Ask the patients of Dallas board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregg Anigian why they seek him out and they’ll tell you it’s due to his superior technical excellence, artistic touch, and his ability to make them feel comfortable. We recently sat down with IDEAL IMPLANT® Premier Network Surgeon Dr. Anigian to discuss his private practice, breast augmentation, and IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Saline Breast Implants.
Tell us a little about what patients can expect when they arrive for an initial consultation.
“When you see me in the office I’ll ask you, and I ask everyone the same question, ‘What can I do for you?’ I won’t tell you what you need to have done, but I’ll really listen to you. You’re coming here and we’re providing a service, and we want that service to be professional. I want you to be pleased with the service that I provide. We want to help our patients achieve their goals and to leave happy with their results.”
Why do you think patients choose your office over the other options they have in the Dallas area?
“I think people understand that we really care about them. I genuinely like people, I like my patients. I want to understand what bothers them, and if it’s surgically possible and technically possible, I want to give them the result that they’re looking for. And I’m very frank with people. My office staff is genuine and friendly. We know the patients’ names, we remember their stories. We’re looking for what makes them happy.”
What procedures do you offer at your private practice in Dallas?
“I believe that being complete and doing a variety of things makes you a stronger surgeon and a better doctor. I offer many cosmetic surgery procedures such as rhinoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation, body contouring, etc, but a large part of my practice is also dedicated to microsurgical breast reconstruction. That’s a highly technical procedure. The results are extremely dynamic for women who are going through that terrible process in their lives. It is gratifying to me to watch and see how really strong people are inside when they’re faced with that sort of thing. But it’s really remarkable in how the aesthetic side of reconstructing the breast and the reconstructive part of augmenting a breast for cosmetic reasons mesh together.”
When it comes to breast augmentation, how do you help women choose the size and type of breast implant that’s right for them?
“First I’ll ask her, ‘What do you want?’ I’ll do an initial verbal exam. I’ll ask questions like:
Any health problems? Have you had kids? Do you have implants now? Do you have any medical conditions that I need to know about? Then I’ll ask, ‘What would you like to see happen? Are you an A cup and you want to be a C cup? What is your day-to-day lifestyle? Are you a runner? Do you lift weights? Are you planning on a pregnancy in the future?’ All those things are deciding factors.
“My aesthetic preference is that implants shouldn’t look like implants; that the breast should be full and aesthetically pleasing, but I’d like to fool everybody in the room and not necessarily have somebody go, ‘Oh, she got a new set of breasts, bought and paid for.’ I think that used to be okay, I don’t think that’s okay today.
“When determining the size a woman wants, we have a number of bras in the office. So we literally will have a woman put on a brassiere, put a sizer into the bra, and have her wear her top and say, ‘Where are we? Do we need to go larger? Are we right? Are we too small?’ So that works very well. I hardly ever have someone say, ‘Oh, I’m not big enough.’ I can’t remember the last time I had to replace an implant because we got the size wrong. So it is very accurate in helping women determine where they’d like to be.”
How do you go about setting realistic expectations so that women can be satisfied with their outcomes?
“Listening and asking questions is what I do. I’ll ask her, ‘What do you want to see? What do you expect?’ When the expectations that you, the patient wants, and the result that I think I can get mesh together, is when I think we both become comfortable with proceeding.
“I think sensitivity is important. We always talk about that. It is possible to lose sensation. Either in the nipple, areola, or the lower portion of the breast. For me an inframammary incision is the easiest to deal with. I think it’s the safest. That incision line heals so well that it is hard to find when it’s placed in the right position. The size of the chest and the breast really tell me what kind of size implant that is safe to put in.
“If you are terribly thin and very small and narrow, putting in large implants may satisfy you on a certain level but that’s going to be something that you may regret six months to a year from now because all the anatomy of your chest might change. So I tell women often, ‘Remember who you are going to be,’ or, ‘Think about the woman that you’re going to be in ten years. You’re making a decision for that girl as well as the girl that you’re going to be in six months.’ So that sort of push/pull is important in making a decision regarding size, and in having your expectations being met.
“I can’t tell you how many women come in who had their breast implants placed back in the ’80s and they say, ‘I don’t know why he put in such big implants. I wanted to be a C and I walked out a DD.’ That’s a really common story. So we don’t want to have you two cup sizes different than what you thought you were going to be. So using that sizer ahead of time to get an idea of what makes you comfortable gets me really a lot closer to understanding what’s in your head. I think that’s important, and so you also understand what to expect and your expectations are a lot closer to what I can give you.”
What is the difference between a breast augmentation and mastopexy (breast lift)? How can a woman tell which one she needs?
“There are a couple of misconceptions about breast lifts. The breast is obviously the most feminine feature in the torso. It changes over time, and sometimes that happens because of weight gain, weight loss, pregnancy, or just age. One of the things that I’ve found is that after menopause a lot of women’s breasts get bigger instead of smaller. Women don’t know that, they say, ‘Nobody told me that my breasts were going to get bigger, now they’re too big,’ or, ‘They’re the right size, they’re just south of where they need to be and I don’t want to have an implant.”
“A mastopexy can restore not only the position of the breast by lifting it, but it can also add volume in the upper part of the chest, restoring fullness and firmness. You can have a very aesthetic looking breast that survives time. Not just for the next six months, but it really resets the clock so that now you’re aging as if you had a breast that had never fallen in the first place. That’s my own technique. I literally take the breast apart as we would if we were doing a breast reduction, lift the breast tissue up, and create a round breast mound that holds itself to the chest wall. Then the skin which has failed is now not responsible for holding the position of the nipple. Nipple sensitivity is absolutely something that should be maintained. Those two nerves don’t come into play during the lift. A breast lift can also be combined with a small reduction at the time. So if you have a little bit more volume than you need and you want to reduce that, then that can be done as well.
“Women really love it. A breast lift can restore that youthful appearance that a woman may have seen when she was 18 or 25, before the breast began to sort of slide down the body. It narrows the chest, it lengthens the waistline. It gives her a comfort level that she didn’t have before and it then expands the types of clothes that she can buy when shopping. It can really increase confidence.
“People think, ‘It sounds like it’s going to hurt so much,’ but none of the women that have had a breast lift call into my office complaining about the pain. The recovery time is also quicker than you would expect. It is six weeks without being able to do yoga, but it’s only five to eight days before you can start exercising again.”
How did you find out about IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants and how long have you been using them in your practice?
“The inventor of IDEAL IMPLANT is a board-certified plastic surgeon named Robert S Hamas. I’ve known Bob for years. He showed up in my office after giving me a phone call and saying, ‘Gregg, I’ve got something to show you.’ He showed me the first iteration of what was a structured saline implant. It was nothing like what we currently have, but it was an idea and a concept was started.
“So he went back to the lab and then came up with another iteration of it. ‘What do you think about this?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s closer.’ Then he came back again and said, ‘Okay, this is what I think we want to do, would you mind being a co-investigator with me? We need to get FDA approval and the first stage of this is to do a trial.’ So he did ten breast augmentations with the IDEAL IMPLANT and I did ten. We reported the results to the FDA and they said, ‘Okay, you can start the large trial,’ which then was done with 500 women.
“There are women that I have followed for ten years with the original IDEAL IMPLANT. I have more experience than almost any other plastic surgeon using the IDEAL IMPLANT. Once it became FDA approved, I started using it for augmentation purposes.”
Who makes a good candidate for the IDEAL IMPLANT?
“Women that have lost volume in their breasts due to childbearing or just want a fuller appearance in general and are also concerned about safety. I feel that the IDEAL IMPLANT really bridges that gap that we currently have with silicone gel implants. Not that silicone gel implants are dangerous, but they certainly do have their trade offs.
“With all of these breast implant devices, you have to understand that they may break at some point. If they do, which would you rather have inside of you? Salt water that is dissolved in your body, or silicone gel? Would you rather know that your implant is broken or would you rather find out later at your mammogram or MRI? With the IDEAL IMPLANT, women can know immediately that their implant is ruptured, and they have peace of mind knowing it’s just salt water inside. Any woman desiring that peace of mind is a good candidate for the IDEAL IMPLANT.”
How long does it take to replace a ruptured silicone gel implant compared to a ruptured IDEAL IMPLANT?
“If we need to trade out a silicone gel implant it’s a bigger procedure, it’s more involved. I have to take out the silicone gel implant and the surrounding tissue that forms around it called the tissue capsule. Then I have to close the pocket down if necessary and get all the silicone material out and then put in the new silicone or structured saline implant. If an IDEAL IMPLANT breaks, the procedure takes about a third of the time. An IDEAL IMPLANT rupture doesn’t happen as often as a silicone gel implant rupture. It’s simply taking out the old implant and putting in a new one. So that’s a much lesser procedure than taking out ruptured silicone gel implants.
