Cosmetic surgery
Breast Surgery in Pasadena & Sherman Oaks
Breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, and breast revision at Cosmetic Doc are planned around your frame, your goals, and your comfort by Dr. Husam Elias, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon who favors proportion and natural shape over a one-size-fits-all look.
Breast Surgery Tailored to Your Body
Breast surgery is a group of procedures that change the size, shape, position, or symmetry of the breasts. Some patients want more fullness than they have ever had. Others want to restore what pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes, or time have taken away. Still others are looking for relief from breasts that are too heavy for their frame, or want to correct an implant result from years ago.
At Cosmetic Doc, Dr. Husam Elias begins every breast consultation by listening. He then measures your chest wall, evaluates skin quality and nipple position, and discusses how different options would suit your proportions and lifestyle. Because the right procedure depends on whether the concern is volume, sagging, excess weight, or a previous implant, many patients learn that the best plan is different from what they expected, sometimes smaller, sometimes a combination.
Volume, Position, or Size?
A helpful way to think about breast surgery is to identify what you would like to change. Augmentation adds volume with implants or your own fat. A lift, also called mastopexy, raises and reshapes the breast and repositions the nipple without adding size. Reduction removes tissue and skin to create a lighter, more proportionate chest. When a breast has lost both volume and position, a lift and augmentation can often be combined in one operation.
Breast procedures
Breast Surgery Options at Cosmetic Doc
Each procedure addresses a different concern. Explore the options below, then let Dr. Elias help you decide which one, or which combination, fits your goals.
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Breast Augmentation
Adds fullness and improves shape with silicone or saline implants, or with fat transfer from another area of your body, sized to complement your frame and proportions.
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Breast Lift
Also called mastopexy, a breast lift raises sagging breasts, removes stretched skin, and repositions the nipple and areola for a more youthful contour, with or without implants.
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Breast Reduction
Removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to relieve back, neck, and shoulder discomfort and create a lighter, more proportionate shape that is easier to live and exercise with.
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Breast Revision
Corrects or updates a previous breast surgery, including implant exchange or removal, capsular contracture, a change in implant size, implant position problems, and remaining asymmetry.
Breast Revision Surgery
Breast revision is surgery to improve or update the result of an earlier breast procedure, whether it was performed recently or many years ago. Implants are not designed to last a lifetime, and bodies change with pregnancy, weight shifts, and age, so it is common for patients to revisit a past decision.
- Implant exchange: Replacing older implants with new ones, sometimes switching between saline and silicone or choosing a different profile.
- Implant removal: Taking implants out, with or without removing the surrounding scar capsule, and often pairing removal with a lift to reshape the breast.
- Capsular contracture: Treating the firm, tight scar tissue that can form around an implant and cause hardness, distortion, or discomfort.
- Size change: Going larger or smaller when your original implants no longer suit your body or preferences.
- Asymmetry and position: Correcting implants that sit too high, too low, or too far apart, and refining differences between the two sides.
Revision is often more complex than a first operation because of scar tissue and changes in the breast pocket. Dr. Elias reviews your prior operative records when available and explains candidly what can be improved.
Recovery After Breast Surgery
Most breast procedures are performed under general anesthesia in our AAAHC-accredited Pasadena surgery center or our accredited Sherman Oaks surgical suite, and you go home the same day in a supportive surgical bra. Many patients return to desk work within about a week and resume strenuous exercise after several weeks. Swelling settles gradually over a few months, and incisions typically fade over the first year. If you are also considering body contouring, explore our body procedures as well.
Why Cosmetic Doc
Breast Surgery With a Focus on Proportion
Good breast surgery is about balance with the rest of your body, not a number on an implant. Here is what guides every plan.
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Measured, Not Guessed
Recommendations are based on your chest width, tissue thickness, and skin quality, so size and shape complement your frame instead of fighting it.
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Choices Explained Clearly
Implant type, incision placement, and fat transfer are discussed in plain language, including the tradeoffs, so you can make a confident, informed decision.
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Combine When It Helps
A lift with augmentation, or breast surgery with liposuction, can often be performed together so you recover once, when it is safe for your health.
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Revision Handled In-House
Implant exchange, removal, and correction of capsular contracture or asymmetry are part of our practice, with an honest assessment of what can be improved.
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Accredited Surgical Safety
Surgery takes place in our AAAHC-accredited Pasadena surgery center, where Dr. Elias serves as Medical Director, or our accredited Sherman Oaks surgical suite.
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One Surgeon Throughout
You meet Dr. Elias at consultation, see him on surgery day, and follow up with him during recovery, with questions welcomed at every step.
Breast Surgery Cost and Insurance
The cost of breast surgery depends on the procedure and technique, the implants or fat transfer used, the type of anesthesia, facility fees, and whether procedures are combined. After your consultation, you will receive a personalized, written quote. Cosmetic breast surgery is generally elective and not covered by insurance. Breast reduction is an exception worth exploring: when heavy breasts cause documented chronic pain or skin problems, reduction may qualify for medical insurance, and our team can help verify your benefits. Learn more on our breast reduction page. We accept cash, checks, major credit and debit cards, and financing plans.
Schedule Your Breast Surgery Consultation
Whether you are considering your first procedure or revisiting an old one, Cosmetic Doc offers a thoughtful, unhurried conversation about your options. Schedule your consultation at our Pasadena office or our Sherman Oaks office to meet Dr. Elias and build a plan that fits your body and your goals.
Questions patients ask
Breast Surgery FAQs
How do I know whether I need a lift, implants, or both?
If your main concern is size, augmentation may be enough. If your breasts sit low or the nipples point downward, a lift addresses position. When you want more fullness and a higher position, the two can often be combined. Dr. Elias examines your skin, tissue, and nipple position to recommend the right approach.
Can breast reduction be covered by insurance?
Breast reduction may qualify for medical insurance when heavy breasts cause documented chronic pain, skin irritation, or other symptoms that have not improved with conservative treatment. Requirements vary by plan and coverage is never guaranteed, but our team can help verify your benefits and prepare the documentation your insurer requests.
What is capsular contracture and can it be fixed?
Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue that naturally forms around an implant tightens, making the breast feel firm or look distorted. It can often be corrected with revision surgery that removes or releases the capsule and places a new implant, sometimes in a different pocket, to lower the chance of recurrence.
Can I have my breast implants removed?
Yes. Implants can be removed with or without the surrounding scar capsule, depending on your situation and goals. Because breasts may look deflated after removal, many patients combine removal with a breast lift or fat transfer. Dr. Elias will explain what your breasts are likely to look like afterward.
How long is recovery after breast surgery?
Most patients return to desk work within about a week and resume strenuous exercise and heavy lifting after several weeks, depending on the procedure. Swelling gradually settles over a few months as the breasts take their final shape, and incisions typically continue to soften and fade over the first year.
Can I combine breast surgery with other procedures?
Often, yes. Patients commonly pair a breast lift with augmentation, or combine breast surgery with liposuction or a tummy tuck to address several concerns in one recovery. Dr. Elias recommends combinations only when the total operating time is safe for your health and explains how combining affects your recovery.
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Your Choice for Expert Cosmetic Surgery in Pasadena & Sherman Oaks
Cosmetic Doc delivers board-certified cosmetic surgery with care, compassion, and artistry. From facelifts and rhinoplasty to body contouring, Dr. Husam Elias pairs dual MD/DMD training with an on-site AAAHC-accredited surgery center for the safest, most natural-looking results. Contact our Pasadena or Sherman Oaks office today to schedule your consultation.