Useful info about breast augmentation

Q1: Doctor how do you determine the right size of breast implant when you do a bustlift?

ANSWER:

The right size of breast implant is the size that the patient wants. Like in noses, the best result is the one that the patient wants, even if the doctor is not so pleased with it. The role of a good plastic surgeon is to make sure that the surgery and the results are safe for the lifetime of the patient. With regards to the aesthetics, the surgeon should only suggest and not insist on what he thinks is beautiful. The final choice is still the patient’s.

When I evaluate a patient for breast augmentation I consider their height, shoulder width, the width of the hips and the size and skin elasticity of their original breasts. A tall, broad shouldered individual with wide hips would look better with a larger implant. If the patient is tall but the body is slim and the shoulders are narrow, then a smaller implant would look natural. On the opposite end, if the patient is short but has a wide body and broad shoulders, large size implants would still look good in them. Based on these parameters, I would offer the patient a range of sizes that I think they can use, from the smallest implant that could make a difference to the biggest implant that could be safely used. In all cases, I would encourage them to choose the bigger implants they can use. This is because in my experience I had a several patients who had their implants changed to bigger sizes but I only had one patient who found the implant too big and had it changed into a smaller one.

Of course, the patient’s profession and lifestyle also determine their preference for sizes. Celebrities and people in the entertainment business would usually prefer bigger sizes while plain housewives would just like to restore the size of their sagging breasts after pregnancy. Sometimes, especially in gay patients, the bigger size they want could not be accommodated by their tight chest skin so they have to settle with a smaller but more natural looking implanted breast. I reassure them that after a while when their skin has stretched, then they can always have their implants changed into a bigger size.

Q2: I have read in a newspaper ad about a new technique in bustlifting where there are no scars because the implant is placed through the navel. How is this possible? Could you kindly explain to me how this is done? What are its advantages or disadvantages over the traditional techniques? I am gay. Is this technique applicable for me?

ANSWER:

The technique you describe is the trans-umbilical mammary augmentation. This consists of making a small curvilinear incision in or around the navel; create a tunnel underneath the skin from the navel to the areas underneath the breast where a bigger pocket is created to accommodate the breast implant. This technique requires expensive endoscopic equipment for safety and accuracy of placement of the implants.

The advantage of this technique is that there will be no scars on the breast because the scar will be hidden in or around the navel. The disadvantages, however, are numerous, making the technique not so popular with both the doctors and the patients. First and foremost is that the technique is more expensive because it requires special equipment for good results. Second, the nature of the procedure limits the choice of implant type to the saline or water filled breast implants. Saline implants do not have the natural feel of gel-filled implants and they have the possibility of deflating anytime, making the breast flat in less than a day requiring you to have a repeat surgery. Third, the scar in or around the navel may become a problematic scar. I have observed this in several Asian patients, as we do not scar as well as Caucasians. In my opinion this technique does not offer an overall advantage over the Trans-axillary approach that also offer no scars on the breasts and the incision being hidden in the armpit.

Q3: I am a 26-yr-old single mother. After I gave birth, my breasts became smaller and sagged a little bit. I am considering having my breast enlarged some more. I had synthetic fat injection before. Can I still have more of it when I have the implants?

ANSWER:

No you cannot have additional injections if you have breasts implants because the needle might hit and rupture your implant. In fact your surgeon might even advise you to have the injected material removed first before having the breasts implants. I advise you to choose the biggest implants so you don’t need to enlarge them some more.

For more information about breast augmentation and to reach Dr. Joaquino, please call Jane at 09279350405.