Art

Dr. Hidalgo is a practicing artist and believes it to be an important method for sharpening aesthetic vision. “How you see is critical in both art and plastic surgery. I find the two very complementary. Art allows me to appreciate fine nuances in shape and form that are critical to achieving an optimal result in plastic surgery procedures, whether it is a facelift, a breast reduction, or a rhinoplasty. I believe there is no better method for training and refining your eye than to be continually engaged as a visual artist.” Dr. Hidalgo works in charcoal for his large scale drawings. A few examples of his work are shown.

David A. Hidalgo MD | Art | Manhattan | New York City (NYC)

BFFs, "36" by 36"

David A. Hidalgo MD | Art | Manhattan | New York City (NYC)

Disney Kiss, 48" by 35"

David A. Hidalgo MD | Art | Manhattan | New York City (NYC)

Steppin' Out, 34" by 42"

Selfie with Dad, 32" by 43"

Dr. Hidalgo on Instagram

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Sep 19

It’s Friday afternoon at 3. All patients have be

It’s Friday afternoon at 3. All patients have been seen and all calls returned. The office is quiet. It’s time to indulge in the pure joy of performing the last surgery of the week. The immense trust placed in surgeons is both humbling and inspiring to get it right every time!

#rhinoplasty #openrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #lookbetterfeelbetter

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Sep 12

Our beautiful patient had it all there - we just a

Our beautiful patient had it all there - we just adjusted one feature. These rhinoplasty selfies are taken 11 months after surgery. Not that she needed it but she is in the beauty business herself!@balayage_courtney

For the surgeons: L-shaped strut on right as both spreader and to support weak anterior septum, normal spreader left, columellar strut, transdomal and interdomal sutures, lateral crura repositioned inferiorly (after Sheen), minor trim left medial crura, Pitanguy ligament repair.

#openrhinoplasty #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults #crookednose

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Sep 10

Our patient today is fit, near ideal weight, and h

Our patient today is fit, near ideal weight, and has tight skin without cellulite. She also exhibits the classic areas of fullness largely resistant to nonsurgical measures. Liposuction is the most effective one step treatment for this with only modest discomfort and rapid recovery typical.

#liposuction #bettershape #lookbetter

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Sep 10

About half of our breast implant patients seek to

About half of our breast implant patients seek to restore their original look before multiple pregnancies rather than primarily for size enhancement. Implants do this much better than lifts because the implant insertion scars are largely inconsequential. Silicone is the preferred choice in this group because the tissues have thinned out too much from breast feeding to be compatible with saline implants. Silicone implants must be changed every ten years but our young patients accept the trade off. Moreover, there are other options down the road to mitigate this requirement.

#breastaugmentation #breastlift #breastimplants #siliconeimplants #getitback #notoverdone

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Sep 8

There is a precise amount of upper eyelid skin to

There is a precise amount of upper eyelid skin to remove for the best result. While the drawing may look random the instrument allows accurate measurements at intervals before finalizing the lines.

For the surgeons: using the Green forceps to grab the lower line drawn, simulate minimal lagophthalmos and holding the pen tip over the end of the forceps at that point, pull the lid down on tension and place a dot on the skin at that same point, and repeat at intervals. This will determine the proper course of the top line of the design. Extra-fine Sharpie pens make the thinnest line that will not bleed!

#upperblepharoplasty #eyelidsurgery #beautifuleyes

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Sep 7

This drawing I am working on today will be part of

This drawing I am working on today will be part of the new website. It will introduce the breast procedure section. Welcome to our 655 Park family joining us today!

#labordayweekend #rest #falliscoming

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Sep 5

I painted this 5’ x 6’ oil painting in college

I painted this 5’ x 6’ oil painting in college and it hangs in my garage today. It was done when photorealism was at its height in the art world and took 6 months to do. I was inspired after taking my then girlfriend on a date to the Watkins Glen races. She married me anyway! LOL

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Sep 4

“Tummy tuck”! All of the skin within the patte

“Tummy tuck”! All of the skin within the pattern will be removed. The top of the design and lower portion are then joined together after the underlying muscles are tightened. The navel will be preserved and stays in its original location. Very effective surgery but long scar (it’s a trade) and 1st week recovery challenging.

For the surgeons: A pinch test with the back at 45 degrees accurately identifies the top of the design so that incision is safe to make at the start. There are 4 tiny dots marking that point on the video and the design is slightly lower as you move laterally. Marking at no more than 45 degrees builds in some leeway for further elevation if needed for closure.
#tummytuck #abdominoplasty #flatabs #ouch #worthit #getitback #rectusdiastasis

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Sep 2

Individual plastic surgery procedures are most pop

Individual plastic surgery procedures are most popular at different times of the year. Summertime “rhinoplasty season” is winding down as the school year starts. The fall “facelift season” is now starting in earnest, an early start facilitated by the quarantine and mask wearing. I love the change in procedures that these transitions bring, just like the change in the seasons themselves!

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Sep 1

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic s

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure, with 300,000 performed annually in the U.S. It is very successful in the vast majority. In 5% scar tissue hardening can occur around the implant and requires surgery to correct. In a small number it can come back, but we now have a new method to successfully treat those cases! #breastaugmentation #capsularcontracture #naturalresults #plasticsurgeonnyc #aesthetics

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Aug 31

This patient had a rhinoplasty elsewhere and liked

This patient had a rhinoplasty elsewhere and liked everything except for the tip. I love these cases because they are real art projects! They often require unique, off the beaten track solutions using multiple cartilage grafts to re-create smooth, symmetric contours.

For the surgeons: columellar strut, right alar batton graft, left transdomal suture, interdomal sutures, camouflage grafts both sides, infralobular tip graft, membranous septum resection.

#openrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults

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Aug 29

Long before doing facelifts my first job was at Me

Long before doing facelifts my first job was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center repairing faces. Microsurgery techniques permitted transplanting blocks of tissue including muscle, skin, and bone from non vital areas of the body to restore missing tissue. Circulation to the tissue was re-established by sewing small blood vessels together with stitches finer than human hair under the microscope! The tissue was then shaped as needed. The next screen shows an example of what was accomplished with these techniques. A short procedure was 8 hours! Sometimes I miss those days!

#memorialsloankettering

For the surgeons: secondary reconstruction with fibula and scapula free flaps at two separate procedures. Result shown is twelve years later.

#memorialsloankettering

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Aug 27

We are thrilled to see our article published in th

We are thrilled to see our article published in the number 1 specialty journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery September issue. The topic is a successful new method to treat breast implant hardening. @prsjournal @drandrewweinstein

Writing is important to advance the field but is challenging. You need a good idea and enough patient experience to provide meaningful data. Then comes designing the study, writing it up and submitting it to a peer review process, all done on your personal time!

The rewards are great if you consider the prospect of affecting 1000 surgeons more impactful than treating 1000 patients yourself!

For the surgeons: take home point of this paper is for either recurrent unilateral CC or first time bilateral CC, use ADM to line the implant pocket. See procedure videos at: www.capsularcontracturecures.com

#breastimplants #breastaugmentation

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Aug 25

Our patient is only six weeks after open rhinoplas

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Aug 24

Surgeons have to be very fit, like serious bikers

Surgeons have to be very fit, like serious bikers or swimmers. Body contouring surgery such as breast reductions @hammdc1, tummy tucks” @alanmatarasso.md, body lifts @drjahmad and “Brazilian butt lifts” @uptownbodycontouring @drghavami require stamina, intense concentration, and considerable upper body flexibility and strength. Busy surgeons do multiple procedures like these per day, as often as every day!
#stayinshape #fitnessmatters

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Aug 22

Abi admires the charcoal drawing in the waiting ro

Abi admires the charcoal drawing in the waiting room of her two boys (in the middle) with their friends. When she showed me the original photo years ago I knew it would make a great drawing because of the perfect composition and message of spontaneity and happiness. Abi has run our operating room for 18 years better than I would run it myself! Loyal, hardworking, expert logistician, and the perfect foxhole mate when the going gets tough. #howluckyami #supernurse #rn

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Aug 19

Meet Samantha, hired out of nursing school a year

Meet Samantha, hired out of nursing school a year ago. She is smart and has an indefatigable work ethic. We have barely scratched the surface of her capabilities. A common response to requests is “I’ve already taken care of that”. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team!
#amazing #workethic #teammate #rn

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Aug 18

Non surgical fat removal with CoolSculpting works

Non surgical fat removal with CoolSculpting works for small spots in certain areas. However, liposuction is best suited for treating multiple areas simultaneously in one step. Much larger volumes can be removed too. Tight skin and lower BMI favor best results.