“We have lots of short videos on what broken silicone gel implants look like on their way out. Every time I take one out, it reinforces the idea that the IDEAL IMPLANT is a better alternative, certainly for women that are very young or women that have had silicone for a while and want to change or need to change to a different implant.”
What are the primary reasons women choose the IDEAL IMPLANT in your practice?
“Women want the implant to feel good and they want it to be safe. Now the majority of women can have both. They can have the feel and appearance they want, and they can have safety. Really 80% of the patients that I see can have all of those things without sacrificing anything. An IDEAL IMPLANT and a silicone gel implant are very difficult to tell the difference between in 80% of women. Only in those women who have had either multiple implant surgeries and are extremely thin can I tell the difference.
“Women don’t want to constantly monitor their breast implants. With silicone gel implants you can only check for ruptures with an MRI scan or a 3D resolution mammogram. That is not easy to do. With the IDEAL IMPLANT a woman can look in the mirror and say, ‘Well, my implant is okay.’ which is much easier.”
What kind of common complications can women expect with IDEAL IMPLANT?
“Implants in and of themselves have a list of potential risks. Displacement, size mismatch, deflation, contraction formation. Those things can occur. I tell women that they need to treat this implant as they would a heart valve implant or a hip replacement. Perioperative antibiotics are important in reducing the risk of having problems like hardening around the breast. Deflation with IDEAL IMPLANT is uncommon. The overall eight year deflation rate with an IDEAL IMPLANT is 2.1%. There’s not a silicone gel implant that has reported a better eight year rupture rate than that. And again, if your IDEAL IMPLANT ever does break, it’s salt water on the inside of it. It’s important to have these discussions about safety and long term results, in addition to all the other things that go into this personal decision to make a change in your body.”
What advice would you give another plastic surgeon who is considering using the IDEAL IMPLANT in their practice?
“The implant is reliable. You can use the IDEAL IMPLANT just as you would a silicone gel implant of moderate or high profile. You don’t have to worry about it wrinkling. You don’t have to worry about severe palpability more than you would with a silicone implant. You are placing something that will look good for your patients and also minimize the risk of having long term problems. The implant is not going to move out of position over time. The implant is not going to displace. It looks symmetrical on their chest. I understand that eventually an implant may break 10, 15, 20 years from now. But the risk of rupture is so much lower than with silicone gel implants.”
What kind of patient feedback have you received about the IDEAL IMPLANT?
“It’s fair to say that women who have the IDEAL IMPLANT are at least as happy as women who have silicone gel implants. One of the things that I commonly see in my office is a woman who has elected to have the IDEAL IMPLANT, comes in six months after surgery and she’s got this smile. That smile is the IDEAL IMPLANT smile. I really call it that because she’s thinking, ‘I don’t have to worry about this. I’ve got what I want, it’s the right size. I look great in my swimsuit, and I’m safe.’ That aspect of my job is why I continue to use the IDEAL IMPLANT in my practice.”
Considering breast implants in Dallas, TX? Contact Dr. Anigian today to discuss your options. Simply call (214) 369-0006, or visit www.dallasplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Anigian’s office is located at 8220 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 108, Dallas, TX 75231. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants.
San Diego Plastic Surgery Expert Dr. Steven Cohen Discusses Breast Augmentation Options
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenAre you considering a breast augmentation? Researching San Diego breast implant options can be overwhelming, which is why it is good to get an expert’s opinion on the benefits and compromises of each type. Dr. Steven Cohen is a highly skilled and sought after board-certified plastic surgeon in the San Diego area. We recently sat down to ask him about his experience, innovations, and the breast implants he offers. Dr. Cohen is one of the exclusive plastic surgeons in the area to offer IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants.
What can you tell us about your plastic surgery practice?
“I’m a plastic surgeon in La Jolla, California. I’m in private practices named Faces Plus: Plastic Surgery, Skin, and Laser Center. And we’ve embraced multimodality care to patients since 2004. We provide a full set of skin care, lasers and surgery, and we try to help our patients achieve better lifestyles and better appearance changes, and manage some of their aging conditions and some of their congenital deformities.”
“My background is in general surgery in New York City, at Columbia, and I was originally going to do heart surgery so I journeyed a little bit into that for two years. I did a fellowship and then saw a TV program on complex craniofacial surgery on PBS and it was amazing. I switched my career paths and have been very fortunate to run several large craniofacial programs at the University of Michigan, Children’s Healthcare in Atlanta, and Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
“And my practice has evolved on the adult side into primarily a cosmetic practice. We specialize in facial surgery. There’s very few things that I don’t do on the face. We also do quite a bit of fat grafting and have really been one of the early pioneers in adopting fat graft techniques for breast surgery as a complementary procedure to make breasts more beautiful either for primary augmentation for aesthetic purposes or for secondary aesthetic deformities.”
How many patients come to you for San Diego Breast Implants?
“Most of my writing has been in the facial arena and I have quite a few inventions in that area, and also in fat grafting. And the breast stuff really came to me later, largely as a result of my fat graft surgery. We probably do about 30% breast surgery in our practice. I’ve always been an innovator in the field, so I seek out breast procedures that I think are not just new, but I think enhance the patient experience, bring better results.”
Why did you start offering IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants?
“IDEAL IMPLANTS were very interesting. A colleague talked to me about this and what was interesting to me at first was this is a new implant. And it’s interesting that it has two chambers. And some people probably do want saline and are a little nervous about silicone gel. But a few years ago when Paul first spoke to me, what I was really riveted by was the data of the rupture rates and the capsular contracture rates.
“I thought it was very beneficial to show my patients these as an option and I feel obligated to inform them in a comprehensive consultation about all of the options. Now more recently with the scare with the BIA-ALCL, I think that there’s been more interest in these kinds of implants.”
How do you approach a consultation for patients who want to remove and replace their breast implants in San Diego?
“So recently I’ve had a lot of physicians sending me patients who want their implants removed. The discussion is: you have silicone gel breast implants, what are your options? And the options become, you can remove the implant, you can leave everything to collapse and go back to where it was potentially. You may require a lift to compensate for the stretched, expanded tissue. You may require simply fat grafting to refill the breasts. But, in many cases, women still liked the enhanced appearance of a breast implant. And IDEAL IMPLANT, again, fits into a very nice segment where you can kind of assure people, look, even when silicone gel was removed from the market, saline implants were never removed.”
What benefits does IDEAL IMPLANT have when compared to silicone gel breast implants?
“There seems to be a sense that they’re safer. There have been no associated implant cancers related to implants filled with saline that I’m aware of at my last reading. And I think that the opportunity for our patients now, it becomes even more important to discuss and inform them of all the options.”
As a plastic surgeon why do you like IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants?
“It’s actually a very easy question to answer. The reason I like IDEAL IMPLANTS and choose to offer them in my practice is because the outcomes are better than the competitive implants. Period. Again, facts are stubborn little creatures. So if you believe in data and everything else being almost equal, such as the feel, why not offer something like that?
“It’s also nice to have an implant that has some variation in terms of the base diameter and then the ability to alter projection. And one of the things that initially I was a little concerned about was using IDEAL IMPLANTS in conjunction with the fat, but I’ve had absolutely no issues with that whatsoever. The implants can be placed after a sizer is in and the fat is grafted with the sizer in. Or if you’re an experienced injector you can even feel very comfortable injecting around the implants with it, with a high degree of safety.”
Considering breast implants in San Diego? Contact Dr. Steven Cohen today to discuss your options. Simply call (858) 453 7224, or visit www.facesplus.com. Dr. Cohen’s office is located at 4510 Executive Drive San Diego, CA 92121. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT ® Structured Breast Implants.
Dr. Anigian Explains Why the IDEAL IMPLANT® Stands Out from Other Dallas Breast Implants
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenAsk the patients of Dallas board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregg Anigian why they seek him out and they’ll tell you it’s due to his superior technical excellence, artistic touch, and his ability to make them feel comfortable. We recently sat down with IDEAL IMPLANT® Premier Network Surgeon Dr. Anigian to discuss his private practice, breast augmentation, and IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Saline Breast Implants.
Tell us a little about what patients can expect when they arrive for an initial consultation.
“When you see me in the office I’ll ask you, and I ask everyone the same question, ‘What can I do for you?’ I won’t tell you what you need to have done, but I’ll really listen to you. You’re coming here and we’re providing a service, and we want that service to be professional. I want you to be pleased with the service that I provide. We want to help our patients achieve their goals and to leave happy with their results.”
Why do you think patients choose your office over the other options they have in the Dallas area?
“I think people understand that we really care about them. I genuinely like people, I like my patients. I want to understand what bothers them, and if it’s surgically possible and technically possible, I want to give them the result that they’re looking for. And I’m very frank with people. My office staff is genuine and friendly. We know the patients’ names, we remember their stories. We’re looking for what makes them happy.”
What procedures do you offer at your private practice in Dallas?
“I believe that being complete and doing a variety of things makes you a stronger surgeon and a better doctor. I offer many cosmetic surgery procedures such as rhinoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation, body contouring, etc, but a large part of my practice is also dedicated to microsurgical breast reconstruction. That’s a highly technical procedure. The results are extremely dynamic for women who are going through that terrible process in their lives. It is gratifying to me to watch and see how really strong people are inside when they’re faced with that sort of thing. But it’s really remarkable in how the aesthetic side of reconstructing the breast and the reconstructive part of augmenting a breast for cosmetic reasons mesh together.”
When it comes to breast augmentation, how do you help women choose the size and type of breast implant that’s right for them?
“First I’ll ask her, ‘What do you want?’ I’ll do an initial verbal exam. I’ll ask questions like:
Any health problems? Have you had kids? Do you have implants now? Do you have any medical conditions that I need to know about? Then I’ll ask, ‘What would you like to see happen? Are you an A cup and you want to be a C cup? What is your day-to-day lifestyle? Are you a runner? Do you lift weights? Are you planning on a pregnancy in the future?’ All those things are deciding factors.
“My aesthetic preference is that implants shouldn’t look like implants; that the breast should be full and aesthetically pleasing, but I’d like to fool everybody in the room and not necessarily have somebody go, ‘Oh, she got a new set of breasts, bought and paid for.’ I think that used to be okay, I don’t think that’s okay today.
“When determining the size a woman wants, we have a number of bras in the office. So we literally will have a woman put on a brassiere, put a sizer into the bra, and have her wear her top and say, ‘Where are we? Do we need to go larger? Are we right? Are we too small?’ So that works very well. I hardly ever have someone say, ‘Oh, I’m not big enough.’ I can’t remember the last time I had to replace an implant because we got the size wrong. So it is very accurate in helping women determine where they’d like to be.”
How do you go about setting realistic expectations so that women can be satisfied with their outcomes?
“Listening and asking questions is what I do. I’ll ask her, ‘What do you want to see? What do you expect?’ When the expectations that you, the patient wants, and the result that I think I can get mesh together, is when I think we both become comfortable with proceeding.
“I think sensitivity is important. We always talk about that. It is possible to lose sensation. Either in the nipple, areola, or the lower portion of the breast. For me an inframammary incision is the easiest to deal with. I think it’s the safest. That incision line heals so well that it is hard to find when it’s placed in the right position. The size of the chest and the breast really tell me what kind of size implant that is safe to put in.
“If you are terribly thin and very small and narrow, putting in large implants may satisfy you on a certain level but that’s going to be something that you may regret six months to a year from now because all the anatomy of your chest might change. So I tell women often, ‘Remember who you are going to be,’ or, ‘Think about the woman that you’re going to be in ten years. You’re making a decision for that girl as well as the girl that you’re going to be in six months.’ So that sort of push/pull is important in making a decision regarding size, and in having your expectations being met.
“I can’t tell you how many women come in who had their breast implants placed back in the ’80s and they say, ‘I don’t know why he put in such big implants. I wanted to be a C and I walked out a DD.’ That’s a really common story. So we don’t want to have you two cup sizes different than what you thought you were going to be. So using that sizer ahead of time to get an idea of what makes you comfortable gets me really a lot closer to understanding what’s in your head. I think that’s important, and so you also understand what to expect and your expectations are a lot closer to what I can give you.”
What is the difference between a breast augmentation and mastopexy (breast lift)? How can a woman tell which one she needs?
“There are a couple of misconceptions about breast lifts. The breast is obviously the most feminine feature in the torso. It changes over time, and sometimes that happens because of weight gain, weight loss, pregnancy, or just age. One of the things that I’ve found is that after menopause a lot of women’s breasts get bigger instead of smaller. Women don’t know that, they say, ‘Nobody told me that my breasts were going to get bigger, now they’re too big,’ or, ‘They’re the right size, they’re just south of where they need to be and I don’t want to have an implant.”
“A mastopexy can restore not only the position of the breast by lifting it, but it can also add volume in the upper part of the chest, restoring fullness and firmness. You can have a very aesthetic looking breast that survives time. Not just for the next six months, but it really resets the clock so that now you’re aging as if you had a breast that had never fallen in the first place. That’s my own technique. I literally take the breast apart as we would if we were doing a breast reduction, lift the breast tissue up, and create a round breast mound that holds itself to the chest wall. Then the skin which has failed is now not responsible for holding the position of the nipple. Nipple sensitivity is absolutely something that should be maintained. Those two nerves don’t come into play during the lift. A breast lift can also be combined with a small reduction at the time. So if you have a little bit more volume than you need and you want to reduce that, then that can be done as well.
“Women really love it. A breast lift can restore that youthful appearance that a woman may have seen when she was 18 or 25, before the breast began to sort of slide down the body. It narrows the chest, it lengthens the waistline. It gives her a comfort level that she didn’t have before and it then expands the types of clothes that she can buy when shopping. It can really increase confidence.
“People think, ‘It sounds like it’s going to hurt so much,’ but none of the women that have had a breast lift call into my office complaining about the pain. The recovery time is also quicker than you would expect. It is six weeks without being able to do yoga, but it’s only five to eight days before you can start exercising again.”
How did you find out about IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants and how long have you been using them in your practice?
“The inventor of IDEAL IMPLANT is a board-certified plastic surgeon named Robert S Hamas. I’ve known Bob for years. He showed up in my office after giving me a phone call and saying, ‘Gregg, I’ve got something to show you.’ He showed me the first iteration of what was a structured saline implant. It was nothing like what we currently have, but it was an idea and a concept was started.
“So he went back to the lab and then came up with another iteration of it. ‘What do you think about this?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s closer.’ Then he came back again and said, ‘Okay, this is what I think we want to do, would you mind being a co-investigator with me? We need to get FDA approval and the first stage of this is to do a trial.’ So he did ten breast augmentations with the IDEAL IMPLANT and I did ten. We reported the results to the FDA and they said, ‘Okay, you can start the large trial,’ which then was done with 500 women.
“There are women that I have followed for ten years with the original IDEAL IMPLANT. I have more experience than almost any other plastic surgeon using the IDEAL IMPLANT. Once it became FDA approved, I started using it for augmentation purposes.”
Who makes a good candidate for the IDEAL IMPLANT?
“Women that have lost volume in their breasts due to childbearing or just want a fuller appearance in general and are also concerned about safety. I feel that the IDEAL IMPLANT really bridges that gap that we currently have with silicone gel implants. Not that silicone gel implants are dangerous, but they certainly do have their trade offs.
“With all of these breast implant devices, you have to understand that they may break at some point. If they do, which would you rather have inside of you? Salt water that is dissolved in your body, or silicone gel? Would you rather know that your implant is broken or would you rather find out later at your mammogram or MRI? With the IDEAL IMPLANT, women can know immediately that their implant is ruptured, and they have peace of mind knowing it’s just salt water inside. Any woman desiring that peace of mind is a good candidate for the IDEAL IMPLANT.”
How long does it take to replace a ruptured silicone gel implant compared to a ruptured IDEAL IMPLANT?
“If we need to trade out a silicone gel implant it’s a bigger procedure, it’s more involved. I have to take out the silicone gel implant and the surrounding tissue that forms around it called the tissue capsule. Then I have to close the pocket down if necessary and get all the silicone material out and then put in the new silicone or structured saline implant. If an IDEAL IMPLANT breaks, the procedure takes about a third of the time. An IDEAL IMPLANT rupture doesn’t happen as often as a silicone gel implant rupture. It’s simply taking out the old implant and putting in a new one. So that’s a much lesser procedure than taking out ruptured silicone gel implants.
“We have lots of short videos on what broken silicone gel implants look like on their way out. Every time I take one out, it reinforces the idea that the IDEAL IMPLANT is a better alternative, certainly for women that are very young or women that have had silicone for a while and want to change or need to change to a different implant.”
What are the primary reasons women choose the IDEAL IMPLANT in your practice?
“Women want the implant to feel good and they want it to be safe. Now the majority of women can have both. They can have the feel and appearance they want, and they can have safety. Really 80% of the patients that I see can have all of those things without sacrificing anything. An IDEAL IMPLANT and a silicone gel implant are very difficult to tell the difference between in 80% of women. Only in those women who have had either multiple implant surgeries and are extremely thin can I tell the difference.
