Here’s the third installment in the breast augmentation video series brought to us by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In this segment, a patient discusses her satisfaction with breast implants and the reaction she got from friends and family. See our post last week for the previous episode.
Tag: Breast Implants
Mentor, the largest breast implant manufacturer in the world, will be acquired by Johnson and Johnson.
According to Marketwatch, the medical giant J&J announced the deal on December 1st at a reported 1.12 billion dollar total value.
Dr. David Dreyfuss of Plastic Surgery Experts was recently interviewed about the possible consequences of this deal.
What shortcomings at Mentor do you believe J&J can or should address?
Dr. Dreyfuss: Certainly the marketing strategies of the Mentor/Inform group will get the most needed updating. This is an area that started to take off significantly about 2-3 years ago and promptly fell into disarray. J&J should provide the necessary technology upgrades to the system and solidify their workforce to allow the product to regain
How do you think the acquisition will affect breast augmentation patient product choices?
Dr. Dreyfuss: The J&J acquisition of Mentor should speed up the process for cohesive gel products being available to the US market. Not unlike the Allergan acquisition of Inamed, it changed the FDA focus away from a breast implant company to a pharmaceutical company. This provides an “inside track” for approval of new products. This should allow Mentor to compete on a level playing field with Allergan/Natrelle.
What companies will feel new competitive pressure from this acquisition, and how?
Dr. Dreyfuss: Clearly the most impact will be upon Allergan from this acquisition. It will put significant pressure on Allergan’s sales staff from a new influx of cash and marketing strength from J&J. The other facial implant and liposuction equipment manufacturers will feel excessive pressure. This has been an area somewhat neglected by Mentor, which will change in the future.
Orlando plastic surgeon, Richard Bosshardt recently wrote about the status of modern breast cancer treatments and the efforts of the medical community to minimize negative effects of the disease.
Most women know how to focus on prevention and are aware of the statistics – that “about 1 in 8 women will have to face breast cancer in their lifetime.” However, many aren’t informed about the positive developments of recent years. Family ‘genetic markers’ have become excellent risk indicators, narrowing the search for a definite cause. Also, as Bosshardt says, breast implants, bras and high-fat diets have never been shown to have any correlation with increased breast cancer risk.
There are new reasons to be optimistic: Doctors have begun practicing “breast conservation” rather than outright removal, chemotherapy is more advanced and reconstruction has become more sophisticated than ever, with patients often looking better as an end result. Read the original article here at the Orlando Sentinel.
Although fat grafting to for breast augmentation is already being performed by a New York plastic surgeon, further study has been inspired by the recent work of a Japanese plastic surgeon, and a device to combine harvested fat with stem cells has been developed by San Diego company, Cytori Therapeutics Inc.
With the recent discovery that fat is rich in stem cells, the possibility of grafting it to different parts of the body is becoming a reality. Surgeons are rethinking the idea of fat transplantation for use in breast augmentation procedures. In this type of breast augmentation, stem cells are harvested from the patient’s own fat stores, so the controversial aspect commonly associated with stem cells is not relevant.
New York plastic surgeon Dr. Sydney Coleman, an international expert in fat grafting, claims he has been using fat in breast augmentations for years and once published his findings in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. A Japanese surgeon has reportedly been performing breast augmentation procedures using stem cell fortified fat from the patient’s body.
The reason this process hasn’t been established as a reliable option is the tendency for fat to die once it enters another part of the body. Fat can then calcify and turn hard. With stem cells, the theory is that a new blood vessels will form and bond with the reintroduced tissue, creating what might be considered a ‘natural implant.’
The Wall Street Journal reported that San Diego based Cytori Therapeutics Inc. has been marketing a device for combining fat with stem cells to other countries and has intentions to do so in the US. Cytori has begun working with plastic surgeons in Japan, Israel, Italy and France who are using its device, and has given Dr. Sydney Coleman a unit for testing.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s research arm is recruiting patients for a breast augmentation study at ClinicalTrials.gov.
Get ready for Summer!
Dr. Dreyfuss is pleased to announce two spring time specials now through June 13th, 2008.
For those women wishing to have a renewed self-image, Plastic Surgery Experts is offing a special on Breast Augmentation with saline filled implants for $4,995. (An additional charge of $850 will be applied for silicone breast implants). This discounted fee is all inclusive and cover’s surgeon’s fees, implants, On-Q pain relief system, all visits (pre-op and post-op), surgical bra, anesthesia and surgical center.
Plastic Surgery Experts is also offering a laser hair removal package, buy one area and get 2nd area at 1/2 price. (e.g. bikini and get armpits at 1/2 off)
These specials are good through June 13th, 2008. Contact Plastic Surgery Experts today from our website or call us at (815) 806-9400.
Plastic Surgery Experts serves the greater Chicago, IL area including, Frankfort, Hazel Crest, Homer Glen, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Palos Park, Tinley Park, Illinois and Munster, IN.
*Surgery can be scheduled after June 13th but will require a consultation and surgery date.