#liposuctionsurgery #fatremoval #bestshape ##narrowwaist

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Aug 17

These timed art class sketches are great training

These timed art class sketches are great training for the eye! You have assess proper proportions quickly to finish the figure in time. The benefits are transferable to making aesthetic judgements in surgery too.

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Aug 15

Lucky me! Best picture I ever took too.

Lucky me! Best picture I ever took too.

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Aug 15

The S-Curve concept popularized by Dr. Ash Ghavami

The S-Curve concept popularized by Dr. Ash Ghavami @drghavami for the lower body also applies to where the outer breast curve joins the chest and tapers upward towards the armpit. The combination of a breast lift or implant creates the lower convex curve and liposuction of the chest wall creates the upper concave curve. Besides creating an aesthetically pleasing curve there is a functional benefit to better fitting bras with no skin bulging on the sides!

For the surgeons: Debulk first with a 3 mm mercedes cannula then switch to a 2.4 for fine shaping. It’s amazing how precise the control is. Remember the lat border as the post ax fold will seem to get more prominent and should just
be ignored.
#scurve #breastlift #breastaugmentation #liposuction #nicecurves

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Aug 13

Making the nose straight is a seemingly simple con

Making the nose straight is a seemingly simple concept. However the bump is half cartilage and half bone and each component is shaped with different tools and methods. Also, the overall angle and how it aesthetically connects with the tip is critical. Additionally, how it looks on the front views adds another three dimensional variable. However, compared to the variability and complexity of the tip structure, my colleagues would all agree that this is the “easy” part. #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat

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Aug 12

Wednesday morning breast augmentation #breastaug

Wednesday morning breast augmentation

#breastaugmentation #lookinggood #plasticsurgeonnyc #naturalresults

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Aug 11

Upper and lower eyelid surgery – a popular reque

Upper and lower eyelid surgery – a popular request for the earliest signs of aging in the late 30’s to mid 40’s. Often times done much later with facelifts.

For the surgeons: lowers done with minimal fat excision, transposition and 30% TCA peel.

#blepharoplasty #eyelid #plasticsurgery #aging #eye #beautifuleyes #eyelidexpert #brighteyes #gorgeouseyes #upperblepharoplasty #lowerblepharoplasty #eyelidexpert

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Aug 10

Rhinoplasty season continues! #rhinoplastysurgeon

Rhinoplasty season continues! #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat #plasticsurgery

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Aug 9

The life shortening meal on the left is mandatory

The life shortening meal on the left is mandatory fuel before undertaking a male facelift! Men have bigger heads and bleed more. This makes the procedure much more arduous and time consuming. Male facelifts are uncommon and many are sought as part of the overall strategy for career extension by boomers. Both the patient and I took 24 hours to recover!

For the surgeons: see next screen. The midface deflation, prominent nasolabial folds, and midline cervical laxity (no platysmal bands) all disappeared completely when supine. As a result the enormous vertical skin shift required necessitated substantial subsideburn incisions to excise the temporal dog ears (well worth it). TXA in the injectate (Zins et al.,June ASJ) a real game changer, don’t need it IV. Also did deep malar FG, and exceedingly rare direct brow lift + upper/lower bleph. I still go back and forth on pretragal vs. retrotragal in men. Which do you prefer? #faceliftsurgery #male #aging #lookbetterworklonger

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Aug 8

This new charcoal drawing is based on a recent pos

This new charcoal drawing is based on a recent post (second screen) by Dr. Alfredo Hoyos, the master of six pack etching with liposuction @alfredohoyosmd. I struggled with how much definition to include in the drawing because aesthetic norms in women have not been established with respect to this. How about a Saturday afternoon opinion poll? What do you think? See last screen and reply. Get your friends involved so we get good data. I will report back!

