I recently underwent a breast lift/augmentation, and C-section scar revision with Dr. Schwartz, and I am genuinely impressed by the exceptional level of care I received. As a mom of three breast-fed babies, I struggled with the idea of “erasing” the evidence of my nursing journey, while also wanting to feel more like my old self again. This led me to call Dr. Schwartz’s office for a consultation. From my very first visit, it was clear that this practice is different. Stephanie, the nurse who guided me through my initial consultation, was simply amazing. Her ability to listen and understand my concerns made all the difference, and her empathy and compassion instantly put me at ease. She’s bright, with a great sense of humor, which added to the comfort I felt. April, the practice manager, was also a standout. Her attentiveness and willingness to answer all my questions demonstrated her deep knowledge of the process and her commitment to patient care. Beyond that, her approachable nature made me feel like I was speaking to a trusted friend or sister rather than a medical professional. Jenny, the patient coordinator, was equally wonderful. Her calming and patient demeanor made her incredibly easy to talk to. Jenny took care of scheduling my surgery and follow-up appointments and clearly explained all of the payment options. Her warmth and friendliness made each interaction a pleasant experience. The day of surgery went so smoothly. The facility itself was impressively clean and beautiful. The nurses, Danielle and Courtney, were incredible. From the first IV placement to the wheelchair ride to the car, I felt very well taken care of. After surgery, they spent time by my bedside comforting and reassuring me. We had nice conversation (from what I remember) and shared a few laughs. They are two of the kindest, most encouraging nurses I have ever met. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Katouzian, is a brilliant yet down-to-earth person. He managed my pain perfectly and I am grateful to have been in his care. During my second post-op appointment, I was pleased to meet Brenda. Her genuine warmth and kind nature made her easy to talk to, and it was clear that she truly cared about my recovery. Brenda’s remarkable compassion left a deep and lasting impression on me. Dr. Schwartz is truly unparalleled in his field. Despite his incredible expertise, he remains humble and deeply dedicated to his patients. The fact that he personally answers after-hours calls speaks volumes about his commitment. I’m deeply thankful for the outstanding care I received from Dr. Schwartz and his entire team. If you’re seeking a surgeon who combines exceptional skill with genuine humility and a patient-first approach, I highly recommend Dr. Schwartz.
I’ve had hooded eyelids my whole life and as I approached 44, it just got worse. I always wanted blepharoplasty so in November 2023, I finally took the step to get it done. Dr. Schwartz and his staff are super friendly and made me feel very comfortable and answered all of my questions clearly. The procedure itself was painless and quick and the recovery time was only a week. I know eyelids are just a small thing, but it’s completely changed my face and I’m in love with the results. I will be going back to Dr. Schwartz for a consultation regarding breast reduction and lift. I’ve already recommended him to friends.
I have been wanting to get a Tummy Tuck for over 15 years. I kept talking myself out of it for many reasons mostly fear of the pain. I have heard amazing things about Dr Schwartz for years, I never considered any other surgeons. I finally got the courage to go for consultation. My consultation was with Nurse Stephanie. I really did not think that I would feel comfortable having my consultation without the surgeon, however l was and booked that day. Stephanie was an absolute dream from start to finish. I am 12 weeks out now. She answered every question I have via email and phone calls. Dr Schwartz is a miracle worker he exceeded my expectations in every way. I still can not believe I did this. It really was so easy. I had very minimal pain for maybe a couple days. That was it just uncomfortable and sore. I am in disbelief of how fast I am healing. Dr Schwartz just makes you feel comfortable and you feel like you have known him forever. I can't explain how amazing they are. If you are ever thinking about plastic surgery start with Dr Schwartz I promise you will thank me. Updated on 9 Jul 2024: I recently had a tummy tuck performed by Dr. Schwartz, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the results. From the initial consultation to the post-operative care, Dr. Schwartz and his team demonstrated unparalleled professionalism and expertise. Dr. Schwartz took the time to thoroughly explain the procedure, address all my concerns, and set realistic expectations. His meticulous attention to detail and artistic approach ensured that the outcome exceeded my expectations. The entire process was smooth, and I felt well cared for at every stage. The results are simply amazing – my abdomen looks flat and toned, and the scarring is minimal and well-hidden. Dr. Schwartz's skill and dedication to patient care truly shine through in his work. I highly recommend Dr. Schwartz to anyone considering a tummy tuck or any other cosmetic procedure. Five stars all the way!
