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Ornaments Too Low? Need A Lift For The Holidays? Breast Lift Surgery Can Provide the Cure

· Breast, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Choosing the Best · No Comments

 

Cosmetic plastic surgery can be generally characterized by three types of procedures. Plastic surgeons make big things smaller, small things bigger, and we pick up what falls down. The latter is a common consequence of the breast aging process.

 

The most common cosmetic breast performed by plastic surgeons is augmentation. However, for some patients the problem is not size, but rather position of the breasts and nipples. Breast droopiness occurs for two reasons; gravity and skin quality. Gravity, the plastic surgeon’s best friend, cannot be changed. Skin quality is impacted by many variables. Things like pregnancies, weight fluctuations and genetics all play a role in the tone of a woman’s breast skin.

 

The Diagnosis

            The first step to determine the correct breast procedure is a thorough and honest consultation. Breast lift surgery creates significant scarring which must be factored into the decision. The two most common measurements taken at the examination are the distance from the midline neck notch to the nipple, and the distance from the nipple to the crease at the bottom of the breast. These help the surgeon choose the best procedure for each patient.

 

Treatment Options

 

Women with breast measurements that exceed the ideal for their figure are candidates for breast lift surgery, also called mastopexy. Several options exist for mastopexy, each with varying degrees of scarring. The patient should consult with a plastic surgeon experienced with these options and be able to see photographic examples of each surgery.

 

The most common type of breast lift is the classic “anchor” or Wise pattern. The procedure raises the nipple-areola (which can also be reduced in diameter), tightens the skin to make the breast perkier, and recreates a shapelier teardrop silhouette. A variation of this technique is the LeJour, or “lollipop” scar procedure.

 

A less common, but very valuable procedure is the peri-areolar lift because it carries far less scarring than the other options. It is also known as the Benelli lift, named after the French plastic surgeon who initially described the technique. It is especially useful for women seeking a limited scarring breast lift with simultaneous implant augmentation. The technique is difficult to master and is not offered by all plastic surgeons.

 

Mastopexy surgery can enhance a woman’s figure. Some women may choose to change size as well. It can be combined with breast augmentation or reduction. However, breast lift should be carefully considered only after consultation with a plastic surgeon experienced in the various options.

About the Author:

 

Dr. Perez is a member of the NOVO National Council of Leaders in Breast Aesthetics. He has served as a consultant for both Mentor (J&J) and Inamed (Allergan), leading breast implant manufacturers. Dr. Perez has lectured internationally on the subject of breast lift surgery and has been selected among the Castle Connolly (U.S. News & World Report) America’s Top Doctors. More information is available at www.PerezPlasticSurgery.com or call (954) 351-2200. Visit our website blog to learn about The Dirty Little Secrets of Plastic Surgery.

 

Breast Augmentation: Adequate vs. Awesome

· Breast, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Choosing the Best · No Comments

 

Breast augmentation surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in plastic surgery. In 2011 over 300,000 breast implant procedures were performed in the U.S., representing an increase over the previous two years.

Most of these procedures were performed by board certified plastic surgeons. However, as with most aesthetic surgery, these credentials are sometimes insufficient to achieve the best outcome. An eye for beauty and balance, as well as a good ear for patients’ desires, are just as important.

Patients are often lured by “free consultations” and car dealer-type discounts. However, simply putting in implants to enlarge the breast mound is not enough. Cleavage, implant pocket sculpting and nipple-areolar position are just a few of the many important fine points that cannot be overlooked if a woman is to achieve her personal best. Bikini season is here, so let’s talk about the difference between just an adequate breast augmentation and an awesome one.

 

It’s All About the Cleavage

 

Cleavage, the separation between the breasts, is an important part of a woman’s breast appearance. It therefore follows that a goal of augmentation surgery should be to narrow, and improve, the breast cleavage. I am often surprised by surgeons at conferences, or on their websites, who tout great results, yet show a wider cleavage gap after than in the before photos. Placing the breast implant closer towards the center of the chest can be a challenge for some surgeons because of the complex anatomy of the area. Nevertheless, an attractive cleavage makes a better result.

 

Drifting: the Breast Implant Kind

 

A significant portion of our practice is dedicated to corrective surgery for patients who are unhappy with their original augmentation. I have observed a common condition where the breast augmentation pocket is too far out and the implants fall towards the armpits when the patient lays flat. I call it drifting. Drifting is definitely not an attractive bikini beach look. The good news is that we have had great success in correcting this problem. Readers can visit our website for examples of before and after pictures of our corrective procedure.

 

And Don’t Forget the Nipples

 

Part of a thorough consultation for breast augmentation is analysis of the patient’s nipple-areola. Sometimes these important structures do not fall in a symmetrical and ideal position. If the patient desires, the areola can be modified or repositioned at the time of augmentation to achieve a more appealing result. Fine points in breast augmentation make the difference between just an adequate result and an awesome one. Take the time and effort to research the right plastic surgeon in order to achieve your personal best.

 

About the Author:

 

Dr. Perez is a member of the NOVO National Council of Leaders in Breast Aesthetics. He has served as a consultant for both Mentor (J&J) and Inamed (Allergan), leading breast implant manufacturers. Dr. Perez has lectured internationally on the subject of breast surgery and has been selected among the Castle Connolly (U.S. News & World Report) America’s Top Doctors. More information is available at www.PerezPlasticSurgery.com or call (954) 351-2200. Visit our website blog to learn about The Dirty Little Secrets of Plastic Surgery.

