Paul M. Steinwald, M.D. is a plastic surgeon in the Chicago area who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He underwent advanced training in California and has extensive experience in the many modern reconstructive and cosmetic surgery procedures Chicago area residents seek.

Dr. Steinwald grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois and was eager to return home after 16 years of education and training at some of the finest institutions in the country to realize his long-term goal of joining his father in plastic surgery practice in July, 2000. He chose to focus on the surgical specialties early in his professional development, and ultimately gravitated towards a career in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, drawn to the field's basis in anatomy, challenging variety and reward for attention to detail, all of which play to his interests and strengths.

Dr. Steinwald is a well-rounded Ivy League graduate, with a lifetime record of achievement and the pursuit of excellence, as evidenced in his credentials. After graduating with honors from Dartmouth College and attending Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, he underwent full training in general surgery at the George Washington University Medical Center, including a year of surgical research. He then engaged in plastic surgery training at one of the leading medical centers and teaching institutions in the country, The University of California at San Francisco.

Dr. Steinwald worked intimately with several leading aesthetic and reconstructive surgeons in the San Francisco Bay Area, from whom he learned many of their most specialized and innovative techniques. He took no short-cuts in his training, having completed full residencies and board-certification in both plastic surgery and general surgery (which means he has experience in recognizing and managing almost every kind of surgical problem, and helps qualify him to serve as Vice-Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Lake Forest Hospital). Click here to learn the importance of board certification. He has been named one of "America's Top Plastic Surgeons" by the Consumers' Research Council of America every year since 2006.

After founding member/senior partner O.P. Steinwald, MD, FACS retired in early 2006, his son Paul took over the practice, officially renaming it Lake Forest Plastic Surgery, with a goal of modernizing the practice's surgical offerings as well as office space. He is a recognized specialist in the field of cosmetic surgery, further distinguished by being one of the only plastic surgeons in the Chicago area who was trained in California. Dr. Steinwald has extensive experience in many modern reconstructive and cosmetic surgery procedures popular in Illinois, and believes in performing only well-established, evidence-based procedures that can predictably deliver soft, natural results, rather than largely unproven, gimmicky "procedures-du-jour." He actively keeps up with the literature, however, and attends at least one national educational meeting a year.

Dr. Steinwald's areas of specialization include post-mastectomy breast reconstruction utilizing the patient's own tissues (autogenous tissue reconstruction) as well as breast enhancement through augmentation, lifting or reduction techniques. He is also a specialist in abdominoplasty and body contouring techniques (utilizing standard or ultrasound-assisted liposuction), and in his approach to facial rejuvenation, he has incorporated many specialized techniques personally taught to him by several national experts during his time in California.

Dr. Steinwald practices principally at Lake Forest Hospital, but also has operating privileges at the HealthSouth Surgical Center in Vernon Hills, Illinois. He also recently attained privileges to operate downtown at one of Chicago's most desirable outpatient surgical centers, The 900 North Michigan Surgical Center (at the Bloomingdale's Building). He makes it a point to be easily reached by his patients in the post-operative period, via pager or cell phone, and is also usually available for random emergencies. For the infrequent times he may not be available, he will designate another board-certified colleague to provide coverage for any post-operative emergencies.