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    Age Limits and Breast Implants.

    Author Archives: drlcorbett

    Age Limits and Breast Implants.

    Posted on June 15, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Mentor and Allergan (formerly Inamed) saline-filled breast implants are approved for: (1) reconstruction (primary reconstruction and revision-reconstruction) in women of any age and (2) augmentation (primary augmentation and revision-augmentation) in women 18 years or older.

    Mentor and Allergan silicone gel-filled breast implants are approved for: (1) reconstruction (primary reconstruction and revision-reconstruction) in women of any age and (2) augmentation (primary augmentation and revision-augmentation) in women 22 years or older.

    FDA restricts the marketing of breast implants for augmentation to women of a minium age because young women’s breasts continue to develop through their late teens and early 20s and because there is a concern that young women may not be mature enough to make an informed decision about the potential risks. However, there is there is no age restriction on the marketing of these products for reconstruction, so as to allow young women to have access to breast implants to replace breast tissue that has been removed due to cancer or trauma or that has failed to develop properly due to a severe breast abnormality.

    As for devices that are not approved for marketing, there are various age criteria and other restrictions for women who receive breast implants as part of a clinical study. Contact one of the companies conducting a study for more information.

    FDA approved saline-filled breast implants for augmentation in women ages 18 and older. FDA approved silicone gel-filled implants for women ages 22 and older. The age restrictions are different because the risks are different for the two products.  For example, silicone gel-filled implants will require frequent MRI monitoring to detect silent rupture (a rupture that can go undetected by you or your doctor).  There is no risk of silent rupture for saline-filled implants. In addition, the health consequences of a ruptured saline-filled breast implant are different from those of a ruptured silicone gel-filled breast implant.

    This information was taken directly from the FDA website.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All  posts on this blog are presented by Kentucky Breast Augmentation surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett

    What types of breast implants are approved by FDA?

    Posted on June 15, 2009 by drlcorbett

    FDA has approved four breast implants for marketing in the U.S.:

    • In May 2000, Mentor and Allergan (formerly Inamed) received approval for saline-filled breast implants. These implants were approved for breast augmentation in women 18 years or older and for breast reconstruction in women of any age.
    • In November 2006, Allergan and Mentor received approval for their silicone gel-filled breast implants. These implants were approved for breast augmentation in women 22 years or older and for breast reconstruction in women of any age.

    All breast implants other than these four approved devices are considered investigational devices, including the more-cohesive (“gummy bear”) implants. For a woman to receive an investigational breast implant in the U.S., she must enroll in a clinical study.

    This post was taken from the FDA website.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville, Kentucky breast augmentation surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett.

    Liposuction with a Tummy Tuck. A good mix?

    Posted on June 15, 2009 by drlcorbett

    In plastic surgery there is a little controversy about combining liposuction of the abdominal wall at the time of a tummy tuck.

    Some plastic surgeons will not do any liposuction, some will do as much as they want, while others will do some. Why the differences. It all revolves around blood supply.

    There are 3 sources of blood supply to the abdominal wall. There are vessels that loop back onto your tummy from below. We cut these when we make the incision. There are vessels that come straight up out of the muscles on the front of your abdomen. We cut these when we elevate the skin/fat layer to tighten your muscles. So what we are left with is a whole series of vessels that come off your flanks and course through the upper layer of fat, just below your skin, in the upper abdomen. Well, the upper abdomen is usually full and could use a little liposuction.

    This gives us the potential for a problem. If we aggressively suction your upper abdomen we can injure these vessels and end up with a wound healing mess. If  we do no suctioning, most patients will feel like the improvments on their lower tummy just make the upper part look even worse. Some suctioning will give an improvement, but will it be enough for you to be happy?

    Most plastic surgeons have developed a policy on this based on his or her experience. So, if you are considering having your tummy done, just ask. With the information above you should have a better understanding of your surgeon’s bias.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are authored by Dr. Lee Corbett, a board certified cosmetic plastic surgeon in Louisville, Kentucky.

    What are some of the important factors I should consider when deciding whether or not to get breast implants?

    Posted on June 14, 2009 by drlcorbett
    What are some of the important factors I should consider when deciding whether or not to get breast implants?
    Some important factors to consider include:
    * 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 complications or unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes.
    * Many of the changes to your breasts following implantation cannot be undone. If you later choose to have your implants removed and not replaced, your breasts will not change back to the way they looked before your implant surgery. You may have permanent dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes.
    * When you have your implants replaced (revision), your risk of complications increases compared to your first (primary) surgery.
    * Routine mammograms to screen for breast cancer will be more difficult with breast implants.
    * Breast implants may affect your ability to breast feed, either by reducing or eliminating milk production.
    Factors to consider specifically about silicone gel-filled breast implants include:
    * If your silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures, you may have no symptoms. This is called a silent rupture because, most of the time, neither you nor your doctor will know that your implant has ruptured.
    * The best way to determine whether or not your silicone gel-filled implant has ruptured is with an MRI examination. You should have your first MRI three years after your implant surgery and every two years thereafter.
    * Over your lifetime, the cost of MRI screening may exceed the cost of your initial surgery. This cost may not be covered by medical insurance.
    Some important factors to consider include:
    * 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 complications or unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes.
    * Many of the changes to your breasts following implantation cannot be undone. If you later choose to have your implants removed and not replaced, your breasts will not change back to the way they looked before your implant surgery. You may have permanent dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes.
    * When you have your implants replaced (revision), your risk of complications increases compared to your first (primary) surgery.
    * Routine mammograms to screen for breast cancer will be more difficult with breast implants.
    * Breast implants may affect your ability to breast feed, either by reducing or eliminating milk production.
    Factors to consider specifically about silicone gel-filled breast implants include:
    * If your silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures, you may have no symptoms. This is called a silent rupture because, most of the time, neither you nor your doctor will know that your implant has ruptured.
    * The best way to determine whether or not your silicone gel-filled implant has ruptured is with an MRI examination. You should have your first MRI three years after your implant surgery and every two years thereafter.
    * Over your lifetime, the cost of MRI screening may exceed the cost of your initial surgery. This cost may not be covered by medical insurance.
    *****This post was taken from the FDA website on breast implants.*****
    Lee Corbett, MD
    502-721-0330
    The posts on this blog are authored, unless specifically noted, by Louisville, Kentucky cosmetic plastic surgeon Lee Corbett.

    Should you have an implant and a breast lift at the same time?

    Posted on June 10, 2009 by drlcorbett

    This is a loaded question and your answer depends upon whom you ask.

    Lifts alone and implants alone are fairly straightforward operations. Not much controversy there.

    When we combine the procedures things change though. Here’s why.

    These two operations are fundamentally opposed. An implant operation is a stretching operation. A lift operation is a tightening operation. Adding an implant to the breast adds weight to the breast. Patients who need lifts have skin that can’t support the weight of the breasts as they are. How can we expect the skin to support the breast and an implant? Well, on a level, we can’t.

    There are also marking issues. When we do a lift, we will mark the breast pre-op, and follow our lines. It is pretty straight forward. Well, if I mark your breast pre-op and then put an implant in, all of my marks are invalid. So the operation is more difficult.

    If it’s so bad, should it be done? Personally, I think it’s reasonable to do it together, but only if the patient realizes that the chances of needing a revision are higher than if the two are done seperately. In my practice, I do a lot of lift and implant combination procedures because a lot of women need it.

    In the end, what universally happens, is that the implant will settle and the breast is not quite as perky as it was in the first few weeks or months after surgery. You will see a big improvement compared to pre-op, but the implant just wont stay quite as high as it was intially placed.

    If you are considering this combination, make sure you and your surgeon are on the same page. I do this with my patients and things turn out very well.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are authored by Dr. Lee Corbett, a Louisville, Kentucky breast augmentation specialist.

    Over the Counter Medicines and Surgery.

    Posted on June 9, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Im my eleven years of plastic surgery in Lousville,  over the counter meds and supplements have become much more popular. In general, it’s best to stop taking all over the counter medications 2 weeks before surgery. There are a couple of reasons.

    First, we don’t know what’s in a lot of the stuff that’s out there, especially the weight loss products and nutritional supplements. Most of the ingredients are probably OK, but sometimes there are ingredients that can result in dangerous swings in your blood pressure during anesthesia. This is especially true of the diet drugs. For this reason, your Anesthesiologist will probably cancel your surgery if you show up on diet drugs or supplements that don’t have a list of ingredients.

    I also see a lot of folks who are taking “healthy” supplements like Vitamin E or Fish Oil. These are normally fine, but both can cause bleeding during surgery. The same is true for Aspirin, advil, motrin, alleve and these types of non-steroidal drugs.

    The best thing to do when you have surgery upcoming is to make sure you let your doctor know everything you are taking. Don’t assume anything, it may result in your surgery being cancelled. And don’t just stop taking everything, your doctor may have you on aspirin for your heart. It may be that you can’t safely come off the aspirin!

    As for prescription drugs, you must talk with your surgeon before altering your routine. Remember, when in doubt ask your doctor.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are authored by Louisville Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett. Dr. Corbett specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery including facelifts, browlifts, blepharoplasy, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, body lifts, liposuction,  and tummy tucks.

    What is a Mini-Tummy Tuck?

