Caroline Szpalski MD PhD FACS

Caroline Szpalski MD PhD FACS 'Less is more'

Breast cancer took her through one of the hardest chapters of her life — but reconstruction helped her reclaim her body ...
03/31/2026

Breast cancer took her through one of the hardest chapters of her life — but reconstruction helped her reclaim her body on her own terms.

She underwent bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomies followed by a two-stage reconstruction. At the time of her mastectomy, tissue expanders were placed to preserve her skin envelope and shape. A few weeks later, we returned to the OR to exchange them for her definitive silicone implants.

Her mastectomy scars were carefully hidden within the natural fold of the breasts and are now barely noticeable. Today, she has a soft, natural result that resembles a beautiful breast augmentation — but more importantly, she has closure, confidence, and a sense of wholeness again.

Plastic surgery and breast reconstruction are often the light at the end of the tunnel. ✨

ReconstructionJourney WomenSupportingWomen StrongerThanCancer

to 🍝🍷👗
03/19/2026

to

🍝🍷👗

Breast reduction is not just cosmetic — it is a medically necessary, life-changing procedure for so many women suffering...
03/15/2026

Breast reduction is not just cosmetic — it is a medically necessary, life-changing procedure for so many women suffering from chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain.

In this patient’s photos, taken just 4 months after surgery, you can already see a dramatic improvement in her shoulder bra grooves. The deep dents are nearly gone, and the hyperpigmentation caused by years of heavy bra straps digging into her skin has significantly improved. This is what happens when you remove the constant downward pull of heavy breasts and allow the body to finally heal. In a few more months there will be no hyperpigmentation or grooves anymore! 🪄

She spent nearly 40 years carrying close to 7 extra pounds of breast tissue on her chest every single day. By the one-year mark, her shoulders will look as though they never carried that weight at all. Less pain, less strain, better posture — and a quality of life that finally matches how strong she truly is.

Breast reduction relieves pain, restores comfort, and gives women their bodies back. And that’s why it matters. 🤍

WomenHealth LifeChangingSurgery PlasticSurgeryWithPurpose ReductionMammoplasty PostureMatters PainFreeLiving

Time change has completely wrecked my sleep (let’s not even mention the kids’ sleep), and nightly spring cleaning has of...
03/12/2026

Time change has completely wrecked my sleep (let’s not even mention the kids’ sleep), and nightly spring cleaning has officially begun. Whoelse sorts at night when everybody is asleep? 🫠😅

While going through old boxes, I came across my very first modeling face card. I was 13 years old.

It honestly feels like 25 lifetimes ago. Funny how life moves in these big chapters that each feel like a reset of the clock.

High school.
College.
Med school.
Married life.
PhD.
Residency.
Fellowship.
Motherhood #1.
First job.
Motherhood #2.
Second job.

At least this many lifetimes ago… and counting. ✨

lifetimes lifechapters thenandnow womeninmedicine surgeonlife careerjourney nostalgia growthjourney

Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it 🤍Hearing that a patient felt safe, heard, and genuinely cared for throughout the...
03/03/2026

Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it 🤍

Hearing that a patient felt safe, heard, and genuinely cared for throughout their surgical journey means everything to me. Surgery is not just about technical precision — it’s about trust, communication, and creating a space where you can ask every single question and feel met with openness and humanity.

And I couldn’t do it without my incredible team. Jaqueline truly is the backbone of our office — making scheduling (even the rescheduling!) seamless and keeping communication clear every step of the way. Teamwork makes the dream work!

To every patient who places their trust in us: thank you. It is an honor to care for you. ✨

TrustYourSurgeon CompassionateCare TeamWork AestheticSurgery ReconstructiveSurgery

I hope you’re all harnessing Monday the way my 3-year-old harnesses life — with the pure, unfiltered joy of launching hi...
03/02/2026

I hope you’re all harnessing Monday the way my 3-year-old harnesses life — with the pure, unfiltered joy of launching himself into a ball pit like it’s his full-time job.

Meanwhile… I started this week by pulling a back muscle carrying that 40-lb “baby” down the stairs.



Apparently I can perform complex surgery for hours… but toddler transport is what takes me out.

Not having my best Monday over here — send help (or a heating pad).

Anyone else feeling old?

She lived for years with asymmetric, large, pendulous breasts that caused significant back pain and daily discomfort. Fo...
02/22/2026

She lived for years with asymmetric, large, pendulous breasts that caused significant back pain and daily discomfort. For so long, she put herself last.

After her breast reduction, she now has lighter, more symmetrical, perkier breasts—and most importantly, her back pain is gone. At the age of retirement, she finally feels free to move, live, and enjoy her body without pain or limitation. This chapter is about comfort, confidence, and truly living her best life.

