David Light, MD is a fellowship trained, board certified plastic surgeon with a dual practice, focused on breast reconstruction and aesthetic surgery. Dr. Light is an aesthetic surgeon at heart, with a passion for breast reconstruction and women's health. Patients and colleagues recognize him for his surgical acumen and warm bedside manner. He approaches cosmetic and reconstructive patients with a distinctive commitment to compassionate, personalized care that delivers beautiful, natural-looking results.

Breast Reconstruction

Dr. Light performs over 300 primary and revision breast reconstructions a year. He is an expert in microsurgical breast reconstruction techniques, including DIEP, SIEA, PAP, LTP and GAP flaps. He was among the first to perform hybrid flaps and stacked flaps for patients who prefer natural tissue breast reconstruction but may not have enough volume from a single tissue flap. Dr. Light has a special interest in helping those who were either not offered reconstruction or are unsatisfied with their current reconstruction. He performs delayed and complex revisionary breast reconstructions for patients who were previously refused, both regionally and nationally.  Dr. Light also performs all forms of implant-based breast reconstruction, including pre-pectoral direct to implant reconstructions using biologic matrixes and form stable implants.

Modern breast reconstruction involves more than simply restoring breast shape and volume. Dr. Light offers his patients Resensation procedures to help restore breast sensation following a mastectomy. He established the first Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols for breast reconstruction within local health systems, designed to expedite patient recovery while minimizing negative side effects associated with narcotic pain medications. Dr. Light was the first surgeon on Long Island to perform autologous lymph node transfers and lymphovenous bypasses. He continues to perform LYMPHA procedures at the time of mastectomy to help prevent lymphedema.

 As an advocate for patient rights and shared decision making, Dr. Light believes every woman should be offered all suitable breast reconstruction options and the opportunity to choose for herself. He volunteers his services as a Medical Professional Partner with the AiRS Foundation. Dr. Light works with several organizations to educate women on options for breast reconstruction.  He is a contributor to Breastreconstruction.org and authored the breast reconstruction section for Outcomes4me.

Aesthetic Surgery

 Dr. Light’s aesthetic work focuses on face, breast, and abdominal rejuvenation. His expertise and experience in complex breast reconstruction play a critical role in delivering long-lasting, natural results. He performs the full range of aesthetic breast and abdominal procedures, including implant augmentation, fat grafting, abdominoplasty, liposuction, “mommy makeovers”, breast lifts/reductions, and implant removal for pain and implant concerns. 

At the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Light trained with a world class faculty focused on facial rejuvenation. Dr. Light maintains a special interest in facelift procedures and offers the complete array of facial rejuvenation procedures, including facial fat grafting, facial resurfacing with chemical and laser peels, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, brow lifts, along with, minimally invasive techniques, including Botox and the full spectrum of facial fillers.

Training

A native New Yorker, Dr. Light began his surgical training at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, where he completed a general surgery residency and was presented the Chairman’s Award for exceptional leadership and academic achievement. Dr. Light completed his plastic surgery residency at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic. He went on to the University of Pennsylvania and Fox Chase Cancer Center to complete a reconstructive microsurgical fellowship, known internationally for contributions to microsurgical breast reconstruction.

Academic Leadership

Dr. Light has authored multiple peer reviewed articles in plastic surgery’s most prestigious scientific journal and has earned Best Presentation and Best Research Paper Awards by the American Society of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Light is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and serves on the EdNet Editorial Breast Work Group Subcommittee and the Coding and Payment Policy Subcommittee.  Dr. Light also serves on the American Cancer Society Long Island Board of Advisors.