Breast Plastic Surgery in Asheville, NC

Breast Surgery

Beautifully Balanced

Every woman’s breasts are unique, and so are her goals. Some women have always wished their breasts were fuller. Others hope to restore volume that has changed over time, lift breasts that have descended with pregnancy or aging, reduce discomfort caused by overly large breasts, or improve asymmetry that has been present for years.

There is no single ideal breast shape or size. The right result is one that feels balanced, natural, and proportionate for your body while aligning with your personal goals at this stage of your life.

Understanding which procedure is right for you begins with understanding the concern you want to address. From there, Dr. Stern can help determine which procedure – or combination of procedures – is most appropriate for your body and the result you hope to achieve.

Understanding Breast Surgery

One of the most common misconceptions about breast surgery is that every concern has the same solution. In reality, different procedures address different concerns. Some women benefit from additional volume, others from improved breast position, others from reducing breast size, and many achieve the most balanced result with a combination of procedures.

You don’t need to know which procedure you need before your consultation. Your role is simply to share what bothers you, what you’d like to change, and what you hope to achieve. Dr. Stern will evaluate your anatomy, listen carefully to what you want to change, and explain which option she believes makes the most sense for you.

Many women come to their consultation believing they need a specific procedure, only to discover there may be a more appropriate option. The purpose of the consultation is to help you understand your choices clearly so you can make a decision that feels informed, comfortable, and right for you.

Your Breast Surgery Options

Your personalized treatment plan may include one procedure or a combination of procedures, depending on your anatomy, priorities, and desired outcome.

Breast Augmentation

For women who have always wanted fuller breasts or would like to restore volume that has changed over time.

Breast augmentation enhances breast volume and shape using implants selected to complement your proportions and goals.

Breast Lift

For women who are happy with their breast volume but would like to improve breast position and shape.

A breast lift reshapes and elevates the breasts without necessarily adding volume, creating a more lifted and refined contour.

Breast Lift with Augmentation

For women who would like both additional volume and improved breast position.

Combining a breast lift with augmentation can restore or enhance fullness while also improving breast shape and position.

Breast Reduction

For women whose breasts feel too large for their body, uncomfortable, or limiting in daily life.

Breast reduction decreases breast size while improving shape and proportion, often relieving many of the physical symptoms associated with overly large breasts.

Implant Removal / Explant Surgery

For women whose goals have changed, who no longer wish to have breast implants, or who are experiencing implant-related concerns.

Implant removal may be performed alone or combined with a breast lift, depending on your anatomy, skin quality, implant history, and desired outcome.

Implant Exchange or Revision

For women who would like to change their implants or address concerns related to previous breast surgery.

Implant exchange or revision may involve changing implant size, improving implant position, replacing older implants, or refining the results of prior surgery.

Correction of Breast Asymmetry

For women whose breasts differ noticeably in size, shape, or position.

Breast asymmetry correction improves balance and proportion while respecting the natural differences that exist between the two sides of the body.

Correction of Tuberous Breasts

For women with developmental differences in breast shape.

Correction of tuberous breasts addresses breast shape, balance, and proportion through a surgical plan tailored to the specific anatomy present.

Nipple Reduction

For women who are bothered by nipples that appear overly prominent or elongated.

Nipple reduction can improve nipple proportion while maintaining a natural appearance.

Areola Reduction

For women who would like to reduce the size of enlarged or stretched areolas.

Areola reduction can create a more balanced relationship between the areola and the overall breast shape.

Correction of Inverted Nipples

For women whose nipples remain inverted and who would like improved projection.

Correction of inverted nipples can improve nipple projection when appropriate, depending on anatomy and individual goals.

Planning Your Surgery

Many women benefit from combining procedures because more than one concern is present. For example, pregnancy, aging, and weight changes may affect both breast volume and breast position. Addressing both concerns together often creates a more complete and balanced result.

One of the most common misconceptions about combining procedures is that recovery will be much longer. In reality, that’s often not the case. When it is safe and appropriate, combining procedures can reduce the number of surgeries and recovery periods while allowing you to complete your healing during one recovery period.

