Two women with different problems, both related to their breasts, were recently featured on TODAY. Erica wanted to undergo a breast augmentation, while Jeanne was prepared for a breast reduction to help improve her body proportion and relieve discomfort. Both women appeared on TODAY show about 2 weeks after surgery. “I saw my stomach for…
The latest 2010 statistics for facial cosmetic treatments show that about 75 percent of the procedures performed last year were non-surgical, which may confirm an often discussed trend toward non-surgical cosmetic treatments. The stats come straight from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), and they show a 45 percent increase in…
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released their annual procedural statistics report yesterday, showing a 5 percent increase in cosmetic procedures for 2010. According to the ASPS, 13.1 million procedures were performed in the U.S. last year, including plastic surgery and minimally invasive cosmetic treatments. 5.3 million reconstructive procedures were performed as well, showing a…
There are many ways to explain the causes behind America’s growing interest in cosmetic surgery. Theories range from broad cultural perspectives to more personal or psychological motives. In a new book by sociologist Laurie Essig, the author offers up yet another theory behind the nip-and-tuck movement: Reganomics. American Plastic: Boob Jobs, Credit Cards and Our…
Breast reduction surgery is one of the most common procedures we do in plastic surgery. In fact it has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any of our procedures. In one study almost 90% of patients were very satisfied with their surgery and 94% would encourage others to have it. The benefits of…
This is a guest post by Michelle in Denver, who had a breast augmentation many years ago. She is now considering a revision surgery, so she did some research on the subject. Do breast implants really need to be replaced every ten years? Breast implants do not have an expiration date and there is no…
Recently, a fellow surgeon and I had an interesting discussion about consent for surgery, which was relevant because I had just seen several patients who had visited other surgeons and had procedures done without their consent. For instance one patient went in for a lower eyelid lift and ended up with extensive scars across her…
Breast implants are not designed to fail. In fact their durability is quite impressive, as the picture depicts. They must be able to withstand years of everyday life and the occasional mammogram. Yet they can fail. A recent study of Mentor’s breast implants placed the rupture rate for primary augmentation at 1.1%. The leading theories…
I have found through my work with sites like RealSelf that patients are often left out of the decision making process or simply allow their surgeon to determine the correct implants, only to be disappointed with the outcome. The number of questions I answer about “what size will I be after X size implants?” or…
At the initial consultation, patients and I usually decide on the correct implant. If there is any doubt it can usually be clarified at the preoperative appointment, one to two weeks before surgery. Occasionally some patients, even with sizers, have difficulty visualizing the postoperative appearance of their breasts. They’re simply not accustomed to the new…