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Posts Tagged ‘breast implants’

5 Important Things to Evaluate Before Your Breast Augmentation

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

OhioAlthough several surgical practices are offering breast implants in Cincinnati and Dayton, they are not all equal. With an elective surgery like breast augmentation, you want to be satisfied with the first operation. You also want excellent aesthetic results and an experience that is positive overall.

In order to achieve those goals, you may need to do some investigative work before you choose a surgeon. Use this list as a general outline of things to evaluate about each surgical practice.

1. Does your surgeon have specific training in breast augmentation and the versatility required to offer you multiple options?

Because skills often overlap, you might find different types of surgeons offering the same procedure. Just remember that only plastic and cosmetic surgeons receive training for breast augmentation as a primary part of their residency. Having a specific focus on cosmetic surgery of the breast will often translate into a greater ability to perform different techniques that may be necessary.

2. Who will administer anesthesia for your surgery?

Anesthesia is safe with a trained practitioner, but in the wrong hands it can pose a significant risk. Whoever administers anesthesia for you should be well trained, prepared for unexpected problems, and focused on your safety.

3. Who will be with you before, during, and after your surgery?

It is common for the supporting staff to oversee much of the operation and guide patients through the process. Doing this is vital to both the success of the surgery and to the overall experience.

4. Does your surgeon have privileges at a local hospital?

To obtain hospital privileges, your plastic or cosmetic surgeon must be able to prove and/or demonstrate a record of training for the procedures he or she intends to perform there. If your surgeon doesn’t operate in a hospital, he or she may be in an outpatient surgical suite or surgery center.

5. Is the surgical facility certified and safe?

Breast augmentation can be performed in a hospital or outpatient surgery center. To receive proper certification, specific standards must be met. Read more about our AAAHC accredited facility in Cincinnati.

6 Ways to Define Successful Breast Surgery

Monday, September 21st, 2009

What do satisfied patients say about breast augmentation? How do we define success in this field?  The August 2009 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery includes an article in which 6 factors related to breast augmentation success were identified, based on a study of patient surveys.

1. Satisfactory Breast Characteristics
This is clearly the main goal of any elective breast surgery.  Participants of the study commented about improvements in breast shape and the clothing options that were now available to them as a result.  One patient with breast implants comments, “I have really nice voluptuous, rounded, normal-sized perky breasts and I am sooo happy with them.”

2. Better Physical Well-Being
Breast reduction patients can get relief from back and neck pain, which often allows increased activity and better health.

3. Better Psychosocial Well-Being
Patients in the study shared the positive changes in self perception and experiences in social settings. Increased confidence and feeling as if you fit the perceived “norm” of the female body are said to be a common benefits of breast surgery.

4. Better Sexual Well Being
Enhancements in breast shape and size can bring improvements in sexual pleasure, largely because it alleviates “negative feelings about the breasts” that often cause women to feel less attractive.

5.  A Positive Experience With Surgeon
Women who experienced a good surgeon-patient relationship – with open, honest communication – expressed more satisfaction with breast surgery.  Patients who had an adverse relationship with the surgeon or staff reported being fearful, uncomfortable, and less satisfied.

6. Overall Satisfaction i.e. Fulfilled Expectations
Researchers also included the simple category of general satisfaction.  Would you undergo the surgery again?  One breast augmentation patient responds, “there is not one day that goes by that I am not so pleased that I did it.”

A similar article – “Satisfaction and quality of life in women who undergo breast surgery: A qualitative study” can be found on Biomed Central.

What If I Suspect A Problem With My Breast Implant?

Friday, May 8th, 2009

implants-hand-300x300First, call Dr. Mandell-Brown and tell us what’s happening!

If you have saline implants, you’re not in any danger, although it will certainly look and feel strange. If you have silicone implants, the only way to assess damage is by MRI.

Breast implant failure can be caused by a variety of problems. In some cases, the problem occurs when the implants are filled above or below the manufacturer’s recommended fill range. Other times, texturing of a saline implant can result in excessive wrinkling and premature wear, causing the implant to fail.

Sometimes the implant itself may have a defect in its valve or seam. Isolated sutures placed inside the pocket for implant positioning may also inadvertently wear and breach implant integrity over time. Even regular wear and tear can cause breast implant deflation.  Your lifestyle can also play a role in implant longevity.

A deflated implant can be safely removed and replaced in a procedure similar to the original augmentation surgery. In most cases, the same incision is used to approach the deflated implant.

Recovery from breast implant repair surgery is usually easier than the original surgery, since the pectoralis muscle has already been stretched.

Worried about potential costs?  It’s possible that your breast implants are under a manufacturer’s warranty, which helps with the cost of replacement.