Category: Breast Surgeries

Last blog I discussed the recovery for Facelift. Here we will cover Breast Augmentation surgery recovery. Breast Augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the USA, and even in the world.

With so many women electing this procedure, there are numerous ways to hear about different recovery experiences, however you need to remember each patient and surgeon is different, therefore so is the recovery. In my precise hands, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll have the best possible surgery outcome.

Generally, the healthier and more physically fit you are, the recovery will be easier for any surgery. Regardless of your health status, it’s important to not rush recovery time, follow your surgeon’s instructions and listen to your body. In this blog, you can learn about what to consider regarding Breast Augmentation surgery recovery and how to make your recovery the best possible experience.

First Couple Days

With Breast Augmentation, I tell everyone to expect a total rest time of 3 to 5 days because this is the period of most inflammation and discomfort. Fortunately, you will have pain meds to help take the edge off, but don’t allow yourself to overdo it. Your movements will be restricted and you shouldn’t drive. I recommend you have an extra person to stay with you and care for you in the beginning.

Definitely no work or much activity during these first couple days. Short walks around the house after day 2 is good to keep the blood flowing and prevent blood clots. But take it real easy, as the breasts are supported by an elastic bandage or special bra and wrapped in gauze to protect the incision sites. While these help with support and swelling, they won’t prevent blood pooling inside if you are too active too early.

Early Weeks

Healing varies by person, but if you have a desk job, you can probably go back to work after a week or 2. In 2 to 3 weeks you should be able to wear more normal fitting clothes. You’re going to have to restrain yourself from shopping just yet because you might feel like buying a bunch of pretty new bras for your new shape and size.

Hold off for a bit longer because the breasts will still change as swelling resolves and settling occurs. Don’t be surprised or worry if the swelling has moved lower to your torso by the end of the first week, it should be significantly less by 2 to 3 weeks.

Also, around 3 weeks the nerves start to “wake up” and cause some possible tingling in the nipples, while other areas still feel numb. You shouldn’t need much help from pain medication at this point, but something over the counter can usually do the trick with any lingering discomfort.

After the First Month

Generally around 6 weeks after a Breast Augmentation, you should be able to resume working out, except heavy lifting. By 3 to 6 months you should be used to your new breasts and they should feel comfortable. By 6 to 9 months, almost all swelling should be resolved and in the desired position. Your breasts shouldn’t look too high, but should look settled and natural. The scars will continue to heal and fade by a year to 18 months. How much they disappear will depend on your skin genetics and how well you take care of them.

As you can see, recovery is a process. Along with good self care during recovery, you will be so happy you trusted yourself to the hands of an expertly qualified surgeon like myself. Schedule a Breast Augmentation consultation today at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

These days my patients are quite informed about the procedures they are requesting from me. They’re reliant on my professional advice on the details and implementation of their goals, but most Breast Augmentation patients have an idea about what the procedure entails. The lesser known sister of Breast Augmentation is Breast Revision surgery. There are a variety of reasons someone might need this “surgery after the surgery,” and I’ll cover those here.

Breast Revision surgery is for someone who’s already had a Breast Augmentation and needs a change that requires another surgery to the breast area at any point in time near or distant from the original Breast Augmentation. The majority of women love their new breasts with no complications and often experience satisfaction for many years.

However, a Breast Revision surgery is a great option for a variety of reasons, such as:

1. Address the natural effects of aging and gravity on the breasts. The breasts with the implant still will sag over time and so a Breast Lift could help restore perkiness and placement.
2. Breasts change as a result of pregnancy, weight loss or gain. If the Breast Augmentation occurred before these events, a Revision can be intended to restore your breasts to their former stature.
3. Change the implant size with a Breast Implant Exchange to go smaller or larger. Fortunately, the Breast Implant Exchange is less intense of a surgery than the original augmentation. The space or pocket for the implant has already been created so there’s not the stretching discomfort experienced during the initial surgery. Also, the recovery time is usually shorter.
4. Repair breast implant malposition. The implant didn’t settle where it should be and has caused the breasts to look unnatural.
5. Correct capsular contracture where the tissue surrounding the implant contracts and squeezes the implant into an awkward and uncomfortable position. In this case, the constricting tissue would be removed and the implant replaced.
6. Change the implant type. Some women who got saline implants and experience rippling or wrinkling, prefer to exchange them for the consistency of a silicone gel. This is particularly common for women who got a Breast Augmentation when the silicone option was off the market from 1993 to 2006.
7. Breast Implant Exchange for prevention or in the case of leakage. Implants do not have a lifetime guarantee to not leak. It is recommended to exchange for a new implant every 10 years. If a saline implant is leaking, it’s easy to detect because the breast will appear deflated. However, in most cases, a silicone implant leak would require an MRI to detect leakage, so regular checks are recommended.
8. Breast cancer treatments may require the implant to be removed. This is a decision that should be made along with your medical support team.

