Archive for the ‘Breast Augmentation’ Category
What Do We Mean by the ‘Perfect’ Breast?
When women ask about breast augmentation in Los Angeles, we always ask a key question: “What is your vision of yourself after surgery?” Because every woman has her own definition of “the perfect breast,” the surgeons at Marina Plastic Surgery believe it’s important to listen carefully to each woman’s goal and personalize the procedure to achieve that goal.
For some women, enhancing their breasts so that they wear a B-cup bra may achieve their goal. Other women may want a more dramatic enhancement, resulting in a looks that is significantly more voluptuous. And, it’s not just size that constitutes the perfect breast. Shape is also important.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, my goal is to understand what each patient wants, discuss her desired outcome, and work with her to provide exquisite results. There are a multitude of considerations that go into creating the perfect breast, and I guide each patient through those decisions for an optimal outcome.
Common Breast Augmentation Concerns
Although women in Los Angeles find breast augmentation to be a highly effective procedure, there are usually some questions stemming from rumors they’ve heard from friends or things they’ve read on the Internet. Here are some common breast augmentation concerns I’ve encountered, followed by the facts about this popular procedure:
Concern: Following breast augmentation, it is difficult or impossible to breastfeed or to maintain nipple sensation.
Fact: Although there is a slight chance that you may lose nipple sensation or will be unable to breastfeed, most of my patients experience no complications following surgery. Choosing an experienced and well-trained surgeon is a good way to minimize risks associated with procedures. Also, many patients who lose nipple sensation after breast augmentation find that it returns after a time.
Concern: Breast implants are dangerous and cause negative health consequences.
Fact: There are a number of breast implant options that can increase the safety of this procedure. Saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution that is naturally absorbed by the body should a leak occur. Silicone implant technology has greatly improved, and the cohesive gel used in today’s implants does not leak or migrate in the case of rupture. Additionally, having regular check-ups can help you maintain your implants and your overall health.
Concern: What is capsular contracture, and how can it affect my surgery?
Fact: Capsular contracture refers to the accumulation of hardened scar tissue around implants. I take great precautions in reducing the chance for this and other complications, and I work diligently to minimize negative influences on your surgery or recovery. Less than 3% of our patients have a capsular contracture.
These are just a few of the concerns women have regarding breast augmentation. I recommend speaking to a qualified surgeon to discuss your specific questions. Typically, choosing a well-trained and experienced surgeon can minimize your chance of risk and improve your surgical experience and outcome.
Answering the Question: “Are They Real?”
Many of my Los Angeles breast augmentation patients are not sure how to respond when someone asks if their enhanced figure results from surgery. As a plastic surgeon, I believe that there is no “correct” response. The answer depends on the individual’s level of comfort with this personal question.
As plastic surgery becomes more popular, society tends to accept it more. However, the perception of plastic surgery may be different in larger cities, such as Los Angeles and New York, as opposed to other areas of the nation.
Through my experiences of treating patients from a wide range of backgrounds, I have come to understand that no two people have identical experiences with plastic surgery. While some patients feel comfortable expressing how happy they are with their enhancement, others may see it as a more personal experience.
So if you find yourself questioning whether you should share the details of your breast augmentation, I recommend that you answer according to your own comfort level. There are no rules when it comes to telling others about your surgery.
Breast Implant Basics
There are a number of options to consider when women decide to have breast augmentation. At my practice in Los Angeles, breast implant discussions, such as silicone versus saline, typically are the focus of breast augmentation consultations. Here are some of the basics to help you know more about this topic:
- Silicone implants are filled with a cohesive elastic gel that many say feels more like natural breast tissue.
- Women can typically choose from three incision locations for inserting the implants: under the breast along the natural crease (inframammary incision), under the armpit (transaxillary incision), and around the areola (periarolar incision).
- Breast implants can be placed under the pectoral muscle, or between the pectoral muscle and breast tissue. This decision is best made with a qualified surgeon, and is often based on a number of factors, including implant type and cosmetic goals.
By understanding the available options and talking with an experienced surgeon, you can achieve your goals more successfully.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Basics
Some of the most common questions I encounter during a Los Angeles breast augmentation consultation revolve around the general recovery time. Depending on the extent of a person’s surgery, breast augmentation recovery is best understood in a series of stages:
Stage 1: The first 48 hours finds most women resting with little to no physical activity except walking around to maintain circulation in the legs. This helps women get used to their augmentation, and begin the healing process.
Stage 2: The first week following surgery typically includes minimized physical activity. Women should experience a significant improvement in their overall energy levels, and swelling will begin to subside.
Stage 3: After the first week of recovery, most women can begin to take on more of their usual activities, while making sure not to strain themselves. Soreness and swelling should begin to dissipate, and women will see the effects of their surgery.
Stage 4: Exercise and normal activity is highly dependent on the doctor’s direction, but many women find that they can return to their daily activities after 3 weeks of taking it easy.
Stage 5: After fully recovering, women can return to their normal schedules, including exercise, work and family life. Most women maintain total nipple sensation and are able to breastfeed after surgery.
5 Benefits of Breast Augmentation
Techniques for breast augmentation in Los Angeles vary from surgeon to surgeon, but there are some benefits that are fairly universal when breast augmentation is performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. These include:
- With advances in technology and techniques, people have a greater number of options. From the type and size of implant a woman chooses to the location of the incisions, there are many options available for people to personalize their breast augmentation procedures.
- Breast augmentation can not only transform a woman’s physical appearance, but women often also experience a surge in confidence. This sense of self-assurance will carry over into the workplace and home for many women.
- Women over 18 who are physically and emotionally healthy can choose breast augmentation. This means that women can choose the procedure when it’s right for them, whether that means earlier in life, or after the changes that occur with pregnancy and aging.
- Breast augmentation is a great procedure to combine with complementary plastic surgery treatments. This allows women to have more comprehensive results, and cut down on the overall cost and recovery time.
- Choosing breast augmentation should not affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed after surgery. Women that choose qualified surgeons should be able to breastfeed and retain nipple sensation after surgery.
Why Breast Enhancement Remains Popular
Breast enhancement procedures have long been some of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. Breast enhancement typically includes breast lift surgery, breast reduction surgery, and breast augmentation. Los Angeles women are among many in the United States who turn to breast implants to help improve their body contours by increasing the size of their breasts.
According to a recent report published by the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), plastic surgery has increased in popularity, up 2 percent from 2009 to 2010. Breast augmentation took the number 1 spot for the most popular cosmetic procedure in 2010, with 296,000 procedures performed. It is no surprise that breast augmentation is the top procedure of 2010, as more women are enjoying the benefits of a rebounding economy and are taking steps to improve their appearance and self-esteem.
Here are a few of my thoughts as to why breast augmentation continues to remain such a common cosmetic procedure:
- The procedure is generally straightforward and quick.
- Recovery time from a breast augmentation is significantly less than other procedures such as a tummy tuck.
- Women have several options for the procedure, including incision location, type of implant, shape of implant, and more.
- Breast augmentation is a relatively affordable cosmetic procedure.
I’d like to hear your opinions and thoughts on breast augmentation. Why do you believe it is so popular?
Breast Augmentation Incision Options
When considering breast augmentation, how do you know which incision method is appropriate for you? There are four common incisions that are typically employed; however, not all surgeons perform all of these techniques. The four main methods are:
- Periareolar incision (around the nipple)
- Inframammary fold (under the breast)
- Transaxillary incision (through the underarm)
- Transumbilical incision (through the belly button)
I take the time to guide my Los Angeles plastic surgery patients considering breast implants about their incision options. Experienced breast augmentation surgeons are the most helpful resource for women who want to understand these options in depth. When making a recommendation, several factors will be taken into consideration, such as your anatomy, your goals, as well as the type and size of your breast implants.
There are, of course, benefits and drawbacks to each incision method offered. The inframammary fold is one of the most commonly used incisions. This allows the surgeon full access to and clear visibility of the implant pocket. The periareolar incision, created around the nipples where they meet the breast skin, is also a popular choice due to the fact that resultant scarring can blend in to the texture and color of the areola. Also, the implant can be placed precisely in the pocket with this method. The transaxillary and transumbilical incisions are advantageous because they leave no scar on the breast, but many surgeons do not offer these incision options because access to the implant pocket is indirect.
How do you choose? Discuss your goals openly and honestly with your surgeon to find the appropriate incision method for you.
The Do’s and Dont’s of Recovery for Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed today. With multiple techniques for this procedure, as well as a variety of options for implant placement, size, shape, and texture, recovery can vary considerably. Discussing your recovery with your Los Angeles plastic surgeon is helpful when considering the procedure. There are, however, general rules of thumb that I tell all of my breast implant patients, including the do’s and don’ts of recovery.
Do’s:
- Follow all of your doctor’s aftercare instructions.
- Allow ample time for your body to recover – don’t overdo it.
- Sleep on your back.
- Move around. Being mobile will help reduce your chances of blood clots.
Don’ts:
- Do not smoke before or after your surgery. Smoking will significantly increase the amount of time it will take to recover (and negatively impact your overall health).
- Don’t resume strenuous activity until your doctor allows you to.
- Do not lift anything above your head or do any stretches that will open or pull your sutures.
- Don’t submerge your sutures in a bathtub until they have completely closed.
These are some general tips that I tell all of my breast augmentation patients. However, it is important to talk to your surgeon and get specific details on your post-operative instructions.
Breast Implants and ALCL
In the last few days I have received questions from several patients who heard about the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s recent guidance regarding a possible connection between breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Both for women who have implants and those who are considering a breast augmentation procedure, I would like to provide more information about this guidance and suggest some next steps.
What the FDA Is Doing
An initial review by the FDA has identified 34 unique cases of ALCL in women with breast implants throughout the world. To put this in perspective, it is estimated that 5 to 10 million women worldwide have breast implants. The FDA believes that women with breast implants may have a very small but increased risk of developing this disease, and is asking health care professionals to report confirmed cases of ALCL in women with breast implants to the FDA.
What the FDA Is Not Doing
The FDA is not taking back its approval of saline and silicone gel breast implants. To quote the organization: “The FDA believes that the totality of evidence continues to support a reasonable assurance that FDA-approved breast implants are safe and effective when used as labeled.”
What You Need to Know
If you have had breast augmentation, I advise you to continue to follow your doctor’s regular implant care instructions. Because ALCL is not a breast cancer, there is no benefit to performing additional self exams, but it is worth talking with your surgeon in more detail if you are particularly concerned, if only for added peace of mind.
For women who are thinking about breast augmentation, it is important to get the latest facts. Additional fact finding on this issue will be ongoing and informed surgeons will be able to give you the most current information while providing additional context for the scientific findings so far.
Dr. Grant Stevens
I am a board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience researching and implementing new approaches to plastic surgery. At Plastic Surgery Insider, you get the benefit of my experience and authority when you read my perspectives on the latest news and procedures in plastic surgery.
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