Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Your Plastic Surgeon Consultation

Considering breast augmentation? First, you need to ask yourself why you want to do this. If you answer to keep your partner happy or increase your chance for a promotion, obviously, you aren't doing it for the right reasons and should stop now.

However, if you are doing this to improve your self-esteem and your image, it's time to book a consultation with your plastic surgeon. So what should you expect at that appointment?

Don't just make one appointment. After doing your research, you should have narrowed your plastic surgeon list to at least two, and you need to book a consult with both. You should make a checklist with your questions and have it with you the day of your appointment.

At the office do a visual, and note how clean the office is.

Check to see how friendly and helpful the staff is - after all, they are what is between you and the doctor.

Is the office professional? Are appointments on time? Pay attention! Just the few minutes in the office can tell you an awful lot.

Once you are in the plastic surgeon's office note how well his/her communication skills are. Do you feel comfortable? Relaxed? Was the procedure explained? Were your questions answered? Did the surgeon explain complications that can occur?

You should find out how long the plastic surgeon has been doing breast augmentation. Ask questions about failure rates, and rates of infection. Find out where incisions will be made and what type of implants your surgeon recommends.

This is the time to decide whether you are happy with the surgeon, think you will be comfortable having him/her do the procedure and whether you can afford the procedure.

If you are not sure about the surgeon's credentials, you can check with the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. Of course, you always want your surgeon to be accredited.

Think of your consultation with your plastic surgeon as the interview for someone you about to hire to take good care of your body and great care of your breasts.

Read more on Plastic Surgery Internet Marketing.

Choosing A Plastic Surgeon For Breast Enhancement

Whether you are in need of breast reconstructive surgery, or you've decided that the time has come for a new and bigger pair of breasts, it's important that you find a surgeon that has excellent credentials.

You wouldn't go to just any gynecologist would you? You and your plastic surgeon are going to be seeing a lot of each other over the years so choose well.

Since your relationship is going to continue for the rest of your life, not only do you want a plastic surgeon that is skilled and competent, you want one that you feel comfortable around - one that you feel at ease bearing your body to and discussing your surgery with. And it's not all you - you want a surgeon that actually has some communication skills. Believe me, some don't!

You should also feel comfortable in the office. You'll be talking and interacting with office staff. You want to feel respected, and you want staff to be courteous. They say the office staff can make or break a plastic surgeon's practice.

There are different ways that you can find a surgeon where you live. You can search online. There are many directories that list board certified plastic surgeons by area. You can also ask your family doctor for a recommendation or friends that have undergone breast augmentation.

Start by making a consultation appointment. That way you can determine if you and your potential surgeon make a good match. There are some questions you should ask. Here are just a few to get you started.

1. How many breast implant procedures has he/she done?
2. Is the surgeon board certified.
3. How many years has he/she been practicing?
4. What type of complications should you be aware of?
5. What size and shape does the surgeon recommend for your body?
6. What percentage of surgeries does the surgeon have to go back in?
7. What brand of implants does he/she use and what is their failure rate?
8. What are your implant options?

There are many other questions that you can ask. In fact, some sites online will even provide you with a printable list. Many of these sites also provide plenty of useful information. Remember the more you know, the better the questions you ask will be.

The recent history of breast implants has proven the quality and safety of the new designs. Success depends a great deal on a qualified surgeon and a quality implant. You really do get what you pay for.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

What Can a Breast Lift Do For You?

We hear the term breast lift flying around but what exactly is it and what is done? Perhaps it’s just what you need to perk things up again. Another word for a breast lift is “mastopexy” and the procedure takes anywhere from 1 ½ hours to 3 hours.

There are a variety of techniques that are used to lift the breast. Your surgeon will choose what’s right for you. If you have smaller breasts you will have minimal sagging which makes you a candidate for the modified surgery. The doughnut is one of those surgeries and it results in minimal scar tissue.

If you have implants and need a breast lift it will need to go deeper into the chest wall muscle to get the lift. If you lack the necessary breast tissue for a breast lift your surgeon may suggest breast implants.

After your surgery your surgeon will see you usually on day 5. The sutures dissolve so you don’t have to worry about having them removed, except for just a couple of top stitches. You will then be seen again at 3 week, 2 months, 6 months, and then yearly from your anniversary date.

If you are healthy, realistic, and emotionally stable you are a good candidate for a breast lift. The best results are seen in women that have small breasts that are sagging, but any size breast can be lifted. Of course the larger and heavier the breast the less lasting the procedure. It’s a good idea to wait until you are not going to be having any more children.

The cost may vary but they do include the surgeon’s fee, hospital and anesthesia fee. You will be given an estimate by your surgeon. Most require a portion of the charge paid up front which reserves your surgery time.

A breast lift can do a lot for you and generally the procedure is much cheaper than a full breast augmentation. Be sure to consider all your options.

Weight Loss Got You Sagging - Do You Need A Breast Lift?

If you’ve lost a lot of weight due to pregnancy, breast feeding, or your hard work at dieting, you may find yourself with sagging breasts that have lost their firmness and their shape. Perhaps you need a breast lift?

If you are overall happy with the size of your breast, but just don’t like the idea that they are sagging, then a breast lift might be just what you need. A breast lift does just what it says it lifts the breast proving a perkier more youthful breast.

If you aren’t happy with the volume of your breasts, as well as their sagginess, then you will likely need breast implants. This is something to discuss with your plastic surgeon. Implants will improve the volume, size, and shape of the breast.

Are you a good candidate for a breast lift? If you have breasts that are the right size but are pendulous; if you have breasts that lack firmness or substance; if you have breasts where the nipples and areolas point downwards – all three of these make you good candidate for a breast lift.

A breast lift can be done whether you are 15 or 90 but generally, your surgeon will want to wait until the breast development is complete. Pregnancy and nursing have unpredictable effects to the breast, but it may be worth waiting for your breast lift until you are finished having children. That said breast lifts don’t interfere with nipples or milk ducts so you will have no problem breast feeding after should you have another baby.

Serious complications from breast lifts are infrequent with thousands of women each year undergoing breast lifts with no major problems. Of course, like all surgery, there is risk and you should discuss those risks with your surgeon.

If weight loss has left you with a great looking body but sagging breasts, a breast lift might be just what you need to perk things up.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

A Little Breast Implant History ...

It first started in 1890, yes; I couldn't believe it either when I first read it. That was the time when the first surgical breast implant procedure was carried out by using paraffin injections.

Paraffin injections were directly injected into the breast. This was widely used by women all over, but with time, the complications came to light. Paraffin injections did achieve breast augmentation, but it also led to many complications such as infections and lump formations in the breast.

Complications with this earliest attempt in the history of breast implants soon led to the use of fat transplants in the 1920's. Extra fat from the belly or buttock areas were surgically cut, and the fat tissues were then transferred into the breast. This too was not successful as the body soon absorbed the fat and left the breasts saggy, lopsided and lumpy. This transplantation procedure took birth in the 1920's and was given up in the 1940's.

Subsequently, during World War II, Japanese prostitutes tried breast implants to attract American servicemen; they did this by simply injecting silicone injections into the breast, much like the paraffin injections 50 years earlier.

Silicone is both extremely tempting aesthetically and among the most debated materials in the history of breast implants. But this too did not last for long as the complications of chronic inflammation, infections, and lumps made these WWII era silicone breast implants fall out of favor also.

The modern history of breast implants begins in 1962 when a silicone packet filled with silicone gel was used for breast implants for the first time in history.

The checkered history of breast implants is full of progress and obstacles, but the new silicone implants altered the history of breast implants forever. They are now favored and embraced by women and cosmetic surgeons everywhere.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Breast Implants, Pregnancy, and Breastfeeding


Breast implants will not be a problem during your pregnancy; however, breastfeeding will create some challenges. Breastfeeding with breast implants can be very painful and the ability for your baby to nurse can be impaired. Some women work around it, while others opt for formula to avoid breastfeeding.

If you would like to breastfeed and you have implants, you will need to closely monitor your milk output. You may have to supplement with formula.

When your breast implants are done there are two methods. The one cuts around your areola, which is the dark part around your nipple. This results in cut milk ducts and cuts to major nerves.

The other method makes the incision under the breast. If you have not yet had your procedure and you are thinking you may have children in the future, you should consider option number two.

Your breasts may produce adequate milk but because of the implant, the milk can't pass through the ducts that have been damaged and reach the nipple. You milk production can also be affected when the areola or nipple nerves are damaged. The signal that is sent to the brain to release milk can be damaged when the nerves are cut so the message is never received and therefore the milk never flows.

If you have silicone breast implants or you are considering them, you need to know that there are concerns about the silicone leaking into the milk supply. You need to discuss this with your doctor.

You can always supplement your baby with a formula mix to ensure he or she is getting enough nourishment while still enjoying the bonding experience from nursing.

There are always ways to find a solution.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Are You Ready For A Breast Lift?

Are the "girls" a little droopy this day? Why not consider a breast lift? A breast lift can have the breasts perked up in no time. It will improve the overall look of your breasts in many different ways.

