Category: Breast Implants

People say that you get to know yourself by your 30s; that seems especially true for women. By your 30s, you’ve started and established careers, families, lifelong hobbies, and so much more. You have a better sense of what it is you want in life and what you need to do to make it a little bit better. Timing wise, it’s one of the best times to get breast surgery. It’s why statistically, the majority of women who get plastic surgery get it in their 30s. If you’re in your 30s, there’s no better time to get breast surgery. In the next installment of our series on breast surgery, we’re going to tell you what you should know about getting breast surgery in your 30s.

The Right Look

When you’re at an age where you have a sense of clarity about what you want in life, it’s a little easier to make a decision on whether to get plastic surgery. That’s a great thing; in fact, many surgeons stress that patients truly understand their motivations before undergoing plastic surgery. To surgeons, the ideal patient is someone who has realistic expectations on what breast surgery can do for them.

That’s why if you’re considering breast surgery, it’s crucial that you understand what look you’re trying to achieve. Are you trying to achieve a dramatically curvaceous silhouette? Are you just trying to boost your curves so that you can look good in certain dresses? Or are you simply trying to feel more feminine and alluring? Regardless of what your goals are, it’s crucial that you can communicate them to your surgeon so that you can achieve them.

Make It Fit

Of course, it’s not all about following an aesthetic. If you’re considering breast surgery, especially breast implants, it’s crucial that you get the right size to fit your lifestyle. Women in their 30s are usually at the point in their lives where they’re busy building a career, so they tend to have breast augmentation that’s more moderate in size. Women in their 30s today also tend to have a more active lifestyle, so they choose a size of implants that won’t interfere with exercise.

Do You See Kids in the Picture?

It’s a personal question, sure, but also an important one when it comes to breast surgery. If you’re wondering about whether to have kids, or have more kids in the future, it might be best to hold off on breast surgery. Your breasts tend to transform in shape and size thanks to pregnancy and breast feeding, so if you get breast surgery before having kids, your results might not last very long. Of course, there is always secondary breast surgery to help you achieve the same results all over again—but some women try to avoid that.

Breast Surgery with the Mommy Makeover

You don’t have to stop at combining two different types of breast surgery; you can combine your breast treatments with other plastic surgery procedures to give yourself a mommy makeover. A mommy makeover is a combination of facial, breast, and body procedures meant to reverse the effects of motherhood on a woman’s figure.

Incision Decision

One of the biggest benefits of breast surgery? Getting new clothes. And if you’re someone who likes tube tops, sleeveless blouses and the like, you’ll need to get the right kinds of incisions to make sure they’re not visible with certain outfits. One kind of incision, called the transaxillary incision, is placed under the armpit. While this allows your breasts to remain scar-free, you will have a faded scar under your armpit. Other incisions, like the ones around your nipples or under the breast, will be easier to hide.

Plan for an Easy Recovery

Whether you’re running a family, a career, or both—you need to strike a balance in your life. A major surgical procedure like a breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, or mommy makeover can seriously disrupt your schedule. For instance, while your breasts are healing, you won’t be able to lift anything heavier than a milk jug for at least two weeks. In fact, you’ll probably be resting (with some light walking a few times a day) for most the first week of your recovery!

That doesn’t mean you can’t have both—it just means you’ll probably need the help of a partner, trusted friend, or family member during your recovery.

Is there anything better than being in your 30s? Possibly one thing: getting breast surgery from a compassionate, experienced surgeon. If you’re ready to change the rest of your life with breast surgery, contact Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery now to have a consultation with our renowned plastic surgeon.

 

Aging and breastfeeding can take a toll on the appearance of breasts. Women often endure sagging, flattening, or loss of volume in the breasts, leading to a drop in self-esteem and confidence. Fortunately, there are now powerful procedures that can help counter the effects of aging on the breasts. With the help of Dr. Dreyfuss, the combination of breast lift and breast implants can help reposition the breasts, reshape the breasts, and restore volume and fullness.

Why Choose a Breast Lift?

The breast lift is a great procedure for rejuvenating breasts that have been affected by aging. A breast lift can bring back the perkiness of the breasts by removing excess skin, reshaping the breasts by rearranging breast tissue, and even repositioning the nipples. Dr. Dreyfuss specializes in the breast lift and has helped countless women restore their breasts to a more youthful state.

Why Get Implants?

Breast implants come in an infinite variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. Because of their wide variety, implants allow the breast augmentation to be fully customizable for each patient’s unique needs. Breast implants are inserted into the breast to enhance its volume and shape, but many also act and feel like natural tissue.

Why Combine Both?

Various factors like aging, weight loss, and genetics can lead to flattened, sagging breasts. Pregnancy can also have drastic effects on the breasts: lactation may cause the breasts to increase in volume, but after breastfeeding, the breast tissue will shrink causing the breasts to droop and lose volume. A breast lift can reposition these breasts, but it won’t be able to restore volume.

All these concerns can be addressed by a two-step breast procedure like the combined breast lift and breast augmentation. A breast lift can bring back the perkiness of the breasts, while breast implants can add volume and reshape the breasts.

Benefits of Implants and Breast Lift

A combined breast lift and implants can:

  • Address multiple concerns with one procedure
  • Consolidate the recovery period
  • Offer rejuvenation and enhancement

Schedule Your Consultation

Combining the breast lift and breast implants can bring major enhancement for women who need breast rejuvenation and breast enhancement. Dr. Dreyfuss will help you decide if this two-step procedure is right for you. To begin the ultimate procedure for breast enhancement, contact Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery for a consultation.

Breast enhancement is all about being bigger—but there’s more to it than that. You also want to find the perfect size for you, and that requires a little bit more work than finding the biggest implant you can get. If want help with finding the right size of implants, check out our handy guide on breast implant sizes.

How to Size Breast Implants

You might think it’s as easy as picking a cup size, but picking the right size is much more complicated. Since cup sizes are actually different across different bra manufacturers, it’s a pretty bad way to convey your desired implant size to your surgeon. Breast implants are actually measured in three ways: diameter, volume, and profile. The diameter is how wide the implant is, the volume is how much filling is inside of it, and the profile is how far the implant will project from the chest. Each measurement will affect each other, so finding the right combination of measurements is the key to finding the perfect size. So for a certain volume, a narrow diameter will result in a higher profile, or projection from the chest.

Perfect for Your Figure

A breast implant of a certain size will not look the same on every woman, which is why it’s important to size the breast implant perfectly to a woman’s anatomy. That means the implant should be adequately covered by the woman’s natural breast tissue, have a width that’s slightly smaller than the width of the natural breasts, and looks natural and proportional to a woman’s body. For instance, if a woman with a very small frame wanted very large implants, it’s important that she get implants that didn’t look too crowded on her narrow chest. That can be solved by getting an implant with a narrow diameter and a high profile, which can give her a dramatic look while looking perfectly balanced and natural.

Your Personality and Your Lifestyle

Your implants shouldn’t just reflect your body type; they should also reflect who you are. Big personalities tend to want bigger implants, but what if you’re not as outgoing? If you have an athletic lifestyle or a more subdued personality, you might not want the biggest breasts you can get. Your new breasts should not be at a size that could impede strenuous activity, and if you’re worried about attracting too much attention, you might want a more subtle increase in size than a dramatic one.
Now that you know more about the process, it might be time for you to start your breast augmentation journey. To work with a caring, talented plastic surgeon for your breast enhancement, contact the offices of Dr. Dreyfuss for a consultation.

Springtime is coming fast, and like a flower in springtime, it’s your time to blossom. If you’ve ever felt unfeminine or self-conscious because of small breasts, then this is your chance to finally feel pride and confidence about your body. Spring is a time of growth and renewal, which is why the perfect season to embrace a new, more feminine you. Let’s take a look at how breast augmentation can let your beauty, and your inner self, bloom.

What Can Breast Augmentation Do?

Breast augmentation is your ticket to fuller, more shapely breasts and an enhanced cleavage. Using implants that move and feel like real breast tissue, breast augmentation can increase the volume of the breasts and in some instances, reshape them. With a more feminine figure, you’ll be able to fit better in your beautiful spring sundresses and feel more confident during trips to the beach and the pool. You can restore breasts flattened by breast feeding and aging and transform them to their fuller, firmer selves.
Once your breast augmentation results have fully emerged, you can enjoy the remaining springtime by showing off your new silhouette and newfound sense of confidence. In the warm, radiant, glowing springtime, you can finally look as good as your feel.

The Power of Choice

Along with being the most popular plastic surgery procedure of all time, breast augmentation is also one of the most customizable procedures available. Many surgeons emphasize that your breast augmentation should reflect your lifestyle, aesthetic goals, and personality. With the help of your surgeon, you’ll be able to choose between the types of incisions used, the kind of implant chosen for the procedure, and the placement of the implant. Every single choice you make will directly affect your results, so you’ll be able to find the right combination for you, and only you.

What’s Right for You?

Enhancement means different things for everyone. To one person, enhancement might mean dramatic change. To another person, enhancement might mean a more natural, subtle improvement. Whatever your goals are or whatever you plan to accomplish with breast augmentation, Dr. Dreyfuss will be there help you achieve them.

It takes a kind, compassionate surgeon to understand your goals and help personalize your procedure just for you. For the chance to work with a surgeon like Dr. Dreyfuss for your procedure, contact Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery now for a consultation.

Interested in getting a breast augmentation, but not sure whether saline or silicone implants are right for you? Dr. Dreyfuss has put together this helpful infographic on facts about both saline and silicone breast implants. During your consultation, Dr. Dreyfuss will discuss your goals and help you decide which implant is best for you. To learn more about saline or silicone breast implants, please contact Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation.

Saline Implants:

  • Saline implants are available for patients over 18 years old.
  • It is made of a silicone-based soft shell and filled with a saltwater solution.
  • They come in a variety of shapes and sizes with choices about the amount of projection and slope.
  • They can sometimes feel more firm than natural breast tissue.
  • They are sized specifically for your body, filled during the surgery.

Silicone Implants:

  • Silicone implants are available for patients over 22 years old.
  • They have a flexible silicone outer shell and are pre-filled with a thick gel.
  • They come in a wide range of sizes and shapes to accommodate different body types.
  • They are growing in popularity, because they look and feel like natural breast tissue.
  • They require a slightly larger incision since they are pre-filled.

Saline vs. Silicone Breast Implants

1. Breast lift vs breast augmentation: How to tell which is needed?

A Breast Augmentation is done to enhance or enlarge the breast. A Breast Lift is performed to raise the breast back into the “normal” position. The procedures may be performed alone or in combination to not only lift, but enlarge the breast. If the breast has a normal position, with most of the breast tissue above the base/inframammary crease and if the nipple is not below the base, then a Breast Augmentation would be the best choice. If however, the breast skin has significant laxity and the nipple sits low on the breast, a Breast Lift is the correct option.

2. Can breast lift with implants provide symmetrical breasts?

A Breast Lift is designed to create symmetric breasts. If asymmetry exists prior to surgery, a breast lift alone or combined with an augmentation can very commonly create a very even and symmetrical breast shape.

3. What kind of breast lift leaves minimal scars?

The Breast Lift with the smallest scar is called a Concentric Mastopexy or Doughnut Lift. The procedure involves a surgical scar just around the areola or outer area of the nipple. However, most often the Breast Lift also has a small scar that extends vertically down from the nipple to the base of the breast or below the breast in the crease.

4. Can breast lift and breast augmentation procedures be performed on the same surgery?

Breast Lift and Breast Augmentation surgery are often performed together. Patients who require a Breast Lift will quite commonly have a significant loss of volume that makes the breasts appear “droopy”. Combining an implant with the lift, can create a very natural, fuller breast. In our experience, the combined procedure has a much longer lasting result than just a Breast Lift alone.

5. Is it possible to breastfeed after breast lift surgery?

We have numerous patients who have had Breast Lifts done prior to pregnancy and nursing. There have not been many issues. While no one is guaranteed that they have the ability to breast feed after pregnancy, Breast Lifts should minimally alter that option.

6. Should I wait until after pregnancy to get a breast lift?

While pregnancy does change the breast shape and size, it is a matter of the severity of the breast changes before pregnancy that should determine the timing of surgery. The best, longest lasting result would clearly occur when breast changes are minimized, i.e. pregnancy and weight changes. We have had many patients that would prefer the improvement over waiting until pregnancy. Make sure that all those issues are completely discussed with your Plastic Surgeon.

7. What questions should I ask my doctor before a breast lift?

Any question should be on the table when considering cosmetic breast surgery. Make sure your MD is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. Ask how many Breast Lift procedures the doctor has performed. Ask to see pre and post-operative photographs. Make sure you ask about risks, complications and physical limitations.

8. What is the recovery time from a breast lift surgery?

Recovery time after a Breast lift alone or combined with an Augmentation is in stages. The toughest part is the first 24-48 hours, when pain medication will be necessary. Patients will often take between 4-7 days off of work. Heavy lifting or strenuous exercise may be limited for 4-5 weeks. Most patients can resume driving after 2-3 days.

9. What is the difference between a crescent breast lift and a vertical lift?

A crescent lift includes a small semi-circular incision above the areola/colored are of the nipple. This may be performed in combination with a Breast Augmentation to reposition a nipple that is slightly low with minimal skin laxity. A Vertical Lift may include an incision all the way around the areola and a vertical incision to the  base of the breast. This procedure is done in patients with more severe skin laxity and droop of the breast and nipple. Both procedures are performed as outpatient operations at an accredited surgery center.

10. Can I combine breast lift and areola reduction in one surgery?

Very commonly areola reduction is included with the Breast Lift procedure. With pregnancy, nursing or weight changes, the areola can enlarge and expand as it drops in position. Often there is also asymmetry of the areola from one breast to the other. Correction of asymmetry and reduction of the enlarged size makes the final result that much more natural and appealing.

11. Will a breast lift without implants make breasts look smaller or larger?

A Breast Lift without implants will often  make the breasts appear slightly smaller. However, the improved position and shape should improve the appearance significantly such that the reduced size is not of any consequence. As described above, combining an implant with the Breast lift will often improve the final result and provide a longer lasting improvement.

Welcome to our blog.  Each week, I will try to find an interesting question that our patients ask us.  We’ll see if I can do this every week.  So here goes.

This week, I again was asked, “Do breast implants need to be replaced every ten years?  I’m not sure where the “ten year” time frame came from.  The manufacturers offer a ten-year warranty on the implants.  That warranty is free with silicone gel implants and costs $100 for saline-filled implants.  The warranty covers the cost of the implants, and reasonable anesthesia costs, surgeon’s fees and operating room charges.

But the simple answer is “No, breast implants do not need to be replaced every ten years.” They are not tires and don’t need to be rotated either. That being said I will quote verbatim from Allergan’s product information:

“No medical device can be considered to last forever, just as no natural body part necessarily lasts a lifetime. It is possible for any breast implant to leak, and that is true of both the saline and silicone gel filled breast implants. So assume that all implants will eventually wear out, because of the constant repetitive movements of the chest caused by breathing some 15,000 times a day. If every person with a pacemaker, breast implant, heart valve, knee joint etc lived to be 100, it is likely that all of these devices would need to be replaced at some point in their lifetime.

Implants do not have a date when they have to be routinely replaced. But little by little they do wear out. Based upon the best currently available information, many plastic surgeons tell patients to assume that the need for replacement at five-years would be about 1%, by ten years 5%, by fifteen years 25%.

It is not required to just routinely replace older, still intact implants because there is no known danger to you. But the FDA recommends frequent MRI testing for silicone gel implants.”

So there you have it, your implants may well last for your entire lifetime.  You may need to have them replaced. In the case of a ruptured implant, the removal and replacement surgery is usually much easier for you than the original implant surgery.  We just open the previous incision, take out the old implant and put a new one in the same pocket.  Some cases can be more complicated.

I have many patients who have had implants in for 30 years without a problem. I hope that answers this week’s question.

Remember: “it is better to ask some of the questions than to know all the answers” – James Thurber

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Dreyfuss Plastic Surgery Experts

A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, based on patient input, revealed 6 aspects of breast surgery that made a profound impact on satisfaction and quality of life.

1. Breast Characteristics
Clearly the main goal of cosmetic 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 reports, “Some things are much more fun to put on, and the stuff that I used to wear looks way better–I am sure they looked good before, too–but I just fill in a bit more, look a bit more busty in them.”

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

3. 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. Sexual Well Being
When people feel more attractive, they generally experience more sexual pleasure.  If breast implants or another surgery improve a woman’s perception of her self and her body, sexual well being can consequently improve.

5.  Surgeon-Patient Relationship
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
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.”

You can access a similar article by the same researchers for free at BioMed Central.

Mother breast feeding her baby girlOur patients frequently ask about breast feeding and breast augmentation.  Can the surgery disrupt the ability to breast feed?  Is it safe for my child?

In many cases, breast feeding is not disrupted by the presence of a breast implant. However, in some patients, often when an incision near the nipple was utilized, the patient’s ability to breast-feed does get disrupted.

How to minimize this risk

Utilizing a surgical incision that avoids manipulation of the nipple can decrease the risk of disrupted breast feeding.  Therefore, if this is a concern, you may want to investigate incision techniques such as the following:

  • Inframmary fold incision
  • Transaxillary incision
  • Transumbilical breast augmentation

Although breast feeding is not necessarily compromised by sub-glandular (above the muscle) breast implant placement, some surgeons maintain that sub-muscular placement reduces the risk as well.

Is it safe for the newborn?
If you’re especially concerned about infant safety, you may want to reference a study published in the June 1998 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  The study found no measurable risks to the infant, and found that women with silicone breast implants, and women without them, show comparable levels of silicone (silicon) in their breast milk.  It is not known what effect could occur if a small trace of silicone were to pass through to the infant.

Ask Your Surgeon
Feel free to speak with Dr. Dreyfuss, or your OB/GYN if you still have questions and concerns about this topic.  Whether you plan to become pregnant or not, it is best to understand all of the possible breast augmentation risks before proceeding with surgery.