breast augmentation, Breast Implants, breast surgery, Photos/Pictures/Videos
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While the cohesive gel breast implants are still under FDA review, some patients can have these biocompatible materials by choosing plastic surgeons who are participating in the clinical trials.
In the US, only the saline- and silicone-filled implants are currently available for patients who want to undergo breast augmentation and breast reconstruction surgery. However, this is expected to change since study investigators have recently claimed that the data and clinical trials on cohesive gel implants look promising.
This new type of implant offers countless of advantages, in fact, this can even outshine the saline- and silicone filled version in many aspects.
- Almost no risk of rippling
Because the cohesive gel breast implants are made of a solid silicone mass, the gel will not shift from one area of the shell to another, something that happens in saline-filled implants. For this reason, these biocompatible materials are ideal for petite women who usually have a thin wall of breast tissue and skin.
- More natural “feel” and shape
This new implant provides a more natural feel and shape than the currently available silicone implant as it uses a highly cohesive silicone particle that can exhibit “shape memory,” for this reason, the shell can go back to its original form.
And because of the cohesiveness of this material, some doctors also call this as gummy bear breast implant.
While the saline and silicone implants will leak in case the shell is punctured, this is not a concern when using the gummy bear breast implants. In fact, its shell can be cut in half and still the gel stays in place.
For this reason, patients will not be required to undergo a regular MRI screening if they will choose the cohesive gel implants.
Meanwhile, MRI screening is a requirement for patients with silicone implants to identify any possible leak.
- Lower risk of capsular contracture
Capsular contracture is a disfiguring and painful condition which happens when the capsule-shape scar tissue squeezes the implants. According to several studies conducted in Europe and Canada, this serious problem occurs less frequently on women with this implant compared to those with saline and silicone version.
While there is not yet any conclusive explanation on why the cohesive gel implant can lower the risk of capsular contracture, some experts believe that the most probable cause is the firmness and stability of this breast implant.
September 15, 2011
Breast Reconstruction, Breast Reduction, breast surgery, Doctors/Surgeons, Plastic Surgery
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Excessively large breasts may cause not just emotional problems but also health issues such as back and shoulder pain, neck strain, skin irritation in the breast crease, discomfort, and difficulty to engage in physical activities.
To treat the problems associated with overly large bust size, plastic surgeons use reduction mammaplasty which can trim off the excess fats, skin, and tissue. If necessary, this is performed in conjunction with liposuction to further reduce the breast size by eliminating the extra fatty tissues.
In cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, the most common breast reduction techniques are the anchor incision and its modified versions, the lollipop and donut incisions which are ideal for women with smaller breasts and/or moderate ptosis (sagging).
Women with inordinately large breasts with severe ptosis will benefit more with the anchor-shaped incision which is the most invasive technique as it involves excising the extra skin and and tissue around the areola, across the breast crease, and the vertical area between the nipple and the crease.
While this approach provides a dramatic outcome, this is too extensive for women with smaller breasts and those with minimal to moderate ptosis. For these patients, plastic surgery specialists will most likely recommend a minimally invasive approach which also provides a great result minus the excessive scarring.
For women with large bust and moderate to minimal ptosis, and patients with medium-sized breasts and severe sagging, the lollipop incision is the best option. This technique also uses the same incision sites found in the anchor method, minus the one across the breast crease which is the area that takes the longest time to heal. For this reason, women can expect faster recovery and one less scar.
Another less invasive technique in breast reduction is the donut incision which is performed by excising the tissue around the areola. Meanwhile, the scars are well-hidden along the edge of the skin and areola which makes this technique appealing to many patients.
But to fully enjoy the benefits of donut incision, many plastic surgeons believe that patients should have a smaller bust with minimal ptosis. On the other hand, this approach is not enough to address larger breasts particularly with severe sagging.
Some doctors in plastic surgery complement the donut incision with breast implants in order to correct a more pronounced sagging. But since the weight of these materials may further exacerbate the ongoing ptosis, they always place these under the chest muscles to make sure that a thicker wall of tissue and skin can provide a reliable support.
September 15, 2011
breast augmentation, Breast Reduction, breast surgery, Doctors/Surgeons, Plastic Surgery, Special Occasions
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If plastic surgery is performed for cosmetic reasons, most doctors would agree that younger patients are generally not a good candidate since they are not yet emotionally mature to handle the changes in their appearance and their body is still developing. However, there are some exceptions to the rule.
For example, otoplasty which is a plastic surgery used to pin back the ears can be performed on patients as young as five. Ideally, this procedure is conducted on children and teenagers because their tissue is easier to work with compared to adults. But still, some patients choose to have this procedure in later years.
In case the ears of a child are extremely deformed, his parents can decide on his behalf. But in the situation of a mild aesthetic problem, most plastic surgeons believe that it is better for parents to wait for their kids to ask for any medical intervention since not all them are bothered with their appearance.
To know if a teenager is a good candidate for plastic surgery, doctors not just perform physical examination (to determine the health status) but also discussion to explain the benefit and limitations of a certain procedure. It is important to note that a good candidate should have realistic goals and expectations which can determine if he will be satisfied with the result.
During the discussion, plastic surgeons will also examine if their teenage patients have enough maturity that will help them cope with the temporary discomfort and downtime after a surgical procedure. In general, cosmetic surgery is not recommended for patients who have erratic behavior, extreme mood swings, mental illness, and clinical depression.
Aside from having a stable mental and emotional health, teenage patients should also reach a certain age before they can receive a procedure, especially if performed for aesthetic reasons such as breast augmentation and breast reduction; however, the latter is sometimes conducted on women younger than 18 who are experiencing limited physical activities and discomfort because of their large, heavy busts.
If this procedure is performed below the age limit, patients may need a revision rhinoplasty. However, most plastic surgeons do not follow this age requirement if the surgery is going to be performed as a way to reconstruct the nose after an injury or treat breathing problems due to abnormal growth and birth defects.
September 14, 2011
Breast Reduction, breast surgery, Photos/Pictures/Videos, Plastic Surgery
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Some men, even those with normal weight, suffer from gynecomastia or a condition in which their breasts become overdeveloped due to the excess glandular tissue and fats. To treat this problem, plastic surgeons usually perform excision techniques which may be complemented with liposuction to remove the excess fats.
It is important to note that real gynecomastia is primarily caused by the excess tissue rather than the fats alone. For this reason, men with large breasts due to overweight or obesity will most likely be required to shed their extra weight before they even consider having plastic surgery.
In severe cases of gynecomastia, a patient not only has overdeveloped breasts but also enlarged areola which is the pigmented part of the skin. Fortunately, this problem can also be addressed with plastic surgery through a particular excision technique.
Since gynecomastia surgery is an invasive procedure, most plastic surgeons perform this using general anesthesia or intravenous sedation (rather than local anesthesia) to provide comfort to their patients.
Once the numbing effect of the drug takes effect, most plastic surgeons will start the procedure by performing liposuction through the use of a suctioning probe attached to a vacuum pump. This instrument, which is inserted to several small cuts, is designed to dislodge and remove the fatty deposits from the body.
In most cases, the liposuction incisions are placed near the armpits and along the crease of the breasts.
Because liposuction can only remove the excess fats, plastic surgery specialists also use excision techniques to remove the excess tissue and skin to further reduce the size of the male breasts. Meanwhile, the length and placement of the incisions largely depend on the severity of the problem and the expectations of a patient.
One of the most common gynecomastia surgical techniques is the U-shaped incision in which doctors create a continuous cut starting from the breast crease to the top of the areola, curving downward from the middle. Another incision is made around the areola to free it from the skin.
With this approach, the scar falls along the breast crease which makes it almost unnoticeable.
Another common excision technique uses a diamond-shaped incision which starts from the breast crease to the top of the areola, curving upward from the middle. With this procedure, a horizontal scar will form across the areola, making it more visible.
For patients who need a slight correction, they can benefit from a smaller incision placed below the areola where doctors can reshape the tissue and remove any excess skin.
September 14, 2011
breast augmentation, Breast Implants, Breast Lift, breast surgery, Doctors/Surgeons, Techniques
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Small- and medium-busted women with slight to moderate ptosis (sagging) are concerned that their chest may appear flat after a breast lift surgery. Fortunately, this potential problem can be avoided by complementing this procedure with implants that can add more projection to the breast, according to experts in cosmetic plastic surgery.
And since the implants can create more projection and volume, breast lift combined with these materials is also ideal for women who want to achieve a more noticeable cleavage.
To date, this approach is increasingly becoming popular among women who want to raise and increase the size of their sagging breasts. But to fully enjoy the benefits of breast lift with implants, the bust size should not be too large and the ptosis should not be too severe.
Most cosmetic plastic surgeons perform this procedure through the use of an incision around the areola which is the pigmented part of the skin; in this way, they can excise the extra skin before they can insert the breast implants. However, this excision technique may not be enough for women with a more pronounced ptosis which is why doctors may create a second incision that travels from the areola down to the breast crease.
After removing the excess skin around the incisions, doctors will then insert the breast implants. Many of them will most likely recommend the silicone implant rather than the saline version to achieve a more natural outcome, something which is possible because it uses a cohesive gel filling designed to simulate the “feel” of a real tissue.
The average weight of implants is about 12oz or 350 which may aggravate the ongoing breast ptosis. Fortunately, plastic surgeons can address this concern by simply placing the synthetic materials under the chest muscle instead above it so that a thicker amount of tissue and skin can support their weight.
Aside from providing a “bra-like” support, doctors in US plastic surgery also believe that the submuscular implant placement also prevents rippling which is a common concern of thin women with limited glandular skin and tissue, reduces the risk of capsular contracture, and creates a more natural result.
Meanwhile, some women are concerned that combining breast lift with implants may result to longer surgical period which means higher risk of complications and also prolonged downtime. But according to plastic surgeons, the length of recovery and operation of this approach is almost the same with breast lift or breast augmentation when performed alone.
September 13, 2011
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