A breast lift will raise the breast tissue and reposition both the areola, which is the pigmentation around the nipple, and reposition the nipple. If your areola has stretched over the years, this can be reduced.

If you decide that you'd like to increase the size of your breasts, it's no problem. Your surgeon will position a breast implant for the most aesthetically pleasing result. A breast lift can improve the overall look of your breast, but it can't add volume, so you may want both procedures if your budget can take it. Both procedures can be done at the same time.

There are different breast lift techniques that can be used, and your surgeon will decide what is right for you.

The limited scar technique is commonly used. With this technique the incision will be made around the areola and another incision will run vertically from the bottom of the areola to the crease that is under your breast.

Finally, the last incision will be horizontal under the breast. Sometimes the horizontal incision isn't needed.

Your breast lift can give your body a refreshing, youthful appearance, and with today's advances, just about anyone can afford to have the procedure done.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Botox For Breast Augmentation

If you would like to have bigger breasts but aren’t really comfortable with breast augmentation surgery, you might be surprised to discover that Botox might be just what you need.

For some time Botox has been used to treat involuntary muscle spasms in diseases such as cerebral palsy and it’s also used to remove fine lines and wrinkles from the face. Now plastic surgeons have started to use Botox for effects that resemble breast augmentation. Your plastic surgeon will inject the Botox into your chest muscle right between your breasts and your shoulders.

Botox works by weakening the frontal chest muscles, thus enhancing the effect of the stronger back muscles. This gives sagging breast a lift. Patients report that it improves their posture, and makes it more difficult to slouch. Women who have had the treatment say it pulls you straight, giving a lift of more than 1.5 cms.

Okay, now that I’ve got your interest, there’s a few catches to a Botox breast augmentation. First, it works only on women with small breasts; second, the effects are short term lasting around 3 months.

Most plastic surgeons scorn the use of Botox for breast enhancements, but some adventurous doctors are experimenting with patients approval for a quality database for further study.

We agree that Botox for breast enhancement is an innovative idea,and it should be considered after much study and qualified analysis.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Choosing A Plastic Surgeon For Your Breast Augmentation

If you're planning to have breast implants, there are things you need to do to help you choose a plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation.

Start by asking others that have had Boston breast augmentation. Maybe you have a friend or a family member that's had it done, talk to them about their experiences. Your family doctor may be able to also supply you with a reference.

Next, give your local hospital a call, and get a list of board certified plastic surgeons that have operating privileges. To have operating privileges means the hospital approves of the surgeon.

Once you have a list of plastic surgeons that you think might be up for the job, you need to get some questions answered.

1. Confirm with your state medical board that the surgeon is licensed. Also, inquire as to any past, present, or pending complaints against the surgeon.
2. Verify the training and the credentials. Board certified doesn't always mean the medical board.
3. Make sure the surgeon has hospital privileges.
4. Check for malpractice suits.
5. Read the details of the patient consent form very carefully. If you have questions, ask the plastic surgeon to clarify.

It's time to make a short list. Then it's time to make an appointment for a consultation. Your instincts are worth following, so if you feel uneasy or something doesn't sit right, he/she isn't the surgeon for you.

Then again if things click, and you feel comfortable with the plastic surgeon, choose him/her.

Choosing a plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation is the most important step of all. Once you've got that out of the way, you can relax a little.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Breast Lifts Can Perk You Up

The effects of gravity over the years, weight loss, motherhood, and the loss of elasticity in the skin can affect how your breasts look. Pregnancy and nursing can get rid of those youthful perky breasts faster than anything else. Not to worry – a breast lift can perk you up in no time.

A breast lift, also called a mastopexy, is a surgery done by a plastic surgeon that lifts and shapes your breasts. It can also reduce the size of the dark skin around the nipple. And if you want firmness or size, then have breast implants done at the same time.

The breast lift procedure varies slightly depending on your surgeon. One recommendation is that if you plan to have more children wait until you are finished having babies. The most common method will involve an incision that is anchor shaped and follows the breasts natural shape. The incision is where the skin will be removed and marks where the new location of your nipple will be.

You may choose to have breast implants done at the same time depending on what your goal is. Sometimes breast lifts are just what you need while other times they simply don’t provide enough "substance," and you’ll want to opt for Boston breast augmentation.

Remember this. It’s your body and only you know what’s right for your body. Breast lifts just might be the way to perk you up.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Need a Lift? Breast Lifts with Augmentation Can Restore Breasts

“Over time, a woman’s skin can lose its original elasticity,” says Board certified Denver Colorado Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires. “This, combined with the effects of gravity or pregnancy, can have a drastically change the shape of a woman’s breasts as she ages.”