Whether combining procedures is appropriate depends on your anatomy, your overall health, your priorities, and the procedures being considered. During your consultation, Dr. Stern will discuss your options and recommend the approach she believes will safely provide the best overall result.

Why Choose Dr. Stern for Breast Surgery

Breast surgery is deeply personal. Whether you are hoping to enhance, restore, reduce, reshape, or simply feel more comfortable, the right plan begins with understanding what is bothering you and what you hope will feel different after surgery.

During your consultation, Dr. Stern will listen carefully to what you want to change, evaluate your anatomy, and explain which options are most appropriate for you. Every recommendation is individualized, with careful attention to safety, proportion, and a result that feels natural for your body.

Your goals may change over time, and that is completely normal. The right procedure for one stage of life may not be the right procedure for another. Whether you are considering your first breast procedure, exploring options after pregnancy or weight changes, or revisiting previous breast surgery, the goal is to choose the approach that aligns with your body and your priorities today.

Ultimately, breast surgery is not about achieving one ideal appearance. It is about choosing the approach that fits your body, your priorities, and this stage of your life. When the result feels right, your breasts no longer have to occupy so much of your attention – allowing you to feel more at ease in your clothing, your body, and your everyday life.

Breast Augmentation

Beautiful Results. Thoughtfully Planned.

Breast augmentation is one of the most personal decisions a woman can make about her body. For some women, the desire for fuller breasts has been present for years. Others notice a loss of volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes, or aging. Some simply want their breasts to feel more balanced with the rest of their body.

Breast augmentation uses implants to enhance breast volume and shape, but the procedure is not simply about choosing a size. The most natural-looking results come from selecting an implant that complements your anatomy, proportions, and goals.

There is no single ideal breast size. The right result is one that feels balanced for your body and aligned with the way you want to look and feel.

A Personalized Approach to Size and Shape

One of the most important parts of breast augmentation planning is choosing an implant that complements your anatomy, proportions, and goals – not simply selecting a size that looked beautiful on someone else.

Breast width, chest shape, existing breast tissue, skin quality, nipple position, and overall body proportions all influence which implants will create the most natural-looking result. An implant that looks beautiful on one woman may look too large, too wide, or too high on another.

Dr. Stern will guide you through these decisions carefully. Her goal is to help you choose an implant that enhances your shape while still looking natural and proportionate to your body.

Choosing the Right Implant

Breast implants vary in size, shape, projection, profile, and material. These differences influence how full the breasts look, how they sit on the chest, and how natural the final result appears.

Rather than asking patients to make these decisions alone, Dr. Stern helps narrow the choices based on your anatomy and desired outcome. She will explain the differences between implant options and help you understand how each choice may affect your result.

For many patients, this process includes trying on implant sizers during the consultation. Sizers can help you visualize different volumes and better understand what may feel too small, too large, or just right for your frame.

Internal Bra Support

In some breast augmentation patients, Dr. Stern may recommend internal bra support using surgical mesh to help reinforce the breast pocket and provide additional support for the implant. This can be especially helpful in patients with thinner tissues, concerns about implant position, larger implants, revision surgery, or situations where added support may improve long-term shape and stability.

Internal bra support is not necessary for every patient. During your consultation, Dr. Stern will evaluate your anatomy, tissue quality, implant choice, and goals to determine whether this technique may be helpful as part of your surgical plan.

Preservé Breast Augmentation

For appropriately selected patients, Dr. Stern may also discuss Preservé breast augmentation as part of the planning process.

Preservé is a less invasive breast augmentation technique designed to preserve more of the natural breast tissue, nipple sensation, and chest muscle function compared with traditional breast augmentation approaches. It uses a more precise pocket-creation method, which may allow for gentler tissue handling, smaller incisions, less disruption to the breast, and a quicker recovery in appropriate candidates.

Like any breast augmentation approach, Preservé is not right for every patient. Whether it is appropriate depends on your anatomy, existing breast tissue, skin quality, goals, and the type of result you hope to achieve.

