A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Scottsdale
Posts tagged breast augmentation Arizona
Silicone Breast Implants: “Safe and Effective” 5-years after FDA Approval.
04 months ago
Mentor MemoryGel Silicone Breast Implant
Scottsdale – This November will mark the 5-year anniversary since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed silicone gel-filled breast implants back for use in the U.S. market. As part of the plan for allowing use of silicone breast implants, a post-market approval study was required from both U.S. breast implant manufacturers.
The FDA‘s General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee conducted a panel hearing on silicone gel-filled breast implants on August 31, 2011 to assess the progress of these studies. This included testimony from breast implant manufacturers, plastic surgeons and the public.
Mentor Worldwide and Allergan Inc., used the two-day meeting to update the FDA on the status of those trials. Both companies admitted they lost track of large numbers of women after implantation. Mentor’s study enrolled more than 40,000 patients but after 3 years had a follow-up rate of 21%. Allergan enrolled more than 39,300 women with a follow-up rate of 60% after 2 years.
Much of the testimony centered on how to improve silicone breast implant study compliance. After two days of discussion the FDA panel reaffirmed its position that silicone-gel breast implants are “safe and effective for their intended use,” an FDA official said (Source: MSNBC). Agency officials are looking for ways to improve long-term follow-up of women who receive them and said the current studies would continue.
“Women should feel assured that the FDA continues to believe that currently marketed silicone breast implants are safe,” said William Maisel, MD, MPH, chief scientist in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The current post-approval studies will continue. The FDA is committed to seeing them completed and making sure the follow-up rates improve.”
Unexpected Pregnancy and Plastic Surgery.
21 year ago
by Dr. Aldo
in Breast Augmentation
Scottsdale – Planning to have plastic surgery is a very serious issue. I know that in today’s fast-paced society, it seems like you can just show up with minimal planning and anticipation and order up your desired procedure. We, at the AB Guerra Plastic Surgery Center, don’t believe this is the case. We believe important life-changing decisions should never be taken lightly.
We recommend you take the time to decide about your surgery, whether you truly want to have the plastic surgery operation, considering carefully the risks and complications, and plan on your schedule appropriately. This should include a consideration, in discussion with your significant other, about future plans to have a child.
Having a child and becoming pregnant should also be a careful, and well-thought-out decision. In other words, both the decision to have plastic surgery and becoming pregnant should not be taken casually. This makes common sense! This is specially true when one considers that physical changes on your body from plastic surgery when compared to pregnancy are at opposite ends of the spectrum….
Despite these facts, each year we have a handful of patients who present for elective cosmetic surgery and are “genuinely surprised” to find a positive pregnancy test on the morning of the scheduled surgery. Well, I call this situation the double-whammy.
On the one hand, a positive pregnancy tests means you are pregnant until proven otherwise and finding out about this great event in your life, when you are planning to have plastic surgery – is usually quite shocking!. The emotional state of such a finding is quite complex, but I can say it is generally tear-filled.
In addition to having to redirect your life to accommodate a baby, you don’t get to have your desired cosmetic surgery! That’s right – a positive pregnancy test – typically means elective surgery is canceled until further notice…. That’s the double whammy!
Now, I understand nobody’s perfect and “things” happen. But the fact is that if you are having sexual intercourse and you have a functioning uterus, there is always a potential for you to become pregnant.
My advice: Plan appropriately! In general, I recommend you choose one or the other. If your priority is a baby then come to see us when you are sure you are not going to desire another baby and are taking precautions not to get pregnant. If you need advice on options, please discuss this with us and we will be happy to refer you to a qualified physician who can advise you on this important issue.
If “things do happen” I don’t want you to worry. I will wait for you to have your baby and then have you to return and be re-examined. Pregnancy may change the shape of your breasts and tummy. Instead of discussing breast augmentation we may discuss breast lift, but ultimately we will have to look to see if the breasts have sagged due to your pregnancy. During this consultation, we may also consider performing a tummy tuck or a mommy makeover, if you are done having kids…
Breast Augmenation. Is there an App for that?
11 year ago
Scottsdale – Have you always wanted to see what you might look like with bigger breasts without having plastic surgery or taking the time to consult with a plastic surgeon? Well, it turns out that such an App really does exist. It is available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The creators tell us that consumers can get an instant virtual breast augmentation privately, easily, and inexpensively!
The breast augmentation application is called iAugment. The application allows you to take a photo of your breasts with your phone or using an existing photo. The breast implant size options available include sizes 210 cc to 690 cc. and choose one of the many implant options available to you! The application will do the rest.
