There are three basic options for the incisions used to place breast implants – peri-areolar (around the areola), inframammary (in the breast crease), and trans-axillary (through the underarm). The incision represents how the implant is placed. Each incision has pros and cons. Below is a basic review of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Capsular Contracture is commonly referred to as “hardening of the implant”, but it this is a total misnomer. There is normally a soft capsule that forms around a breast implant, but when this capsule becomes thickened and hard, it is considered abnormal and is called Capsular Contracture or CC. CC will essentially “squeeze” the underlying breast implant. There are varying severities of CC and can range from simply slight hardening to a painful and grossly distorted breast implant. The treatment is very difficult and complex so much like anything, the key is prevention.
There are 3 different “profiles” of breast implants. “Profile” refers to the dimension of an implant, and more specifically, the width and projection (how much the implant projects forward). As the size, or volume, of an implant increases, the implant will get wider and also have more projection. The specific type of profile will determine which dimension (width or projection) increases more.
In my New York City Plastic Surgery Office, many of my patients bring someone with them to their consultation. This support person may be a spouse, a parent, a friend or a co-worker. There is good reason to bring someone with you – they will help you remember what the doctor says and will also offer comfort during what can be an uncomfortable or embarrassing situation. But does the person who accompanies you really matter? When you are coming for breast implant augmentation, it definitely does! I find that breast implant size is directly influenced by the woman’s companion.
It is common for your new breast implants to sit slightly high right after a breast augmentation. Over the next few months, the implants will drop into a normal position. Some refer to this process as “fluffing”. But what if your breast implants continue to drop, to an abnormal position? This is referred to as “bottoming out” and is a bad (but too common) complication of a breast augmentation.
According to national data, the most common reason for reoperation after breast augmentation is not implant rupture, infection, or scarring….it is size change! It is all too common for women to undergo breast augmentation yet still feel like they want to be bigger. As a board certified plastic surgeon specializes in cosmetic breast surgery, this makes me crazy because it is preventable.
Breast Augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures and not just in New York City. I am constantly striving to improve my technique for this procedure. Over the years I have altered my technique to create a “Rapid-Recovery Breast Augmentation” that requires half the recovery, half the bruising and swelling, and half the pain as other breast augmentation methods.
There is a new weapon in the war against small breasts – a breast implant that has adjustable volume. Adjustable breast implants have a port through which saline can be added or removed. This allows the volume to be adjusted for various reasons. Before you get too excited, these are not intended to allow women to increase their breast size for a night on the town, or decrease the size for that important business meeting. The adjustment process involves a plastic surgeon placing a sterile needle through the skin into the fill port that is under the skin and meticulously adding or removing sterile saline solution. So it is a far cry from the Reebok Pump sneaker technology of the Eighties.
Most recently in the news you may have heard about concerns involving an association with breast implants and a form of rare blood cancer. The safety of my patient’s is always my first priority and with the recent news headlines I want to provide you with accurate information.
If you traveled by airplane over the holidays you might have seen or experienced the latest security measures, x-ray scanners. The Transportation Security Administration has implemented a new advanced body imaging device that can basically see through clothing to detect any form of foreign object in or on the body.