During your consultation, Dr. Stern will explain whether Preservé is an option for you and how it compares with other breast augmentation approaches.

Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Lift

One of the most common questions women have is whether they need implants, a lift, or both. The answer depends on what is causing the concern.

Breast augmentation improves volume. A breast lift improves position and shape. If your breasts have lost fullness but the nipple position is still appropriate, augmentation alone may be enough. If the breasts have descended or the nipples sit lower than desired, a lift may be needed to create the best result.

Some women benefit from both procedures. A breast lift with augmentation can improve breast position while also restoring or enhancing volume.

You do not need to figure this out on your own. During your consultation, Dr. Stern will evaluate your breast position, skin quality, existing volume, and goals to help determine which approach makes the most sense.

Breast Augmentation After Pregnancy or Weight Changes

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight changes can affect breast volume, skin elasticity, and breast position. Some women notice their breasts look smaller or less full than they did before. Others feel their breasts have changed in shape or no longer match the rest of their body.

Breast augmentation can restore lost volume and improve breast shape, but it may not correct significant breast sagging on its own. When both volume loss and breast descent are present, a breast lift with augmentation may create a more complete result.

The right approach depends on your anatomy and what you want to improve.

Breast Asymmetry and Tuberous Breasts

Some women seek breast augmentation not because they simply want larger breasts, but because their breasts developed differently during puberty. Differences in breast size, shape, or symmetry are common, and treatment should always be individualized based on your anatomy and goals.

Congenital Breast Asymmetry

Nearly every woman has some degree of breast asymmetry, but for some, the difference in size or shape is much more noticeable. One breast may be significantly larger than the other, have a different shape, or sit at a different position on the chest. These differences often become more apparent during adolescence and may remain unchanged into adulthood.

Treatment depends on the specific characteristics of each breast and may involve different implant sizes, a breast lift on one or both sides, a breast reduction on the larger side, or a combination of these techniques. Dr. Stern carefully evaluates each breast individually and develops a surgical plan designed to improve symmetry while maintaining a natural appearance.

Tuberous Breasts

Some women have breasts that developed with a constricted shape during puberty. Tuberous, or tubular, breasts are a congenital variation in breast development that can result in a narrow breast base, asymmetry, enlarged or prominent areolas, or breasts that never seemed to develop as expected.

Correction of tuberous breasts is often more complex than a traditional breast augmentation. Depending on your anatomy, surgery may involve reshaping the existing breast tissue, releasing areas of constriction, improving symmetry, adjusting the areolas when appropriate, and using implants to create improved shape and volume.

Every patient’s anatomy is unique, and treatment is carefully individualized. During your consultation, Dr. Stern will evaluate your breast shape, discuss your concerns and goals, and develop a surgical plan designed to create breasts that look natural, balanced, and proportionate to your body.

Natural-Looking Breast Augmentation

A natural-looking breast augmentation does not mean the same thing for every patient. For one woman, it may mean a subtle restoration of volume. For another, it may mean a fuller but still proportionate result. The key is choosing an implant and surgical plan that fit your body rather than forcing your body to fit a certain implant.

Dr. Stern’s approach emphasizes proportion, balance, and choosing implants that complement your body. She will help you understand what is realistic for your anatomy and guide you toward a result that enhances your shape while maintaining balance and proportion.

Your Breast Augmentation Consultation

Your consultation is an opportunity to talk openly about what bothers you, what you hope to change, and what kind of result would feel right for you.

Dr. Stern will review your medical history, evaluate your anatomy, discuss implant options, and explain whether breast augmentation alone is likely to achieve your goals or whether another approach, such as a breast lift with augmentation, may be more appropriate.

The goal is for you to leave your consultation with a clear understanding of your options and a plan that feels thoughtful, safe, and personalized to you.

Breast Lift

Restoring Shape, Position, and Confidence

Over time, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes, aging, and gravity can all affect the appearance of the breasts. Many women notice that their breasts have lost their shape, sit lower on the chest, or no longer have the firmness or upper fullness they once had.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is designed for women who are happy with their breast volume but would like to improve breast position and shape. The procedure removes excess skin, reshapes the existing breast tissue, and repositions the nipples to create a more lifted, balanced contour.

The goal is not simply to lift the breasts higher. It is to create a breast shape that looks natural, proportionate, and appropriate for your body.

What a Breast Lift Can Address

A breast lift may improve several common concerns, including:

• Breasts that have descended over time
• Loss of breast shape or firmness
• Nipples that sit lower on the breast
• Enlarged or stretched areolas
• Loose skin after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
• Breast asymmetry
• Difficulty feeling comfortable in clothing or swimwear

Many women considering a breast lift are not looking for larger breasts. They are happy with their volume, but want their breasts to sit in a better position and have a more refined shape.

Do I Need a Breast Lift or Breast Implants?

One of the most common questions patients ask is whether they need implants, a breast lift, or both.

Breast implants restore or increase volume. A breast lift improves breast position and shape. While implants can make the breasts appear fuller, they cannot reliably correct significant sagging. Likewise, a breast lift reshapes the breasts but does not increase their volume.

Some patients achieve their goals with a breast lift alone. Others benefit from combining a breast lift with breast augmentation to improve both shape and fullness. During your consultation, Dr. Stern will help determine which approach makes the most sense for your anatomy and the result you hope to achieve.

No two breast lifts are exactly alike. The amount of lifting required, skin quality, breast volume, nipple position, areola size, and overall body proportions all influence the surgical plan.

During your consultation, Dr. Stern will evaluate your breast shape, skin quality, nipple position, and goals before recommending the approach that is most appropriate for your anatomy. Every recommendation is individualized, with careful attention to shape, proportion, and long-term balance.

Understanding Breast Lift Scars

Scarring is one of the most common concerns for women considering a breast lift. While every breast lift requires incisions, those incisions are carefully planned to allow Dr. Stern to improve breast shape and position while placing scars as thoughtfully as possible.

The incision pattern depends on the amount of lifting required and may range from a scar around the areola to a vertical or anchor-shaped incision. Dr. Stern will explain which technique is appropriate for your anatomy and why.

For most patients, scars continue to mature and fade during the first year after surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Stern will discuss what to expect and how the tradeoff between scar placement and breast shape applies to your specific situation.

Breast Lift After Pregnancy and Weight Loss

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight loss can all change the breasts in ways that exercise cannot correct. Many women notice stretched skin, loss of upper fullness, and breasts that no longer sit where they once did.

A breast lift can improve breast position and shape by removing excess skin and reshaping the existing breast tissue. If additional volume is desired, breast augmentation can often be performed at the same time.

Your Breast Lift Consultation

Every breast lift begins with a conversation. You do not need to know whether you need a lift, implants, or both before your consultation. Your role is simply to explain what bothers you and what you hope will look or feel different.

During your consultation, Dr. Stern will evaluate your anatomy, listen carefully to your goals, and explain which approach she believes is most appropriate for you. Together, you will develop a surgical plan designed to improve breast shape and position while maintaining proportion and balance with the rest of your body.

Breast Reduction

Restoring Comfort, Proportion, and Confidence

For women whose breasts feel too large or too heavy for their body, the effects often extend far beyond appearance. Neck and back pain, shoulder grooving, skin irritation, difficulty exercising, and challenges finding clothing that fits comfortably can become part of everyday life. Many women also describe feeling self-conscious in certain clothing or simply feeling that their breasts are out of proportion with the rest of their body.

Breast reduction reduces the size and weight of the breasts while improving their shape and position. The result should feel lighter, more comfortable, and more proportionate to your body while still looking natural.

Every breast reduction is individualized. Dr. Stern carefully evaluates your anatomy, listens to your concerns, and develops a personalized surgical plan designed to relieve your symptoms while creating breasts that feel balanced and proportionate to your body.

