Stephen Evangelisti, MD

I cannot give enough stars for this review…. .i would not trust anyone else to do any work on me except Dr. Evangilisti. I had 3 different surgeries by him, the latest being a brachioplasty…. I’ve hated my arms since I was in my 20s. I did a few body building competitions and they got even bigger…now I’m almost 60 and they just looked awful and made me feel old……NOT ANYMORE. I’m in love with them. He is the best and he knew just the right size and proportion I needed. Great bedside manner too.

As a former dancer and someone who loves working out/taking care of her body, it was really hard to do these types of activities with big boobs. I started to let myself go and not pay a lot of attention to a healthy lifestyle that included physical activity and balanced food choices. 


After being on birth control for 2 months, my boobs started sagging & getting extremely heavy. They were so low, that they could almost touch my belly button when sitting down...!!! This was NOT comfortable and forced me to constantly lean forward. I stopped taking "the pill" because I gained so much weight and it severely messed with my emotions/hormones. It was hard to know that no matter what I was tying, my body wasn't returning to my normal weight/figure. 

On top of that, I have had severe neck pain/migraines since I was little. Although I didn't always have big boobs, I'm wondering if this procedure will help with my neck pain and potentially the migraines!!! 

Finally, my clothing options were very limited. :( 

I could only wear sports bras because I grew out of all of my other regular bras and it was so frustrating to continuously be uncomfortable in the regular bra that NEVER FIT. Regular bras just didn't support my boobs and I felt like the first thing people noticed was my chest. As someone who was in the education field, it was extremely difficult to put together an outfit that looked "professional" because my boobs always stood out. As sad as that sounds, it's true. I worried about people thinking I was trying to show them off when in reality, I was trying my best to cover them up (to meet society's standards). Although it's very important to find clothes that fit you properly for events/jobs, it can be a constant let down when you feel like a lot of clothes don't look right or are too loose or tight in certain areas. 

I'm sooooooooo excited to wear a bikini and tube tops without having my boobs hang super low. Omg, I just thought about dress shopping!!!! I might actually be able to wear dresses or clothes I've never been able to wear...!!!! Ahhhh!!!! All in all, I'm excited to see what the recovery process has in store for me and I'll keep y'all updated!!!

I had tt, mr, lipo, fat transfer to breasts and hernia repair on September 12th. Everything went fantastic. I waited until my youngest was 11 before finally having the surgery. I can’t believe I waited so many years.

Last week I went to Michele Evangelisti seeking fuller youthful lips. Michele warmly greeted me and made me feel comfortable. She listened to my desires and made suggestions to encourage complimenting my existing features. Michele frequently checked her progress, and showed me, as she knew I wanted to be conservative. She is a perfectionist. My outcome is everything I desired.

I’m 57 years old and in great physical condition. I was getting uncomfortable with some of the “aging issues” with my face and neck. Dr. Evangelisti guided me wonderfully in what was possible. He said my procedures would give me a refreshed new look! I wasn’t interested in looking younger and he created this vision with his brilliant work. It was pretty scary making this step. But I felt safe and confident with Dr . Evangelisti. I had a neck lift, brow lift, lower eyes and facial fat injections. Post op recovery was good because I was well informed. It was a couple weeks before I felt comfortable with my healing and going out in public. The pain was very manageable and I chose not to use pain medicine. Bags of baby peas were my friends for swelling. I recommend investing in a “Water Pillow” for sleeping. That helped me get out of the recliner chair earlier for a good nights sleep. The doctor also gave me his cel phone number if I panicked or had any questions. He answered the phone during the week and on the weekend! His staff was supportive and always ready to help me. Final results are brilliant! I look so natural and yes.....ten years younger. Ladies don’t hesitate to explore these options with Dr. Evangelisti. It’s worth the effort, time and investment!

Dr. Evangelisti preformed my breast augmentation in 2009, and now that my 10 year mark is coming... I would only consider going to him. He did a great job on the first surgery, and I am confident he will surpass my expectations for the next.

I have been wanting implants since I was 16. At 29 after having three kids( one was a set of twins) I decided to finally get an augmentation. Dr Evengilisti is amazing. I went from a A to a full C small D. 375 cc's. I breastfed all three babies which left me deflated. The doctor was honest with his professional opinion and kept my wants in mind. In the end I went with what he thought was best and am so happy I did.

