Question:
I’m 26 and I’m interested in some type of breast procedure. I’d like my breasts to be a little larger and also fix some minor droopiness. Would breast implants alone help to lift the sagging or do I need a breast lift too?
Answer:
Now, it is difficult to determine whether an implant will create enough lift or if that patient will need a breast lift without really examining the patient. But in most cases, with a small amount of droopiness, implants will help that droopiness.
Question:
I’m doing research into breast lifts. I recently heard somebody called a Benelli lift. Can you explain what this is?
Answer:
A Benelli lift, or circumareolar mastopexy, is a breast lift with the incision around the areola. This is good for patients who need a small amount of lift and is not the answer for significant sagging to the breast.
Question:
I’m interested in breast lipoaugmentation. How is the fat placed in the breasts? Where are the injections made and will there be noticeable needle marks afterward?
Answer:
In breast lipoaugmentation, fat is harvested from other areas of the body and then re-injected into the breast. The holes that are used to place the fat are very small. There are no needle marks.
Question:
I recently saw something on the TV where high school girls were getting breast implants. I thought you had to be 18. How does this happen?
Answer:
The FDA mandates that patients be 18 prior to breast augmentation; however, there may be some scenarios where there is severe asymmetry or developmental issues where younger women might be having breast augmentation surgery but these are few and far between.
Question:
Is a boob lift the same as wearing a push-up bra? If so, what are the reasons to opt for the surgery?
Answer:
A breast lift is a surgery in which the breast tissue is lifted up with or without an implant to create higher, more youthful appearing breasts. A push-up bra may be able to give you this type of appearance; however, many patients prefer not to wear a bra and prefer to be able to wear an evening dress, a tank top, or a bathing suit without pushup and look more youthful.
Question:
I’m in my 30s and had stents placed in my heart several years ago. Can I still be a candidate for breast augmentation?
Answer:
For breast surgery, patients with cardiac issues need clearance from their cardiologist. We want to make sure that the patient is healthy prior to undergoing any elective surgery. The issue with stents is that some patients are on blood thinners and, again, this may need to be stopped and this requires consultation and discussion with your cardiologist.
Question:
Once the breast surgery recovery is complete, does the presence of implants limit any activities in any way?
Answer:
The only thing that we ask our patients with implants placed under the muscle is that they avoid strenuous chest exercises for approximately three months after their surgery.
Question:
Is there anything that can be done to prevent capsular contracture?
Answer:
Capsular contracture is a problem most likely due to a biofilm of different bacteria. It’s a very difficult problem. We do specific things to prevent capsular contracture, such as antibiotic irrigation, intravenous antibiotics for the patient, and a no-touch technique we use with the Keller funnel. Postoperatively, we have the patient massage and also take antibiotics. These are simple things that can be done to hopefully prevent capsular contracture.
Question:
What is the risk of overfilling implants?
Answer:
This question pertains only to saline implants which are typically overfilled. For example, a 350cc saline implant is usually filled to almost 400cc’s as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you go much larger, that could change the shape. If the implants are underfilled, they can lead to breast implant rippling.
Question:
What are the pros and cons of smooth implants compared to textured implants?
Answer:
In the United States, most surgeons use smooth implants and we are used to putting smooth implants under the muscle. Outside of the United States, textured implants are very popular. There are pros and cons of both. Some people feel that textured implants cause breast capsular contracture, however in most studies this has not been the case. We still prefer smooth implants as they ripple less.