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Aug 7

Ten year old silicone implants, done elsewhere ori

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Aug 5

Good friend, colleague, and fellow Leo, Dr. Rohric

Good friend, colleague, and fellow Leo, Dr. Rohrich is the most accomplished plastic surgeon worldwide! Former department chair UTSW, former president of our national PS society, Editor of our specialty’s most prestigious journal (which he transformed), runs the Dallas Rhinoplasty Symposium and a major figure at the renowned Baker Gordon Symposium and most other meetings, published 900 articles, and runs a fellowship training program turning out freshly minted plastic surgeons, among many many other endeavors. Whew! Maybe time to take a day off Rod. Leo the lion indeed. @rod.rohrich

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Aug 3

Our lovely young patient was very specific in her

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Aug 2

Dr. Marn, NYU and Hopkins trained, delivers a smoo

Dr. Marn, NYU and Hopkins trained, delivers a smooth ride for our patients. We often treat patients with co-morbidities that he evaluates first. If he says a patient is a no-go he’s the boss and we defer surgery. With over 10,000 safely performed surgeries over the last 20 years we thank him for his contribution! #anesthesiologist #boardcertified

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Aug 1

If it’s not the operating room, or the art studi

If it’s not the operating room, or the art studio, it’s the garage. Always a procedure to do!

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Jul 28

Plastic surgeons rely on knowledge of anatomy and

Plastic surgeons rely on knowledge of anatomy and technique to perform rhinoplasty. Nasal anatomy is less complex compared to other parts of the body but the challenge is in treating the myriad variations that occur in each part of the nose. A seemingly infinite number of techniques have been developed as a result. Plastic surgeons have to choose the right ones among so many while making adjustments on the fly for each patient. Superimpose the vagaries of healing and this is why rhinoplasty is so challenging. Fortunately today there are great teaching courses such as the annual Dallas Rhinoplasty Symposium where the masters impart their wisdom and experience to both novice and experienced colleagues alike. @rod.rohrich #rhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults

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Jul 27

It occurred to me that the “before and after”

It occurred to me that the “before and after” rhinoplasty pictures taken in the operating room for Instagram posts could be immediately shared with the parents in the waiting room and also texted to our patients to see later the same evening or next day. This removes the 5 day mystery while the splint is on and provides a measure of instant gratification for both the parents and patient alike. Our patient here had surgery last Friday and I received the text reply (next image) Saturday night! This addition to our routine, stimulated by Instagram posting, has made for a better patient experience. #rhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults #instagram #patientcare

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Jul 25

My good friend and colleague Dr. Val Lambros took

My good friend and colleague Dr. Val Lambros took this picture of me at the best aesthetic surgery meeting in the country run by our mutual friend Dr. James Stuzin. Val has been a pioneer in the study of facial aging and how it impacts our concepts of aesthetic facial surgery. Truly landmark work. Val’s whimsical photography efforts are also illustrated in the next screen showing a comet above his home.

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Jul 23

The pursuit of perfection includes using the best

The pursuit of perfection includes using the best tools. When they’re not available we have to invent them. Plastic surgeons work through 1” neck incisions during facelifts where visibility and adequate lighting is critical. The standard retractor is often inadequate. I have developed a new design over the past year. The polished surface and the added “ears” dramatically improve lighting and exposure (next image). It’s now ready for production! #design #betterresults #pursuitofperfection #instruments

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Jul 20

Only 4 days after splint removal following rhinopl

Only 4 days after splint removal following rhinoplasty! The new shape is revealed and will continue to improve as the swelling goes down further. She is happy, and so am I!
#openrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults

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Jul 18

This 4’ x 5’ drawing titled “First Date” w

This 4’ x 5’ drawing titled “First Date” was adapted from the next image seen. The boy was moved closer to the girl and his arm drawn back to increase the connectivity between the two. The third image shows the hanging dice that were added for three reasons: it was a period correct practice to have them; it symbolizes the crap shoot that all early relationships are; and it provides a visual connecting element between the two heads as the eye scans the drawing. The last image is just a detail shot. Many more months before complete!
#visualartist #Ilovedrawing

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Jul 17

Eyelid aging: the first thing to go and the easies

Eyelid aging: the first thing to go and the easiest to fix! Both uppers and lowers were done in this case, as is most common. Sometimes it's only one or the other. Our patients typically report low level discomfort only, and two weeks until looking good.
#blepharoplasty #upperblepharoplasty #lowerblepharoplasty #eyelidsurgery #eyelids #beautifuleyes #brighteyes #gorgeouseyes #eyelidexpert

