Inland Cosmetic Surgery

This week, we have a guest blogger – Michelle in Denver, Colorado – who had breast augmentation years ago from another surgeon and is now considering a revision procedure. This article includes her research and discussion on the topic.

Do my breast implants need to be replaced?

Breast implants do not have an expiration date and there is no definitive requirement to have them replaced periodically. However, according to the Institute of Medicine, the average life expectancy of a breast implant is 16 years. FDA studies of silicone breast implants suggest that most implants last 7-12 years. However, some breast implants clearly last much longer. So, there really is no absolute answer to the question . Speaking for myself, I am at 25 years and counting. My breast implants have far outlasted my marriage!

According to an article by the FDA, “breast implants do not last forever. If you decide to get breast implants, you will likely need additional surgeries on your breasts over your lifetime due to rupture, other complications or unacceptable cosmetic outcomes. According to The National Research Center for Women & Families, “the likelihood of rupture increases every year.”

But as long as the breast implant is intact and you are not experiencing any complications, there is no real need to have a breast implant revision.

After 25 years, I am not experiencing any major complications or significant positioning problems, even after two pregnancies and breastfeeding, however I am considering breast implant replacement. I want to be proactive and avoid any complications, but I also want to benefit from new technology and use this opportunity to achieve a new look.
Read more »

Warranties on silicone breast implants have been upgraded this year. Until December 31st, the manufacturers will be offering up to $3500 for surgery reimbursement.  In the event of an implant rupture – even ten years after your surgery – the manufacturer will cover costs like anesthesia, facility, and surgery.

Before this year, the standard warranty offered lifetime product replacement and a financial reimbursement of $1200, while the premium warranty offered $2400.  Although these reimbursements have always been in place to offset the cost of revision surgery, for the patient they still carry the potential for out-of-pocket expense.

Those considering breast augmentation with silicone implants may want to take note; this may be a great time to undergo the procedure.  If you have surgery on or before December 31, 2009, you’ll qualify for this special warranty.

If you want some extra insurance against the financial risks associated with implant rupture, this warranty is an excellent idea.  You might also say it represents the confidence implant manufacturers have placed in the longevity of their products.

Read: What if my implant fails or ruptures?

What surgeons refer to as TUBA, and the layperson might call “belly button breast augmentation,” is an effective method for breast implant placement.  In the right patients, this method can produce aesthetically pleasing results with scars that are literally invisible.

To describe the TUBA procedure briefly, the surgeon makes an incision in the navel, creates a tunnel through the subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen to the breasts, and then places the implant above or below the pectoral muscle.  The implants are placed symmetrically below the nipple.  To provide a view of the patient’s underlying tissues, a tiny fiber optic camera called an endoscope is utilized.

Certain practitioners have criticized the transumbilical method for its inherently “remote” technique, which doesn’t allow the surgeon direct access to the breasts.  Although this objection seems reasonable, the results achieved with this procedure say otherwise.  If the patient is safe, satisfied, and the aesthetic results are comparable (or superior) to other breast implant placement methods, the objection doesn’t hold any weight.

Jacob Haiavy MD and William A. Brennan MD published a study in 2007 that analyzed 245 patients of transumbilical breast augmentation, and found that the rate of complications was comparable to other breast implant placement methods.  Furthermore, 1 year after transumbilical breast augmentation, 95 percent of the patients were satisfied with the surgery and 86 percent were satisfied with the implant size chosen.

You can download the referenced article through this link:

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation: A Practical Review of a Growing Technique

TUBA breast augmentation before and after pictures are included in the article, as well as our website.  Contact Inland Cosmetic Surgery for more information on this procedure.

At Inland Cosmetic Surgery, we recently learned about an exciting new product designed to familiarize women with breast implants: The Natrelle® Pre-Consultation Kit includes trial implants, a sizing bra, and an instructional DVD.  If you’re not quite ready to commit to augmentation surgery, this kit can aid you, in the privacy of your own home, to make an informed decision about implants.  Go to www.natrelle.com/kit for more information, where you can also purchase it for $39.99.

Many patients ask, what is the best time to get breast implants? Women across the United States and Canada seek breast augmentation with either silicone or saline implants to enhance the look of their breasts at many different stages in their life. Thousands of breast augmentation procedures are performed each year as more women are realizing benefits such as increased confidence and better fitting clothes.

As our society becomes more health-conscious, women try to determine if they are an ideal candidate for breast implants by asking their surgeon many qualifying questions regarding their age and medical history. When determining whether or not you are an ideal candidate for breast augmentation, only a consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon can help you learn what’s best for you. However, as a safe rule, breast augmentation is appropriate for healthy women between the ages of 18 and 50. While this is a large age range, it is up to the individual and their surgeon to determine when to choose breast augmentation surgery.

Can Teenagers Have Breast Implants?

Yes. While the Food and Drug Administration does not recommend breast implants for anyone under the age of 18, there are no strict laws preventing younger patients from having breast augmentation surgery. In general, it is advised that women wait until their breasts are fully developed to realize the most benefits from getting breast implants. For many women, breasts continue to develop through the teen years until their early 20’s. However, depending on your particular situation, your surgeon may develop a customized plan of care for you at any age.

What is the Most Common Age for Breast Implants?

Most breast augmentation procedures are performed on women between the ages of 20 and 35. While most women get breast implants during this age, there are many things to consider before moving forward with surgery. First of all, women in their early 20’s may still have developing breasts. Getting breast implants too early in the developing stages, may result in stretch marks or sagging breasts.

Read more »

New statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show signs of unprecedented change in the cosmetic surgery industry.  Most notably, the popularity of breast implants has surpassed liposuction for the first time.

341,144 liposuctions were performed in 2008, but breast augmentations exceeded that figure with a surprising 355,671 procedures done during the same period.

ASPS President Alan Gold told the press, “for the first time in the twelve years these statistics have been collected, liposuction is a runner up in popularity to breast augmentation. Gold went on to predict that “this turnabout will generate discussions in the medical community and the public at large.”

He offered a theory that “changes in fashion, i.e. décolletage baring styles, might be a factor in bringing about this change.”

10.2 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2008 and an overwhelming majority (over 90 percent) of them were undergone by women.  The top 5 include:

1. Breast Implants
2. Liposuction
3. Eyelid Surgery
4. Rhinoplasty
5. Tummy Tuck

The top 5 non-surgical cosmetic procedures were:

1. Botox
2. Laser Hair Removal
3. Hyaluronic acid wrinkle fillers (Juvederm, Restylane)
4. Chemical Peel
5. Laser Skin Resurfacing

deflated saline

The first thing you should do is call Dr. Haiavy at Inland Cosmetic Surgery!

It is possible that your breast implants are covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, which can often help to cover the replacement cost.  While a ruptured saline implant poses no immediate danger to the patient, it will certainly look and feel strange. Failure of a silicone breast implant on the other hand, can only be diagnosed by MRI.

Implant deflation is far from being a common occurrence but it can happen for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the problems occur because implants are filled beyond (or below) the manufacturer’s recommended fill range. Other times, texturing of a saline implant results in excessive wrinkling and premature wear, causing the implant to fail.

In the event of implant failure, safe removal and replacement can be achieved in a surgical procedure similar to the original breast augmentation. Usually the same incision is used to approach the deflated implant.

This all might sound like a major hassle, but there is good news; recovery from breast implant repair surgery is usually easier than the original surgery, since the pectoralis muscle has already been stretched.

During your complimentary consultation you will be sized to find the perfect implant that fits your body

One of the most important decisions a woman has to make is what size implant fits her body the best.

Most women that are interested in breast augmentation have been thinking about it for months, if not years. They usually have an idea of what they want to achieve and what would look good on them.

Unfortunately breast implants do not come in “Cup Sizes” and frankly cup sizing is not a standard size therefore every manufacturer has a different template or pattern for their cup size. For example you may fit in to a Macy’s “B” cup bra and be a full “c” cup in Victoria’s Secret.

The implants come in increments of ounces. One ounce is equal to 30 cc’s. When patients come to our office for a consultation, we do an initial sizing and then recommend that they do a similar exercise at home with rice or bird seeds placed in to a stocking or nylon. Use a measuring cup to measure the number of ounces, then place in the nylon, tie the top, and mark the number of ounces for future identification. You can make three different sizes for example 12, 13 and 14 ounces.

Then buy the bra size you want to fill. Make sure that there is no added padding! Place the implants you made in to the bra and try some of your clothes. See which one of the implants gives you the best look and proportion. Have Fun! Have a fashion show with your husband, partner or your girl friends. Wear the implants around for a few days and see how you feel living with that size. You can even wear them to work. If you want to look larger or smaller make a pair of one ounce larger or smaller baggy.

When you come to your pre-op appointment approximately two weeks before your surgery, bring your favorite “baggies” with you along with the bra so we can see specifically the size you want.

Based on your physical examination and the measurements I take during the consultation and the amount of ounces you like on the outside of your breast, we can choose an implant size that will fit your body the best and imitate what you like. I will make adjustments to the number of ounces you come up with because the implants look smaller when they are inside the body.

(Moderate, Moderate Plus or High Profile) that fits your body the best.

Some times I see my patients struggling with the number of ounces or cc’s that they want in their implant. Let me just reassure you that we will guide you through this process and help you reach your goal. In addition, let me inform that an ounce of saline which is 30 cc’s is equivalent to two table spoons of water.

One ounce adjustment to your implant will not make a significant difference in your cup size. To make that much of a difference, on an average size person we will need to add or take off five full ounces or 150 cc’s. Therefore please concentrate on the look and proportions more than on the cc’s when you do your home work and enjoy the process. This will be a life changing and rewarding event for you.

–Dr. Haiavy