 

Sientra: The New FDA-Approved Shaped Gel Breast Implant

· Breast, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Choosing the Best, Safety · No Comments

Breast augmentation surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in plastic surgery. Following the breast implant lawsuit crisis of the early 1990’s most silicone gel manufacturers fled the U.S. market. Only two companies, Allergan (formerly McGhan/Inamed) and Mentor/J&J, remained and have dominated the market for the past 20 years. One consequence of this implant duopoly is that the cost of breast implants increased from hundreds to thousands of dollars since the 1980’s.

 

Earlier this year the U.S. F.D.A. which regulates medical devices approved a third breast implant manufacturer. Santa Barbara based Sientra was approved to offer silicone gel prostheses for sale in the U.S.  Allergan and Mentor are also based in Santa Barbara, leading to the affectionate term of “Silicone Alley” for the Southern California region.

 

Dozens of breast implant companies exist throughout the world. Many of these brands are sold in Latin America. Sientra’s parent manufacturer has sold implants internationally, but of course U.S. approval is a highly coveted achievement.

 

A Good Thing…and a New Thing

 

The arrival of a third player to the U.S. breast implant market is expected to be a good thing for American women. In addition to providing greater competition, Sientra offers a unique line of shaped gel implants. These “teardrop” or “anatomical” breast prostheses are commonly used in Europe and Latin America. A saline-water filled version has been available for years in the U.S. However, Sientra is the only manufacturer granted F.D.A approval for the gel filled type.

Shaped implants offer greater options for both cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery. The prostheses come in a variety of shapes, sizes, base diameters and projections giving both the patient and surgeon greater versatility in body contouring.

 

The augmentation procedure using shaped implants is different from the traditional round prosthesis insertion. Therefore it is advisable that patients choosing these implants consult with experienced breast plastic surgeons. As a corporate philosophy, Sientra will only sell and warranty implants placed by plastic surgeons recognized by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

 

Editor’s Note: Dr. Perez can be seen on ABC News in Miami discussing the Sientra implant at:

www.Youtube.com/user/PerezPlasticSurgery

 

 

About the Author:

 

Dr. Perez is a member of the NOVO National Council of Leaders in Breast Aesthetics. He has served as a consultant for both Mentor (J&J) and Inamed (Allergan). Dr. Perez has lectured internationally on the subject of breast surgery and has been selected among the Castle Connolly (U.S. News & World Report) America’s Top Doctors. More information is available at

The Dirty Little Secrets of Plastic Surgery…Part 1 Choosing the “Best” Plastic Surgeon (Original Article)

· Choosing the Best, Safety · No Comments

Plastic surgery is booming. A combination of an aging baby boomer demographic, greater disposable income, affordable surgery and greater awareness, have all contributed to an increase in both surgical and non-surgical enhancements.

 

Patients are able to enjoy improvements to their face and body appearance like never before. However, along with the highly publicized successes of plastic surgery, there exist pitfalls and drawbacks that patients need to avoid. We call these the dirty little secrets of plastic surgery.

 

Part 1: Choosing the “Best” Plastic Surgeon

 

The relationship between patient and plastic surgeon is unique. It is different from any other doctor-patient relationship. Plastic surgery patients choose to have elective, medically unnecessary surgery. However, even elective surgery can carry risks and potential complications. Therefore, selecting the right surgeon is the first step towards self improvement. I like to define the “right” plastic surgeon in terms of 3 components; training, experience and personal compatibility.

 

Training at a top medical school and university residency program is a valuable foundation for any physician in practice. Plastic surgery training is broad and diverse and includes birth deformities, burn care, hand surgery, trauma and cancer reconstruction, as well as, of course, cosmetic surgery.

 

Plastic surgeons may focus their practices on any of these areas. However, only a small percentage of doctors are able to sustain a successful word of mouth, cosmetic surgery practice. Many must rely on heavy advertising, “free consultations” (more about that later) and cheesy car dealer-type “discounts” in order to keep their waiting rooms and surgical schedules full.

 

Another accolade some offices rely upon to lure patients is a “Voted the Best” designation. However, these doctors are usually “Voted the Best” by the very magazine they are advertising in. Cute, but plastic surgeons are not like pizzerias. Patients don’t usually have a facelift with every surgeon in town just to see who’s “the Best”.

 

Castle Connolly/U.S. News & World Report conducts a nationally recognized survey each year to identify Americas Top Doctors. This survey seeks the opinions of physicians and healthcare leaders to choose the top 1% of physicians in each specialty. It is an independent, blinded survey, so doctors do not, and cannot, buy their way onto the list.

 

Finally, it is important for a patient to choose a plastic surgeon who takes the time to listen and perform a thorough and honest consultation. It is often difficult to get that kind of personalized attention in factory style plastic surgery centers. However, unlike bad pizza, bad plastic surgery can’t be cured the next morning. So take your time, have multiple consultations, and choose wisely. Remember, it’s your face and your body, don’t compromise.

 

About the Author:

 

Dr. Perez is a graduate of The Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He has been selected among Castle Connolly/U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Top Doctorsevery year since 2000 (again for 2012-2013). He has lectured internationally and been featured as a plastic surgery expert for major media outlets. A limited number of personalized consultations are offered by appointment only.

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