We recently interviewed Dr. Watumull to get to know him and his practice better. Dr. Watumull is an IDEAL IMPLANT Premier surgeon, meaning that he has more experience and expertise working with the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant than other surgeons. He explains below about what sets him apart from other Dallas breast implant surgeons. Read more to get to know Dr. Watumull, his thoughts on silent rupture and the IDEAL IMPLANT, and what he predicts for the future of breast implant technology.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
“I’m originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, but left to come to UT Southwestern for surgical training. I was recruited to a suburb of Dallas where I currently have a marvelous practice now with five other doctors. I’m a board certified plastic surgeon. We have a dynamic practice that’s growing rapidly. My areas of focus and expertise right now are aesthetic surgery, specifically breast aesthetics, breast reconstruction, and anything on the face.”
How did you get into breast surgery and why do women choose you for their Dallas breast implants?
“We try very hard to put ourselves on the patient’s side and we never oversell. We do what we would want our family members to have done. We are very conscious of our patients’ time and cut to the chase on things that are most important to them in the consultation. We have nearly 30 years of expertise and the newest technology to offer. What makes us unique is that we are one of the few practices that have six physicians. We regularly critique each other in meetings where we do journal clubs and review. We talk about how we can do things better all the time.”
How do you advise women who want new breast implants?
“It starts with a very thorough analysis at a thorough consultation. We sit down and ask the patient what their intimate goals are. I think good plastic surgery always starts with listening. Then we do a careful physical exam to know exactly what someone is a good candidate for, based on their own anatomy. Once we have a thorough examination, we take it one step further and have a 3D imaging called Vectra, where patients can actually look what different sizes and types of implants would look like on their frame. We go through all of the possibilities. We love the new IDEAL IMPLANT because it is a soft, new generation implant that is a really good option. If someone’s had a silicone leakage before, IDEAL IMPLANT is something they won’t have to worry about. Unstructured saline implants are still a good option for some individuals, largely because it is the most cost effective implant. We try to meet the implant to someone’s goals, not to push any agenda.”
What made you decide to offer the IDEAL IMPLANT and what are the benefits?
“I was excited to use the IDEAL IMPLANT because scientifically, they are the best implant. They have the lowest rate of capsular contracture and leaking, extremely high patient satisfaction rates, and the best warranty. As a plastic surgeon continually trying to up my game and make everything we offer better, we think it’s a wonderful choice. We are continually impressed by the IDEAL IMPLANT’s safety record and the fact that you don’t need any regular follow up, scanning, or MRI’s to see if it’s leaking. If they look fine, they’re fine. It’s a major advantage for some of our patients and I continue to recommend the IDEAL IMPLANT as a good choice.”
What reasons do women give for choosing the IDEAL IMPLANT over other options?
“They are largely choosing it because they’re concerned about a silicone implant leaking or if it doesn’t leak, what work they will have to do to make sure it’s not leaking over the 20-30 year life span. They don’t want to worry about going back in for regular studies every three-to-five years and if it’s covered by insurance or not and with the IDEAL IMPLANT, none of those things are a worry.”
How do you educate your patients on what kind of investment implants are for their future?
“We don’t know exactly how long each type of implant will last. I do think with increased proper surgical technique and care, we’re seeing a much longer lifespan of implants than we used to. The leak rate for unstructured saline and silicone gel implants is quoted to be about 1% per year. So after ten years, there is a 10% leak rate. The IDEAL IMPLANT has half that leakage rate. So at the end of 20 years, it would be a 10% risk of leaking instead of 20%. There is still a concern for any implant, or any manufactured device, that it could fail. But the rates of failure are decreasing. Every patient should be prepared to have some revisionary surgery, but the reality is, they may never have to.”
What would you tell other surgeons who are wondering about the IDEAL IMPLANT?
“One of the main reasons to offer anything to your patients is to offer them the best. Right now, IDEAL IMPLANT has the best scientific data, no question. So the number one reason surgeons should offer the implant is it has half the complication rate of the other implants. We should be data-driven and science driven. Secondly, if they don’t have the IDEAL IMPLANT in their armamentarium, some patients won’t choose them as their surgeon. If you don’t have all the options, you’ll lose out on the market that wants that option. It doesn’t make any sense to not offer the implant with the highest patient satisfaction, best warranty, lowest leakage, and lowest capsule contracture.”
What trends do you foresee in the future breast augmentation world?
“I think there is change coming all the time. I think there is a tremendous effort by our national plastic surgery organizations to reduce the complication rate by placing the implants in a very safe, almost manufacturing environment, reducing the risk of infection, reducing pressure on the implant during implantation to decrease the risk of any stress on the implant shell, careful followup, excellent informed consent, etc. The future is bright and we will have better techniques and better implants. I’m hoping the FDA will be very welcoming to newer technology that has an advantage for women.”
How much does silent rupture matter to women, from your experience?
“No woman wants an implant leaking in their body. It is a concern for our patients and being able to have your fears allayed that you don’t have a silent rupture is a huge step forward. There is excellent data that a ruptured silicone implant will not cause systemic illness, however, the scar tissue that forms around a ruptured implant is very challenging and messy for the surgeon to remove.”
What sets your practice apart from other plastic surgeons in your area?
“I try very hard to be extraordinarily accurate with our surgical plans. One thing that I know for a fact is my complication and revision rates are extraordinarily low, and that’s because we are very compulsive in our preparation and aftercare. Virtually all patients are followed meticulously for a year inclusive of their surgical date. I also spend a lot of time with my patients and many of them have my cell phone number. What sets us apart the most are our excellent results, low rated problems, and high rate of success. We also have excellent staff who take special care of our patients. People come to us because of our reputation for our bedside manner and we’re proud of that.”
Dr. Watumull is part of an exclusive group of surgeons who now offer the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant, the latest in implant technology. If you are thinking about Dallas breast implants, contact Dr. Watumull today to discuss your options. Simply call (972) 470-5000, or visit www.drwatumull.com. Dr. Watumull’s office is located at 12222 North Central Expressway, #250, Dallas, TX 75243. Call today for more information on IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants.