Menu

Atlanta breast surgeon

Ask Dr. Elliott: Will I Need Another Breast Surgery in the Future?

, , , , , , ,

Every patient wants to hear that they’ll always look as great as they will in the year after their surgery. After all, who among us hasn’t wished we could permanently freeze our appearance at a certain age or weight? But the reality is that aging will always take a toll, as may other changes in our lives. With this in mind, many patients who see me for breast surgery (such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, or breast lift) ask me, “will I need another surgery in later years?”

Ask Dr. Elliott Will I Need Another Breast Surgery in the FutureWhile the word “need” doesn’t generally apply to plastic surgery because it’s primarily a cosmetic choice, the short answer is yes. If you want your breasts to continue looking their best, it can only be achieved through additional surgeries in the future. As most women know all too well, there are many changes that can affect the breasts. Aging alone causes your skin to become less firm, and because the breasts are constantly fighting gravity, this results in sagging or drooping breasts. Weight fluctuations and hormonal changes can cause changes to the breasts as well, but some of the most powerful contributors to changing breast shape are pregnancy and breastfeeding. In any case, if you’re still happy with the size of your breasts but you want to restore them to a more youthful position, a breast lift may possibly be the best choice.

However, there are also a number of other reasons you may choose or need to have a follow-up breast surgery, often called breast revision. Complications like capsular contracture (when the scar tissue hardens around the implant) and implant shifting are rare, but they can typically be improved with a relatively straightforward surgery. In other cases, women choose to undergo secondary surgery because they’re no longer happy with the size or type of implant they chose for their first surgery. For instance, you may prefer a more modest bust in your 50s than you did in your 20s, or you may have received a saline implant but would now prefer the more advanced silicone implants available. In the case of women who have had a breast reduction, some experience further breast growth in the future and need a new surgery to restore their preferred breast size.

It’s also important to recognize that breast implants will not necessarily last forever. Eventually (perhaps after 10-20 years) they may need to be replaced with newer implants due to a rupture or other defect that has developed. So, for women who have had had a breast augmentation, you might have one or more future surgeries to keep your implants functioning the way you want them to.

It’s fascinating how our aesthetic perspective changes over time. Children delight in seeing how much they’ve grown from one year to the next, while most adults actually wish they could take their appearance back in time instead. When it comes to breast surgery (and most other aesthetic goals, for that matter), remember that looking and feeling your best is an ongoing process that can offer years of improved self-confidence if you remain committed to your health. If you’re ready to get started by discussing your options for your first breast surgery or a follow-up procedure, schedule a consultation with me, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more cosmetic surgery tips and health news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Can I Have My Breasts Augmented with My Own Fat?

, , , , , , , ,

At some point, nearly all of us have looked in the mirror and said, “if only I had a little less volume here and a little more there.” That’s why so many patients ask, “Can I just use liposuction to take the fat I don’t want from my tummy or thighs and use it to make my breasts larger?” As medical science has advanced in recent years, we have found safe and successful ways to do this, so essentially, the answer is “yes”—but with some caveats, of course.

Fat transfer as a procedure is becoming more and more popular. It involves first removing the unwanted fat with a cannula (the narrow tube used for liposuction) before purifying the fat and then injecting it into the desired area. It has proven particularly successful for facial rejuvenation (to fill in the “hollows” that develop as we age and replace youthful volume) as well as for breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients and survivors. Fat transfer can also be used for a straightforward breast augmentation, but it isn’t the ideal choice for most patients, and my video below explains more:

At the end of the day, plastic surgery is tailored to each patient’s needs, and the only way to truly determine the best way to get the results you want is through a pre-surgical consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon like me. To discuss your options for breast augmentation or other aesthetic changes, schedule your consultation today. Or, to stay up-to-date on the latest news and health tips in cosmetic surgery, follow the Dr. Franklyn Elliott Facebook page, and join me on Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well.

The Latest Trend in Breast Augmentation: More Natural Sizes

, , , , , , ,

Trends change over time in nearly any field, and one of the easiest trends to watch is society’s changing beauty ideals. Plastic surgery, of course, is strongly affected by these cosmetic trends, and one current example of this is that more and more women want breasts of a natural-looking shape, rather than the “larger than life” implants which were popular 10-20 years ago.

Why are women requesting more natural-looking breasts?

breast augmentation atlantaIt’s difficult to pin down a specific reason for any trend, but in general, it appears that our society has come to place less value on a narrow set of “ideal” proportions and more value on the beauty that comes from simply being comfortable in one’s body, so women are feeling less of a desire for extremely large breasts. However, there are also practical reasons why so many women are opting for more subtle breast implants. Just like women with naturally large breasts, those who opt for very large implants can experience physical discomforts like pain in the shoulders, back, and neck, as well as difficulty exercising and shoulder “dents” from strained bra straps.

Does this mean fewer women are having breast augmentation?

Not necessarily. In fact, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, breast augmentations in the US have risen by nearly 50% since 2000. After all, a woman who is self-conscious about small or asymmetrical breasts still has those concerns regardless of the current beauty standards. The difference is that more of these breast augmentation patients choose to simply go up one or two cup sizes, opting for implants which are large enough to help them feel confident yet small enough that they still look proportionate to their frame.

However, we are also seeing an increase in the number of women who had these very large breast implants and who are now choosing to swap them out for smaller implants. Some women are even having their implants removed altogether. However, keep in mind that dramatically decreasing the size of your bust may give the breasts a “sagging” appearance because the skin had stretched to accommodate the previous implants, so for many of these patients, I recommend combining the implant removal/exchange with a breast lift to restore a more youthful shape.

While both society’s and your own perception of beauty may change, plastic surgery should always have the same goal – to help you feel confident, not to make someone else happy. To discuss your own breast augmentation or to learn more about changing or removing your breast implants, schedule a consultation with me, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, to stay up-to-date on the latest cosmetic surgery trends, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

1 2 3 4›»