It’s hard to articulate how grateful I am. Dr. Schwartz was not only faced with the task of fixing major aesthetic issues; but very intense physical components as well. I had developed severe capsular contracture from a breast augmentation done by another surgeon in 2020. Dr. Schwartz’s phenomenal work and gifted hands have alleviated years of discomfort and severe pain that I was experiencing. I was apprehensive approaching this entire process because I was so overwhelmed with the idea of another surgery. I realized what an incredible decision I made as soon as I had my consultation. I was immediately impressed by his professionalism, expertise and willingness to heal me. Dr. Schwartz is truly a wonderful surgeon and quintessentially what a human being should represent. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for myself and in turn, my loved ones. His kindness and generosity of spirit emanates from him and I cannot sing his praise enough. I LOVE my new look!! My breasts are PERFECT. The entire office team from the front desk, to my nurse Stephanie, Jenny, my anesthesiologist etc deserve abundant accolades as well. It is obvious that Dr. Schwartz found his calling in life.
I am 25 years old, 5'3, and 128 lbs before surgery. I lost a lot of weight and it made my boobs saggy and deflated. I currently reside in upstate NY but traveled to Thousand Oaks, California for my surgery because Dr. Schwartz had the best gallery photos, reputation, and most informative website I could find from Doctors all over the US.I originally wanted 450cc, however he could only fit 410cc inside of me without it looking TOO globe-like. I want more of a natural look and am feeling positive at the moment about how my boobs will turn out in the next couple of months. I will make a separate post about my hematoma. Updated on 22 Nov 2020: I gout out of surgery on November 3rd sometime in the afternoon. I spent the rest of the day just laying in bed and reading or playing video games. Around 8pm I started to notice that my left breast was hurting more than the other and also starting to swell a little. By morning the pain was even worse and the swelling significant. I e-mailed the office and sent photos to show them the swelling. I had my 1 day post-op already scheduled, so I was able to see the doctor quickly. Dr. Schwartz looked at it for maybe 10 seconds and then said it was a hematoma. Luckily, he was able to get me back on the operating table that day to suck all the blood out of the pocket and stop the bleeding. I am SO happy I didn't have to wait until the next day because I was already in so much pain by the time they could operate on me in the evening. I was literally in tears from the pain and don't know if I would have made it to the next morning. I was so upset and starting to regret my procedure. I kept thinking, "Why did I do this to myself?!" Dr. Schwartz told me my complication was super rare and he couldn't even remember the last time a patient of his had a hematoma after surgery. He told me cleaned out the pocket really well and informed me that blood in the pocket can increase your chances of capsular contracture. I trust that he did a good job, so fingers crossed I don't get CC. I went back to the office the next day so they could check on things and I got to see my boobs for the first time! Honestly I was still in shock from having surgery 2 days in a row, so I didn't feel impressed or happy when I first saw them. I just felt sad that I had put my body through so much trauma in a short amount of time. Dr. Schwartz also informed me that the tape they put over my incisions was giving me blisters, so they just left them off entirely and I only had gauze on my incisions. I'm a little bit worried about having my scars not heal as well as they would if I could tape them, but I guess my skin just can't handle that. The next couple of days my whole abdomen started swelling like crazy and was super sore. I noticed I was starting to bruise badly around my surgical bra as well. I asked the doctor about the swelling and he said it was normal after having surgery on my left breast 2 days in a row and trauma from the hematoma. It took a long time for the swelling to go down, and my abdomen is still sore in some spots (I'm about 19 days Post-Op as I'm writing this). **I still have a lot more updates and photos to post, I'm only doing a little bit at a time so I don't overwhelm myself! Will post more soon.** Updated on 23 Nov 2020: I had a lot of bad bruising after the hematoma. It was really scary to see when I took my first shower( Day 4). It's been going away very very slowly. I have a lot more photos to post, but for some reason Realself isn't letting me add more photos than what I have on this post. With how popular this site is, I'm surprised by how difficult it is for most people to post photos. Updated on 23 Nov 2020: My bruises are starting to go away and my boobs do not look as scary as they did the first few days. It seems like my nipple on the right breast is higher than the one on the left breast, which worries me. I chose Dr. Schwartz because he is a "perfectionist". I know that when your breasts drop and fluff that the nipples will end up in a higher position than where they started. I am hoping that the nipple on the right side seems higher because the left breast hasn't dropped as much as the right side. I think maybe the hematoma has caused the left side to drop slower than the right side. The left breast is also sitting up higher than the right. I pointed this out to Dr. Schwartz in the office and he said, "No two breasts are the same!"... Which wasn't very helpful. I'm just hoping by the 3 month mark it won't be as noticeable. Also, the skin on my breasts has been peeling a lot which is really weird. Also, the Realself page kept freezing up on me while I was trying to write my post which is extremely annoying. It took me over 15 minutes just to finish writing all of this and I'm using a PC. I can understand why others trying to post from their phone would be extremely frustrated by this site. Updated on 23 Nov 2020: This post is just to add the photos which didn't upload from my previous post. Fingers crossed this actually works this time. If it doesn't work, I'm sorry and I'll just have to try again tomorrow I suppose. Also, if anyone else has any experience with asymmetrical nipples after surgery, let me know! I'd like to know if anyone has had asymmetrical nipples that eventually became symmetrical after a complete drop and fluff. Updated on 23 Nov 2020: I've been feeling a lot better about my breasts these last couple of days! It's definitely been an emotional roller coaster, as previous posters have mentioned. My doctor has had me doing breast massages every day since about 4 days post-op. I only do one type of massage where I push the implant up in its pocket to keep the pocket open. I'm supposed to do this 3x on each side 3x a day (9 movements total). Hopefully the video uploads! Updated on 4 Dec 2020: The scabs are starting to finally fall off of my left breast. I was shocked to see this morning that the vertical incision from my nipple downwards on the left side is practically invisible! On the other breast my incision line is so so so thin. It's still a little red, but if it weren't I don't even think you would be able to see the incision unless you were really trying. I'm still getting nerve pain and don't have any feeling in my nipples or the area right under my nipples, which is sad. But I know it takes time, so fingers crossed in the mean time. I've started going to the gym again which is great! I really hated not being able to get my heart rate up for 3 whole weeks. I still can't do upper body workouts, so I'm just focusing on my legs and butt which is fine. Sometimes I don't feel any pain, tightness, or soreness in my breasts at all! Which is good until I over-use my pec muscle (i.e. lifting anything heavier than a half gallon of milk) on accident because I forget I had major surgery about a month ago. Oops. Overall, I'm feeling really good and confident about my boobs! I love them! Updated on 23 Dec 2020: During a lift, the doctor puts your nipple a little lower than the desired position because as the implant drops, the nipple moves upwards. I'm frustrated because it seems like my left nipple is moving in the OPPOSITE direction it should be. It's become even more apparent how uneven my nipples are and I feel so upset about it. I'm really hoping this is something that will resolve itself, but every day that I notice they are even more apart than the last, that glimmer of hope fades. I've e-mailed my doctor about it and I'll see what he says.. But as of now, I feel horrible about my body. I think the overall shape of my breasts is amazing. Everything is perfect except for the nipples. If my left nipple looked like the right, I would be over-the-moon happy with them. When I push down on the top, the nipple moves upwards (see video) and that makes me feel that maybe the left implant just hasn't dropped yet and that it'll drop eventually and my nipples will be even... But then I'm conflicted because I definitely feel like my nipple is moving downward more and more every day. I'm frustrated and there's nothing I can do about it. Updated on 29 Dec 2020: I spoke with Nurse Stephanie on the phone last night. She confirmed what I have been seeing, which is that my nipples are way off and something is happening on the left side that shouldn't be happening (possibly because of the hematoma). She said we'll reassess at 6 months and if they haven't straightened themselves out by then, then we'll have to come up with another solution for them! I hope they fix themselves. Just knowing that I'm not crazy and imagining things is really nice though. It would be a shame to have to go back under the knife, but I'll willingly do it to make sure my nipples are even (or at least not so noticeable). Updated on 23 Jan 2021: The size and shape are pretty great. However, I'm still not happy about the nipples. I wish I could just get them fixed already. I don't know how much it will cost or if it will cost anything at all for the revision.. But I hope it's not super expensive if I do have to pay something. I actually don't look at my boobs a lot anymore because I hate seeing my nipples. I don't want to obsessively look at them every day.. so I'm trying to avoid mirrors until the 6 month mark. Updated on 25 Jan 2021: I was bored so I decided to put together some of my photos to show the progression. I've been using biocorneum scar treatment twice a day for the incisions. I'm not sure what else to write about. I've been going to the gym regularly, but not using my chest muscles. My doctor doesn't want me to use my chest muscles for anything more than just carrying groceries inside until February 3rd, which is coming up! I'm excited to do more intense workouts. Updated on 25 Jan 2021: I have re-uploaded my progression photos, since the last one was too small. If this one is too small... Then I guess I just won't be uploading progression photos that are in a single photo. Last post: I was bored so I decided to put together some of my photos to show the progression. I've been using biocorneum scar treatment twice a day for the incisions. I'm not sure what else to write about. I've been going to the gym regularly, but not using my chest muscles. My doctor doesn't want me to use my chest muscles for anything more than just carrying groceries inside until February 3rd, which is coming up! I'm excited to do more intense workouts. Updated on 4 Apr 2021: So, I LOVE my right breast (left side of the photo), but to me it seems really obvious that the left one never dropped, probably because of the hematoma. I'm really hoping that my doctor notices this too, agree with me, and can work with me on correcting it. Updated on 2 May 2021: I have my 6-month post-op this Tuesday with Dr. Schwartz. I'm very nervous, but hoping he validates what I've been seeing with my left breast. I've also started to notice that my left breast is starting to be a lot harder than the right one :( I'm no doctor of course, but I really feel like I have capsular contracture. The thought of going in for a third operation is really scary to me :/ But also I'm really hoping to fix the issue I've been having. Will update later. Updated on 8 May 2021: When I had my appointment with Dr. Schwartz, all the staff and nurses were as delightful as ever. I honestly feel like we're all friends because it's such a warm environment. Anyway, as I suspected, I have Baker Grade III capsular contracture which is why the left implant feels harder than the other. Also, Dr. Schwartz says there is thick scar tissue inside my pocket that is preventing the implant from settling into the pocket. He also says maybe I'll need a slightly larger implant on the left to make it the same size as the right, but he thinks it could just look smaller because it hasn't settled into position (which I agree with). So, my revision will be August 31st! I'm nervous but so happy to have my feelings and observations validated by my doctor. So many women have just been ignored by their doctors post-op and end up with less-than-satisfying results. I'm SO happy I paid more than average for my procedure because this whole process with Dr. Schwartz has been easy, reassuring, and highly satisfying. 10/10 worth it. The revision will be about $2,000, but the insurance from Sientra should cover 90% of it, if not all of it. Updated on 19 Aug 2021: Hi Everyone! I will be having my revision very soon, and honestly I'm extremely nervous about it. Apprently Dr. Schwartz will be putting a drain in after the surgery... And I have no idea what that's like! So, if you've had experience with drains, please comment so I can read your reviews! I'm really not looking forward to the surgery honestly. A big part of me is scared that I'll just get a hematoma again and it'll ruin the second surgery... Also, the scarring on my left side is the worse, and I'm very anxious about it getting worse. Does anyone have makeup recommendations for hiding scars? The Tarte concealer I am using right now doesn't really seem to cover them up. Ugh, I don't know if I'm ready to deal with all the nastiness that comes with incisions, drains, etc. I'm also worried about having one boob super high up after surgery while the right one has already dropped.. I'm feeling pretty insecure about how I'll look afterwards. Any advice or reassurance is greatly welcome! Updated on 11 Sep 2021: Woot woot! I had my revision, and the second best part is that I DIDN'T NEED DRAINS!!! I was so happy when I came out from anesthesia and I didn't see drains. I really didn't want to deal with that. I'll post a few photos, one from my 1-day post revision and some more from today where you can see the swelling has gone down a lot. Dr. Schwartz also put a slightly bigger implant (450cc instead of 410) on the left side because it was just a bit smaller than the right side. The total cost for the revision was a little under $2,000. But, since I had capsular contracture, it was covered under Sientra's warranty. So, I will get my refund in about a month or so. They look SO SO SO much better and I'm elated. They look bigger too now that the left side has dropped into the pocket more! My doctor said the galaflex that was put in developed a lot of scar tissue which prevented it from dropping. So, he just took it out along with any remaining scar tissue and this is where we are at. He said the left side with continue to drop "just a little more", which will be great because then my boobs will be even more similar to each other! Overall, I'm super happy. Updated on 6 Nov 2021: I absolutely love them. They're not perfect, but I'm happy with it! I'm starting to feel pain in both my nipples, which is great. It means that hopefully I will have full sensation again by next year! Updated on 31 Jan 2023: My revision has had time to settle and I love my results. These titties were really expensive and I'm glad I took the time to pick the perfect surgeon for me and my needs as well as save up enough money rather than going to someone cheaper. You can see the dark lines under my nipples which is makeup I use to hide them that oxidized throughout the night. Please refer to the title of the post for the basic stats of my procedure.
Dr. Schwartz and his staff are amazing! They are very professional and extremely knowledgeable. I’ve had the worst lip injections for years. No one could repair the damage that had been done by so many injectors that didn’t know what they were doing or what product to use for my lips. They had a previous infection and created channels above and below my lips and the filler would always migrate into those areas. Well, no more! Thanks to Erin! She knew exactly what to do, what product to use for my issues and where and how to inject it. I’ve never felt or looked better! I seriously cried in her chair because I never thought I would ever look normal again. I will never let anyone else touch my face! They are simply the BEST!!!!!
Dr. Schwartz and his staff were amazing from day 1! They are all professional and realistic when it comes to expectations for surgery. Dr. Schwartz made me feel very calm and comfortable in the consultation to the day of surgery. His staff was on point with anything I needed and made me feel comfortable through everything. I am extremely pleased with my results and would highly recommend Dr. Schwartz.
I am 6 days post op and so far my experience with Dr. Schwartz and his staff has been nothing short of incredible. He was so patient during appointments and answered my 18373838 questions. He always made me feel at ease. Stephanie, the RN at the office has also been amazing. She’s gotten all of my leave of absence paperwork for together for my job without any prompting, and answers emails incredibly quickly.I had both an extended tummy tuck and arm lift at the same time, I’m so glad I did them together. I stayed the night at their facility and also had an incredible experience. They took amazing care of me. Dr. Schwartz visited me a few times to check in, and so did the anesthesiologist!Overall I’m really, really happy with my results so far (still very sore and very swollen, but I know it will get better). I can’t wait to see what everything looks like when it’s all healed! Highly recommend! Updated on 18 Nov 2020: It’s the end of day 8 and I’m feeling pretty good. Haven’t taken any pain meds since day 5. Still pretty swollen in my tummy and my arms but it has definitely gone down! My only complaint is some really bad (what I think are) gas/stomach pains. They’re awful, and hurt way more than the incisions. I’m pretty sure they’re related to the antibiotics I’ve been taking. Today was my last day taking them so we’ll see how it feels tomorrow! Updated on 23 Nov 2020: I’m 13 days post op and feeling sooooooo much better. I figured out what was causing my stomach pains - seems like my stomach is not tolerating artificial sweeteners (which I eat A LOT of due to keto). This is probably because it’s extra sensitive after all of the pain killers and antibiotics. Hoping someday I’ll be okay to eat them again. Other than that, I’m feeling great! I can get in and out of bed by myself, I showered and washed my hair by myself and my range of motion is improving day by day. My tummy is still sore and just a tiny bit sore on my arms, but it’s totally tolerable and so much better than it was. I still have a pretty decent amount of swelling in my arms and all over my abdomen, but I had NO idea I had a shape underneath all of that extra skin. I’m so happy with my waist and newfound curves!!! Updated on 1 Dec 2020: I’m 3 weeks post op today and really starting to feel like myself again. My stomach is a little sore, same with my arms - but for the most part I can do pretty much everything at this point. My stomach is still really swollen, especially the bottom half, but you can definitely tell the swelling is going down. I think I’m starting to enter the itchy phase, as my stomach is itchy allllllll over. I’ve been using tons of lotion. Other than that, I have no complaints! I’m loving the way everything is looking!!! Updated on 2 Feb 2021: I’m officially 12 weeks post-op today and could not possibly be happier with my results. A HUGE, very grateful, everlasting shoutout to the wizard behind the scenes, Dr. Schwartz, who made it all possible. He changed my life. It’s been a long, difficult journey, I won’t sugarcoat it. But I would do it all over in a heartbeat if I had to. Temporary pain for permanent gains! 10/10, highly recommend!!!
Dr. Schwartz is clearly the Michelangelo of plastic surgery. My breast reduction surgery outcome, without implants , exceeded my expectations and has been life altering for my healthy 73 yer old body. Results have gifted me a beautiful uplift, reduction of neck pain and two bra sizes. The care given by the professional staff and the immaculately clean surgical facilities (Dr. Schwartz has his own private surgical center) lends itself to an overall positive experience. Pain and discomfort was surprisingly minimal, lasting a few days. I highly recommend this procedure to any healthy woman considering breast reduction.
I was blown away by my surgery experience there. Dr. Schwartz and everyone on his team helped me with each process all while being so nice, genuine and informative. You just know right away that you are in good hands! I've recommended them multiple times and my friends have equally loved their end results as well.
Thank you for your question. The SMAS is an essential part of every facelift. It provides a strong long lasting lift that allows the skin to drape naturally without tension. There are three main ways to treat the SMAS: 1. SMAS Plication- This is what your doctor is recommending. This is best in the thin face to get a strong long lasting lift and retain facial volume. 2. SMAS Excision - This is more effective in the patient with a full face to prevent abnormal shape or widening. 3. SMAS elevation and redraping - This is used when the patients SMAS layer is hard to move with the first two techniques. This also allows preservation and repositioning of facial volume. An experience facial surgeon will utilize all of these techniques depending on the patients anatomy and tissue. Fat Grafting is also a great way to enhance facial volume with permanent results.
Thank you for your question, it is a common concern. I dont feel that the season matters for the facelift itself. Often in warm weather it is much more annoying to recover from the laser. In the early recovery it is important to moisturize often, reapply sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure as much as possible. The most important consideration is always having enough time to properly recover, and allow yourself to heal. Pick the time that your life, work and family will allow, and when you'll have good support. The season comes second. Good luck.
Thank you for your question. I always recommend that you should be clear of fillers for as long as possible prior to your surgery. That way it is easiest to assess and treat you. The fillers are typically encountered as the face is lifted and often squeeze out and are therefore wasted. In addition an expert facelift will modify the deeper layers or SMAS. This can be used to reposition the volume in the face. Finally a facelift is a great opportunity to add fat grafting to the thinner face to restore youthful volume. About 2-3 months after surgery any additional fillers you may desire are now safe and accurate to inject, if you need them at all. If not, use that money for something fun and enjoy your new improved look.
Yes, the two procedures are often combined together. Patients with jowl and neck skin laxity often have a loss of skin quality around the mouth as well. This can appear as a long or "horsey" upper lip. A lip lift done conservatively can significantly improve this. In addition, laser resurfacing with either the CO2 or Erbium laser can tighten and shorten the upper lip if your lip shape isn't ideal for a lift.
Each surgeon has a different approach, but in my practice I would treat your wrinkles with Micro Fat Grafting, and then resurface with the Erbium laser. There is rarely enough skin to justify a scar and skin removal, and the laser improves the quality of the skin as well.
