Archive for the ‘Breast Enhancement’ Category

Help for PIP Implant Victims

Monday, February 13th, 2012

The scandal surrounding PIP implants has become a top story worldwide. Since the news broke about substandard industrial silicone being used in PIP implants there has been a cascade of reactions from governments around the world. Some countries are providing free procedures to remove the tainted implants. Others are offering some form of support falling short of free procedures to remove PIP implants. While free surgery is very helpful for the estimated 300,000 women around the world with PIP implants in place, it is not the best solution for many PIP victims.

There is no question that PIP implants should be removed. The question then, is what to do once the implants are removed. Some patients may choose to simply remove the PIP implants and remain without any implants moving forward. Most patients will likely prefer to have safe, American made implants inserted to replace the PIP implants being removed. The catch is that while the surgery to remove the implants is free in many places, having new implants placed is not covered. This will leave thousands of women left to pay the associated fees to keep the look they desire.

Mentor, one of the only two FDA approved American implant companies, has announced a program to assist in the replacement of PIP implants. The program provides for a $250 American Express gift card for all patients having PIP implants replaced with Mentor implants. While it hardly covers the cost of surgery to replace PIP implants, it is a very nice gesture. Receiving $250 dollars is better than nothing. I expect Allergan, the other FDA approved American implant company, to follow suit and announce a similar program soon.

In an effort to help patients with PIP implants that wish to have them removed I am offering my services at greatly reduced fees. The total cost to have PIP implants removed is $2500 including all costs. For patients choosing to have PIP implants replaced the total cost is $3750. Though the American government does not offer any benefits for PIP implant victims (PIP implants were never approved in the USA) I feel a personal commitment to help those patients in need. If you or someone you know has PIP implants simply make an appointment for a free consultation and mention this blog. There is no expiration date for this offer. It will always be honored as my commitment to aid in this PIP implant tragedy.

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PIP Implants? Get ‘em out!

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

The issues surrounding PIP implants keep growing. Even though the FDA warned French authorities about the substandard quality of PIP implants in 2000 they continued to allow their use. Recently it has become clear that the silicone used in PIP implants was not up to medical grade standards. This has caused a higher rupture rate and significant complications in women across the globe.

As the PIP implant crisis grows more and more governments are coming forward to advise women in their country to have the implants removed. First were the French and Venezuelan governments. Now Italy and Czechoslovakia are following suit. Considering there are estimated 300,000 women with PIP implants around the world we will likely see more of this in the near future. The take home message remains the same – if you have PIP implants, you should have them removed.

On my radio show, “New Reflections” we recently discussed PIP implants and other interesting breast implant topics with one of the doctors that helped develop the very first breast implants, Dr. Thomas Biggs from Houston, Texas. You can listen to the show here:

http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/58776/from-the-beginning-to-the-end

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An Oil Change for Breast Implants?

Friday, January 6th, 2012

Many people believe that breast implants must be removed and replaced every ten years. This misconception has nearly become common knowledge and is simply not true. It is based upon one study that showed that breast implants grow weaker over time. As time passes they have an increased risk for rupture. Specifically, there is a cumulative 1% risk each year that breast implants will fail (break). That means that three years after breast augmentation there is a 3% chance of them breaking, and after ten years a 10% chance of them breaking. While the study implies that it might be a good idea to replace ten year old breast implants it does not suggest that doing so is a medical necessity.

If you have breast implants that look good and feel good leave them alone. It doesn’t matter if they are brand new, ten years old or even 30 years old. Every patient is different and should be treated individually. You don’t need to treat your breast implants like your car – you don’t need to get ten year oil changes!

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Breast Implant Safety

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Recently there has been news of issues with breast implants in France. The French government has gotten involved by launching an investigation regarding problems with a particular type of silicone breast implant. These implants, manufactured by a company called Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), are now suspected of having higher than usual rupture rates. Most recently it has been learned that the silicone gel used to fill the implants was not medical grade. The former CEO of PIP has admitted that “non-standard” silicone was used in the manufacturing of PIP implants.

In October the French equivalent of the FDA shut down PIP for producing substandard implants. Since then thousands of women in France have filed complaints against the now defunct company. It is estimated that over 300,000 women worldwide have undergone breast augmentation using PIP implants. French authorities have recommended that women with PIP implants have them removed as a precaution. This has sparked responses from countries around the world ranging from recommendations that women with PIP implants be checked regularly to government sponsored programs to remove the implants at no cost to the patients.

It is important to remember that  the FDA monitors breast implants very carefully in the United States. There is perhaps no other medical device in the world that is more carefully watched than breast implants. In fact, in the year 2000 the FDA warned French authorities that the manufacturing process of PIP implants failed to meet US standards in at least eleven different ways. The US report went as far as describing the PIP implants as “adulterated”.

Breast implants used in the United States remain very safe and reliable. PIP implants have never been approved for use in the US. There should be no cause for concern about breast implants in general, though PIP implants definitely seem to be problematic. If you or someone you know has PIP implants you might want to consider having them exchanged for breast implants that are approved for use in the US. Both Allergan and Mentor brand implants are approved and are safe options. If you had breast augmentation performed in the United States you almost certainly have one of these two brands of implants and do not need to be concerned about the news coming from France.

Here is a link to a recent article about this issue:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/27/us-breast-implants-lawyer-idUSTRE7BQ0XN20111227

 

 

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Breast Augmentation for BodyBuilders?

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Breast augmentation can safely be performed with implants either on top of the muscle or beneath it. You should not have concerns about safety in choosing your implant position as they are equally safe. The choice of implant position is really more related to your being a bodybuilder. I have operated upon many bodybuilders, both competitive and amateur. Typically, bodybuilders do not want their muscles altered during surgery, so the best choice would be on top of the muscle. You can achieve a really nice and natural result without having the implant behind the muscle. That being said, most implants are placed behind the muscle because natural results can be achieved easier with implants in that position.

I would recommend that you visit a few board certified plastic surgeons to get a sense for your options. With good information from qualified surgeons you can make the best choice to achieve great results. If you like you can visit my website where you can see some animations of the surgery being done and read more information about breast augmentation.

If you’re interested in learning more about breast augmentation, whether you are a body builder or not, then contact our office or call us at 305-792-7575. We’re located in Aventura, FL, near Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Coral Gables, Boca Raton and Coconut Grove.

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Miami Plastic Surgeon Reveals What You Need to Know About Breast Enlargement

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

If you’ve decided to enlarge your breasts through cosmetic surgery, then congratulations!  It takes plenty of courage and determination to take such an important step towards the body you’ve always dreamed about.

It’s no secret that for many women, their breasts can often be their greatest source of confidence – and insecurity.  With common breast complaints ranging from uneven shapes, sagging, loss of firmness and lack of size, it’s no wonder that breast enlargement (also known as breast augmentation) has been the most popular cosmetic surgery in the US for over a decade.

Despite the procedure’s popularity, many women still feel in the dark about what the breast enlargement process entails.  How do you know if it’s the right procedure for you?  How can you determine your ideal breast size and shape?  How long is the recovery process?

And most importantly, how can you choose a plastic surgeon who’s renowned for unparalleled success with breast augmentation procedures?

Simple: you can follow these steps to choose the ideal plastic surgery that will give you the confidence to show your new shape off!

  • First, it’s important for your plastic surgeon to understand the exact look that you want from your breast augmentation procedure.  While many people think that breast enlargement results in so-called “watermelon-shaped” breasts, the truth is that there is a variety of different shapes and sizes to choose from.  Based on your desired look, your plastic surgeon will help you to select the right saline or silicone implants.
  • For women who suffer from sagging breasts due to pregnancy or age, a breast lift can also be performed in conjunction with augmentation.  The restores the breasts’ natural shape and size, and can shave years off of a patient’s appearance.
  • The procedure itself will be performed in a plastic surgery outpatient center; however, some surgeons may choose to perform the procedure in a hospital.  General anesthesia will be used during the procedure, while a local anesthesia will be applied afterwards to reduce any pain and discomfort when the patient awakens.  During the procedure, the plastic surgeon will make incisions around the breast, under the armpit and around the nipple.  Once the silicone or saline implant has been inserted, the surgeon will stitch the breast area back up and wrap the breast area up in a bandage dressing.  The procedure itself takes approximately one to two hours, and the majority of patients leave the outpatient center after just a few hours.
  • You may experience swelling and bruising after the surgery; however, recovery time generally takes three to four weeks.  During this time, it’s best to sleep on your back, and avoid any rigorous activity until four weeks after the surgery.

Like with all surgeries, there are some risks associated with breast enlargement.  The right Miami plastic surgeon will be happy to talk you through these risks, and will examine your healthy history to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for the breast enlargement procedure.

Now that you know what to expect from the breast enlargement procedure, isn’t it time you got the body confidence you deserve?

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Breast Implants Still Safe

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

Just a couple days ago the FDA issued a notice explaining that there may be an association between breast implants and a very rare condition call ALCL. This condition, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, is extremely rare. In looking at the population of women with breast implants the FDA feels there may be a slightly higher risk of the occurrence of this problem.

Lets look at the numbers. The FDA has identified between 34 (in the USA) and 60 (worldwide) cases of ALCL in patients with breast implants. There are as many as 10 million women with breast implants worldwide. That means at worst there ALCL is currently reported in approximately one out of every 165,000 women with breast implants. To illustrate how rare that really is here are some stats that I found:

Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_385745.html

  • Odds of fatally slipping in the bath or shower: 1 in 2,232
  • Odds of dying from a car accident: 1 in 18,585
  • Odds of injury from fireworks: 1 in 19,556
  • Odds of injury from shaving: 1 in 6,585
  • Odds of dying from any kind of fall: 1 in 20,666
  • All of these far more likely than having breast implants and getting diagnosed with ALCL.

It is important to note that this disease is NOT breast cancer. In the cases identified by the FDA ALCL seems to have been found in the fluid and tissue that surround the implants, not in the breast tissue itself. This finding includes all types of breast implants, both saline and silicone filled.

The FDA has partnered with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to create a breast implant registry. The registry will be used to track cases of ALCL in women with breast implants. Currently the FDA still finds breast implants safe to use. No restrictions nor cautions have been issued regarding the use of breast implants. Breast implants are still considered safe to use by the FDA.

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Are Silicone Gel Breast Implants a Safe Choice?

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The simple answer is yes. Silicone implants are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.  When it comes to safety and risks of breast augmentation, silicone implants and saline implants are basically the same.

However, should a breast implant rupture occur, there are differences to consider.  If a saline breast implant breaks, patients say it’s like “getting a flat tire.” You realize it very quickly.

With the latest silicone gel breast implants, the breasts may not look any different if a rupture occurs. The best way to positively know is to get an MRI if you suspect that your implant is compromised.

In my practice I recommend silicone breast implants in most cases because they produce results that look and feel very natural.  To conclude, breast augmentation with silicone implants is just as safe as with saline implants.  It comes down to your preferences and which implant type you are comfortable with.  If you have any reservations at all about silicone gel, you should probably stick with saline.

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