David Shafer, MD

First find the Plastic Surgeon that best fits your needs, review their experience, and determine that the location is convenient for you. Then, from that page, upload your insurance information. The Surgeon’s office will contact you to verify whether your plan is accepted. 

Many plans allow for access to out of network providers for the same out of pocket cost as in network providers.

Some procedures such as lower blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, breast reduction and tummy tucks are permanent. The lifespan for other procedures such as a brow lift, facelift, or breast implants is about ten years.  Be sure to discuss this question in your consultation. A basic understanding of what will happen before, during, and after a procedure ensures that expectations are realistic.

Most side effects such as swelling, bruising, and numbness are temporary. Most scarring will fade and in the case of facial procedures, recede into the hairline. Some risks include hematoma, infection, nerve injury and skin or hair loss.

Facial Plastic Surgeons are specifically trained in procedures focused exclusively to the face and neck. The vast majority of facial Plastic Surgeons start their training in otolaryngology—ENT. Plastic Surgeons go through a plastic surgery program after internship. Plastic Surgeons are trained in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures of the entire body, including the face. Their training is more broad and comprehensive, with less exclusive focus on the face and neck.

Your Plastic Surgeon may request a medical evaluation by your Primary Care Physician before performing your surgery. A medical clearance is essentially authorization from an evaluating doctor that a patient is cleared, or deemed healthy enough, for a proposed surgery.

A preoperative physical examination is essentially the same thing as getting 'medical clearance. It is performed at the request of a Plastic surgeon to ensure that a patient is healthy enough to safely undergo anesthesia and surgery. This evaluation includes a physical examination, cardiac evaluation, lung function assessment, and appropriate laboratory tests.

The purpose of medical clearance is to assess your personal risk related to undergoing a surgical procedure. If you have comorbidities your surgeon may want another doctor familiar with your medical history to offer perspective on whether the procedure is safe for you and ways to reduce risk.

Your plastic surgeon may require routine laboratory tests before your procedure to identify potential problems that might complicate surgery if not detected and treated in advance. A blood test will show if you have a blood-clotting problem and may be at risk of too much bleeding during surgery.  Urinalysis may be used to detect urinary tract infections, renal diseases and poorly controlled diabetes.

Your Primary Care Physician is the Doctor who manages your medical care. He/she will provide the appropriate information.

A patient's medical history, physical exam and labs are valid for 30 days. EKG's that are normal are valid for 90 days. These parameters may vary if the patient has comorbidities.

Most plastic surgeries do not require an overnight stay. If your health, age and surgical procedure do not require a hospital stay after surgery, an accredited ambulatory surgery center may offer several advantages, including convenience, reduced cost and reduced potential for developing infection.

A 360 Tummy tuck involves the surgical removal of skin and fat on the front of the body, with the closure line scar positioned so it can be hidden by undergarments. It also includes liposuction of the front, sides and back.

Surgery to reconstruct the breasts can be done, or started, at the time of the mastectomy. Or it can be done after the mastectomy incisions have healed and breast cancer therapy has been completed. Delayed reconstruction can happen months or even years after the mastectomy.

If you want bigger breasts, augmentation surgery is the required procedure. It may include implants or autologous fat to increase the size and shape of the breast. Often patients receive both a breast lift and breast augmentation at the same time to achieve the final look they desire.

A breast lift is just a lift of the breast tissue without adding any size or fullness.

Patients who have lost a great deal of weight from dieting, exercise, or bariatric surgery often incur the secondary problem of excess skin in localized areas of the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and back. In order to get a slim, toned body with lovely contours, a surgical procedure such as the body lift may be required. A lower body lift is appropriate if you are near your ideal weight and may precede or follow an upper body lift procedure.

The mini-facelift goes by a variety of different names such as “S-lift”, “weekend facelift”, “ponytail facelift” and the “lunchtime facelift”. However, each one is really a version of the same basic procedure. A mini-facelift suspends the SMAS facial muscle; however, the effects are less dramatic and less permanent than a traditional facelift.

