Breast Surgery in Abu Dhabi
Breast surgery reshapes volume, position and symmetry in proportion to the rest of the body. Dr Thomas Colson, Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, approaches the breast as a made-to-measure problem — most often combining an implant with the patient's own fat — rather than fitting every patient to a fixed implant size.
Why the plan matters more than the implant
No two breasts are identical in volume, skin quality, degree of sagging or symmetry. Almost every woman has a small natural asymmetry between the two sides — and an implant, which comes in fixed sizes, cannot correct that on its own.
This is why composite surgery — an implant combined with the patient's own fat (lipofilling) — is Dr Colson's usual approach rather than the exception, to fine-tune shape, cleavage and symmetry for a tailored result. He is a double board-certified plastic surgeon (French SOFCPRE and European EBOPRAS) with 18 years of experience, equally at home with implants, fat transfer, lifts and reductions within a single, made-to-measure plan.
Dr Colson is a member of EPSS (Emirates Plastic Surgery Society), anchoring his practice within the plastic surgery community of the UAE, alongside ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), SOFCPRE (Société Française de Chirurgie Plastique, Reconstructrice et Esthétique) and SOFCEP (Société Française de Chirurgie Esthétique et Plastique).
The institutional advantage
Surgery is performed inside Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), a government tertiary hospital within the SEHA network — with full anaesthetic, imaging and inpatient back-up on site. Where there is a documented functional or reconstructive indication (symptomatic large breasts, a congenital deformity, or correction of a complication), part of the treatment may be eligible for coverage with Daman or Thiqa.
The surgeon
Dr Thomas Colson is Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), Abu Dhabi. He has 18 years of experience in plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery and is double board certified by SOFCPRE, the French Board, and by EBOPRAS. Consultations and surgery are performed exclusively at SKMC.
He holds an MD Magna Cum Laude from Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 and completed his residency at Nancy University Hospital, a Level I trauma centre. He holds Inter-University Diplomas in Microsurgery and in Robotic Surgery, and is a member of ISAPS, SOFCPRE, SOFCEP and EPSS (Emirates Plastic Surgery Society). He is licensed by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi under licence GD47532.
At the ISAPS Olympiad World Congress in Singapore in 2025, his work “Preoperative Preservation Rhinoplasty Planning Using a Three-Dimensional Multiplanar Reconstruction Digital Application: A Technical Note” received the Silver Medal in the Rhinoplasty poster discussion.
Breast procedures available at SKMC
Each procedure has its own indications, technique and recovery. Explore the page closest to your goal.
Breast Augmentation
Mentor and Motiva implants, smooth or nano-textured, placed dual-plane or retroglandular according to soft-tissue cover. Includes the natural, modest-volume "French" approach.
Read moreHybrid (Composite) Augmentation
Implant plus the patient's own fat — Dr Colson's most frequent approach — to correct natural asymmetry and refine shape. A fat-only option exists for native breasts.
Read moreBreast Lift (Mastopexy)
Three scar patterns matched to the degree of sagging, decided with you using Crisalix. Augmentation-mastopexy (lift plus implant) is performed in a single stage.
Read moreBreast Reduction
Superomedial pedicle (Hall-Findlay); gigantomastia treated with the Thorek technique. A functional indication may be eligible for insurance pre-authorisation.
Read moreBreast Implant Revision
Grade III/IV capsular contracture treated with en-bloc capsulectomy, implant exchange and regenerative lipofilling; malposition and fold correction addressed individually.
Read moreTuberous Breast Correction
Glandular scoring, high-projection implants for skin expansion, composite fat to widen the base, and a round-block scar to reduce areolar protrusion and widening.
Read moreBreast Asymmetry
A made-to-measure composite plan that may combine augmentation, reduction, lift and fat transfer — including the breast component of Poland syndrome.
Read moreNot sure which applies?
A consultation with a Crisalix 3D simulation clarifies which approach fits your anatomy and goals.
Book a consultationWho is a candidate for breast surgery?