I'm a mother of 3 daughters, had large breasts since I developed them in middle school, just kept getting bigger with each pregnancy until I became a 38 H. I'm 5'3 200lbs. I was always an hour glass until I hit 37 and went back to school. I gained 60 lbs and its been a struggle. I decided it was time to do something about all my discomfort as dieting was an uphill battle. I talked with Dr Evangelisti about br and lipo of back, hips, abdomen, and thighs.

Updated on 30 Jan 2016:
Before. They were bigger than my head

Updated on 3 Feb 2016:


Updated on 26 Feb 2016:

I loved my breasts. They were voluptuous and beautiful and nourished two children for 5 years of my life as well as provided marital pleasure.

Motivation #1: Although I fantasized for almost 40 years about having smaller breasts, I wasn't willing to do anything about it. (Minimizer bras just widened them.) I have been opposed to unnecessary surgery and concerned about innervation to my erogenous nipples. Decades of skillful bodywork and yoga to support posture and discomfort, insightful shopping/dressing to camouflage disproportion and mindful self-acceptance did not completely eliminate my dissatisfaction.

Motivation #2: As a yoga teacher, I saw a double standard. Somehow it is acceptable for the young slim teachers to go braless with a spaghetti strapped camisole to teach. At the same time, guidelines advise large-breasted teachers to be modest. Although a 'fitted' Target XXL v-neck t-shirt with stretch worn loosely was most flattering on me, inversions revealed my significant cleavage. In shoulder stand my breasts rested on my chin, mouth and nose! (Fortunately I learned to love the pose, somehow finding space to breathe.)

Motivation #3: Clothing myself required more effort than an average-sized woman. A high neck or fitted waist made me look huge and low, since I am short waisted and my breasts sit there (like my Italian grandmother's). Forget about cropped tops! While others pack lightly for trips, I wore longer tunic length garments and layers that created a lot of bulk in suitcases, not to mention having a scarf with most outfits to further distract from being top-heavy. (I must have been fairly successful, because when I told a long time friend about my upcoming surgery, she said she never noticed that I had large breasts! I am 5'4" wearing 34H.) Then there is the hopeful/hopeless ordering of large cup bras and swimwear online only to return 90-100% of them.

Motivation #4- The Tipping Point: I found out that two of my yoga teacher friends used Dr. Evangelisti for their BR surgery. He spent about an hour answering diverse and very specific questions during our allotted 10 minute appointment. His responses reassured my doubts and hesitation. I thought I would interview several PSs, but I liked him immediately and didn't feel it necessary to explore further. (I had met another PS when supporting a friend w/her BR.)

Motivations #5, 6 &7 are related to separating from my husband. He had fed my hesitation to BR. I may not have as comprehensive health insurance after the divorce.
I will be living alone when our youngest child leaves home for grad school this summer, which would make it more work to get 24/7 recovery support.

Since surgery was today, I am not in a position to review the BR yet, that's why I had to select "not sure" as it is required to answer 'Was it worth it'. I intend to post updates.

Updated on 8 Jul 2015:
PSYCHOLOGICAL:
Two weeks prior I used Peggy Huddleston’s book with CDs, ‘Prepare For Surgery, Heal Faster’ and Belleruth Naparstek’s mp3 ‘healthjourneys- Meditations to Support Successful Surgery’, both of which I had from before. The former helped me to visualize positive end results coming out of surgery, during recovery and in the future, as well as providing statements (at the end of the book) for the surgical team to read as I was going under and coming out of anesthesia. I asked permission to play a guided meditation during surgery, but didn’t choose to for this surgery.

Of all these guided mediations I was mostly drawn to Naparstek’s affirmations. I listened to them repeatedly while resting (on my back) before and after surgery for peace of mind.

BEING WELL INFORMED:
I scoured the web, read many BR reviews here on RealSelf, yet still had lots of questions that needed answers so I could embrace what was to come. Dr. Evangesti clearly and generously answered every question during our initial interview, pre-op appointment, and before the surgery. A friend always took detailed notes. Even after years of research, whether from my desire for understanding or anxiety, layers of inquiry unfolded right up to surgery (and after).

NEW SIZE AND SHAPE:
As I said in my intro about my motivations, despite mindful efforts at acceptance, dissatisfaction prevailed. I anticipated that I might have these same habitual mindstates after the surgery as well. I was conflicted about size. I might feel that C-cup is too small after being an H, even though it is proportional to my narrow frame. A D-cup would continue my voluptuous body image, but may not give me the relief desired. A hard call. In either case, I mentally prepared for a temporary negative reaction (too small or too large) and chose C+/D-. I wasn’t concerned about Dr. Evangelisti’s skill of crafting what I requested.

