Harvard-trained and board-certified, Dr. Copeland has a flourishing Manhattan plastic surgery practice that has treated thousands of people worldwide, including many celebrities. Dr. Copeland practices a full range of plastic and reconstructive surgery for both adult and pediatric patients.
Dr. Copeland has dedicated her distinguished career to helping women and men look younger, feel healthier, and live better. Drawing on her extensive knowledge of biochemistry and her clinical experience, Dr. Copeland has created a line of skin-care products—now available to the public—initially formulated to meet the special needs of her patients. The doctor personally develops and tests each product to ensure its efficacy and safety. She is the first woman plastic surgeon with a full line of skin-care products.
Dr. Michelle Copeland is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American College of Maxillofacial Surgeons, and other professional societies. Dr. Copeland is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is an attending surgeon at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Dr. Copeland is the first woman plastic surgeon in the United States to earn combined doctoral degrees in both medicine and dentistry from Harvard University. After residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, she returned to her native New York City for advanced training in general surgery at the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. After fellowship training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Downstate Medical Center, Dr. Copeland joined the staff at the Division of Plastic Surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in 1985 and served as Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery for the Mount Sinai Services at the City Hospital Center in Elmhurst, New York.
American Board of Plastic Surgery
B.A.: New York University
D.M.D., magna cum laude: Harvard School of Dental Medicine
M.D.: Harvard Medical School
Clinical and Research Fellowship in Maxillofacial Surgery: Massachusetts General Hospital
Residencies in General Surgery: New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center and The Mount Sinai Medical Center
Fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: State University of New York—Downstate Medical Center
American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
American College of Surgeons
American Medical Association
American Medical Women’s Association
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Association of Women Surgeons
Harvard Odontological Society
Health, Medicine and Research Partners (HMR Partners) of the Society of Women’s Health Research
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Lipoplasty Society New York County Medical Society
National Committee on Domestic Violence
New York Regional Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists
New York Surgical Society
Northeastern Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons
Omicron Kappa Upsilon, National Dental Honor Society
The International Society of Plastic Regenerative Surgeons (ISPRES)
Women Plastic Surgeons’ Caucus
Women’s Medical Association of New York City
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Teaching Appointments: Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Dr. Copeland is a frequent guest speaker on the international lecture circuit, discussing the latest topics in plastic surgery. She is also a contributor to academic journals. Recent appearances and articles include:
Copeland-Halperin, Libby R. MD; O’Brien, Lauren BSN, RN; Copeland, Michelle DMD,
MD, FACS. Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence–generated Responses to Common Plastic Surgery Questions. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery-Global August 2023.
Talwar AA, Copeland-Halperin L, Walsh LR, Christopher AN, Cunning JC, Broach RB, Baratta M, Copeland M, Shakaran V, Butler PD. Outcomes Of Extended Pedicled Technique Vs. Free Nipple Graft Reduction Mammoplasty For Patients With Gigantomastia. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
August 2022: Read “Training Women in Plastic Surgery — We Can Do More” on PRSJournal.com.
Copeland-Halperin LR, Copeland M., “Current Trends in Free Nipple Grafting During Reduction Mammoplasty.” Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Global Open
Presented at Plastic Surgery: The Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, October 2021.
Re-evaluating the Lejour Technique for Breast Reduction in Patients with Macromastia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Copeland-Halperin, Libby R. MD; Smith, Lauren BSN, RN; Copeland, Michelle DMD, MD, FACS, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open 6(5):p e1783, May 2018
Presented research with Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin on minimal scar breast reduction. American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Conference in New York, April 2018.
Go Red for Women – Dr. Copeland participated in panel discussion on the Media and Women’s Heart Health at the 2014 Go Red for Women Luncheon
Vietnam – Central Hospital of Hue. Plastic Surgery Symposium, April 6, 2013 – Dr Copeland presented Botox and Fillers in Aesthetic Surgery: Principles, Classification, Indication and Techniques and Nonablative Techniques of Skin Rejuvenation
Bangkok, Thailand – International Symposium of Minimal Invasive Plastic Surgery & Dermatology, April, 2011. Dr. Copeland on non-ablative facial
rejuvenation and body contouring using combined modalities for liposuction of the lower legs.
Tokyo, Japan – 10th Congress of the International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery / Asian Pacific Section Dr. Copeland on
Body Liposculpture in October 2009.
Paris, France – International Master Course on Aging – Dr. Copeland on Laser Liposuction and Smart Lipo for Body Sculpturing.
Sun City, South Africa, World Association of Laser Therapy Conference – Dr. Copeland presented Laser Liposculpture for Body Recontouring in October
2008.
Lesmos, Cyprus – 6th International Congress of the World Association of Laser Therapy in conjunction with the 11th Congress of the European Medical Laser Association. Dr. Copeland spoke on the topic of “New Applications of Radiofrequency Energy as a Non-Surgical Alternative for Skin Rejuvenation.”
Florence, Italy – Special International Congress of Laser Medicine – Dr. Copeland spoke about “New Applications of Radiofrequency Energy as a Non-
Surgical Alternative for Skin Rejuvenation
Beijing, China -IX International Congress of Dermatology – Dr. Copeland spoke about “Non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation using Radiofrequency Energy.”
Dr. Copeland appears frequently on national television programs including NBC’s Today Show and ABC’s Good Morning America. She is regularly quoted in major newspapers and beauty magazines including The New York Times, Town & Country, Allure, Women’s Health, Elle, Lucky, Parade, and Cosmopolitan.
Dr. Copeland is the author of two best-selling books, Change Your Looks, Change Your Life (HarperCollins) and The Beautiful Skin Workout (St. Martin’s Griffin). She has also published numerous articles in medical and science journals.