Brow lifts can be performed either by open or endoscopic techniques. Open surgery entails a long incision across the forehead. Most brow lifts today employ the endoscopic technique which utilizes smaller incisions and results in less nerve damage, with quicker recovery time. However, there is a subset of patients (high hairline) that are better candidates for an open approach. Your procedure should be determined after a complete evaluation of your facial bone structure, skin laxity, muscle tone and position of your brow.

Facial implant surgery is an ideal option for patients seeking a permanent way to restore or add definition to their facial appearance.  Facial implants can enhance the angles and contours in the face to create symmetry and accentuate natural beauty. Facial implants are utilized for augmentation, reconstruction, or to achieve a rejuvenated appearance. They are available in a broad range of styles, sizes, and bio compatible materials for the jaw, nose, chin, and cheeks.

This procedure, best suited for patients under 50, takes about an hour. It is usually performed under local anesthesia, although the patient may request sedation. Incisions are made just above each ear and remain hidden along the hairline. Skin is then lifted from the underlying fat and fibrous tissues; the ligaments are cut to allow for repositioning of these layers, and then the tissues are smoothed and pulled back without tension on the overlying skin.

Fat grafting (also called autologous fat transplantation) transfers fat from one part of the body to another. It can be used to recontour the face, or fill out depressed or scarred areas of the body. It is an option in breast reconstruction, whether full reconstruction, or to fix minor differences in the shape or size of the breasts. It is natural and non-allergenic. It can last from several months, to permanently.

You can use PreferredMD’s online service to find Plastic Surgeons who are highly rated by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on PreferredMD, they are invited to review their experience. All ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Each review must comply with PreferredMD’s guidelines. 

PreferredMD’s online service uses a purple video icon on the profiles of Plastic Surgeons who offer online video visits. You can filter your search results to show only Plastic Surgeons who offer video consultations. 

Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same rate as in-person visits. You can search on PreferredMD specifically for Plastic Surgeons who accept your insurance for video visits. Select your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page to verify. If that information is not available, we recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits. 

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to search specifically for a Plastic Surgeon who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to see real-time availability for Plastic Surgeons that offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page. 

Now that you’re here, you can use PreferredMD’s free online service to find Plastic Surgery Consultations and book appointments instantly. You can easily search for a Plastic Surgery Consultation in your desired location and specify your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of Doctors who meet your search criteria, accept your insurance, and their available appointment slots. 

PreferredMD patients can often get same day appointments; on average within 24 hours. You can search for real-time availability of Plastic Surgery Consultations in your area, with Doctors who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.

In short, cosmetic surgery is always elective. There are no residency programs specifically focused on cosmetic surgery. Plastic Surgery may be elective, but is also dedicated to the reconstruction of defects stemming from birth disorders, trauma, burns and disease. Plastic Surgeons complete a residency and/or fellowship in plastic surgery. They may then be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Many patients prefer to have a Plastic Surgeon  remove a mole if it is on the face, décolletage or any other area of the anatomy that may be visible (arms, legs etc.). This is because Plastic Surgeons have special training to minimize scarring. Many moles extend beneath the surface of the skin. It is important to understand that the entire mole must be removed or it will return. Many Dermatologists are not comfortable with performing the excisions and fine suture closures that Plastic Surgeons are trained to do. Before mole removal, your doctor should send for a pathology report, just to be sure it is not cancerous.

Plastic Surgeons use cosmetic surgical principles in all surgery to improve overall appearance, including reconstructive surgical procedures. Some areas of specialization include:

1. Aesthetic Surgery
2. Reconstructive Surgery
3. Burn Surgery
4. Hand Surgery 
5. Craniofacial Surgery
6. Microsurgery
7. Pediatric Surgery
8. Gender reassignment

‘Mommy makeover’ is a descriptive term that applies to any combination of surgical and cosmetic procedures designed to restore your pre-pregnancy appearance. Women who elect to have Mommy makeovers typically wish to address these conditions:

1. Pregnancy has negatively affected the size and shape of the breasts
2. Sagging tummy and stretch marks 
3. Pockets of fat on the waist, abdomen, back, arms or thighs

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to filter your results for Plastic Surgeons by gender. That way, you’ll only see Doctors who match your preferences.

PreferredMD’s online service allows you to filter for Plastic surgeons with availability after 5 p.m. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.