MINIMAL DRUGS:
In 2012, I had an extended unfavorable response to anesthesia and narcotics following a TAH-BSO for uterine cancer. This discouraged me from enduring another surgery, making me proactive in my inquiry about meds. For the 2-2.5 hr. surgery Dr. Evangelisti uses more local anesthetics does not intubate (nor catheterize), sedating with propofol, etc.

I saw my acupuncturist to ensure my liver and kidneys were in optimal condition to clear drugs quickly. She gave my Chinese herbs (Xiao Chai Hu Tang ‘Minor Bupleurum Combination’) to cleanse liver and lungs of anesthesia and benefit stomach after surgery.

SWELLING/DRAINAGE/HEALING:
Dr. Evangelisti doesn’t use drains. I wondered how my lymphatic system would handle the added demands (processing inflammation, swelling, bruising, etc.) of the BR. A previous surgery removed 23 pelvic lymph nodes resulting in some lower limb lymphedema.

I saw my homeopath that adjusted my supplements (probably unique to me at this time) to include Inflamma Life Force, lymph and liver drainers (Lmph Drn, Liver Milieu then Lvr Drn), probiotics, digestive enzymes, B vitamins, chlorophyll, iron bisglycinate, etc. She again suggested adding protein powder (Sunwarrior Natural Warrior Blend) to my daily green smoothies as I am a gluten and sugar free vegan.

My surgeon, acupuncturist, and homeopath all encouraged arnica. I’ve been taking loads of Boiron 200C.

RECOVERY SUPPORT:
I had the first week of dog walking and meals covered by close family. Since I didn’t broadcast my BR to everyone, so there was a small pool of friends to draw from. So I didn’t have to field calls, texts, and email, I set up a calendar of tasks on lotsahelpinghands.com, primarily for daily dog walking, with the option to add meal delivery, rides to appointments, shopping, or any other tasks if needed.
Due to my limited diet, I made a list of local restaurants and menu items for take out.

ACQUIRE:
Looking forward to buying more flattering fashion in the future, had me not wanting to waste money now. I borrowed some front closing tops from friends to supplement my limited selection, bought a cheap back up surgical bra from amazon, and inexpensive front closing sports bras. In addition to the arnica and protein mentioned, I bought gauze, Tylenol, and arnica gel. Dr. Evangelisti does not request icing, but I purchased some icepacks just in case. I also borrowed wedge pillows and Lazy Boy recliner.

Updated on 8 Jul 2015:
8AM 6/29/15- Appointment at surgical center .5 mi. from home. Surgery scheduled from 11:00 -1:30 with about an hour recovery before going home. They said that the doctor is generally quicker and gives himself plenty of time. They were right. I was home before 2PM.

Influenced by Dr. Emoto’s work ‘The Hidden Messages of Water’, I applied labels my daughter made for me to my IV fluids to aid in my healing [See photo]
I discussed size again with Dr. Evangelisti and he made surgical markings [photo]. I was amused that he actually had my breasts touch at the midline to transfer the ink symmetrically.

I spoke with the anesthesiologist before surgery, Dr. Margie Brown, who (fortunately for me) is a minimalist. I asked her to go light with anesthesia and narcotics, explaining as a meditator I can manage ‘intense localized sensation’ (a term I coined as an alternative to ‘pain’). She also explained that extra strength Tylenol puts a greater demand on the kidneys than regular Tylenol. I asked if she would read the Healing Statements from the back of ‘Prepare For Surgery, Heal Faster’ by Peggy Huddleston. Apparently they mirrored what Dr. Brown always says before, during, and after surgery. I also asked her about keeping alignment through my surgical spine, the angle of my arms, keeping warm and covered. Dr. Evangelisti likes patients to walk in and position themselves on the table. I was delighted that the table was warmed and they had an inflated heated ‘blanket’ and I carefully aligned my head, neck and arms, before they put me under. I was confident in my preparation and surgical team.

When I awoke I was wearing the surgical bra, which had significant gauze padding within.
To my surprise, I had a sore throat, supposedly from the drying of the oxygen. (Later I was aware of a sore spot on my torus hard palate from the oral airway they placed because my tongue was apparently making me snore during surgery.)

About an hour after returning home sensations were escalating. I was hoping to only use Tylenol, but since I wanted to rest uninterrupted, I decided to take a half dose of Norco (10 mg. hydrocodone/ 325 mg. acetominophen) with food around 3PM.

I was told draining was possible through the first 36 hours, particularly from the sides which had liposuction. Through the evening the smallish bloody spot on one side expanded, than it was both sides getting wetter and wetter. I added an old folded towel between my arm and torso, eventually tucking a washcloth into the armpit and lower bands on each side of the surgical bra for overnight. [photo]

The most I slept at a stretch was 3 hours, due to the urge to urinate, but was able to resume sleep easily. I would sometimes play the mp3 of Naparstek’s affirmations to enter a restful state. I didn’t start to feel sensations increasing again until midnight, so took another half Norco pill around midnight to support sleeping.

Updated on 8 Jul 2015:
Having issues with adding pictures.

Updated on 8 Jul 2015:
1 Day Post Op- I forgot to mention that I am grateful for the La-Z-Boy recliner I borrowed from a family member. I spent (and still spend) most of my time in it since it supports resting on my back without rolling. At night I add a pillow to the footrest to further elevate my lower legs.

My mission for the day after surgery was to wash the surgical bra and change the gauze dressings. The draining diminished. I experimented with placing ice packs across the upper breasts to the armpits. Eh. It altered sensation, but since it was manageable, I didn’t ice again. I started with just one Tylenol early morning, took half doses of Norco (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) at long intervals throughout the day always with food. Total Norco 1.5 for the day.

Dr. Evangelisti applies a yellow gauze impregnated with Vaseline on to the incisions/stitches to remain until the first post-op appointment. In the photo you’ll notice the asymmetrical swelling. I was challenged to take in what I saw in the mirror, trying to assimilate the loss of breast tissue. Since I clearly was swollen, I knew I would eventually be even smaller. I watched my disoriented and fearful thoughts and feelings arise and was able to not water them. I remembered that I anticipated having a reaction. My personal mindfulness and the Naparstek guided affirmations helped me to just be present with what was arising and let go of worrying about the future.

I was grateful for help with the mission of washing the surgical bra and changing dressings. (Hydrogen peroxide helps get blood out.) The process was physically and emotionally tiring.

Updated on 8 Jul 2015:

From the moment I walked into Dr Evangelesti's office I was put at ease and knew I came to the right place.
The process started with a consultation with the doctor. At no time was I ever rushed into making a decision. The office is run like a well oiled machine. They guided me thru the insurance acceptance. I was told what they needed to submit and within a month, we received the approval.
On March 18, I went to the Westfall Surgical Center. In at 7:45am and back home by 1pm. My first appt after the surgery is this coming Wednesday. I highly recommend the doctor and his staff. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner.

Updated on 24 Mar 2015:
Day 1 Went to Westfall Surgical Center. Got there at 7:45am and meet with the different nurses. Had the necessary pre op stuff. I was sitting there wondering, oh no what if I can't have this done? Well everything went fine. I was out of there by one. I really don't remember the ride home. I was told to eat something when I got home and then take a half of a oxi codeine. Then another half a half hr later. By doing this I had no nausea. Continued to keep ahead of the pain with Meds.
Day 2 Easy day, was in bed most of the day, pain manageable.
Day 3 I think this was where things were changing. I started getting more pins and needles. My left breast is more swollen than the right and more sensitive. I took a shower with my bra on, felt great. Still very tired. Started to reduce the oxi codine and take more tylenol. Probably the most uncomfortable day. Very tired.
Day 4,-slept the whole night. Went almost 8 hours with no Meds. Was pretty tight and sore, but feeling ok.Some of the swelling has gone down. The incision under the breast looks kinda thick. A lot of bruising. .

Day 5! Just got out of the shower and it felt wonderful. Just lying here drying off and will put everything back on. How long did you have to wear gauze? I am having no leaking or fluids. I was never taped up. only a yellow gauze and then I have put white gauze over that. My right breast doesn't even feel like I had surgery. The left one on the other had , the nipple is flatter and the breast is swollen and I am getting daggers. Normal I am sure. Going for my first visit since surgery on Wednesday. I have not massaged or out anything on them, until I get the ok from Dr. e!!
Day 6 I can't believe how fast time is going! Last night I kinda did crash. I felt wonderful all day. I was up, washed some dishes and even did some pottery. Still my appetite is not that great, but is coming back. Last night I felt so weak and just overwhelmed. The bra was to tight, then ok, just a hard night.

Updated on 24 Mar 2015: