Archive for the ‘Breast Surgery’ Category
Is Plastic Surgery a Good Investment?
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012With tax season upon us, and many of my patients receiving refund checks, the question arises as to how best to spend the money. Obviously, family and financial needs must first be met. But what if there is a little bit more that you could use? Is plastic surgery a good investment?
I am a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, not a financial planner or a business person, so my observations are from my 15 years at Yager Esthetics. I will lay out for you the potential benefits, and you can decide whether it makes sense to you.
Plastic surgery can boost your self esteem and enhance the way you feel about your body and your sexuality. The confidence it brings can change the clothing choices you make, the activities you will participate in, and even the way you interact with others both socially and in business.
A refreshed appearance can make you look younger, more energetic, and less tired to potential romantic interests as well as potential employers. It can also help those who feel young on the inside feel better about looking in the mirror and seeing what they want to see.
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery can be empowering, especially to women after having had children or massive weight loss. It can be a fresh start to a healthier lifestyle, as when you look better, you tend to take better care of yourself through improved diet and exercise.
All of these benefits are enjoyed every hour of every day no matter where you are or what time it is. Yes it is a “me” thing, but if you have worked hard you deserve to do something for yourself.
If the numbers add up for you, it may turn out to be the best money you have ever spent.
Breast Reduction- Sometimes Less is More
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
Everyone likes to talk about breast implants, and how “bigger is better.” If you talk to a woman who, through simple genetics or after childbirth, has large breasts naturally, they might tell you to be careful what you wish for.
When your breasts weigh too much for your body, they can cause a host of problems- back pain, neck pain, rashes between and underneath the skin folds, grooves in the shoulders from the bra straps, and even numbness of the hands. It can change the style of clothes you feel comfortable wearing, the type of exercises you can do, and even affect your self esteem and intimate relationships.
Fortunately, breast reduction surgery has been done for more than 100 years. While the goal is to relieve the excess weight, modern procedures can often lift and create a much more ideal and youthful shape as well. There are many different techniques, depending on the amount of tissue we need to remove and how low your nipples sit, and we can often minimize scarring.
Many studies have been done to show the significant increase in the quality of life obtained by breast reduction patients, and my experience with many hundreds of patients bears this out as well. And don’t think you are too old for the procedure. As long as you are in good health, breast reduction can be the best decision you have made.
Which Breast Implant Is Better – Silicone or Saline?
Tuesday, December 28th, 2010Since the FDA approved the new generation of silicone breast implants 4 years ago, patients have been asking me which is better. The short answer is that neither is better- they each have different pluses and minuses. The only one who can answer which one is better for you is you. After reading my opinion, it is my hope that you will be more informed and ready to make a good decision based on facts, not hype or internet gossip.
Saline filled breast implants have many benefits. They are less expensive, if they leak in your body, it is only salt water that leaks out which is 100% safe. Since they have a small valve to fill them and go in your body empty, the opening in your skin is smaller, and you can adjust the volume drop by drop to achieve more flexibility in matching the two sides. When you are 40, you will get a specialized mammogram, and there is no recommendation to exchange the implants unless a problem should occur. The negative is that if you have less than a B cup, they do not feel as natural to the touch, even though the appearance is the same.
Silicone gel implants have the advantage of feeling more natural in some cases, and can sometimes provide longer lasting projection in my experience. If I put a saline and a silicone implant in front of you and had you squeeze them, there is a striking difference in feel. When they are inside your body, behind breast tissue and muscle, the difference is most often impossible to detect. The patients who benefit most are those with less than a full B cup, and those who want very large implants. The minuses are a larger incision, the fact that the implants cost more, that they only come in limited sizes and cannot be adjusted drop by drop, and the FDA guidelines for follow up. They state that an MRI should be done at 3 years, and every 2 years after to check for a leak. They have also suggested that the implants be changed every 10 years. While some surgeons disagree with the guidelines, they are obligated to inform you of them. If they do not, my advice is to seek a different doctor.
So, the decision is yours. Make sure your doctor answers all of your questions, and that you feel confident and comfortable with him/her. A board certified plastic surgeon should offer you different options in where to hide the scar, implant styles and shapes, silicone versus saline, and show you pictures of women who look like you body shape and breast size wise with after photos you love. Good luck!
What is my bra size?
Friday, November 5th, 2010I am constantly amazed that so few women understand how bra size is determined. In fact, over 85% of women actually wear the wrong size bra. This is why I never ask what bra size a woman is seeking with cosmetic surgery. The most accurate test for me is to look at photos of my patients with similar body types and determine which ones the patient likes. This way, if I think it is a C and the patient thinks it is a B or D it does not matter. She gets the look she wants.
Another complicating factor is that all bra manufacturers have a different fit and size, so a 36C can be different from maker to maker. So how do you measure bra size?
Step one- With a tape measure, measure the distance around your chest just below the breast. If it is an even number, add 4, iif it is odd, add 5. This is the back size of your body.
Step two- now measure the distance around the breasts while wearing a bra.
Step three- subtract the back size from the breast size. Every inch equals a cup- 1” A, 2”B, etc. After D, the measurement is less accurate.
Hope this helps.