“Women don’t want to constantly monitor their breast implants. With silicone gel implants you can only check for ruptures with an MRI scan or a 3D resolution mammogram. That is not easy to do. With the IDEAL IMPLANT a woman can look in the mirror and say, ‘Well, my implant is okay.’ which is much easier.”
What kind of common complications can women expect with IDEAL IMPLANT?
“Implants in and of themselves have a list of potential risks. Displacement, size mismatch, deflation, contraction formation. Those things can occur. I tell women that they need to treat this implant as they would a heart valve implant or a hip replacement. Perioperative antibiotics are important in reducing the risk of having problems like hardening around the breast. Deflation with IDEAL IMPLANT is uncommon. The overall eight year deflation rate with an IDEAL IMPLANT is 2.1%. There’s not a silicone gel implant that has reported a better eight year rupture rate than that. And again, if your IDEAL IMPLANT ever does break, it’s salt water on the inside of it. It’s important to have these discussions about safety and long term results, in addition to all the other things that go into this personal decision to make a change in your body.”
What advice would you give another plastic surgeon who is considering using the IDEAL IMPLANT in their practice?
“The implant is reliable. You can use the IDEAL IMPLANT just as you would a silicone gel implant of moderate or high profile. You don’t have to worry about it wrinkling. You don’t have to worry about severe palpability more than you would with a silicone implant. You are placing something that will look good for your patients and also minimize the risk of having long term problems. The implant is not going to move out of position over time. The implant is not going to displace. It looks symmetrical on their chest. I understand that eventually an implant may break 10, 15, 20 years from now. But the risk of rupture is so much lower than with silicone gel implants.”
What kind of patient feedback have you received about the IDEAL IMPLANT?
“It’s fair to say that women who have the IDEAL IMPLANT are at least as happy as women who have silicone gel implants. One of the things that I commonly see in my office is a woman who has elected to have the IDEAL IMPLANT, comes in six months after surgery and she’s got this smile. That smile is the IDEAL IMPLANT smile. I really call it that because she’s thinking, ‘I don’t have to worry about this. I’ve got what I want, it’s the right size. I look great in my swimsuit, and I’m safe.’ That aspect of my job is why I continue to use the IDEAL IMPLANT in my practice.”
Considering breast implants in Dallas, TX? Contact Dr. Anigian today to discuss your options. Simply call (214) 369-0006, or visit www.dallasplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Anigian’s office is located at 8220 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 108, Dallas, TX 75231. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants.
Get to Know Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Expert, Dr. Diaz, and His Thoughts on the New IDEAL IMPLANT®
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenRenowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. John Diaz understands what women look for when it comes to treatments for their face, breasts, and body. In a recent interview with Dr. Diaz, we learned more about a typical consultation, how he guides women through selecting the right breast implant for them, and his thoughts on the new IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant.
Tell us a little bit about you and your practice.
“I’m Dr. John Diaz, a board certified plastic surgeon. I’m also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and I have a practice here in Beverly Hills. I’ve been in practice now approaching 14 years and I have over a decade of experience. I have really focused and specialized a lot on breast surgery. In particular, breast augmentation. I’m well recognized here in my community in Los Angeles, but also nationally, I have patients who fly in to have surgery with me. Over the last couple of years, I wrote a book on breast augmentation which was published and is available on Amazon and that book has been selling well nationally. It’s not a medical textbook for other doctors but more for the patient who’s interested in breast augmentation. I’ve also published a scientific article on breast augmentation. In the article I describe my very unique and specific way of doing breast augmentation which leads to reduced complications and improved patient outcomes.”
Why do you think women choose you?
“One thing that I think sets me apart is I’ve been very active in the community of plastic surgery. I’ve always had an academic interest in plastic surgery and breast augmentation and because of this, I’ve been recently selected to be the president of the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons. So that was a very big honor and I’m very proud and humbled by that. The other thing I pride myself on is I believe that my practice, in addition to really delivering incredible results, we are very well known and respected for the care we provide to patients and if you simply go on any review site of plastic surgeons in Los Angeles, you’ll quickly find that I’m one of the plastic surgeons with the most five star reviews of any plastic surgeon around. And I believe it’s one of the main reasons why we are so sought after by patients.”
Why did you choose to offer the IDEAL IMPLANT as part of your practice?
“The reason it appeals to me is because as a busy breast augmentation surgeon, I saw many patients who had concerns about silicone gel and had heard and read about different problems associated with silicone gel implants. Specifically, and more recently, the risk of breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. So that was very concerning to patients. On the other hand, the saline implants didn’t seem like a great alternative either. And many patients have friends who have had saline implants in the past and heard complaints about rippling and not quite feeling as natural as maybe their friends with the silicone gel implants. So, the IDEAL IMPLANT emerged as a really great alternative for those patients who are concerned about the cons of those other options.”
What has been your experience with the IDEAL IMPLANT as far as patient satisfaction?
“I just recently starting introducing it, but the patients that I have had have been very very happy. With their Ideal implants, and I’ve seen that the results are great.”
Can you walk us through a typical consultation?
“The average patient I have is a very educated, very research oriented patient. So, many of the patients I have come in and have already looked at all the options themselves and literally will tell me what their preferences are. And some of the patients will say, ‘I’ve researched the IDEAL IMPLANT, this is the implant I would like.’ I’m very supportive and say, ‘Great, perfect, I think that’s a fantastic choice.’ That’s pretty simple. Vice versa, I have patients who have come in and are very convinced that they want their silicone gel implants and that’s fine too.
“So, my approach with plastic surgery and my practice is to present all the options. I’m very fair, I’m very objective, and I always tell the patients, these are the pros and cons of each option. If I’m recommending the IDEAL IMPLANT, it’s because that unique individual has a unique set of requests and desires and fears and wants, that the IDEAL IMPLANT is probably the best for them.”
Considering Beverly Hills breast implants? Contact Dr. Diaz today to discuss your options. Simply call 424-262-8531, or visit www.drjohndiaz.com. Dr. Diaz’s office is located at 465 N Roxbury Drive, Penthouse Suite, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants.
Understanding San Francisco Breast Implants: An Interview with Dr. Kenneth Bermudez
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenA breast augmentation is a big step to take in your life’s journey. Research shows a high level of satisfaction and happiness following plastic surgery, as long as you know what to expect going in to the procedure. Dr. Kenneth Bermudez sat down to explain what you can expect during your consultation, including choosing a breast implant. Dr. Bermudez offers a wide variety of implant options for his patients in San Francisco. Breast implants are not all created equal, and it is important to pick the right one for your needs.
Tell us a little about yourself, and your plastic surgery practice.
“I am Dr. Ken Bermudez, and I’m a plastic surgeon, board certified, practicing in San Francisco. I’ve been in the Bay Area now for over 20 years. I did my medical school training, my two residencies, and I’ve been in practice here in San Francisco since the completion of my residencies. My practice is mostly an aesthetic based practice with some reconstruction, and I serve the Greater Bay Area.”
How do you guide patients who come to you for breast implants in San Francisco?
“When a patient comes in for a breast augmentation consultation, the first thing I always ask is what’s their motivation for having the breast augmentation? It’s important to understand where the patient is coming from and what their expectations are in regards to the actual procedure that they’re looking for.
“Based on their expectations and desires, then I give them kind of a menu, a list of things to consider, and I present it to them in a very unbiased fashion. For instance, I’ll say, ‘The implant can be placed above the muscle or below the muscle. Here’s the current data on what that involves in terms of long term considerations.’ I present all of the positives and negatives of each of those approaches, whether it be how the surgery is done, where the incision is made, or what type of implant we use.”
How do you present the breast implant options to your patients?
“I actually show them the implants. I have one of the more conventional saline implants. I have the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant, and the silicone gel implant. I also have the smooth and the textured implant. I show them a variety of different types of products, whether it’s a shaped product or a round product, a smooth product or a textured product, and saline versus silicone. I have them feel the implant in their hands.
“I’ll tell you, nobody likes the old, conventional saline implants, the way they feel, and especially the way they look. They have a much more round projection. They’re much more unnatural looking than silicone gel or the IDEAL IMPLANT. I spend very little time showing them that implant, because immediately you can see the reaction in their faces, like, ‘ewww.’ That’s automatically, in my practice, the least favorite option.
“When presenting silicone gel versus IDEAL IMPLANT, and they actually feel it, they say, ‘Oh, those aren’t that much different from each other.’ That’s where I think it’s important to feel the tactile difference between the two. It is really important for the patient to actually manipulate them in their own hands, because I think that can help them understand the IDEAL IMPLANT is very similar to what we see in our smooth silicone gel products.
“A lot of patients haven’t heard about the IDEAL IMPLANT, but as soon as they open up their minds about the implant, then I start presenting data. The sheets that IDEAL IMPLANT gives us that compare the seven year data on IDEAL versus silicone gel in a variety of different manufacturers is invaluable, because it gives them something to look at to compare numbers. We all are very good at comparing numbers and we’re all smart people. We can always tell one is less risk than the other in terms of long term complications, and that’s going to be the salient selling point, and that has been what has sold the patient on the IDEAL IMPLANT in regards to making it a potential choice for them.”
Are your patients happy with their IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants?
“Yesterday, I saw a patient that I did a year ago, and she’s ecstatic about her results. I could not tell just by examining her whether I did IDEAL IMPLANTs or a silicone gel, so I actually had to look in her chart and go, ‘Oh, okay, I did IDEAL,’ and it’s a beautiful result. She said, ‘I could not be happier with the result.’”
What advice do you have for other surgeons who want to begin offering IDEAL IMPLANTS?
“From surgeon to surgeon, I think the benefit is looking at a practice perspective. You want to be able to give the patient a variety of different choices, so they make an informed choice. We’re ultimately here to improve the quality of life of our patients. If we have a product that is comparable in terms of aesthetic outcomes, and has a better outcome long term, then I think it’s our responsibility as surgeons to be able to provide that to our patients. Because we ultimately want improved outcomes and I think, without sacrificing aesthetic benefit, that’s one of the main reasons why I use the IDEAL IMPLANT, and that’s what I would tell my colleague.”
What is the process for replacing a ruptured saline implant, silicone gel implant, or IDEAL IMPLANT?
“When comparing revision surgery with a saline implant or a silicone gel implant, from a surgeon’s perspective, the silicone gel implant is much more difficult. It’s much more difficult and much more common. So, even though I have a large population of saline implants back from before 2006, the revision rate on those patients is incredibly low, compared to the silicone gel implant, which we regularly see capsular contracture formation and implant leaking. Now, the implant leaking is something that, with a saline implant, the water is absorbed and we see a deflated implant. Sometimes the pocket is a little bit tight, and so we remove the old implant, open up the pocket a little bit, put in a new implant, and it’s a very simple procedure.
“With silicone gel it can be really messy, because you can have extrusion of the silicone within the capsule, or outside of the capsule. Now, if it goes outside of the capsule, then you’re digging around breast tissue to remove bits of silicone gel, which can be nearly impossible to remove 100%. I was in a surgery two weeks ago where we were doing an implant exchange, and she had a remnant of silicone gel. She had her implants done in the 1980s. She had a remnant of silicone gel out in her breast parenchyma. I was concerned that when I went to remove that little nodule of silicone gel, it would leave a defect that would affect her breast aesthetics. Luckily, it didn’t, but silicone gel ruptures are much more problematic than a saline-filled ruptured implant.”
Why do you think IDEAL IMPLANT is growing in popularity?
“I think patients are choosing it because they like the aesthetic feel of the implant. When they touch that implant and compare it to a silicone gel implant, they’re surprised on how natural it feels. There is also the reduction of long term issues, such as implant leaking and capsular contracture formation. I mean, that’s the biggest selling point, and a major reason the patients are choosing IDEAL IMPLANTS. They don’t want to have surgery every eight to ten years, and I think the IDEAL IMPLANT reduces their risk of having surgery in that short period of time.”
Considering breast implants in San Francisco? Contact Dr. Kenneth Bermudez today to discuss your options. Simply call 415-668-2122, or visit www.plasticsurgery-sf.com. Dr. Bermudez’s office is located at 525 Spruce Street #2, San Francisco, CA 94118. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT ® Structured Breast Implants.
How Carolinas Plastic Surgery Expert Dr. Ram Kalus Educates His Patients About Breast Augmentations
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenAre you researching breast implants in the Carolinas, but feel overwhelmed with all the data out there? Advice from an expert in plastic surgery, combined with FDA Core clinical trial data can help you choose the best breast implants for you. We recently sat down with Dr. Ram Kalus, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Kalus told us about his practice, and how he presents information to help his patients make the best choice for their needs.
Can you tell us about yourself and your practice?
“I’m Dr. Ram Kalus. I’m a board-certified plastic surgeon in Charleston, South Carolina, and I’ve been in practice almost 30 years. My practice these days is primarily breast and aesthetic surgery along with breast reconstruction.
“I would say that in general, my practice is heavily weighted toward the mommy makeovers, the professional women who know that they’re going to feel better about themselves with a better proportion to their body. Perhaps getting back what they had pre-pregnancy, but ultimately feeling comfortable both in and out of clothing looking as entirely natural as possible. So if there was one word that I would say sort of epitomizes my practice or symbolizes my practice, it would be the word natural, unoperated. Those are the goals that I try to achieve in my surgery.”
Is there a question most patients have when considering breast implants in the Carolinas?
“Sizing of breast implants, how to figure out what is the best way to determine what breast implant size, profile, dimension best suits your aesthetic needs. One of the most common questions that I see posted in all kinds of forums, including RealSelf, and questions that I see coming to me by patients coming in for consultations is the question of what size they think they need. And one of the other things that I see that occurs between patients in blogs and so on is big discussions, long discussions about specific implant sizes.”
Why are patients coming to you for the new IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant?
“The patients that I’m seeing who are interested in the IDEAL IMPLANT have done their research generally, have learned that the IDEAL IMPLANT is an excellent implant with in fact the best track record on the market as far as rupture rates or failure rates or the lack thereof, and so they’re attracted to that idea.
“I think that the controversies regarding silicone gel will never seem to go away. The issues surrounding breast implant-associated illness, the issues surrounding leakage, the issues surrounding immunogenicity of silicone gel, the issues of blind rupture or silent rupture, I think all of these are out there, and today’s consumer is in some ways much more educated. In other ways, they can be overwhelmed by a plethora of information that may be accurate or inaccurate, because as we all know, the internet has virtually no filters. So some of the information will be very accurate, some of it will be frankly entirely false, but the patient who comes to see me who is asking for IDEAL is generally very committed and already kind of made up her mind.
“There is the occasional breast augmentation patient who comes in thinking she wants silicone gel, and then after I’ve shown her all of the implant choices, she ends up really liking the IDEAL IMPLANT, and didn’t know about it before she arrived in my office. I don’t recall a patient who either didn’t know about IDEAL IMPLANTS or just maybe knew a little something about IDEAL IMPLANTS. My patients either knew nothing about it or they’re asking for it. There isn’t really much in between, which is kind of interesting.”
Is there a feature of IDEAL IMPLANT that most patients like?
“They’re attracted to the idea that the IDEAL IMPLANT is in fact adjustable, which is one of the big advantages of a saline-filled implant. What we can do with a saline-filled implant, which we cannot do with a silicone gel-filled implant, is we can fine tune the volume for optimal symmetry.”
Why is it important to be able to adjust for asymmetry?
“For example, most women may or may not know that most women’s breasts have some degree of asymmetry. In some, it’s more noticeable than in others, but in almost every patient that I see, and I see many, many patients for breast surgery, whether it’s augmentation, reduction, breast lift, mastopexy, breast reconstruction, I constantly verify and confirm for myself that there is rarely a woman that has perfectly symmetrical breasts. So, in the small-breasted woman who is seeking breast enhancement with an augmentation, it becomes very, very clear that the optimal tool, if you will, for the plastic surgeon is to try to achieve the best kind of symmetry that we can for that patient, and that is generally accomplished.”
What options are available to address asymmetry with silicone gel breast implants? What about IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants?
“If we use a silicone gel implant, we have a 20 to 25 cc increment difference between the next size up or the next size down. With an IDEAL IMPLANT, I can literally put in 350 cc in one implant and 364 cc in the other implant, and you cannot do that with a silicone gel-filled implant. Think about fine tuning an old radio where you adjust the dial so that the reception is just perfect. That’s what we can do with an IDEAL IMPLANT. We can micro-adjust the fill volume so that we think it’s just perfect, and that advantage is huge for the plastic surgeon. We don’t want to be necessarily limited by the implant choices that come off the shelf with a silicone gel-filled implant, which like I said, would be 20 to 25 cc differential.”
Are your patients happy with their IDEAL IMPLANTS?
“So far, I have not had any unhappy IDEAL patients, I can’t recall a single unhappy IDEAL augmentation patient.”
Why do you offer IDEAL IMPLANT to women seeking breast implants in the Carolinas?
“Because I think it’s an excellent device, it gives more choice, and we’re in America, we’re all about choice. I can’t think of a reason not to offer the IDEAL IMPLANT. The surgery, the technical nuances or differences between a traditional breast augmentation versus an augmentation with an IDEAL, it may add just a couple of minutes to the surgical time because of the filling , and there’s a teeny bit of a learning curve. The learning curve for me was extremely short, but it’s a personal choice.
“My own practice’s philosophy has always been let’s do the best we can for our patients. I think most of my colleagues would agree with that philosophy and sentiment because if you do the best you can for patients, it’s good for business. If you make your patients happy, they’re going to send their friends. That’s good for business, and it’s really what we’re all about. We’re all about trying to do good for our patients. That’s what we’re doing this for, and so IDEAL offers another choice. It’s an excellent choice. Many of us have looked at products that we’ve tried and rejected because we didn’t like that product. Well, I certainly can’t say that about the IDEAL IMPLANT.”
Considering breast implants in the Carolinas? Contact Dr. Ram Kalus today to discuss your options. Simply call 843-806-0096, or visit www.plasticsurgerycarolina.com. Dr. Kalus’s office is located at 578 Lone Tree Drive, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants.
Richmond Breast Implant Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lynam and his Thoughts on the IDEAL IMPLANT®
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenRichmond women may not know where to go or who to choose regarding the best plastic surgeon. Getting to know doctors through interviews, like this recent interview with Dr. Gregory Lynam, are a great way to get a feel for their personality and practice. Read more to get to know Dr. Lynam and his thoughts on the new IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants.
Tell us a little bit about you and your practice.
“My name is Gregory Lynam. I’m a board certified plastic surgeon. I have a unique pathway to my current position in that I originally went to dental school. So, I graduated from college, I worked for several years, and I went to what was called MCV Dental School, here in Richmond, Virginia. And, after graduating from dental school, I went into the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery, which is a dental specialty where you do a lot of complex facial reconstruction. We did a lot of complex facial trauma. We did the procedures where you move someone’s jaw forward or back. If your daughter looked like Jay Leno, you wouldn’t want that, so we’d move the jaw back. That was all hospital based, operating room surgery. And I really liked that.
“At some point, I just decided, well, if I’m doing this kind of complex facial bone maneuvering, we share trauma call, so you either got an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or you got the plastic surgeon. I basically said, ‘I really like the fact that you can operate from here down, rather than from here up.’ I had to go back to a couple years of medical school to get a medical degree. I had to do a couple years of general surgery, and then I had to do a couple years of plastic surgery. It added about eight years more training, and that’s what I did.”
How did you hear about the IDEAL IMPLANT?
“I’ve always been a big fan of saline implants because I’ve always done a ton of transaxillary incisions. And so, for a while there, 50% of my augments were transaxillary. Transaxillary endoscopic saline submuscular breast augmentation. And so, when the IDEAL IMPLANT came out, somebody had said, ‘Well, you know you can insert it through an armpit incision.’ Yes, I gotta make it about a centimeter longer because it’s got more substance to it. It doesn’t fold flat like a regular implant because you got that internal baffles. It’s got anterior chamber, posterior chamber. It’s meatier, you know? It’s a meatier implant.
“I think it works well. It’s a nice implant. Their six year data, now their eight year data is fantastic. Lowest rupture rate, lowest caps contracture rate. When people say, ‘Will it really feel like a silicone gel implant?’ I don’t know. But most implants, if properly sized, if properly performed, and not done in a poor way or a wrong size selection, feel great. I don’t necessarily sell the IDEAL IMPLANT on feel because I think all of my saline implants that I did felt great too. But you can’t argue that their eight year data has a super lower rupture rate and super low capsular contracture rate. Their warranty program now kicks butt as well. I mean, you can’t beat that. I think everyone else is going to have to copy it.”
What is the process like for a woman coming in for her first breast augmentation consultation?
“I think the biggest thing is listening to what the patient wants. You have to be a good listener, and I think that’s probably the number one thing. I always start out the consultation, ‘Is there anything that you know you want or you know you don’t want?’ Some people have no clue, and some people want my input. But I want to know what they’re thinking or if they have any preconceived notions because if they come in and they want silicone gel implants … you don’t want to turn them off by pushing them into a saline, or an IDEAL, or something that they don’t want because they’re just going to go to somebody else.
“You want to agree with them, you want to do what they want, but I want to know how strong their beliefs are, and what they’re looking for. And, again, I want to talk about everything. And so, if someone’s really open to it, I’ll mention everything. We have some people that come in saying, ‘I want the IDEAL IMPLANT.’ I just did breast implants for a woman who is six feet tall, a thin girl, who wanted transaxillary, and wanted IDEAL, and she could be a runway model. And she’s got IDEAL’s now, and they look fine! There’s not a ripple on her! They look great. We know the saline implants ripple and wrinkle a little more than silicone gel. But I think the IDEAL IMPLANTS really seem to do great, even with people with thin soft tissue overtop of it. And I can place them transaxillary, so I love that.”
Why do you think women choose your practice over other options?
“I think it’s just because I’m very approachable. I don’t care whether you live in a million dollar house or you live in a one-bedroom apartment. I’m going to treat everyone the same. I think people just find that I’m honest, I’m approachable, down to earth. I try to speak to the level of each individual, not speaking above them or at them. You know, I try to have open and honest communication. I just want to tell people what I can do, what I can’t do. I’m going to guarantee everyone I’m going to do their surgery to the best of my ability.
“We’re not a factory. It’s about quality, doing a great job, not taking advantage of someone, and being really open, honest, and trying to address everyone’s concerns. I have patients who say, ‘I saw three other doctors. No one really examined me. No one really touched me. They came in, they looked at me, they told me this, that, and the other, and out the door they went. Then they put me with a person who is closing the deal.’ I mean, we size people. We spend a lot of time with people. I wish I could do it faster, but I can’t.”
What has been your experience with the Ideal Implant as far as patient satisfaction?
“I think they are happy with the implant. I wish I could say I have 100 patients I’ve done IDEAL IMPLANT on, but I don’t have enough. I don’t have enough volume to make a big universal statement, but I think I will. The feedback I have so far is good.”
Considering Richmond breast implants? Contact Dr. Lynam today to discuss your options. Simply call 804-560-5260 or visit www.richmondsurgicalarts.com. Dr. Lynam’s office is located at 8720 Stony Point Parkway, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23235. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants.
The Best Plastic Surgeons Weigh in on the Top 3 Cosmetic Surgical Procedures
/in Breast Implant Education Center, Breast Implant Questions and Answers /by Valerie ChristensenIn an ever-changing world, we have the ability to change what we do and don’t like about our physical appearance and many Americans are taking advantage of all that cosmetic plastic surgery has to offer. In the 2017 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that 1.7 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in the United States. But who is having what done and why? Some of the best plastic surgeons from around the nation weigh in on the top three cosmetic surgical procedures of 2017. Find out more about what the procedure accomplishes, what you can expect to pay, and how satisfied patients are after undergoing surgery.
Top Procedures in the United States for 2017
Breast Augmentation: Satisfaction Ratings and More
Women who want to increase the fullness and projection of their breasts and achieve a more proportionate look to their body can benefit from a breast augmentation. The average cost of breast augmentation surgery is $3,824, according to 2018 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, but that price tag doesn’t include the type of breast implants used, anesthesia, operating room facilities or other related expenses, surgeon’s fees, or geographic office location. The total amount could be anywhere from $3,500-$9,200 depending on what you choose. A lot of plastic surgeons don’t expect you to pay the whole thing upfront and can create an individualized financing plan for you.
Typical recovery from a breast augmentation takes about a week. The best plastic surgeon will spend ample time with you evaluating your goals and expectations for a breast augmentation. In McKinney, TX, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Naveen Setty explains what a typical breast augmentation consultation at his office entails:
The three breast implant types currently available are silicone gel implants, saline implants, and IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants. No matter which implant type you choose, breast augmentation satisfaction ratings are some of the highest on Realself.com, with 98% of patients saying their breast augmentation was “worth it”. Breast augmentation patients on Realself.com say they “couldn’t be happier”, are “extremely satisfied”, and “VERY VERY happy with the outcome” of their surgeries.
Sculpt Your Body with Liposuction from the Best Plastic Surgeon
Men and women who are tired of stubborn fat pockets that just won’t go away can improve their body contours with liposuction. “When I do liposuction I take it very seriously,” says Beverly Hills-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Vishal Kapoor. “With the power assisted cannula [a thin medical wand] the actual machine provides vibrations . . . so it actually mechanically breaks up the fat . . . in terms of end results I think they’re better because there’s less surgeon fatigue, it’s much easier to extract fat in difficult areas, and it also minimizes bruising because there’s less in and out with the cannula. With one pass you can more efficiently extract more fat cells than with a non-power assisted cannula.”
The #2 procedure in 2017, liposuction carries a $3,000-$5,500 price tag, significantly less than the total most patients pay for a breast augmentation. Satisfaction among liposuction patients is also high, with 88% of patients saying this procedure was “worth it” on Realself.com.
Reshaping Your Nose Can Restore Your Confidence
The third most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2017 was nose reshaping, also known as rhinoplasty. A rhinoplasty can perfect the proportions of your nose, correct impaired breathing caused by structural defects, get rid of visible humps on the bridge of your nose, reshape your nasal tip or nostrils, and provide more nasal symmetry. On Realself.com, 92% of patients say their nose reshaping procedure was “worth it”. The typical cost for nose surgery averages $7,300 according to reviews on RealSelf.com.
The best plastic surgeon should be able to tell you what they can and can’t do for your nose and face, and help you set realistic expectations. In Dallas, TX, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregg Anigian says, “Listening and asking questions is what I do. When the expectations that you, the patient wants, and the result that I think I can get mesh together, is when I think we both become comfortable with proceeding.”
One patient of San Antonio board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Constance Barone said they were, “amazed and over joyed” with the results of their rhinoplasty. Another patient of Beverly Hills-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Diaz says her “dorsal hump and slightly bulbous droopy tip” just didn’t match the rest of the delicate features on her face and she “could not be more pleased” with the results from her rhinoplasty.
Picking the Right Surgeon for Your Procedure
Whether you choose to have a rhinoplasty, liposuction, or a breast augmentation, satisfaction during and after surgery can be greatly impacted based on the plastic surgeon you choose.
Newport Beach-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Larry Nichter says, “The most important decision you can make is to pick your surgeon.” You deserve a surgeon who can help you feel beautiful about yourself and every aspect of your body. It’s imperative that before you have any kind of cosmetic surgery, you pick a surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and also someone with whom you feel comfortable.
The best plastic surgeons should communicate clearly with you, educate you about your choices during every step of the plastic surgery process, and provide you with compassionate, quality care from start to finish.
After Plastic Surgery Most Patients Enjoy a Boost in Self-Esteem
Cosmetic plastic surgery is not for everyone, but in a recent study by the University of Basel:
Change your life today! To find a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area, go to www.abplasticsurgery.org. For more patient reviews on specific cosmetic surgical procedures, including breast augmentation satisfaction ratings, visit www.realself.com.
Learn About Your Breast Implant Options with Help From Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons
/in Breast Implant Options /by Valerie ChristensenAre you considering a breast augmentation? With several different types of breast implants to choose from, you may be wondering which type is best. Experienced board-certified plastic surgeons tell us what you need to know about breast implants before picking one.
Breast Implant Options: Saline, Silicone Gel, Structured
All breast implants are created by filling a solid silicone shell with either saline or silicone gel. The breast implant you choose will determine your aesthetic outcome, as well as how much long-term maintenance you will need. Additionally, saline and silicone gel breast implants offer textured surface options. It is important to note however, texture surface implants may cause long-term complications and many surgeons do not offer them anymore. Most surgeons offer a variety of saline and silicone gel breast implants, but only exclusive board-certified plastic surgeons offer IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants. Finding a plastic surgeon who provides every option will help you get the best results possible.
Saline Breast Implants
Saline breast implants are FDA approved for women 18 and over. Dr. Paul Zwiebel, board-certified plastic surgeon in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, explains the benefits of saline breast implants, “One of the classic advantages of saline implants and why women have selected them in the past is that saline implants are filled with salt water, a natural occurring substance in the body. So if the saline implant were to leak, that salt water is absorbed and doesn’t harm the woman. Many women find that very comforting from the standpoint of a margin of safety.”
One other benefit of saline breast implants is instant rupture detection. Because saline is a liquid similar in density to water, the implant will deflate when a rupture occurs. There is no need for an MRI to detect a rupture, giving women extra peace of mind.
However, one major drawback of saline breast implants is the look and feel. Many women and surgeons say they feel unnatural and show visible rippling under the skin. Dr. Constance Barone, board-certified plastic surgeon in San Antonio, Texas, explains, “one of the things I hated, and most women hated, about saline was the unnatural feel of the saline implants. They felt like balloons underneath the chest wall.” For this reason many women turn to other types of breast implants.
Silicone Gel Breast Implants
Silicone gel breast implants are FDA approved for women 22 and older. They are filled with silicone gel, which is a much denser substance than saline. Dr. Matthew Galumbeck, board-certified plastic surgeon in Virginia Beach, Virginia, tells us “In 2007, the silicone gel implants came out and the advantage is that because it’s more cohesive, it has a more natural look, more natural feel.” Women enjoy the look and feel of silicone gel, and the fact that they are less likely to ripple.
Silicone gel breast implants also come in round and teardrop shapes. Round breast implants provide more fullness and projection, similar to the look of a push-up bra. Teardrop breast implants give women a more subtle profile. The disadvantage of shaped implants is they may turn inside the breast pocket and require surgery to correct. Saline and structured breast implants are only available as round implants.
Though women love the natural look of this breast implant option, silicone gel comes with certain drawbacks. Again, Dr. Galumbeck explains, “The disadvantage is that if it leaks, the silicone gel stays in the breast tissue and so you can’t tell that its leaked with a ‘silent rupture.’ The FDA actually recommends that women get MRIs every two years to look for leakage.” The possibility of a silent rupture means women must deal with the hassle and cost of repeated MRIs, or the anxiety of not knowing if their implant is intact.
Additionally, surgery to remove a leaked silicone gel breast implant can be difficult. Dr. Eric Desman, board-certified plastic surgeon in Alexandria, Virginia tells us, “if you have silicone gel implants and you detect a rupture early enough, a lot of times we’re able to remove the implant as well as the scar tissue that surrounds the implant as one unit. But frequently that leak in the silicone gel implant is not detected quickly and the silicone starts to leak through that scar tissue. A patient will then need a challenging, complicated surgery to get that old implant out and then put a new implant in. If the patient puts new silicone gel implants back in, then they’re just restarting the clock on the next problem or process with a leaked silicone gel implant.”
Structured Breast Implants
The IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant is the newest type of breast implant to be FDA approved, and is available for women 18 and older. Dr. Galumbeck describes the IDEAL IMPLANT telling us, “the third implant that’s been approved since 2014 is the IDEAL IMPLANT. The nice thing about this is it’s an all saline implant, but it’s structured so that it’s an implant surrounding an implant. And because of the structure it looks and feels like the silicone gel implant. It has a very natural look, very natural feel, doesn’t ripple, but it also has the advantage that if it leaks, because it’s saline, the salt water is absorbed by the body.”
IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants were created by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robert S. Hamas. After spending years listening to patient concerns about the compromises of saline and silicone gel, Dr. Hamas decided to develop a new breast implant option. With IDEAL IMPLANT Dr. Hamas combined what women love about saline and silicone gel. The internal structure of IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants give it stability, meaning it moves and feels like natural breast tissue. Many surgeons and patients have noted that they cannot tell the difference between a silicone gel implant and the IDEAL IMPLANT in blind tests. As Dr. Galumbeck explained above, the implant is filled with saline. Ruptures can be detected instantly, there is no need for repeated MRIs, and the saline is naturally absorbed by the body.
IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants have one of the lowest rates of complications among breast implants. According to FDA Core clinical trial data, the IDEAL IMPLANT has a rupture rate of only 2.1% at eight years after a primary breast augmentation. Silicone gel breast implants have rupture rates as high as 13.6% at eight years after a primary breast augmentation. To compare more statistics and facts between IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants and silicone gel breast implants visit idealimplant.com/compare.
We asked plastic surgeons why they choose to offer IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants alongside other types of breast implants for breast augmentation. Dr. Desman explains, “the IDEAL IMPLANT has a great feel to the touch after surgery and gives women a very natural look. Combine that with the lower capsular contracture rates and lower rupture rates that come along with IDEAL IMPLANT and these are all things that really make it a nice device to work with.” Dr. Larry Nichter, board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California, states, “It’s incredibly safe and so there’s far fewer lifetime surgeries with an IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant, compared to traditional silicone-gel implants.”
Visit Your Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon To Learn More
Every woman is different, which is why it is important to have access to a wide variety of breast implant options before your breast augmentation. An experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon will review all your options, present up-to-date data, and help you make the best choice for your body. To find a board-certified plastic surgeon near you, visit https://idealimplant.com/find-a-surgeon/.
Breast Enhancement Q&A with Dr. Ringler
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenIDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants are a new breast enhancement option for women seeking the natural look and youthful projection of silicone implants in Grand Rapids, but want the peace of mind that comes with a saline implant. In a recent interview, Dr. Steven Ringler of the Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery explained why he offers this new technology-driven implant choice.
Describe your Grand Rapids practice and what experience you have with IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants.
