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Breast Augmentation

New York, NY

Introduction to Breast Augmentation in New York City

Breast augmentation with implants is a cosmetic procedure that increases or replaces lost volume in a woman’s bosom using saline or silicone implants. As a key procedure in plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast augmentation is performed by top plastic surgeons in New York City, recognized for their expertise and commitment to quality outcomes. Breast surgery encompasses a range of procedures, including augmentation, reconstruction, and other treatments designed to address various needs and goals.

Women can choose to get implants to accentuate their aesthetics, improve how clothes fit, or improve their self-esteem. Many women seek breast augmentation not only to enhance size but also to correct breast asymmetry, aiming for the best breast augmentation results with a natural shape and feel that closely resembles natural breasts. Breast enhancement and procedures are available to help improve breast size, shape, and symmetry, offering both aesthetic and emotional benefits.

The practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin offers breast augmentation for all patients looking to rejuvenate their bosoms. Augmentation mammoplasty is the medical term for breast augmentation, referring to the surgical method used to enhance breast size and shape.

To learn more about breast augmentation with implants, please continue reading below.

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What is a Breast Augmentation?

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed today, breast augmentation is a cornerstone of aesthetic plastic surgery and, with either saline implants or silicone breast implants, can provide a very natural look.

Breast implant surgery is one of the most common cosmetic breast surgeries. Saline implants allow minimal incision breast augmentation; the scars are virtually invisible. Certain implants are adjustable following insertion, enabling fine-tuning of the look and feel. Implants can be placed either under the muscle (submuscular) or under the breast tissue (subglandular), and through incisions placed in the armpit, around the areola, in the breast fold, or even through the belly button.

During a breast augmentation performed by Dr. Michelle Copeland or Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin, the procedure typically involves making the chosen incision, creating a pocket for the implant, and carefully positioning the implant to achieve the desired result. The implant placement Dr. Copeland or Dr. Copeland-Halperin recommends is based on your unique anatomy and aesthetic goals, ensuring the most suitable method is selected for optimal results.

In some cases, a breast lift or fat transfer will be combined with breast augmentation and, when appropriate, paired with other body-contouring procedures. Fat grafting is a technique for natural breast enhancement that involves harvesting and refining excess fat from other areas of the body before transplanting it into the breasts. As with all cosmetic surgery, the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin works closely with you to determine the ideal size, shape, placement, and location of the implant.

Breast augmentations are highly customizable, offering a range of implant types and surgical techniques to suit individual needs and preferences. Choosing an implant with a natural shape, such as a teardrop or anatomically shaped implant, is important for achieving authentic, natural-looking results that complement your body type and personal goals. The popularity of the procedure continues to grow each year. Breast augmentation surgeries are among the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures.

Augmentation mammoplasty is a surgical procedure designed for breast enlargement and improved symmetry.

What Sets Us Apart as the Premier Breast Augmentation Practice in New York City?

A Rare Mother–Daughter Surgical Partnership: Top plastic surgeons Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin represent a unique, multi-generational approach to breast surgery, combining decades of experience with modern techniques. Together, they have performed thousands of successful breast procedures, offering patients the advantage of collaborative planning, meticulous execution, and highly personalized care.

National Recognition & Academic Distinction: Both surgeons are widely respected for their leadership and expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery, with publications, podium presentations, and leadership roles in national medical societies. Their work has been featured at international conferences, and they are frequently sought out for complex breast cases requiring advanced expertise.

Internationally recognized publications that have quoted and interviewed both surgeons include Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, and Vanity Fair.

Elite Medical Training: Dr. Michelle Copeland is the first woman plastic surgeon with a Harvard doctorate in Medicine and Dentistry, while Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin completed advanced fellowship training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Their academic backgrounds ensure every procedure is grounded in evidence-based medicine and refined surgical artistry.

Board Certification & Hospital Privileges: Both surgeons are board-certified and maintain active hospital privileges at leading New York institutions, including Mount Sinai, Lenox Hill Hospital, and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. This ensures the highest standards of safety, ethics, and surgical excellence.

A Thoughtful, Patient-Centered Breast Philosophy: Their approach to breast augmentation prioritizes proportion, longevity, and natural aesthetics. From implant selection to incision placement, every decision is made to support long-term satisfaction, breast health, and results that feel authentic to the patient’s body and lifestyle.

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Breast Augmentation Quick Facts

  • Surgery Time: Approximately 1.5–2 hours
  • Price: Varies based on implant type, surgical technique, and customization. For an accurate cost, please ask during your consultation.
  • Recovery: Most patients return to work within 2–5 days; full activity resumes in 4–6 weeks
  • Results: Immediate improvement with final results developing over 6–12 months

 

Choosing Your Breast Implants

Selecting breast implants is not simply a matter of choosing a larger cup size. During your consultation, Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin will guide you through every important decision, including implant material, size, profile, placement, and incision location. Together, these choices determine how your breasts will look, feel, and age over time, allowing your procedure to be customized specifically for your anatomy and aesthetic goals.

Types of Breast Implants

You can choose between saline implants (filled with sterile salt water) or silicone gel implants. Saline breast implants have a silicone outer shell filled with a sterile saline solution, are known for their adjustability, and require only a small incision, often less than an inch long, which can be well concealed beneath the breast.

In contrast, silicone implants are filled with silicone gel and are known for a natural look and feel. The outer silicone shell of these implants provides structural support and plays a crucial role in achieving a realistic feel and appearance, closely resembling natural breasts.

When comparing saline and silicone gel implants, saline implants may feel less natural but allow for easier detection of ruptures, while silicone gel breast implants offer a more natural feel, reduced rippling, and increased durability.

  • Silicone gel breast implants are often preferred for their realistic texture and longevity.
  • Cohesive gel implants, an advanced type of silicone implant, are designed to provide natural-looking results and maintain their shape even if the shell is compromised. Gummy bear implants are a cohesive silicone option that helps maintain shape.

Implants are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and textures. Round implants are popular for achieving fullness and volume, while anatomical (teardrop) implants are specifically designed to mimic the natural shape of the breast, resulting in a more authentic look. Smooth implants are another option, offering benefits such as a softer feel, while textured implants may reduce the risk of capsular contracture in some cases. The most natural breast appearance requires selecting the right implants for your body. Next-generation Motiva implants with advanced shell technology became available in the U.S. in late 2024.

Implant Size

Patients need to choose their implant size, which ranges from small to very large. Selecting the right implant size is essential for achieving the desired breast volume and natural proportions. It is important to remember that a bigger size isn’t always the best choice for everyone’s profile. Your surgeon will present different cup sizes during the consultation to help you make a decision.

Implant Placement

There are three common implant placements: 

  • Sub-glandular: Behind the breast tissue
  • Sub-fascial: Behind the breast fascia
  • Sub-muscular: Behind the pectoralis chest muscles 

 

Most augmentations are submuscular, as they reduce the risk of implant visibility, scar tissue, and infection. Implant placement beneath the chest muscle is often recommended for patients with limited breast tissue, as it provides a more natural appearance and reduces the visibility of implant edges.

Incision Placement

There are several options for breast augmentation incisions, each with its own advantages and considerations regarding scar placement and healing.

  • Inframammary: This incision conceals the incision within the fold of your breast and avoids the mammary glands, minimizing the chance of infection and breast hardening.
  • Periareolar: This is often selected by women with small breasts who do not have under-breast folds. The incision is hidden within the areola, though it can lead to issues with nipple sensation, scar widening, and complexities during breastfeeding.
  • Trans-axillary: This approach hides scars in the armpits, which are sometimes almost invisible, but it is the dirtiest entry point and has the highest rate of capsular contracture.
  • Trans-umbilical breast augmentation (TUBA): This method involves making an incision through the belly button. Patients undergoing tummy tucks at the same time may opt for this incision for a convenient combined procedure.

Incision placement is finally crucial for achieving discreet results and minimizing visible scarring, so careful consideration and surgical skill are essential.

After surgery, a surgical bra is typically worn to support healing, protect the incisions, and help manage swelling and discomfort.

What Are the Benefits of a Breast Augmentation?

Every woman’s goals for breast augmentation are different. Some patients want to restore volume after pregnancy, while others hope to create a better balance or simply feel more confident in their clothing. Depending on your surgical plan, breast augmentation can provide benefits such as:

  • Creating fuller, more proportional breasts that complement your natural frame
  • Restoring volume lost after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
  • Improving symmetry when one breast is noticeably smaller or shaped differently
  • Enhancing clothing and swimwear fit by creating more balanced proportions
  • Customizing your silhouette with implant size, profile, and placement selected specifically for your anatomy
  • Producing long-lasting results with today’s advanced implant technology
  • Boosting confidence by helping your outward appearance better reflect how you feel about yourself

Because every procedure is individualized, Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin focus on creating results that look balanced, natural, and appropriate for each patient’s body rather than pursuing a one-size-fits-all aesthetic.

Who Are the Best Candidates for the Breast Augmentation Procedure?

Breast augmentation is a highly individualized procedure. Rather than focusing on achieving a specific cup size, the best candidates are women who want to enhance their proportions in ways that complement their natural anatomy and lifestyle.

You may be an excellent candidate if you:

  • Would like fuller breasts or increased upper-pole fullness
  • Have naturally uneven breast size or shape
  • Have experienced volume loss following pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight loss, or aging
  • Have fully developed breasts
  • Are in good overall physical health
  • Are not pregnant or actively breastfeeding
  • Have realistic expectations and understand what breast augmentation can and cannot accomplish

The best way to determine whether breast augmentation is right for you is through a personalized consultation, where your surgeon can evaluate your anatomy and recommend an approach tailored to your goals.

