Cosmetic Surgery

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Board-certified cosmetic surgery with an honest scope

Dr. Palakodeti is board-certified in cosmetic surgery through the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (FAACS) and maintains an active cosmetic surgery practice alongside his breast oncology work. His cosmetic practice reflects his training, his experience, and his honest assessment of where he delivers excellent outcomes and where he refers patients to more specialized surgeons.

There are procedures Dr. Palakodeti performs with confidence and consistency. There are also procedures (specifically rhinoplasty and facelift surgery) that he believes are best performed by surgeons whose entire practice is dedicated to those operations. When a patient asks about either, he says so directly and refers accordingly. That is not a limitation. It is the kind of surgical judgment that should be the standard.

BREAST

Cosmetic breast procedures address size, shape, symmetry, and position — distinct from reconstructive procedures performed as part of cancer treatment, though the surgical techniques frequently overlap.

Breast Augmentation
Placement of silicone or saline implants to increase breast volume, improve symmetry, or restore fullness lost following pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. Implant selection — type, size, profile, and placement — is individualized to your anatomy and goals.

Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammaplasty)
Removal of excess breast tissue, skin, and fat to reduce breast size and alleviate symptoms including neck and back pain, skin irritation, and postural difficulty. Breast reduction is among the highest patient-satisfaction procedures in all of surgery — and is frequently covered by insurance when functional symptoms are documented.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Reshaping and elevating the breast to restore a more youthful position and contour without changing volume. Mastopexy can be performed alone or in combination with augmentation or reduction depending on the patient's goals and anatomy.

BODY

Body contouring procedures address areas of the body that have not responded to diet and exercise — or that have been significantly affected by weight loss, pregnancy, or aging.

Liposuction
Removal of localized fat deposits from the abdomen, flanks, thighs, back, arms, and other areas. Liposuction addresses contour — it is not a weight loss procedure — and is most effective in patients who are at or near their goal weight with good skin elasticity.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
Removal of excess abdominal skin and fat combined with repair of the rectus abdominis muscles — frequently separated by pregnancy (diastasis recti) — to restore a flatter, firmer abdominal contour. A full abdominoplasty addresses the entire abdomen; a mini abdominoplasty focuses on the area below the navel.

Body Contouring After Weight Loss
Significant weight loss — whether through lifestyle change or bariatric surgery — frequently leaves excess, inelastic skin that cannot contract on its own. Body contouring procedures address this redundant skin on the abdomen, arms, thighs, and back, restoring the shape that reflects the work already done.

FACIAL

Dr. Palakodeti performs a defined range of facial procedures where his training and outcomes are strong. He does not perform rhinoplasty or facelift surgery — procedures he believes are best performed by surgeons whose practice is entirely dedicated to those operations — and refers patients seeking those procedures to trusted colleagues.

Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery)
Removal of excess upper and/or lower eyelid skin, fat, and muscle to address hooding, puffiness, and the tired appearance that comes with aging around the eyes. Upper blepharoplasty is among the most impactful and lowest-risk facial procedures available — and is frequently covered by insurance when upper eyelid hooding impairs the visual field.

Brow Lift
Elevation of the brow to restore a more open, rested appearance to the upper face. Brow position significantly affects how the eyes are perceived — a descended brow can make a patient look tired or stern regardless of how rested they actually are. Brow lift is frequently performed in conjunction with upper blepharoplasty.

Lip Lift
Shortening of the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip vermilion border to increase upper lip show, restore youthful lip proportion, and improve the balance of the lower face. The lip lift is a permanent procedure — distinct from filler — and produces a result that ages naturally with the face.

Submental Liposuction
Removal of excess fat beneath the chin to define the jawline and neck contour. Frequently combined with Renuvion skin tightening for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity in the neck.

Renuvion Skin Tightening
A minimally invasive skin tightening technology that uses helium plasma energy delivered beneath the skin to contract and tighten tissue. Renuvion is particularly effective in the neck and submental area, and can be combined with liposuction to address both fat and skin laxity in a single procedure. It produces meaningful skin contraction without the recovery of a full surgical lift.

SKIN & NON-SURGICAL

Injectables & Fillers
Botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport) for dynamic wrinkle relaxation and dermal fillers for volume restoration, contour enhancement, and soft tissue augmentation. Non-surgical options are discussed at consultation as standalone treatments or as complements to surgical procedures.

 Cosmetic training. Oncologic foundation. Honest scope. 

Not every surgeon who performs cosmetic procedures is board-certified in cosmetic surgery. In most states, any licensed physician can legally perform cosmetic procedures regardless of their training. Board certification through the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery requires completion of a dedicated cosmetic surgery fellowship, written and oral board examinations, and ongoing continuing education — standards that exist specifically to protect patients.

Dr. Palakodeti completed a formal cosmetic surgery fellowship and sits on the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery — the body that sets and enforces those standards. When you consult with him for a cosmetic procedure, you are consulting with a surgeon who has been formally evaluated and credentialed specifically for the work he is asking you to trust him with.

Dr. Palakodeti's cosmetic practice is unusual in that it sits alongside and is informed by a busy oncologic breast surgery practice. The precision required in cancer surgery, the attention to tissue handling, the understanding of anatomy across the breast and body these translate directly into the cosmetic operating room.

His cosmetic patients benefit from a surgeon who operates at a high technical volume, who thinks carefully about what is achievable for each individual anatomy, and who will tell you honestly when a procedure is right for you and when it is not. That last part matters more than most patients realize when choosing a cosmetic surgeon.

When choosing a cosmetic surgeon, it is important to look for someone who is board-certified, experienced, and has a track record of successful procedures. You should also look for someone who makes you feel comfortable and takes the time to answer your questions and address your concerns. During your consultation, you should ask about the surgeon's experience, their approach to the procedure, and their success rate.

Cosmetic surgery is elective and that means candidacy is as much about readiness and expectation as it is about anatomy. Good candidates share a few common characteristics:

• They have a specific, realistic goal not a vague desire to "look better" but a clear understanding of what they want to address
• They are in good general health without untreated medical conditions that would increase surgical risk
• They are non-smokers, or have stopped smoking well in advance of surgery
• They are at or near a stable goal weight for body contouring procedures
• They have done their research and are choosing surgery for themselves — not to meet someone else's expectations

The consultation
Your cosmetic consultation is a conversation, not a sales appointment. Dr. Palakodeti will listen to what you want to achieve, evaluate your anatomy honestly, explain what is realistic, and recommend a surgical plan. If a procedure you are interested in is not one he performs, he will tell you and refer you to the right surgeon. You will leave the consultation with a clear picture of your options and no pressure to commit.

Surgical planning
Once you decide to proceed, the team coordinates scheduling, pre-operative appointments, and facility logistics. Pre-operative photographs are taken for surgical planning. Most cosmetic procedures are performed at an outpatient surgical facility under general anesthesia or sedation.

Recovery
Recovery timelines vary significantly by procedure — from a few days for non-surgical treatments to several weeks for body contouring procedures. Specific recovery expectations are reviewed in detail at your pre-operative appointment. Swelling and bruising are normal and expected. Final results take time to fully emerge — patience is part of the process.