Introduction
Breast plastic surgery repair is a significant medical concern for many individuals in New York City. Whether it's for reconstruction after breast cancer surgery, improving the appearance of the breast, or correcting irregularities, finding the right hospital is crucial. Netizens have selected several hospitals based on various factors such as the expertise of the surgeons, the range of services offered, and the overall patient experience. In this article, we will explore these top - rated hospitals in detail.
Columbia Surgery
Overview
Columbia University is recognized as one of New York’s best hospitals and a world - top medical center. Their plastic and reconstructive surgery department has extensive experience and is at the forefront of clinical and laboratory research in the field of plastic surgery.
Services Offered
- Cosmetic Care: Includes ear and eyelid lifts, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, and more. This program offers both surgical and non - surgical options to enhance cosmetic health.
- Reconstructive Care: Their plastic surgeons are world - leaders in areas like breast reconstruction after breast cancer, skin lesion excision, and reconstructive surgery for the nose and ears.
- Cleft Palate / Cleft Lip Care: Through the craniofacial surgery program, they provide specialized care for newborns with cleft lip and cleft palate, conditions that affect thousands of infants each year.
- Orthoplastic Surgery Care: By bringing together leading experts in orthopedic and reconstructive plastic surgery, they offer personalized treatment options with lower wound complication rates and higher patient satisfaction during recovery.
- Breast Reconstructive Care: The breast cancer reconstructive surgery program empowers individuals who have undergone breast cancer surgery. It combines cancer experts and reconstructive plastic surgeons to provide compassionate and personalized post - lumpectomy or post - mastectomy reconstruction.
Research
The plastic surgery research laboratory at Columbia is conducting numerous research studies. Some of the key areas include stem cells, tissue engineering, the study of bone substitutes, and gene therapy applications in wound healing. For example, they are using gene therapy to introduce growth factor genes like PDGF and VEGF to wounds using different techniques, which has shown improved healing in ischemic and diabetic wounds. They are also investigating the use of stem cells for tissue regeneration and various bone substitutes to expedite bone healing.
Surgeons
- Christine Rohde, MD: A highly skilled clinician, researcher, and teacher. She is trained in the full range of plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, specializing in microsurgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, body contouring, cosmetic surgery, and breast, trauma, and cancer reconstruction. She is the chief of microvascular services for the plastic surgery division and has numerous publications and presentations in the field.
- Jeffrey A. Ascherman, MD: An experienced plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over 75 scientific articles and chapters published. He has been included multiple times in Castle Connolly’s list of America’s top doctors and in New York magazine’s annual list of best doctors. He has also participated in humanitarian surgical missions.
- Jarrod T. Bogue, MD: Completed his plastic surgery training at NewYork - Presbyterian's integrated residency program, followed by a fellowship in microsurgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering. He specializes in microsurgery, orthoplastic surgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, as well as cancer and trauma reconstruction.
- Thomas A. Imahiyerobo, MD: As the section chief of pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgery and director of cleft and craniofacial surgery, he is a national leader in the treatment of cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, frontal facial advancement, and orthognathic (jaw) surgery. He also focuses on outcomes research for cleft lip and palate surgery and the effects of craniosynostosis on pediatric cognitive development.
- Catherine L. Ly, MD: A highly skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Her clinical and research interests are in post - traumatic and oncologic reconstruction, with a focus on microsurgical techniques, surgical education, and health disparities. She is committed to providing compassionate care and optimizing patient outcomes.
- Naik Hoba Munabi, MD: Has extensive training in the full breadth of plastic and reconstructive surgery, with a particular interest in cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, frontal facial advancement, orthognathic surgery, rhinoplasty, and medpor ear reconstruction for microtia. She also specializes in adult aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck.
- June K. Wu, MD: A board - certified plastic surgeon specializing in pediatric reconstructive surgery and pediatric vascular anomalies. She trained at Boston Children’s Hospital before joining the team at Columbia.
Contact Information
To get in touch with a plastic surgeon at Columbia Surgery, you can call (212) 305 - 3103 or request an appointment online. They have multiple offices, including locations in Washington Heights, Midtown, East Side, Westchester, and New Jersey.
NYU Langone Health
Overview
NYU Langone's plastic surgeons are experts in breast plastic surgery. They offer a comprehensive range of services for both reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery.
Services Offered
- Breast Reduction: They use the short - scar method, which involves a smaller incision than traditional techniques and provides more cosmetically appealing results.
- Breast Lift Surgery (Mastopexy): Helps to correct breast sagging and improve the overall appearance of the breasts.
- Secondary Breast Reconstruction and Augmentation Surgery: Performed as a separate procedure after surgery to remove all or part of the breast.
- Breast Reconstruction using Perforator Flaps: Using microvascular surgical techniques, a new breast is created by using tissue removed from either the stomach or buttocks. Techniques include the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) and superior gluteal artery perforator (S - GAP).
- Breast in a Day: An innovative surgery for women diagnosed with breast cancer or those at increased risk for cancer. It involves performing a nipple - sparing mastectomy and breast reconstruction using implants in one day. This reduces the number of surgeries and hospital stay, and can play a significant role in physical and emotional recovery.
Surgeons
Their team of plastic surgeons includes Daniel J. Ceradini, MD; Jamie P. Levine, MD; Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD; Pierre B. Saadeh, MD; Vishal D. Thanik, MD at NYU Langone Plastic Surgery Associates—41st Street. And Mihye Choi, MD and Nolan S. Karp, MD at NYU Langone Plastic Surgery Associates—47th Street. To schedule an appointment, you can call 212 - 263 - 3030 for the 41st Street location and 212 - 355 - 5779 for the 47th Street location.
Weill Cornell Medicine
Overview
Weill Cornell Medicine aims to make patients who have had mastectomies feel whole and complete again through breast reconstruction. Their plastic and reconstructive surgeons are leaders in the evolution of breast reconstruction and offer the most advanced surgery options and techniques.
Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine
- Exemplary Surgeons: Their surgeons are leaders in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and the care team is dedicated to promoting patient comfort throughout the process.
- Individualized Breast Reconstruction: They can reconstruct the breast according to each patient's unique wishes, taking into account the patient's body type and personal preferences.
- Multidisciplinary Care: Patients have access to a network of doctors and specialists, including oncologists, geneticists, and nurses who specialize in breast cancer care. The plastic and reproductive surgeons are part of the Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Center, a multidisciplinary group that helps patients achieve optimal health and well - being.
- Focus on Comfort: Before surgery, patients have time to ask questions and understand the procedure. In state - of - the - art surgical suites, the latest anesthetics and medications are used to help patients recover more quickly. After surgery, the care team manages pain and teaches patients how to care for themselves during the healing process.
Breast Reconstruction Options
- Autologous Reconstruction: Uses the patient's own tissue from different areas of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks, to make the breast. Nerves can be reconstructed to increase sensory recovery in the breasts, which may be numb after the mastectomy.
- Breast Innervation: Can be performed during both autologous and implant - based reconstruction. In autologous reconstruction, a nerve in the abdominal flap is reconnected to a nerve in the chest. In implant reconstruction, the nerves that supply the skin and nipple are preserved and reconnected.
- DIEP Flap Reconstruction: An innovative technique that uses a flap of complete tissue from the abdomen to reconstruct the breast, creating a slimmer abdomen and natural - looking breasts.
- Implant - Based Reconstruction: They perform breast reconstruction using tissue expanders and implants based on the patient's unique needs. They use both saline and silicone breast implants from all implant manufacturers, and have pioneered techniques such as direct - to - implant reconstruction and tissue expander reconstruction without the use of drains.
Contact Information
To request an appointment, you can fill out their form. Their staff will help you find the physician who best fits your individual medical needs. They have two upper - east - side locations: 525 East 68th Street, Starr 8, New York, NY 10065 and 425 East 61st Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10065. You can call (646) 962 - 4210.
Mount Sinai - New York
Overview
Mount Sinai offers expert breast reconstruction services. Their plastic surgeons work closely with breast surgeons and oncologists to provide seamless and advanced care, paying close attention to both medical and aesthetic outcomes.
Decision - Making Process
When it comes to breast reconstruction, there are several decisions that patients need to make:
- Choosing Reconstruction: Some women choose reconstruction to look balanced in clothing, feel comfortable with their body shape, or avoid wearing a prosthesis. Others may choose not to have reconstruction or use a prosthetic. The breast surgeons at Mount Sinai will listen to patients' concerns and needs and help them navigate their options.
- Timing of Reconstruction: Patients can choose to have immediate reconstruction after mastectomy (if medically possible) or wait. Immediate reconstruction means fewer surgical procedures, often only one set of surgical scars, and the remaining breast skin remains stretched to the size and shape of the original breast, which may make the process easier. However, some patients may prefer to give their body time to heal from the mastectomy first.
- Type of Reconstruction: Patients need to decide whether to use implants or their body's own tissue to re - form the breast. Factors to consider include overall health, the size and location of the tumor, breast size and desired changes, other medical or surgical treatments, body shape, and speed of recovery.
Reconstruction Types
- Implant Reconstruction: At the time of mastectomy, a tissue expander is placed in the breast. It is a temporary inflatable implant that is inflated in the plastic surgeon's office after surgery. Patients typically stay in the hospital for a day or two and may be able to return to work in two to three weeks. About three months after the initial surgery, a second ambulatory surgery is performed to remove the tissue expander and place a permanent implant (filled with silicone or saline).
- Autologous Reconstruction: They perform several types of autologous reconstruction. The DIEP flap uses skin and fat from the lower abdomen, similar to a “tummy - tuck,” to reconstruct the breast. The latissimus dorsi flap uses skin and muscle from the back. The initial surgery is generally longer than with an implant, but more is accomplished in the first procedure. Hospital stay is typically five days, and patients may be able to return to work four to six weeks later.
Gotham Plastic Surgery
Overview
Gotham Plastic Surgery in New York City offers breast reconstruction as a surgical procedure to recreate a natural - looking breast after mastectomy due to cancer or other diseases. Some women choose to have immediate reconstruction, while others may start the process years later. Reconstruction following breast cancer surgery is often covered by insurance.
Candidates for Breast Reconstruction
The best candidates for breast reconstruction are women whose cancer has been eliminated as best as can be determined and who are in good general health and do not smoke. Women with breast irregularities may also choose to undergo breast reconstruction to reshape their breasts and make them more symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing.
The Reconstruction Process
The reconstruction process typically consists of multiple procedures performed over a period of time. The first step is to create the breast mound, which may take place during or after mastectomy and is usually done in the hospital with general anesthesia. Follow - up procedures may be performed to reconstruct the breast, either with or without implants, in the hospital or an outpatient facility, using either general or local anesthesia.
Other Services
In addition to breast reconstruction, Gotham Plastic Surgery offers a wide range of plastic surgery services, including treatments for the face, eyes, nose, body, and skin. They also have services specifically for men, such as facelift, neck lift, and chin and jaw augmentation.
NewYork Presbyterian
Overview
NewYork Presbyterian's plastic and reconstructive surgeons are leaders in the evolution of breast reconstruction. They offer the most advanced breast reconstruction surgery options and techniques and have extensive experience in nipple - sparing mastectomies with concurrent reconstruction, having performed this procedure for the past 20 years.
Types of Breast Reconstruction
- Autologous Reconstruction: Uses the patient's own body tissue, such as from the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks, to reconstruct nerves and breast structure. A novel reinnervation procedure can be performed during this type of reconstruction, where a nerve in the abdominal flap is reconnected to a nerve in the chest.
- Breast Innervation during Implant Reconstruction: During the mastectomy, the nerves that supply the skin and nipple are preserved and reconnected to the breast skin and nipple.
- DIEP Flap Reconstruction: Uses a flap of complete tissue from the abdomen to reconstruct the breast, creating a slimmer abdomen and natural - looking breasts.
- Implant - Based Reconstruction: Surgeons utilize both saline and silicone breast implants from all implant manufacturers, although current practice guidelines discourage the use of textured implants.
Contact
Whether you visit them virtually through a video visit or in person, you can expect high - quality, compassionate care. You can call to make an appointment.
Comparison of Hospitals
| Hospital | Unique Services | Surgeon Expertise | Reconstruction Options | Patient Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Surgery | Comprehensive research in plastic surgery, orthoplastic surgery care | Surgeons with diverse specializations and extensive research experience | Multiple reconstructive options, including breast reconstruction after cancer | Multidisciplinary approach, education for patients and professionals |
| NYU Langone Health | Breast in a Day surgery, short - scar breast reduction | Surgeons specialized in the latest breast surgery techniques | Perforator flap reconstruction, secondary reconstruction |