The combination of a breast lift and breast augmentation eliminates the problems sagging or drooping breasts cause. A breast lift and breast augmentation procedure allows women to feel better about their appearance because they no longer have to think about how their breasts no longer look as good as they once did.

A breast lift reshapes and repositions a woman’s breast tissue so that the breasts are more firm, and do not droop. Breast augmentation places a breast implant behind the breast tissue to restore or enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts.

When combined, these procedures can transform a woman’s breasts so that she no longer has to suffer from the sagging or drooping that causes self-consciousness or embarrassment. A breast lift and Boston breast augmentation can correct sagging or drooping, as well as increase size and firmness of a woman’s breasts.

There are many benefits of having a breast lift or breast augmentation surgery, but many women find that the boost in self-confidence is the greatest benefit of all. While a breast lift and breast augmentation procedure can improve a woman’s body contour, it can also make a woman more confident with her appearance.

After the breast lift and breast augmentation procedure, a woman’s breasts appear more youthful and vibrant. With their restored or enhanced breasts, women can wear the clothes they want to, and feel more confident about the way they look.

The confidence a breast lift and breast augmentation surgery provides women is often used as a stepping stone to other parts of life. Once a woman feels confident about her appearance, she can do many of the activities that she may have avoided due to her sagging breasts.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Augmentation Breast Surgery

In order to go in for a Boston breast augmentation surgery the most important thing to consider is that the patient should be in good health. If you are suffering from any kind of health problems or infections you have to inform your plastic surgeon well in advance. Unless you do that it may lead to complications in future.

There are also several cases when things can go wrong after the breast augmentation surgery. Many women have developed infection and leakage. There was this case reported where the patient's left breast got deflated and the doctor was not willing to replace that breast free of cost. He asked her to have another operation done and that too for a hefty amount. So always remember to go in for a good quality breast implant and an experienced plastic surgeon. After all you are putting your life at stake here.

There are reports of breast implant infections and leakages resulting in Cancer and other life threatening ailments as well. So take proper preventive measures and medication. Think and counsel properly before going in for a breast augmentation surgery.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Augmentation Breast Surgery

Breast augmentation surgery has always been controversial but silicone breast implants have been especially controversial. In a world where organizations like "NOW" advocate abortion for women and people can choose to smoke and drink, it is puzzling that so much effort has gone into taking away the rights of women to choose silicone breast implants on claims that they will harm us and that we can't decide what's best for us.

Starting in the late 1980's and culminating with the early 90's ban on silicone implants, women have claimed to get all types of illnesses from silicone gel breast implants. Claims initially included a connection between silicone gel breast implants and autoimmune diseases, connective tissue diseases and even cancer. Class action suits were filed wherein thousands of women claimed that their symptoms of scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, hair loss, breast and other cancers, were caused by leaking silicone implants. As a result of the claims, and without any conclusive scientific evidence, the FDA imposed a ban on the sale of silicone gel breast implants in 1992, meaning that silicone implants would no longer be available for the general public. In the wake of the claims, companies paid millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements and some filed for bankruptcy, despite a lack of any studies to back up the claims.

The FDA allowed silicone gel implants to remain in use after 1992, but only if a patient met certain criteria and was also enrolled in a study. In April of 2005, after hearing testimony from women and reviewing the available studies and data, the FDA's scientific panel, voted 7-2 that FDA should approve Mentor's gel implants but voted 5-4 that FDA should not approve the Inamed gel implants. On July 28, 2005, Mentor received an "approvable" letter from FDA, indicating that Mentor's silicone gel implants could be approved if Mentor met certain conditions. Inamed (now Allergan) ultimately received a similar "approvable" letter.

On November 17, 2006, after a year and a half of follow ups and further negotiation with the manufacturers regarding what conditions would be imposed, the FDA approved certain silicone gel breast implants for Boston breast augmentation in women aged 22 and over. Not all silicone implants are included in the approval and you should ask your doctor which implants are available.

Today's silicone gel breast implants are made differently than they were in the 1970s and 1980s. Initially, silicone gel breast implants had thick shells and thick silicone gel fills. In the 1970's, manufacturers began to use thinner shells, which were more likely to rupture. Today, both Mentor and Inamed make silicone implants with multiple layers of silicone elastomer surrounding the implant. This reduces the amount of gel bleed but can make the implants feel and look firmer. They are, however, much softer than saline.