“I’m a board-certified plastic surgeon. I’ve been in Grand Rapids for 35 years. Right now, my practice focuses primarily on cosmetic surgery, divided equally between facial cosmetic, breast, and body contouring. Several years ago the IDEAL IMPLANT became available on the market. I have started using that in my practice. The IDEAL IMPLANT is a saline-filled implant. Many patients find that to be a really good option for them as opposed to a silicone gel implant. Because of the large number of patients that I treat with this implant, I am now considered an Ideal Implant Premier Surgeon.”
What makes IDEAL IMPLANTS different from saline or silicone implants in Grand Rapids? Why do you like IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants? Why are they known as “structured implants”?
“It’s very rewarding for me to be able to treat patients and help them achieve their aesthetic goals. I think the IDEAL IMPLANT has probably been the biggest advancement in technology for implants in my career. I am very excited about the IDEAL IMPLANT. I was an early adopter, as soon as it became commercially available, and have been very, very pleased with the results I’m seeing and so are my patients … It has an inner chamber, which is filled from a small valve on the back, and an outer chamber in front, and in between there are baffle shells, which give the implant its structure. So even when the implant is in a patient and it’s on a curved chest wall, it maintains its shape and its projection. In my experience, it’s given a really nice cosmetic shape to the breast, which I think is even better than what we would see in the past with some of the other implants available … If you look online, as you say, the reviews for the IDEAL IMPLANT are really, really good and have very positive feedback.”
Who is a good candidate to receive IDEAL IMPLANTS?
“I see a lot of women who are coming in specifically for IDEAL IMPLANTS because they’re educated and they’ve read about it and they’re excited about this new technology. But I see patients that never had much breast development or they have lost volume following pregnancy, which is probably the most common thing, and they just want to restore their natural shape and get back to where they were before.”
Explain your consultation process for women pursuing a breast enhancement.
“When I see patients in the office, of course we go through a consultation process. We talk about the implant. I show them different implants. We talk about the various risks. We do computer imaging, 3-D imaging, and then we also offer sizers, which is an insert the patient can put in their bra to get an idea of what the volume might look like after surgery. This is typically an outpatient surgery that takes about an hour— plus they are at the surgery center an hour before and an hour after.”
What risks are associated with breast enhancement surgery?
“With all implants, there are some risks that come with it. The main risk with implants is either rupture, or leakage, or what’s called a capsular contracture … The IDEAL IMPLANT has a lower rate of rupture than the silicone gel implants that are on the market, and it also has a lower rate of capsular contracture.”
What happens if a breast implant begins to leak? What can women expect if their silicone implants in Grand Rapids rupture compared to a saline or IDEAL IMPLANT?
“ The standard silicone gel implant is a silicone outer shell filled with silicone gel. The concern with this implant is if it does leak, it’s more difficult to treat because you have this kind of gooey, sticky silicone that leaks out. Even if it’s contained by the scar tissue around the implant, it’s still a more complex surgery to replace. If the saline or the IDEAL IMPLANT leaks, it’s very easy to replace the implant.”
How can women determine if their implants have ruptured?
“With the silicone gel implant or a gummy bear implant, which is a silicone gel implant, you would need an MRI or an ultrasound to determine if the implant was leaking. With an IDEAL IMPLANT, you simply have to look in the mirror because if the implant leaks, it’s harmless saline solution—salt water—that would be absorbed by your body. So a woman doesn’t need an MRI or an ultrasound to determine if it’s leaking. My patients have been really pleased with both the appearance and the feel of the implants. They get a very high level of satisfaction and also peace of mind because they don’t have to worry about what’s inside the implant.”
Whether they are interested in IDEAL IMPLANTS, saline, or silicone implants in Grand Rapids, why should women choose the Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery?
“Our office offers an extremely warm and inviting and private environment for patients. My staff is great. Patients find it’s more like being at home when they come here, visiting a friend. It’s a non-threatening environment. Patients can get all the information they need in order to decide what’s going to be best for them. We don’t push surgery. We just want to educate patients and want women to be able to make a choice for themselves.”
Considering breast enhancement surgery in Grand Rapids? Contact Dr. Steven Ringler today to discuss your options. Simply call 616-328-8800, or visit stevenringlermd.com. Dr. Ringler’s office is located at 1151 East Paris Avenue SE #200, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants.
Is Fat Grafting Right for You? Learn What San Diego Plastic Surgery Expert Dr. Cohen Has to Say
/in Plastic Surgeon Feature /by Valerie ChristensenFor women in San Diego, breast implants are not the only way to achieve a breast enhancement. Fat grafting, or fat transfer, can give you a natural looking breast enlargement by using your own fat. To find out more about fat grafting, we spoke with Dr. Steven Cohen, one of the foremost plastic surgeons performing fat grafting procedures in San Diego.
What is Fat Grafting?
Fat grafting procedures start with liposuction. Liposuction removes unwanted fat from certain areas of your body, usually the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. Typically this fat is discarded, however, during a fat grafting procedure it is repurposed. Your surgeon will process the fat and inject it into your breasts. Results vary, but can include an increase in breast size, more even shape and symmetry, as well as addressing chest wall abnormalities and thin tissue. For more information on the history of fat grafting visit plasticsurgery.org.
Fat Grafting or Breast Implants? San Diego Surgeon Helps You Decide
If you want a breast enhancement, which method is right for you? Dr. Cohen explains, “regarding fat grafting, it’s not for everyone. If a woman has a friend that has had breast implants and they’re here because they want breast enhancement, you can’t make that look happen with fat grafting. Fat grafting is like building, as Dan Delvecchio says, ‘like a sand castle.’ So you don’t just put a little bit in and you get a pop.” Fat grafting alone works best when you want a small boost in size, or desire a more symmetrical look. According to Dr. Cohen, “it’s not necessarily the procedure of choice for primary augmentation in my opinion, but for women who desire that and don’t want to deal with implants, it’s a very, very safe maneuver.”
What to Expect After Your Fat Grafting Procedure
What results can you expect after your fat grafting procedure, and how long does it take to see the final results? Studies show that setting realistic expectations before a cosmetic procedure will help you achieve a higher level of satisfaction after the procedure. To give us an idea of what to expect Dr. Cohen explains, “generally a cup to a cup-and-a-half size increase is very realistic. It’s a dynamic process that really takes about a year to see the end results. Some of the cells die, some of them are very weak, having just received the blood supply, and they bulk up with time. So, at a year you can make a little bit more judgment about a final outcome. And in general, although there’s quite a bit of standard deviation, we see about 50 to 70% survival of the fat.” Knowing this, some women decide to move ahead with fat grafting, while others choose breast implants. San Diego women can visit Dr. Cohen to determine if fat grafting or breast implants should be used to reach their individual goals.
Combining Fat Grafting and Breast Implants to Get The Look You Want
Dr. Cohen tells us some women can benefit from a combination of fat grafting and breast implants. He explains, “oftentimes we’d like to use an implant for core projection and then fat grafting to blend the implant into the chest wall or address regional anatomic variations. Because many women have breasts that are not completely symmetric with each other, and also breasts that may have regional deformities. The upper pole could be low lying. The inferior breast could be diminutive. So these are things that fat grafts can help compliment an implant with.”
Additionally, women who are thin or have very little breast tissue can benefit from fat grafting around their San Diego breast implants. Dr. Cohen tells us, “let’s say the patient is very skinny and bony, you know they’re going to show their implants later in the medial pole and usually in the inferior lateral pole. You can thicken the tissue by fat grafting in those patients. There are other patients who start out with an abnormally shaped chest wall and their breasts are on the side. You can’t make the breasts go in the center with implants, but you can facilitate that appearance with fat grafting. So again, it’s a very complimentary procedure.”
Which San Diego Breast Implants to Pair with Your Fat Grafting Procedure
If you want a more substantial enhancement than fat grafting can provide alone, combining breast implants and fat grafting may be a good option. But, does it matter which breast implant type you choose? The IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant is filled with saline for a woman’s peace of mind. While it is known to give women a natural looking result, some women may benefit from fat grafting around their IDEAL IMPLANT. Dr. Cohen is one of the exclusive surgeons in San Diego to offer IDEAL IMPLANT and has experience using them in combination with fat grafting. He tells us, “one of the things that initially I was a little concerned about was using the IDEAL IMPLANTS in conjunction with the fat. But I’ve had absolutely no issues with that whatsoever. The implants can be placed after a sizer is in and the fat is grafted with the sizer in. Or if you’re an experienced injector you can even feel very comfortable injecting around the implants with it, with a high degree of safety.”
Considering breast implants in San Diego? Contact Dr. Steven Cohen today to discuss your options. Simply call (858) 453 7224, or visit www.facesplus.com. Dr. Cohen’s office is located at 4510 Executive Drive, San Diego, CA 92121. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants.