra and avoid strenuous activities until approved by Dr. Swift.
• Specialties: He offers a wide range of cosmetic surgeries, including breast enhancement, body contouring, and facial treatments.
• Cost: The estimated cost of breast augmentation with Dr. Swift ranges from $5000 - $10000, depending on the extent of the surgery and the number of treatments needed.
• Location: His office is at 110 E 87th St, New York, NY 10128, between Park Ave & Lexington Ave on the Upper East Side. The phone number is (212) 828 - 9906.
• Pros and Cons:
  • Pros: Board - certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, provides detailed consultations and pre - and post - operative care, caring and helpful staff, accepts credit card, has over 25 years of experience.
  • Cons: Appointments are by appointment only.

Dr. Adam Kolker

Dr. Adam Kolker is a double - board certified plastic surgeon in New York City, highly recognized in the field of plastic surgery. He has an impressive educational background, graduating with honors from a selective accelerated six - year biomedical education program at Union College and Albany Medical College.

• Range of Breast Procedures: In addition to breast augmentation, Dr. Kolker offers a variety of breast procedures, including breast asymmetry correction, breast lift, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, fat transfer breast augmentation, tuberous breast correction, and more. He also performs facial and body contouring procedures.
• Service Quality: Dr. Kolker is known for his artistic approach to plastic surgery, combining scientific knowledge with creativity to achieve natural and beautiful results. His service has received high praise from patients, as he pays attention to individual cases and goals. However, his service can be quite expensive due to the combined effort of his surgical and anesthesia team, and the price also depends on the material used for the implants (silicone implants are $1000 more expensive than saline implants). Some patients may find it a drawback that his staff answers the calls instead of him directly.
• Cost: The estimated cost of breast augmentation with Dr. Kolker ranges from $9000 – $11000.
• Location: His office is at 710 Park Avenue, New York City, New York 10021. The phone numbers are (212) 744 - 3900 and (212) 744 - 6500.
• Pros and Cons:
  • Pros: American Board of Plastic Surgery certified, American Board of Surgery certified, impressive educational background, friendly and helpful staff, offers several breast augmentation procedures, nice and clean office.
  • Cons: Leaves staff to answer patient’s concerns, surgery is very expensive.

Dr. David L. Cangello

Dr. David L. Cangello is a board - certified plastic surgeon who specializes in cosmetic breast surgery in New York City. He is known for his artistic approach and ability to deliver elegant, natural - looking results.

• Artistic Approach: Dr. Cangello combines medical precision with aesthetic principles in his breast augmentation procedures. He creates personalized treatment plans based on each patient's unique tastes and preferences, whether they desire a subtle look or bold cosmetic enhancements. His superior results have earned the trust of professional models from top agencies.
• Range of Services: In addition to breast augmentation, he offers breast lift, breast revision, and natural augmentation with fat transfer. He is one of only two surgeons in the world trained in fat grafting techniques by one of the pioneers in the field, Dr. Sydney Coleman.
• Implant Options: Dr. Cangello guides patients through the process of choosing the size, shape, and type of implants (silicone or saline). He also explains the implant placement and incision options, preferring the “no touch” method using a Keller funnel for silicone implants to minimize incision size and infection risk.
• Cost: While the specific cost is not explicitly stated, the cost of breast augmentation can vary depending on multiple factors.
• Location: His office is in New York City, and patients can contact him at (212) 644 - 4416 to schedule a consultation.
• Pros and Cons:
  • Pros: Skilled surgeon, artistic approach, personalized treatment plans, offers a variety of breast procedures, experienced in fat grafting.
  • Cons: Specific cons may vary depending on individual patient expectations, but no major cons are widely reported.

Other Breast Augmentation Practices in New York City

There are several other notable breast augmentation practices in New York City, each with its own strengths:

Types of Breast Implants

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants are pre - filled with a cohesive silicone gel. Many patients prefer them because they feel more natural to the touch and look more natural aesthetically. However, they traditionally required larger incisions, but some surgeons, like Dr. Cangello, use techniques such as the Keller funnel to minimize incision size. The FDA suggests MRI scans every few years to monitor the condition of the implant shell, although it is only a recommendation. Silicone implants are approved for patients who are at least 22 years old.

Saline Implants

Saline implants are filled with saline solution once they are placed in the treatment site. This allows for a smaller incision size during insertion. They do not contain silicone, so long - term monitoring is not required. In thin women with little breast tissue, visible rippling at the implant edges may be seen. In the rare case of rupture, the saline can be safely absorbed by the body. Saline implants are approved for patients who are at least 18 years old.

Natural Fill (Fat Transfer)

Some hospitals, like Mount Sinai, offer a fat transfer technique known as Natural Fill®. This two - step procedure involves removing fat from the buttocks or abdomen using liposuction and then immediately injecting it into the breasts. It is a great option for patients who want a more natural approach and have unwanted fat in other areas of their body.

Breast Augmentation Procedure and Recovery

Procedure

Breast augmentation is typically an outpatient procedure that takes 1 - 2 hours to perform under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in one of several possible locations, such as under the breast (inframammary incision), around the areola (periareolar incision), or in the armpit (transaxillary incision). The implant is then placed either under the pectoral muscle (submuscular placement) or above the muscle (subglandular placement). After the implant is in place, the incisions are closed with sutures, and a compression garment is applied.

Recovery

Recovery time varies from patient to patient, but most patients can expect to experience some pain, swelling, and tightness in the breasts for the first few days. Pain medication is usually prescribed to alleviate discomfort. Most patients can resume non - strenuous activities within a week and return to work within a few days, depending on the nature of their job. Strenuous activities and exercise should be avoided for 4 - 6 weeks. Follow - up appointments with the surgeon are crucial to monitor the healing process and ensure optimal results.

Cost of Breast Augmentation

The cost of breast augmentation in New York City can range from $3,900 to $11,000 or more, depending on several factors. These factors include the surgeon's experience and reputation, the type of implants used, the complexity of the procedure, and the location of the surgical facility. It is important to note that the cost may not always include additional expenses such as anesthesia fees, surgical facility fees, and post - operative care. Some surgeons offer financing options, such as CareCredit, which provides different payment plans with no interest or extended payment terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is breast augmentation safe?