Introduction
Autologous fat breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic procedure that involves using a patient's own fat to enhance the size and shape of the breasts. In Albany, there are several hospitals and doctors offering this service. This article will provide a comprehensive recap of the hospital rankings for autologous fat breast augmentation in Albany, including information on the top doctors, the clinical effectiveness and cost - effectiveness of the procedure, and patient experiences.
Top Doctors for Breast Augmentation in Albany
According to Healthgrades, there are 155 doctors who perform breast augmentation in Albany. The following are some of the highly - rated doctors:
| Doctor's Name | Rating | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Susan Gannon, MD | 4.60 out of 5 stars | 455 Patroon Creek Blvd Ste 101, Albany, NY 12206 |
| Dr. Gabriel Kaufman, MD | 4.70 out of 5 stars | 317 S Manning Blvd Ste C364, Albany, NY 12208 |
| Dr. Todd Beyer, MD | 4.80 out of 5 stars | 47 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208 |
| Dr. Meera Menon, MD | 4.40 out of 5 stars | 50 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208 |
| Dr. Jonathan Canete, MD | 4.90 out of 5 stars | 50 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208 |
| Dr. Francis Cullen, MD | 4.80 out of 5 stars | 5 Palisades Dr Ste 110, Albany, NY 12205 |
| Dr. Jerome Chao, MD | 4.30 out of 5 stars | 13 Century Hill Dr, Latham, NY 12110 |
| Dr. Edward Lee, MD | 4.50 out of 5 stars | 50 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208 |
| Dr. Matthew McDonald, DO | 4.90 out of 5 stars | 7 Southwoods Blvd Ste 2, Albany, NY 12211 |
| Dr. Eugene Hoffert, MD | 4.90 out of 5 stars | 250 Delaware Ave Ste 207, Delmar, NY 12054 |
Albany Medical Center: An Overview
Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY is a well - known hospital. It is rated high performing in 13 adult procedures and conditions. It is a general medical and surgical facility and a teaching hospital. The evaluation also includes data from Albany Medical Center South - Clinical Campus.
Patient Experience
The patient experience at Albany Medical Center has both positive and negative aspects. It has a Medical Surgical ICU, a Cardiac ICU, Bariatric/Weight Control Services, and an onsite emergency department, but it lacks Addiction Treatment Services. The patient experience ratings are as follows:
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Patient Satisfaction | 2 out of 5 |
| Willingness to Recommend | 3 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Doctors’ Communications | 2 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Nurses’ Communications | 2 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Efforts to Prevent Medication Harm | 2 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Quality of Discharge Information | 2 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Involvement in Recovery | 2 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Staff Responsiveness | 2 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Hospital Room Cleanliness | 1 out of 5 |
| Satisfaction with Noise Volume | 1 out of 5 |
Rankings in Different Specialties
Albany Medical Center has different rankings in various specialties:
- Cancer: High performing in procedures and conditions related to cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, colon cancer surgery, lung cancer surgery, ovarian cancer surgery, prostate cancer surgery, and uterine cancer surgery.
- Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery: Ranked. High performing in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, heart attack, aortic valve surgery, heart bypass surgery, heart failure. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has an average performance.
- Diabetes & Endocrinology: High performing.
- Ear, Nose & Throat: Not ranked, ineligible for scoring.
- Gastroenterology & GI Surgery: High performing in some procedures like colon cancer surgery.
- Geriatrics: Ineligible for scoring but some aspects are high performing.
- Nephrology: High performing in kidney failure.
- Neurology & Neurosurgery: Some procedures like back surgery (spinal fusion) and stroke have average performance, while overall it has some high - performing aspects.
- Obstetrics & Gynecology: Maternity care (uncomplicated pregnancy), ovarian cancer surgery, and uterine cancer surgery have average performance.
- Orthopedics: High performing in hip replacement and knee replacement, while hip fracture and back surgery (spinal fusion) have average performance.
- Pulmonology & Lung Surgery: High performing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer surgery, and pneumonia.
- Rehabilitation: Not ranked, ineligible for scoring but has a ranked aspect.
- Urology: Prostate cancer surgery has an average performance, and overall it has high - performing aspects.
Clinical and Cost - Effectiveness of Autologous Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation
Clinical Effectiveness
Several studies have investigated the clinical effectiveness of autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation and reconstruction. In a systematic review by Seth et al., a total of 35 studies comprising 3757 women were included. The average follow - up duration was 24.5 months. The overall complication rate was 27.8%, with fat necrosis making up 43.7% of all complications. The average fat volume injected was 300mls, and the average volume retention was 58%. Volume retention was greater with supplementation of fat with plasma - rich - protein (PRP) and stromal vascular fractioning (SVF). The most common radiological changes were fat necrosis (9.4%) and calcification (1.2%). After follow - up of one year, patient satisfaction was on average 92%.
Another review focusing on autologous fat grafting for reconstructive surgery found that the overall complication rate of those patients undergoing autologous fat grafting reported in the review by Claro Jr. was 3.4% (155 of 4601 patients). The most commonly reported complications were nodularity, liponecrotic cysts, and post - operative infection. No serious adverse events or deaths were reported in any of the included reviews. The review also reported a cancer recurrence rate of 2.3% (14 of 616 patients) over a mean follow - up period of 45.2 months and concluded that it was similar to published recurrence rates of patients who did not undergo fat grafting.
Cost - Effectiveness
There is limited information regarding the cost - effectiveness of autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation. A review on autologous fat grafting for reconstructive surgery did not identify any relevant economic evaluations. This lack of data may be due to the complexity of assessing cost - effectiveness, which involves factors such as the cost of the procedure, follow - up care, and potential complications.
Patient Experiences at Albany Med Health System
The Albany Med Health System has several success stories related to different medical treatments, which can also give an insight into the overall care quality that may be relevant to autologous fat breast augmentation.
Lisa Paterniti's Experience
Lisa Paterniti had a tumor in her lung. She came to the Albany Med Health System after feeling chest discomfort. She was immediately directed to the appropriate departments, and her tumor was diagnosed. Her primary care physician quickly connected her with a thoracic surgeon, Dr. John Nabagiez. She underwent a 90 - minute surgery at Albany Med followed by a four - day stay. After the surgery, she had “amazing nurses and staff”. Her initial follow - up visits were at Albany Medical Center, but later she could see her doctor at Columbia Memorial, which was much more convenient. Now she is cancer - free and highly appreciates the system for the coordinated care.
Dr. C. Wesley Dingman II's Experience
Dr. C. Wesley Dingman II had prostate cancer and subsequent complications. He was referred to Dr. Brian Inouye, a surgeon at Albany Medical Center. He had telehealth calls and an in - person appointment at Glens Falls Hospital, which was more convenient for him. He was satisfied with the availability of specialties and subspecialties nearby through the Albany Med Health System.
Michelle Wilcox's Experience
Michelle Wilcox was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had immediate access to a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Jeff Kim, through the Albany Med Health System. She chose autologous “free flap” breast reconstruction, a very specialized procedure. On the same day, she had a mastectomy by Dr. Patricia Rae Kennedy and breast reconstruction by Dr. Kim at Albany Medical Center. After the surgery, she had chemotherapy and continued follow - up appointments. She was extremely satisfied with the care she received from the doctors, nurses, and staff, and now works at Saratoga Hospital, where she experiences firsthand the advantages of the integrated system.
Challenges and Limitations in Autologous Fat Breast Augmentation
Research - Related Limitations
Many systematic reviews on autologous fat breast augmentation face challenges. For example, in some reviews, there was no formal meta - analysis due to the heterogeneity of the included clinical studies, and results were mainly summarized narratively. The quality of the clinical studies was often determined to be low because of their mostly retrospective and observational nature, small sample sizes, and relatively short follow - up periods. Some reviews included clinical studies conducted outside of the United States, which may have impacted the generalizability of the results.
Procedure - Related Challenges
There are also challenges related to the autologous fat breast augmentation procedure itself. One of the persistent drawbacks is poor volume retention. Although additional supplementation of fat with PRP and SVF may improve graft survival, achieving consistent and predictable results remains a challenge. There are also concerns about interference with the detection of breast cancer. Although some studies have shown similar cancer recurrence rates in patients with and without fat grafting, further research is needed to fully address these concerns.
Conclusion
In 2025, Albany offers a range of options for autologous fat breast augmentation. There are highly - rated doctors, and hospitals like Albany Medical Center have a presence in various medical specialties, although their patient experience ratings vary. The clinical effectiveness of autologous fat breast augmentation shows both positive aspects such as high patient satisfaction and potential drawbacks like complication rates and volume retention issues. There is a lack of clear information on the cost - effectiveness of the procedure.
If you are considering autologous fat breast augmentation in Albany, it is advisable to thoroughly research the doctors, hospitals, and the procedure itself. Consult with multiple healthcare providers, ask about their experience and success rates, and consider the potential risks and benefits. You can also reach out to patients who have undergone the procedure for first - hand insights. For more information on breast augmentation in Albany, continue to research medical literature and consult local medical professionals.