• Recommended plastic surgeons in your area. • The ability to save your augmented photos on your photo library.
• The ability to publish your augmented photo on Facebook.
• Easy to follow instructions:
First: Take a photograph of your breasts.
Second: Highlight the augmented area, and adjust the slider to fully cover the breasts.
Breast Asymmetry: Causes and Treatments.
01 year ago
Scottsdale – Breast development usually results in some unevenness of the breasts. Breast asymmetry, in fact, is normal and natural, but it is usually only acceptable to most patients when the difference is subtle. When examining the human shape, is is normal to visualize some differences in our bodies from side to side. Many patients request silicone breast implants to improve breast asymmetry.
The cause of breast asymmetry can be divided into two groups:
- Asymmetry may result from natural development, which includes pubescent growth, pregnancy, lactation and weight fluctuations.
- The second group of causes includes asymmetry caused by external factors such as disease, trauma, reconstructive or cosmetic surgery. During development, the female breasts increasing in size and projection, responding independently to hormonal and growth stimulation. For most women, the differences that exist at the end of this process are typically minor. Exceptions can occur when conditions such scoliosis and Poland’s syndrome.
The Developed Breast and Breast Implants:
The developed breasts have similar volumes with the infra-mammary folds in a similar position, nipple position is close to being at the same level, and the nipples are at the center of the breast and above the infra-mammary fold. Volume differences are very common and are often associated with differences in nipple position and diameter as well as differences in elevation of the IMF.
When the nipple position is below the ideal location the breast is said to be saggy. This is especially true when the nipples fall below the IMF. Breast augmentation and breast lift can improve the asymmetry in such cases. Perfection cannot be achieved. It is believed that breast should be like sisters but not identical twins.
Pregnancy and Weight Fluctuations and Breast Implants:
Pregnancy and weight fluctuations can lead to asymmetry. Pregnancy and lactation typically creates an increase in the size of the breasts. After the baby, there is a deflation and a loss of volume in the breasts. Usually, the breast shrink back to near pre-pregnancy size, although some experience an additional decrease in overall breast volume.
Similarly, significant weight changes can increase the saggy appearance and asymmetry. As weight increases, the fat portion of the breast increases and with the extra weight, the breast falls. This process can occur unevenly on each side leading to asymmetry which can also be compounded by the same stretching of the skin..
Breast augmentation may help those who are not very saggy, but a breast lift is better when the breasts are very saggy. As in cases involving other types of breast asymmetry, perfection cannot be achieved. Before and after plastic surgery, breasts are like sisters, not identical twins.
Mommy Makeover Seminar Next Week!
01 year ago
Scottsdale – This is just a reminder about the Mommy Makeover seminar coming up next week.
Mommy makeovers are popular because women have children. There is no doubt that having a child is one of the most fulfilling experiences a woman can have in life. Some women, however, feel self-conscious about the effects of pregnancy on their body. The body of a woman who has been through pregnancy is never truly the same. The usual problem areas are: the breasts, the tummy, the buttocks and the fat pockets. In the tummy we see stretching of the stomach muscles and tummy skin with pregnancy. The breasts are usually affected by increasing elasticity and softness. Breasts may also sag. The hips, back and thighs may accumulate fat that may not go away completely after pregnancy. The buttocks, may also soften up, become flatter and less round and begin to sag.
Mommy makeovers are combination procedures used to treat the areas that change during pregnancy. The plastic surgery techniques improve the shape and size of the breasts, lift the breasts, tighten the tummy muscles and skin, remove stretchmarks and excess skin, reduce stubborn fat pockets and lift the pregnancy butt. In my practice there are 4 major variations of the mommy makeover offered to patients including tummy tuck with breast augmentation, tummy tuck with breast lift, tummy tuck with breast reduction and tummy tuck with Brazilian butt lift.
We recommend patients prioritize the areas important to them, so we can appropriately discuss these interests and create a reasonable treatment plan that addresses your needs. A mommy makeover is performed in one stage and patients can have a single recovery period for all the surgery procedures chosen.
The seminar is being held at the AB Guerra Plastic Surgery Center, 8765 E. Bell RD., Suite 104, Scottsdale , AZ 85260. To reserve your seat call 480-970-2580. The seminar starts at 6 PM on Wednesday June 23rd, 2010.
Understanding Capsular Contracture: Part II.
21 year ago
Scottsdale – The last time we discussed capsular contracture, we found there was a lot of interest on this subject. We are going to discuss more details about this condition that may affect up to 5 percent of women with breast implants.
In general, there is no way of telling who is going to develop capsular contracture, but several predisposing factors may increase your risk. The current scientific research on this condition implicates inflammatory conditions as the basic building block that leads to capsular contracture. In essence, any condition that leads to inflammation in and around breast implants can potentially lead to the formation of capsular contracture.
The goal of breast surgery is to place the breast implant into the appropriate location with minimal trauma and to reduce inflammation.
The factors that predispose to the formation of capsular contracture are discussed below:
- Severe trauma to the breast. Any kind of trauma years and months later can affect the breasts. Reports of nipple piercings and car accidents, years after breast augmentation, leading to contracture are quite common.Trauma from surgery may lead to inflammation and increase the risks of contracture. An experienced, board certified plastic surgeon can perform breast augmentation while minimizing the amount of trauma to the breast itself. A clean and atraumatic separation of the muscles is what I prefer during breast augmentation surgery, always using a lighted retractor to see inside the pocket and gently separate the space for the breast implant.
- Hematoma is a blood clot that is formed when there is bleeding into the pocket where the breast implants exists in your breasts. You should avoid blood thinners (coumadin, fish oil, vitamin E, ginko), platelet medications (aspirin, ibuprofen) before breast surgery and vigorous activity that raises your blood pressure and heart rate for a minimum of 2 weeks after breast implant surgery. A full list of medications that may thin your blood is available at the AB Guerra plastic Surgery Center.
- Seroma is a collection of lymph fluid under the breast skin and surrounding the breast implant. Seroma formation is far more common in breast reconstruction, but can affect breast augmentation patients, in rare cases.
- Bacterial infections can increase the risks of capsular contracture. Fortunately, frank infection is rare with the use of preoperative intravenous antibiotics. A more deceptive approach which bacteria take is the formation of biofilm communities which have been recently discovered. Double or triple antibiotic irrigation, nipple covers, and avoiding contact with the breast implant before insertion all reduce biofilm formation.
- Silicone molecules leaching into the pocket surrounding the implant occurred quite commonly with old style silicone breast implants. The new cohesive gel, tripled-layered capsules silicone breast minimize this problem.
- Breast implant placement above your muscle is more likely to lead to capsular contracture formation.
- Autoimmune disorders are medial disorders that create inflammation in our bodies, potentially increasing the risk of contracture.
- Smoking reduces the oxygen level in our blood and during healing. Less oxygen and the toxins in cigarette smoke combine to potentially increase the risks of contracture.
- Radiation therapy used in the treatment of cancer can increase the risks of contracture when a woman undergoes breast reconstruction.
Not all forms of capsular contracture require treatment with Arizona plastic surgery. In part III of our capsular contracture series we will discuss what patients and doctors can do to reduce the risks of capsule contracture. There are four grades of breast capsular contracture, named, Baker grades I through IV.
The Baker grading is as follows:
- Grade I - the breast is normally soft and looks natural.
- Grade II - the breast is a little firm but looks normal.
- Grade III - the breast is firm and looks abnormal.
- Grade IV - the breast is hard, painful, and looks abnormal.
Treatment for capsular contracture will be discussed in part IV of our series.
Understanding Capsular Contracture: Part I.
21 year ago
Scottsdale – When we discuss breast augmentation with our plastic surgery patients, we discuss Capsular Contracture. What is capsular contracture?
A capsular contracture occurs when the lining of scar tissue which naturally forms around breast implants begins to tighten and becomes quite firm.
When saline or silicone breast implants are placed in the body, your body forms a lining around it. This phenomenon is normal and occurs with every type of implant which is placed in the human body. The lining or capsule is formed by your own living tissue. Plastic surgeons refer to this lining as the “capsule”, “tissue capsule”, or “scar capsule”.
Capsule contracture is the most common complication of breast augmentation surgery. It can can happen at any time, but seems to be more common in the first several months after cosmetic surgery of the breasts.
At the time of the initial breast surgery, a pocket is made for the breast implant. During the healing process, a capsule forms. The body is genetically programmed to shrink scar tissue. Under normal conditions, the pocket remains open and soft, allowing the breasts to look and feel natural.
In some people, the capsule will tighten, and squeeze the breast implant. When the capsule tightens or contracts, the breast implants begin to feel hard. With enough pressure, the breasts appear distorted in appearance.
In the late stages of capsular contracture, the breasts feel very firm, and may take on a “ball-like” appearance. It is not the implant that has hardened. It is the shrinking of the capsule which compresses the breast implant that leads to the breast feeling firm and hard.
Don't forget the On-Q Pain Pump.
01 year ago
On-Q Pain Buster
Pain relief for my breast augmentation in Scottsdale, Arizona patients.
Scottsdale – Pain is a big concern of my patients when undergoing breast augmentation in Scottsdale. There are several techniques to alleviate pain during cosmetic surgery procedures.The On-Q pain relief system is a highly effective means of relieving postoperative pain after breast augmentation.
During your Arizona plastic surgery, a small tube is inserted into the area of surgery. These tubes are attached to a plastic pump filled with medicine which can reduce your pain. The pump allows the numbing medicine to enter the area about a teaspoon per hour for the next several days. Studies demonstrate pain relieving pumps are effective in relieving pain in breast augmentations.
Use of the On-Q Pain Buster allows you to feel less pain with breast reconstruction and tummy tuck cosmetic surgery. It works great with breast implants placed under the muscles. The pain relief system also allows you to take less narcotic pain pills, reducing nausea, constipation, and possible vomiting after aesthetic plastic surgery.
Busting out – what all women want?
02 years ago
Busting Out Starlets.
Scottsdale – This week on FOXNews.com, I saw an interesting story about celebrities and their way-too-tight tops. The photos that accompany this article are quite revealing and I recommend that you see them for yourself. Fox claims these well-known starlets chose their dress size just a little too small and just tight enough for the breasts to really pop out.
According to Fox, this is a fashion faux pas. However, I believe not everyone is going to see it this way. I asked myself, isn’t this what all women who desire good cleavage want? Surely, this is why they invented the “push up” bra?
In my plastic surgery practice located in Scottsdale, Arizona I actually have patients who brought photos of some of the same starlets and said, “I want my breasts to look this way”.
Having a good size breast cup will definitely help to achieve a similar appearance. Breast augmentation and breast implants are only one way to achieve this look. Clearly, Fox demonstrates that a certain tightness on a bra or dress can increase just how revealing our ladies can be with their cleavage.
Eye popping claims are one thing, but I am looking forward to more articles of this nature. Ultimately, the famous people do seem to start certain trends when it comes to fashion and plastic surgery.
Seeking Bigger Boobs….
02 years ago
Seeking Bigger Boobs - Part 1
Scottsdale – Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery procedure. What do you need to know when seeking bigger boobs?
First, there are more options for your breast augmentation than ever before. Second, you need to do more research to understand all the choices. Third, having a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon, is one of the most important decision you can make.
What about breast implants? It turns out that there are numerous choices for breast implant shape, size and material. The two basic choices include saline-filled or silicone gel-filled breast implants.
Breast implants filled with saline are tried and true. They have been around a long time and can give you a successful result with your boob augmentation. Saline is the sterile salt water used commonly in every hospital. It is benign and will not harm your body. Saline breast implants, however, are not perfect. Saline breast implants in small-breasted women can lead to a cosmetic deficiency know as ripples. Rippling can occur with any type of implant but is far more common with saline filled implants.
Not the same breast implants your mother used to know? That’s right. The new silicone gel-filled breast implants are not the same the FDA banned in the past. Comparing the new FDA-approved implants to previous silicone breast implants is like comparing apples to oranges.
Clinical trials demonstrate the safety of the FDA-approved silicone gel-filled breast implants. There is no evidence that silicone causes autoimmune disease, cancer and other systemic problems. Silicone leakage is a problem, and the design of the new third-generation breast implants does a lot to minimize leakage.
First, the gel material is different. The new gels are cohesive not liquids. They act more like a solid rather than a liquid. The gel holds together uniformly, but has a natural feel that resembles actual breast tissue. Second, the outer shell that holds the silicone gel filler inside is thicker on the new FDA-approved breast implants. It is a three layered design that is durable, but feels very soft to the touch.
With the new technology is silicone leakage a thing of the past? Not exactly, but the six year follow up, on leakage, for Mentor’s MemoryGel is a low 1.1%.
In other words, 6 years after breast augmentation, only 1 out of 100 women with this type of silicone gel breast implant will have leakage of silicone. That’s very impressive. In fact, these fine results have never been replicated in the history of breasts augmentation and breast implants.
Breast augmentation is now safer and more effective than ever before. Besides the implant choices just discussed, there are many other important choices you need to make before choosing bigger boobs.
I will continue to discuss the other options about breast augmentation on the blog in the near future. For now, additional important information on breast augmentation and breast implants can be found at bellabreast.com