Unlike saline breast implants, silicone gel breast implants are pre-filled. Surgeons order them in the requested size and they cannot be changed. Plastic surgeons have to make longer incisions in most cases to place a silicone gel filled breast implant than a saline filled breast implant, all other things being equal. Silicone implants cannot be placed endoscopically through a navel incision.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Augmentation Breast Surgery

In today's times we come across many women who have got envious busts by undergoing breast augmentation operations. So much so, that these women get very famous for their newly acquired assets and do not mind flaunting them. This leads to almost every woman think twice about breast augmentation. There are several doubts that are not answered properly by the newspaper articles and television programs that appear about the issue. This article attempts to answer the several questions that women may have regarding Boston breast augmentation.

Breast augmentation is the scientific term for breast implant surgery. This surgical method involves the insertion of implants into the breasts in order to increase their sizes. Hence, the name breast augmentation surgery. Along with an increase in the size of the breasts, there could also be noticeable enhancement of the firmness and the rotundity of the breasts. However, it is needless to say that the surgeon conducting the operation must be a very qualified and skilful surgeon. Any problem with the operation could cause permanent and irreversible problems with the shape of the breasts.

In order to implant the material within the breasts, the surgeon must make an incision on the breasts. The incision is generally made below the breasts from where it would not be apparent later on. Skillful surgery could make the incision almost imperceptible after the operation. Very carefully, the implants are then inserted by the surgeon in a pocket-like cavity between the pectoral muscles (muscles of the chest) and the overlying tissues of the breasts. Special forceps are used to lift the cavity and insert the implants in them. Once this is done, the incision is closed by sutures. Cosmetic surgeons may be involved in order to reduce the possibility of scars.

Since the initial stages of the development of breast augmentation, even the material that is used for the implants has undergone a radical change. In earlier times, silicone was the prime implanting material that was being used. In order to implant silicone, a gel of silicone was filled within a capsule of the same material. But the medical fraternity was very quick to find out a serious issue with silicone gel implants - and that is, silicone gel implants can cause cancers in women. The Food and Drug Administration of the US hence never certified silicone gel as a transplanting material. By the early nineties the use of silicone as the implanting material was banned in most countries.

This led to the quest of another suitable implanting material - one which would have the flexibility of silicone and yet not prove harmful to the body in any way. Doctors got their answer in the form of saline gel implants. These contain gels of saline materials filled within a silicone capsule. The use of silicone capsule is made because it is necessary to maintain the rigidity of the implants. However, the silicone capsule used in the saline gel implants is almost harmless to the human body. Also, the silicone capsule used can adhere better with the tissues and the muscles that make up the cavity inside the breasts, which makes the implants more firmly implanted into the breasts.

In this way it was a long time before the proper implanting material was discovered. In fact, the surgical method of inserting implants into the breasts was developed much prior to the discovery of a suitable implanting material.

Women who are contemplating to go in for breast augmentation are faced with a difficult choice - whether to go in for round implants or tear-shaped implants. Here we try to objectively discuss the merits and the demerits of the two common implants in vogue today.

The round implants are round in shape, as the name suggests. That means they are circularly symmetrical. These implants are easy to insert, because they can be placed in any which way within the incision. For this reason, these implants and cheaper and also the augmentation surgery with round implants does not cost much. However, there are some shortcomings of round implants. The female breasts are not naturally round in shape. They are a bit flatter on the top while they are more curvaceous on the bottom. Due to this, the round implants could give an unnatural look to the breasts. Round implants will tend to make the breasts look round from top to bottom. This will not work for women who are not buxom. The breasts could look vastly out of proportion.

The second type of implants commonly used today is the teardrop shaped implants. These implants are designed to complement the natural shapes of the breasts. They are tapering at the top while they are round at the bottom. Due to this the surgeon needs to put them in very carefully. Any fault of the surgeon in making the implants will cause the woman to have ungainly asymmetrical breasts. Though these breasts look very natural, they do not come cheap. They cost almost twice as much as round implants, and even the surgery costs are higher.

The breast augmentation surgery does not take more than a couple of hours. Even the woman can be back to work in a week. This is goading more and more women to go in for augmentation.

But every woman thinking about breast surgery would need to know for how much time the effects of the augmentation would last. This would seriously depend on the biological and hormonal setup of the woman. It would also depend on whether the woman plans to become a mother again. Becoming pregnant could trigger hormonal changes that could interfere with the sizes and shapes of the breasts. Age also could make the implants lose their content. But such issues could be fixed with corrective surgeries. A healthy woman would need to have three to four corrective surgeries in her lifetime. So, any woman planning to go in for augmentation must also bear in mind that she would need to go in for the corrective surgeries also.