What a Breast Reduction Can Address

Breast reduction surgery may improve:

• Neck, shoulder, and upper back discomfort
• Shoulder grooving from bra straps
• Skin irritation beneath the breasts
• Difficulty exercising comfortably
• Difficulty finding clothing or bras that fit well
• Poor breast proportion
• Breast asymmetry
• Breasts that have become heavy or uncomfortable after pregnancy or weight changes

For many women, breast reduction improves both comfort and confidence in everyday life.

There Is No “Right” Size for Breast Reduction

Many women hesitate to schedule a consultation because they wonder if their breasts are “large enough” to justify breast reduction surgery. Some even tell us they feel guilty considering it because they know someone whose breasts are much larger than their own.

The decision to pursue breast reduction isn’t based on how you compare to someone else. It’s based on how your breasts affect your daily life.

If your breasts cause discomfort, limit your activities, make it difficult to find clothing that fits comfortably, or feel out of proportion with your body, those concerns are valid. Every woman has a different frame, different anatomy, and different goals. What feels too large or uncomfortable for one person may be very different for another.

During your consultation, Dr. Stern will take the time to understand your concerns, evaluate your anatomy, and discuss whether breast reduction is an appropriate option for you.

More Than Making the Breasts Smaller

One common misconception about breast reduction is that the procedure is only about reducing breast size.

In reality, breast reduction is also a reshaping procedure. Excess breast tissue and skin are removed while the remaining tissue is carefully reshaped and the nipple-areola complex is repositioned to create a breast that feels lighter and looks more lifted.

The goal is to improve comfort while creating breasts that look natural, balanced, and proportionate to your body.

Every woman has different reasons for considering breast reduction, and no two procedures are exactly alike.

Some patients are primarily seeking relief from physical discomfort. Others want breasts that feel more proportional to their frame. Many hope to achieve both.

The surgical plan is based on more than breast size alone. Dr. Stern considers your breast shape, skin quality, nipple position, overall proportions, and the amount of tissue that can be safely removed while still creating a breast shape that fits your body.

Will Insurance Cover Breast Reduction?

This is one of the most common questions we hear.

While some insurance plans offer coverage for breast reduction, obtaining approval has become increasingly difficult. Many insurers require patients to meet strict criteria that may not reflect their symptoms, anatomy, or personal goals. In addition, insurance companies often determine the minimum amount of breast tissue that must be removed in order for the procedure to qualify for coverage.

Dr. Stern believes that decisions about your surgery should be based on what is most appropriate for you – not on formulas or tissue-weight requirements established by an insurance company. The amount of tissue removed should be guided by your anatomy, your symptoms, and the result that will best achieve your goals.

Dr. Stern performs breast reduction as a self-pay procedure, allowing the surgical plan to be based on your anatomy, symptoms, and desired outcome rather than insurance requirements.

Your Breast Reduction Consultation

Every breast reduction begins with a conversation. During your consultation, Dr. Stern will take the time to understand what bothers you most, how your breasts affect your daily life, and what size you hope to achieve after surgery.

She will explain what breast reduction can realistically achieve, answer your questions, and discuss whether the procedure is appropriate for you. Whether your main concern is discomfort, proportion, clothing fit, or a combination of concerns, the goal is to help you understand your options clearly and feel comfortable with your plan.

Implant Removal / Explant Surgery

When Your Goals Change

Breast implants may feel like the right choice at one stage of life and no longer feel right at another. Some women choose implant removal because their aesthetic goals have changed. Others no longer want implants, feel their breasts no longer suit their body or lifestyle, or are experiencing implant-related concerns.

Implant removal should be planned carefully. The goal is not simply to remove the implants, but to understand how your breasts may look afterward and whether additional reshaping, such as a breast lift, may create the most balanced result.

Dr. Stern will take the time to understand what is motivating your decision, review your implant history, evaluate your breast tissue and skin quality, and explain which approach she believes is most appropriate for you.

Common Reasons for Implant Removal

Women choose implant removal for many different reasons, and those reasons often change over time. Some patients want to return to a smaller breast size. Others are bothered by heaviness, discomfort, implant position, aging implants, capsular contracture, rupture, or changes related to previous surgery.

Common reasons include:

• Goals that have changed over time
• No longer wanting breast implants
• Breasts that feel too large, heavy, or uncomfortable
• Desire for a smaller breast size
• Implant aging or rupture
• Capsular contracture
• Changes in breast shape or implant position
• Concerns related to previous breast surgery

There does not have to be one defining reason to choose implant removal. If your implants no longer feel right for you, that alone is a valid reason to explore your options.

Implant Removal Alone or Implant Removal with a Lift

One of the most important parts of planning explant surgery is determining what the breasts may look like after the implants are removed.

Some women have enough natural breast tissue and skin elasticity to achieve a good result with implant removal alone. Others may benefit from a breast lift, especially if the skin has stretched, the breasts sit lower on the chest, or the nipples need to be repositioned.

A breast lift can reshape the remaining breast tissue, remove excess skin, and improve breast position after implant removal. Whether a lift is recommended depends on your anatomy, skin quality, breast tissue, implant size, and desired outcome.

During your consultation, Dr. Stern will explain what she believes is realistic with implant removal alone and whether combining the procedure with a breast lift may provide a more balanced result.

What Happens to the Breast After Implant Removal?

Many women worry about how their breasts will look after implants are removed. The answer depends on several factors, including how long the implants have been in place, implant size, skin elasticity, natural breast tissue, pregnancy history, weight changes, and aging.

After implant removal, the breasts may appear smaller, flatter, looser, or less full than they did with implants. This does not mean the result cannot look natural or balanced, but it does mean planning is important.

In some cases, the capsule – the scar tissue that naturally forms around a breast implant – may also need to be removed. Whether capsule removal is recommended depends on factors such as implant rupture, capsular contracture, symptoms, implant history, and the condition of the capsule itself.

Dr. Stern will evaluate your anatomy carefully and discuss what changes you can realistically expect. In some cases, implant removal alone is appropriate. In others, capsule removal, a breast lift, or another approach may help create a better breast shape after the implant is removed.

Implant Removal vs. Implant Exchange

Some women know they want their implants removed completely. Others are not sure whether they want removal, smaller implants, or implant revision. That is completely normal.

Implant removal is appropriate for women who no longer wish to have implants. Implant exchange may be a better option for women who still want implants but would like a different size, updated implants, or correction of implant-related concerns.

You do not need to make that decision before your consultation. Dr. Stern can help you understand the differences between implant removal, implant exchange, and implant removal with lift so you can decide which option best matches your goals.

Your Implant Removal Consultation

Your consultation is an opportunity to talk openly about why you are considering implant removal and what you hope to achieve.

Dr. Stern will review your implant history, evaluate your breast tissue, skin quality, implant position, and overall proportions, and explain which options are most appropriate for you. She will discuss whether implant removal alone is likely to provide the result you want or whether capsule removal, a breast lift, implant exchange, or another approach may be helpful.

Because every patient’s anatomy, implant history, and priorities are different, the surgical plan is individualized. The goal is for you to leave with a clear understanding of your options, realistic expectations about your result, and a plan that feels appropriate for your body and priorities.

Breast Implant Exchange & Revision

When Breast Implants Need to Be Replaced or Revised

Breast implants may need to be replaced or revised as your body, preferences, or implants change over time. Some women want to change the size or style of their implants. Others are bothered by changes in breast shape, implant position, aging implants, capsular contracture, rupture, or concerns related to previous breast surgery.

Breast implant exchange or revision often requires a different level of planning than a first-time breast augmentation. Dr. Stern must consider your existing implants, scar tissue, breast tissue, skin quality, nipple position, and the changes that have occurred over time.

The goal is to understand what is bothering you now and create a plan that addresses those concerns as safely and thoughtfully as possible.

Common Reasons for Implant Exchange or Revision

Women choose implant exchange or revision for many different reasons. Some still want implants but would like a different size, shape, or style. Others want to address a concern that has developed since their original surgery.