    Posted on June 9, 2009 by drlcorbett

    There are Tummy Tucks and there  Mini-Tummy tucks.

    Big picture: the difference is that a Mini addresses the lower part of the tummy only. A full tummy tuck treats the front of your torso from rib cage down to your pubic area. A mini treats from the umbilicus down.

    When we do a full tummy tuck the incision is from hip to hip, we lift the skin/fat layer up to just below the breast bone, tighten the muscles from top to bottom, and then remove the loose skin between your belly button and pubic line.

    With a Mini, we shorten the incision so that it’s just a bit longer than a C-section incision. The undermining goes just up to the belly button and the muscle tightening is from the belly buttton down.

    So, Mini tucks are intended for a woman who has a typical bulge of the lower abdomen and a little loose skin from pregnancy. Full tummy tucks are better suited for those who have more generalized laxity of their abdominal wall, more loose skin, and generally more fatty tissue. The best way to figure out which one is best for you is to let a Plastic Surgeon take a look at your tummy. A quick look and your input on what you’d like to improve and your surgeon ought to be able to tell you if a Mini is enough .

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are authored by Kentucky Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett. Dr. Corbett specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery including facelifts, browlifts, blepharoplasy, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, body lifts, liposuction,  and tummy tucks.

    What is the difference between a Breast Reduction and Breast Lift?

    Posted on June 8, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Breast reductions and Breast lifts are very similar operations. In a lot of cases the incisions are similar, both serve to lift the breast and re-position the nipple. But there are some significant differences.

    The reasons women seek the operations differ. Both want their breasts lifted but reduction patients also tend to complain of neck, shoulder, and upper back discomfort. They also complain of shoulder grooving and of developing rashes under their breasts.

    The obvious is that reductions significantly downsize the breast. I don’t know that there is an average, but most women will drop 2 or 3 cup sizes after a reduction. After a lift, most women experience a slight decrease in their bra size. In fact, a lot of times women who have lifts elect to have an implant placed in order to re-establish the fullness at the top portion of their breasts.

    Finally, reductions tend to be considered medically necessary and covered by insurance. Lifts are considered cosmetic and financial responsiblity lies solely with the patient.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are authored by Kentucky Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett. Dr. Corbett specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery including facelifts, browlifts, blepharoplasy, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, body lifts, liposuction,  and tummy tucks.

    If you’ve just had breast augmentation

    Posted on June 5, 2009 by drlcorbett

    I know this sounds crazy and I know you are going to get in front of that mirror asap, but don’t take too much stock in what you first see. This is one of those “trust me” things. After doing over a thousand Breast Augmentations in Louisville, I just know.

    Why am I saying this, because of swelling. When we put these implants in the breast starts to swell before you even leave the operating room. Now, if we use silicone implants that go on top of the muscle, the swelling is much less and goes away more quickly. So, after 4 or 5 days, when you look in the mirror, you should get a pretty good idea of how things are going to look.

    Saline is a whole different ballgame. At the 3 to 5 day period you are maximally swollen. That muscle will swell and you will look like you have implants up to your collar bones. The soft tissue under your arms will swell as will the breast itself. The skin will be stiff and shiney. So don’t even look because this is NOT how your breasts will be once you are healed. Now, healing varies from person to person. Some women have lost most of their swelling at 2 to 3 weeks, others take 2 to 3 months. I don’t even think about recommending you buying nice bras until after your second post op visit, which is at the 2 month point. Even then I tell some of you to hold off.

    The bottom line is that even though everyone knows she is going to be swollen, the swelling is a lot worse than some of you anticipate. That triggers pure panic for some women that is just unnecessary. If you have saline implants, pay no attention the shape and size of your breast for the first 7 to 10 days…it’s all going to change and change for the better!

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are authored by Louisville Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett. Dr. Corbett specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery including facelifts, browlifts, blepharoplasy, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, body lifts, liposuction,  and tummy tucks.

    Bras after Breast Augmentation

    Posted on June 5, 2009 by drlcorbett

    Plastic Surgeons all have differing opinions on bras after breast augmentation. Some prefer no bra, some bind the breast with an Ace wrap, others use a bandeau, and some will recommend a specific bra that they feel helps.

    My recommendation is to use a sports bra beacuse they are comfortable. But that’s the only reason, for comfort.

    If you end up with a result you love or one you hate after your augmentation, I can tell you one thing about your result…what kind of bra you wore post op has nothing to do with how things turned out.

    If you have a question or concern, call your doctor.

    Lee Corbett, MD

    www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

    502.721.0330

    All posts on this blog are authored by Louisville Cosmetic  Surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett. Dr. Corbett specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast augmentation, breast lifts, and breast reductions.

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