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Jul 10

We had the pleasure of helping this young lady tod

We had the pleasure of helping this young lady today! #openrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults

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Jul 9

Surgery is a one-time event for the surgeon, and a

Surgery is a one-time event for the surgeon, and a life-time event for our patients. So every day is game day in our operating room: a perfect effort for every patient, every time! #openrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults

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Jul 8

What I love about rhinoplasty is that it is a one

What I love about rhinoplasty is that it is a one time procedure with 50 years impact! As such, it is the greatest responsibility to get it right. #openrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat #naturalresults #crookednose

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Jul 6

Our young rhinoplasty patients are so positive in

Our young rhinoplasty patients are so positive in spirit! Here is a creative TikTok video sent from our patient the day after surgery. #nofear #lookinggood #alwayswanted #cannotwait #nosejob #newnose #rhinoplastysurgeon

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Jul 3

In contrast to our recent post on closed rhinoplas

In contrast to our recent post on closed rhinoplasties, open rhinoplasty is better suited to achieving multiple aesthetic goals that includes reshaping the tip. There is a small scar under the nose and the tip swelling takes longer to go away. The majority of patients are best served with this technique. #openrhinoplasty #closedrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nose #newnose #nosejobs #nosejob #nosejobbeforeandafter #lookingreat

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Jun 29

I prefer doing individual front and side view sket

I prefer doing individual front and side view sketches for our rhinoplasty patients before surgery, instead of computer renderings. They appreciate the extra effort entailed and they are fun for me to do. Here the preop side view sketch is superimposed on the actual 6 day postoperative view. This is the same patient shown in the recent “closed” rhinoplasty post. #closedrhinoplasty #endonasalrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookingreat

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Jun 25

This procedure is rarely done but can be the perfe

This procedure is rarely done but can be the perfect solution in the right patient. There is no muscle repair as in the standard abdominoplasty and the scope of surgery is far less. The recovery is much easier as a result.
#tummytuck #abdominoplasty #reverseabdominoplasty #nycplasticsurgeon

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Jun 23

A treat for the surgeon and patient alike! Rarely

A treat for the surgeon and patient alike! Rarely, patients have essentially a perfect nose except for a hump. The overall dimensions are excellent and most importantly the tip shape and position need no intervention. A rhinoplasty that just eliminates the hump alone can be done entirely through the nostrils. This simpler and more traditional method is called a “closed” rhinoplasty. Besides being more efficient and less invasive the big advantage is that the nasal tip swelling goes away quickly compared to a more complex “open” rhinoplasty. #closedrhinoplasty #endonasalrhinoplasty #rhinoplastysurgeon #nosejob #nosejobs #nosejobbeforeandafter #nose #newnose #lookinggreat

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Jun 19

So thrilled to be recognized among such a talented

So thrilled to be recognized among such a talented group of colleagues in NYC! #newyorkmagazine #plasticsurgeonnyc #faceliftsurgery #rhinoplastyexpert #breastaugmentation

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Jun 18

This young mom experienced breast deflation from b

This young mom experienced breast deflation from breast feeding two children. This is a totally normal occurrence that does not require treatment. However, she wanted to restore breast appearance, primarily to simplify clothing issues. A “lollipop” scar pattern breast lift was used to remove loose skin, push the breasts up, and shrink the size of the areolas. The lift was combined with placement of small saline implants to fill out the top of the breasts. Although all implants need eventual replacement, saline implants can last for decades, typically much longer than silicone implants. Furthermore, in cases like this where small implants (150 cc) are used, there is no real advantage to using silicone anyway. #breastlift #breastaugmentation #breastimplants #breastfeeding #mastopexy #backtonormal #pickmeup #lookinggood #lollipop #plasticsurgeonnyc

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Jun 5

Monday we are ready to go. The office is prepared

Monday we are ready to go. The office is prepared and our protocols are in place. We may look different but it’s the same familiar faces under the masks! #rhinoplasty #facelift #breast augmentation #lookyourbest #nycplasticsurgeon #boardcertified #cannotwait #letsgo

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