Common reasons include:

• Desire to change implant size
• Desire to change implant type, profile, or style
• Aging implants
• Implant rupture
• Capsular contracture
• Implant malposition
• Breast asymmetry
• Rippling or visible implant edges
• Changes after pregnancy, weight changes, or aging
• Concerns related to previous breast surgery

The right approach depends on what is causing the concern, what you hope to improve, and whether your best option is implant exchange, revision, implant removal, a breast lift, or a combination of procedures.

Implant Exchange With or Without a Breast Lift

Many women considering implant exchange also have changes in breast position. Replacing the implant alone can improve volume, but it may not correct loose skin, nipple position, or breast descent.

A breast lift may be recommended when the breasts sit lower on the chest, the nipples need to be repositioned, or the skin envelope needs to be tightened around the new implant.

Combining implant exchange with a breast lift can improve both breast shape and position while creating a more balanced result.

Internal bra support using surgical mesh may also be considered in some revision cases to help reinforce the breast pocket and provide additional support for the implant. Whether internal support is appropriate depends on your tissue quality, implant position, implant choice, and surgical goals.

During your consultation, Dr. Stern will explain whether implant exchange alone is likely to address your concerns or whether adding a lift, internal support, or another technique may create a more balanced result.

Implant Revision vs. Implant Removal

Some women know they want to keep breast implants. Others are unsure whether implant exchange, implant removal, or implant removal with a breast lift is the better option.

Implant exchange may be appropriate if you still want breast implants but would like to change the size, replace aging implants, or address concerns with the current result. Implant removal may be more appropriate if you no longer wish to have implants or want to return to a smaller breast size.

You do not need to make this decision before your consultation. Dr. Stern will help you understand the differences between these options so you can choose the approach that best fits your body and priorities.

Your Implant Exchange / Revision Consultation

Your consultation is an opportunity to talk through what has changed, what bothers you about your current implants, and what you hope to achieve now.

Dr. Stern will review your surgical history, implant information when available, symptoms, imaging if needed, breast tissue, skin quality, implant position, and overall proportions. She will explain what can realistically be improved and which approach makes the most sense for your anatomy and priorities.

Because revision surgery is highly individualized, careful planning is essential. The goal is for you to leave with a clear understanding of your options, realistic expectations about your result, and a plan that makes sense for your body and priorities.

Gender-Affirming Top Surgery

A Chest That Feels More Like You

For transgender and gender-diverse patients, the appearance of the chest can have a meaningful impact on comfort, confidence, and how at home you feel in your body. Gender-affirming top surgery may involve chest masculinization or chest feminization, depending on your anatomy and goals.

Every patient has different anatomy and different priorities. Dr. Stern takes an individualized approach, with careful attention to chest shape, proportion, scar placement, and the position and size of the nipple and areola when appropriate.

Chest Masculinization

For patients seeking a flatter, more traditionally masculine chest contour, surgery may remove breast tissue and excess skin and reshape the chest to create a balanced, natural-looking result.

Depending on your anatomy, the procedure may also involve resizing or repositioning the nipples and areolas. Incision patterns and scars vary based on the amount of tissue and skin that need to be addressed.

Chest Feminization

For patients seeking greater breast volume and a more traditionally feminine chest contour, breast augmentation may be used to create shape and proportion that feel more aligned with your goals.

Implant size, shape, profile, and surgical approach are selected based on your chest dimensions, existing breast tissue, skin quality, and desired result. Dr. Stern will help you understand the options and choose an approach that complements your anatomy.

Planning Your Surgery

The surgical approach depends on the direction of your goals as well as your anatomy. For chest masculinization, planning focuses on breast tissue, skin quality, chest dimensions, nipple and areola position, and scar placement. For chest feminization, planning focuses on chest dimensions, existing tissue, skin quality, implant selection, and overall proportion.

Your Gender-Affirming Surgery Consultation

Your consultation is a private, respectful space to talk about your goals and ask questions. Dr. Stern will evaluate your anatomy, explain the options that may be appropriate for you, and develop a plan focused on safety, proportion, and a result that feels natural and right for you.