- A specific, realistic goal — volume, shape, symmetry, sagging, or physical discomfort
- General good health, and non-smoking or able to stop around the time of surgery
- A stable weight; for several procedures, having finished breastfeeding
- An understanding that the final shape settles gradually over 3–6 months
- Seeking a natural, proportionate result rather than an off-the-shelf size
The consultation pathway
Every consultation at SKMC begins with a clinical examination. Dr Colson then performs a Crisalix 3D simulation, generating a realistic preview of the planned breast shape so the plan — including implant, fat, and any lift — can be discussed and agreed before any decision is made.
Enhanced recovery, by design
PECS II regional block
Before surgery begins, Dr Colson routinely places a PECS II regional block. This reduces the amount of strong painkiller needed afterwards and supports a faster, more comfortable recovery.
Keller Funnel "no-touch"
Implants are introduced using a Keller Funnel no-touch technique, which limits skin contact with the implant and helps reduce the risk of contamination and infection.
A note on privacy and results
In strict compliance with UAE MOHAP regulations regarding patient privacy and modesty, before and after photos are not displayed on this website. A comprehensive medical portfolio is available for viewing during your private consultation.
A Crisalix 3D simulation of the planned breast shape is part of the consultation.
A general breast surgery timeline
A guide for implant-based and composite surgery. Reduction, revision and tuberous correction vary and are detailed on their own pages.
Comparing the seven pathways
| Procedure | Suited to | Core technique | Social recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augmentation | Adding volume / shape | Implant ± plane choice | ~1–2 weeks |
| Hybrid / composite | Natural shape, correcting asymmetry | Implant + fat | ~2 weeks |
| Lift (mastopexy) | Sagging / ptosis | Scar pattern by ptosis | ~2 weeks |
| Reduction | Symptomatic large breasts | Superomedial / Thorek | ~2–3 weeks |
| Implant revision | Capsule, malposition, exchange | Capsulectomy + exchange ± fat | Varies |
| Tuberous | Constricted / tuberous shape | Scoring + implant + fat | ~2 weeks |
| Asymmetry | Uneven breasts / Poland | Custom composite | Varies |
Risks and informed consent
Every operation on this site carries risks, and each procedure page sets them out in full — not as a footnote, but as a section of its own. Under UAE Department of Health rules on health media and advertising, patient information must be balanced. It is also better medicine: a consultation that describes only benefits is not an informed one.
| Procedure | The risks that matter most | |
|---|---|---|
| Augmentation | Capsular contracture, implant rupture, sensation change, further surgery over time, rarely BIA-ALCL | Read the risks |
| Hybrid / composite | All implant risks, plus partial fat resorption, fat necrosis and calcifications on imaging | Read the risks |
| Lift (mastopexy) | Permanent scarring, nipple sensation, compromised nipple blood supply, recurrence of sagging | Read the risks |
| Reduction | Scarring, nipple sensation, reduced likelihood of breastfeeding, T-junction healing | Read the risks |
| Implant revision | Recurrent contracture, more extensive dissection, thin soft-tissue cover, further surgery | Read the risks |
| Tuberous | Recurrence of constriction, areolar scar widening, residual asymmetry | Read the risks |
| Asymmetry | Symmetry is improved rather than made perfect; a second balancing procedure is more likely | Read the risks |
Complications have their own pages, too
Three of the most common implant-related concerns are covered as standalone guides rather than only as services: capsular contracture, breast implant rupture, and pain after breast augmentation, which sets out what is normal and what should be assessed. They are listed here as risks of surgery, not only as problems Dr Colson corrects.
Frequently asked questions
Which breast procedures does Dr Colson perform in Abu Dhabi?
Can insurance such as Daman or Thiqa cover breast surgery at SKMC?
What is composite (hybrid) breast surgery and why does Dr Colson favour it?
Is breast surgery performed as a day case?
Why are there no before-and-after photos on this website?
How does Dr Colson approach breast surgery at SKMC?
What are the risks of breast surgery?
Plan Your Breast Surgery Consultation
Consultations and surgery with Dr Thomas Colson are performed exclusively at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi, within the SEHA network. A pre-operative Crisalix 3D simulation lets patients preview the planned breast shape before deciding.
Educational disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified surgeon or health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.