Breast reduction is not about age or vanity. It’s about quality of life, and it is never too late to choose yourself. 🤍

QualityOfLife PlasticSurgeryWithPurpose BackPainRelief LivingHerBestLife WomenAtEveryAge

Being named one of the Top Black Doctors for the second year in a row is an honor I do not take lightly. Representation ...
02/20/2026

Being named one of the Top Black Doctors for the second year in a row is an honor I do not take lightly. Representation in medicine matters. Many patients actively seek care from physicians who look like them, share their cultural background, or understand their lived experiences — because feeling seen, heard, and understood builds trust. Research continues to show that patients often experience better communication, stronger trust, and improved outcomes when cared for by someone who reflects their identity or cultural experience.
There are still far too few Black and brown physicians in plastic surgery and in medicine as a whole. That is why this recognition is bigger than me. It belongs to every young girl wondering if she belongs in medicine, every patient who wants to feel understood, and every woman who has driven hours across state lines just to finally feel seen.

This one is for my ladies who travel 4+ hours to sit in my chair — thank you for trusting me with your stories, your bodies, and your confidence. 🤍

InclusiveCare CulturallyCompetentCare BrownGirlDoctor WomenSupportingWomen TrustYourDoctor PatientCenteredCare AestheticSurgery PlasticSurgeonLife EmpoweredWomen SeeYourself HealthcareEquity TopDoctor WomenWhoLead

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” — Albert EinsteinToday is my son’s birthday,...
02/18/2026

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein

Today is my son’s birthday, and this weekend something magical happened. After a few tried and zero interest before, he suddenly decided he was ready to try his balance bike — and within 20 minutes, he nailed it. No fear, no hesitation… just focus and determination.

It was the perfect reminder that progress doesn’t happen on our timeline — it happens when the mind is ready. Keep showing up. Keep trying. Keep practicing. One day, it just clicks. ✨

Whether it’s learning to ride, building strength, healing, or chasing a dream — consistency and mindset change everything.

Keep moving forward. It will work.

MomLifeMoments GrowthMindset ParentingMoments LifeLessons BelieveInYourself

Mail rarely make me burst out laughing. Among the bills and random mail is a postcard from my bestie that simply said: “...
02/18/2026

Mail rarely make me burst out laughing. Among the bills and random mail is a postcard from my bestie that simply said: “Voodoo beats yoga.” 🧘🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️

This is the girl I met the summer before we started college. We clicked within minutes — no effort, no overthinking, just instant recognition. The kind of friendship where you know, right away, this one is different.

Over 25 years later, she’s still my ride or die. The person who has seen every version of me — the partying college student, the stressed out med school student, the tired plastic surgery resident, the exhausted microsurgery fellow, the new attending, the ambitious one, the exhausted one, the new mom, the surgeon, the yogi (can’t live without my yoga), the everything phase. And somehow she always knows exactly what will make me laugh.

There’s something so sacred about friendships that grow with you. That survive distance, careers, kids, seasons of life. The gift of a friend who knows your entire story and still chooses you — that’s everything.

And apparently… voodoo beats yoga. 🖤

Tag your forever friend. The one who just gets you.

WomenSupportingWomen LaughOutloud

A little throwback as we get close to my son’s third birthday 🤍 and honestly… How did we get here? That maternity shoot ...
02/12/2026

A little throwback as we get close to my son’s third birthday 🤍 and honestly… How did we get here? That maternity shoot feels like another lifetime.

We were mid-renovation, completely behind schedule, and I was running on empty. My OB pulled the plug four weeks before my due date because I was beyond exhausted and not gaining enough weight — I had to stop working and operating earlier than planned.

I remember thinking, How am I going to do life, work, and two kids? I just knew something had to change.

What came after? A total emotional rollercoaster — the scary kind, the brave kind, the growth kind.

So many shifts, so much learning, still learning every single day. I truly love where we’ve landed, even if I’m permanently tired thanks to a 3-year-old who thinks 5am is concert hour and midnight is story time 🎸😅 These have been three of the most intense, beautiful, stretching years of my life.

Sometimes I look at my kids and cannot believe I carried them. That body, that season — it feels almost surreal now.

Seeing those photos of my round belly feels like looking at a different version of me, and I’m so grateful I captured that moment in time. Thank you for the beautiful photoshoot. Now I need to come with the kiddos!

It reminds me how far we’ve all come, and how wild and beautiful the journey has been. ✨

LifeChanges GratefulHeart Growth FamilyFirst WomenInMedicine RealLifeMom UpperEastSideKids

What a quote!Looking back, I see patterns, lessons, and moments that shaped me in ways I couldn’t understand then.But th...
02/11/2026

What a quote!

Looking back, I see patterns, lessons, and moments that shaped me in ways I couldn’t understand then.

But there is only one way to live and it’s to keep moving forward. To keep showing up even when the path isn’t clear, to keep learning and growing.

perspective personalgrowth lifeinmotion

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