How to Begin Your Breast Augmentation Journey

Getting started with breast augmentation is a collaborative process designed around your goals, anatomy, and lifestyle.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Schedule Your Initial Consultation: Meet with Dr. Michelle Copeland or Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin to discuss your aesthetic goals, medical history, and any questions you have about breast augmentation. During your evaluation, your surgeon will assess your anatomy and determine whether breast augmentation is the right option for you.

 

  • Create Your Personalized Surgical Plan: Together, you’ll select the implant type, size, profile, placement, and incision that best complement your body and desired outcome. Computer imaging may also be used to help visualize your potential results and guide your decision-making process.
  • Prepare for Surgery: Once you’ve decided to move forward, we’ll finalize your surgical plan, provide a detailed quote, review your pre-operative instructions, answer any remaining questions, and schedule your procedure. Our team will make sure you know exactly what to expect before, during, and after surgery.

How Do I Prepare for My Breast Augmentation?

Preparing for breast augmentation is straightforward, but carefully following your pre-operative and post-operative instructions can help decrease the likelihood of complications and support a smoother procedure and recovery. Before surgery, you should:

  • Complete any requested medical clearance or lab work: Depending on your medical history, your surgeon may request testing before your procedure. Some patients may also need breast health screening, such as a mammogram, before augmentation, especially with a personal or family history of breast cancer, and may be advised to consult the appropriate specialist.
  • Stop smoking and using nicotine products: Nicotine restricts blood flow and can interfere with proper healing.
  • Avoid blood-thinning medications and supplements: Certain medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements may increase bleeding risk and should only be taken with your surgeon’s approval.
  • Maintain a stable weight: Significant weight changes before or after surgery can affect your long-term results.
  • Prepare your home for recovery: Have comfortable clothing, medications, healthy meals, and recovery essentials ready before surgery.
  • Arrange transportation and assistance: You’ll need someone to drive you home after surgery and, ideally, stay with you during your first night.
  • Follow your fasting instructions: If sedation or anesthesia is planned, you’ll receive specific instructions about when to stop eating and drinking before your procedure.

What to Expect on the Day of Breast Augmentation Surgery

On the day of your breast augmentation surgery at the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin, our friendly staff will welcome you to the practice, get you settled in the surgical suite, and review your surgical plan in case of any last-minute questions and/or concerns. Finally, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer twilight IV anesthesia in our fully accredited operating room. Intravenous sedation is commonly used to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. Breast augmentation is typically an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return home the same day.

Once you are sedated, the initial surgery phase begins. During this phase, breast augmentation is performed by making the planned incision and creating a pocket for the implant, which may be positioned either subglandularly (above the muscle) or submuscularly (below the muscle), depending on your surgical plan. The implant of choice will be inserted in the plane of choice. Your surgeon will take extra care to minimize scarring. Once the implant has been placed, she will close the incisions in the breast tissue with layered sutures to provide extra support for the natural breast tissue and close the external breast skin incisions with absorbable sutures and bandages. This initial surgery phase also marks the beginning of your recovery, as bandages are applied and healing begins immediately after the procedure.

The operation should take about two hours, depending on the techniques used.

Combining Your Breast Augmentation with Other Procedures

Many women choose to combine breast augmentation with another procedure to achieve more comprehensive, balanced results while completing their transformation with a single recovery period. During your consultation, Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin will carefully evaluate your anatomy, listen to your goals, and determine which combination of procedures can provide the safest and most natural-looking outcome. Every surgical plan is thoughtfully customized to complement your proportions, lifestyle, and long-term aesthetic goals.

Breast Lift

For women whose primary concern is breast sagging rather than volume loss alone, combining breast augmentation with a breast lift can restore a fuller, more youthful breast shape. While implants increase size and upper-pole fullness, a lift repositions the breast tissue and nipple to a more youthful location while removing excess skin. Together, these procedures create breasts that appear both fuller and better supported.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

For patients seeking subtle enhancement or additional contour refinement, fat transfer can complement breast augmentation by smoothing transitions, improving cleavage, or correcting mild asymmetries. Using your own purified fat harvested via liposuction, this technique allows Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin to customize your results further and create a softer, more natural breast contour.

Tummy Tuck

Breast augmentation is frequently combined with a tummy tuck as part of a comprehensive body rejuvenation plan, particularly after pregnancy or significant weight loss. While the breast augmentation restores volume and improves breast shape, a tummy tuck tightens weakened abdominal muscles, removes excess skin, and creates a flatter, firmer midsection. Together, these procedures can dramatically improve overall body proportions while requiring only one recovery period.

Breast Augmentation Recovery

Immediately after surgery, you’ll spend a short time in our recovery area while the anesthesia wears off and our team ensures you’re comfortable before returning home. Before you’re discharged, we’ll review your personalized recovery instructions, answer any remaining questions, and provide prescriptions to help keep you comfortable during the first few days of healing.

Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure, so once our team has cleared you, you’ll return home the same day to begin your recovery.

After your initial surgery, we will have you return to the practice approximately 1 week later to monitor your recovery and remove any stitches and bandages, marking the start of the early recovery phase. We include a post-operative lymphatic massage treatment to help reduce swelling and promote recovery. You can expect another appointment about a month or two after surgery, then another at three months post-surgery, and again at six months. You may also have photos taken at one of your final check-ups for comparison.

Most patients return to work after two days. The speed of recovery is influenced by many factors, including the technique used. Deeper implants, below the chest wall muscle, require a longer recovery than superficial implants. While light activity is encouraged soon after surgery, you’ll need to avoid more strenuous activity for a few weeks.

7 Tips for a Better Recovery

  1. Wear your surgical bra as directed to support healing
  2. Sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated
  3. Take prescribed medications exactly as instructed
  4. Avoid heavy lifting and upper-body strain during early recovery
  5. Stay well hydrated and maintain a nutritious diet
  6. Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments
  7. Be patient as swelling subsides and implants settle naturally

 

Long-Term Results of Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is designed to provide long-lasting improvements in breast size, shape, and overall body proportions. While your final results will continue to refine over the first six to twelve months as swelling resolves and the implants settle into their natural position, many patients enjoy their enhanced appearance for years to come. Maintaining a stable weight, following a healthy lifestyle, and attending routine follow-up appointments can all help preserve your results over time.

Modern breast implants are engineered to be highly durable, but they should still be monitored over time, and some patients may eventually choose implant replacement or revision as their bodies and aesthetic goals evolve.

As your body naturally changes with age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, hormonal fluctuations, or weight changes, your breasts may also change. In some cases, patients choose implant exchange, implant replacement, or revision surgery years later to update their implant size, address implant aging, or accommodate changes in their aesthetic preferences. Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin provide long-term follow-up care and can help you determine if and when any future treatment may be beneficial.

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How Much Does a Breast Augmentation Cost in New York City, NY?

Breast augmentation in New York City is customized to each patient, so the cost will vary depending on factors such as the type of implant selected, your surgical plan, and whether additional procedures are performed at the same time. During your consultation, Dr. Michelle Copeland or Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin will discuss your goals, develop a personalized treatment plan, and provide a detailed quote based on your specific procedure.

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Why Choose Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copleand-Halperin?

The practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin has become a trusted destination for breast augmentation in New York City thanks to their extensive surgical experience, academic leadership, and patient-centered approach to care.

Dr. Michelle Copeland is the first woman plastic surgeon with a Harvard doctorate in Medicine and Dentistry, and she has published numerous articles and presented her techniques internationally. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an attending surgeon at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin has a wealth of experience, including advanced training in microsurgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital with a focus on breast reconstruction. As a top plastic surgeon, she brings a humanistic dimension to plastic and reconstructive surgery and enjoys helping patients achieve their cosmetic, aesthetic, and reconstructive goals through a combination of surgical and non-surgical techniques. Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin is double board-certified and also practices at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, both affiliates of Northwell Health, where she teaches residents.

Both doctors work with an international clientele, drawing patients from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Whether it’s a virtual consultation or in person, they will answer all of your questions, including options, costs, recovery, and all aspects of treatment for surgical procedures such as breast implants, breast reduction, liposuction, and rhinoplasty, as well as non-surgical treatments like Botox, Kybella, fillers, and other non-invasive techniques.

Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation

If you are interested in increasing or improving your breast size and shape, please contact the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin today! You can call us directly or use our website to fill out an appointment form, and a member of our team will contact you.

Breast Augmentation FAQ’s FAQs

Sources

  1. Salemy, S., MD. (2018, April 17). Important things to know about breast augmentation. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/important-things-to-know-about-breast-augmentation
  2. Breast augmentation – Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-augmentation/about/pac-20393178

What Our Patients Are Saying

“I Could Not Be Happier!”

Dr. Copeland and Dr. Copeland-Halperin performed my breast lift last month and I could not be happier. Everyone in the office (including Nurse Lauren and Andrea) is so compassionate and calm and put me at ease going into such a significant procedure. I felt incredibly well informed during my consultation and leading up to my surgery. I’ve had several follow up appointments to check healing progress and ensure I am free of infection or wound complications. They even include a lymphatic drainage massage to help with swelling reduction. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking to feel their best!

Schedule Your Consultation

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If you are interested in increasing or improving your breast size and shape, please contact the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin today! You can call us directly or use our website to fill out an appointment form, and a member of our team will contact you.

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