In conjunction with considering the need for a Breast Revision surgery, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of choosing an experienced plastic surgeon to perform it. Maintaining aesthetics of the breasts while navigating prior surgery effects is an art that requires much technical skill and expertise. To discuss the possibility of putting yourself in the hands of a triple board certified surgeon, such as myself, you can schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Everyone wants to have an idea of what they’ll look like after their cosmetic procedure. It used to be all conjecture, but fortunately now with 3D technology, you can get a really good idea of your results. I’m pleased to offer Vectra Breast Imaging as a state of the art imaging program to help in the process of creating the best Breast Augmentation results achievable.

See What Can Be… This state of the art computer program, along with our trained implementation of it, can give you realistic images to explore your options in a hypothetical visual sense of what your body could look like. This can better help you set your goals while allowing for the benefits and conditions of your options to sink in. This significantly improves your decision making ability by allowing you to get the best possible idea of what you could look like after your Breast Augmentation. We can also be sure to manage expectations and be on the same page for the best possible treatment plan.

Customized to You… Vectra Breast Imaging takes exact measurements of the current body contours and proportions, and uses this to adjust volume with just one click. The degree of change is highlighted with a color distance map. It offers 3D views from any angle of your body with superimposed images to see “before and after” views before the actual possible reality of it. This means you can seamlessly rotate from front, side and back views to get a complete picture. Also, the “before and after” views can be formatted in side by side or as a faded overlay.

Easy Consideration of Choices… This tool also allows you to compare multiple scenarios with different size and implant types. It uses the implant shape, size, placement and factors in gravity. Vectra Breast Imaging’s dynamic capabilities allow for the correction of ptosis (sagging) and breast asymmetry.

Visualize in Office and at Home… These images are not only available in our office consultation, but through the ViewMyConsult portal. You can visually soak in the different options and review treatment recommendations in the comfort of home. While I strive to offer a compassionate, complete, relaxed office consultation, these types of decisions have multiple levels of consideration and having all the information and images at your finger tips is so reassuring.

Vectra Breast Imaging empowers our patients with confidence, manages expectations, and improves our communication to get your Breast Augmentation journey off to a great start. But to make sure the actual outcomes are the best possible, you need to be in the best hands… our hands. To begin your successful Breast Augmentation journey with me, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

The more you learn about your breasts the better you can care for them and appreciate them. Here are some more fun facts to help you know more about your girls.

Side sleeping is best for breast shape. They even could use some pillow support while you sleep. This is just another reason that belly sleeping isn’t best for your body.

Breasts can be a breeding ground for bacteria. This happens because sweat can collect and the abundant oil glands above and between your breasts to make the area vulnerable to clogged pores and pimples. Prevent problems by wiping the area right after workouts or if you’ve been outside sweating a lot, and never staying long in sweaty bras because they can harbor bacteria that love dark, damp places.

They have growth potential through your early to mid 20s. This is especially important for younger women when considering breast augmentation. Though most breast growth does happen through the puberty years, they do continue to grow into early adulthood. How big they do get is actually determined by genetics from both parents. After the mid 20s, it’s unlikely for them to grow unless you gain weight, get pregnant, breastfeed (however they will go back down afterwards) or sometimes with birth control.

Nipples usually get darker during pregnancy. The body does this because it is anticipating breastfeeding the baby, which can better see darker colors. The darker nipple makes it a more visible target. No reason to freak out though, most women’s nipples lighten back to normal a little while after baby is born, while some may stay just slightly darker.

The creation of cleavage isn’t just based on breast size. While the larger ladies do have a cleavage creating advantage, breast shape and location on the torso also come into play. This means that the same cup size can vary in their ability to create cleavage. If the breasts are fuller in the outer breast or positioned wider apart, cleavage may not come as readily. A narrow torso, breasts set closer together or fuller in the center have an easier time creating cleavage.

Exercise can’t increase breast size, but the right ones can help their appearance. Breasts aren’t made of muscle, but they’re resting on top of muscle. These exercises can help firm up the pectoral muscles, which can slightly perk up the breasts: pushups, bench presses, dumb bell flies, medicine ball slams or pullovers. If this doesn’t provide enough of the lift and firmness you’re looking for, a Breast Lift can definitely enhance the positioning and perkiness of the breast.

If you’re considering any cosmetic surgery related to the breasts, it’s worthwhile to talk to an expert in this area. As a triple board certified plastic surgeon, I’ve had extensive training and expertise in all areas of Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction. Schedule a consultation to see how I can help you enjoy your desired breasts, by visiting www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

One of the many considerations of breast cancer that requires a mastectomy is Breast Reconstruction surgery. This can be a time of overwhelming choices and so my goal with each Breast Reconstruction patient is to provide compassionate care and the best natural looking results possible. This is a specialty I give the utmost attention to and have developed knowledge and skills that have provided beautiful results that have been very healing and satisfying to many clients.

Why Reconstruction?

While considering being in surgery again most certainly is not appealing after going through cancer treatments, I have found that it does help empower women to regain their feelings of femininity and sense of normalcy. Most times I’m helping to rebuild a breast mound after lumpectomy or mastectomy surgery, however I can also correct previous breast surgeries and nipple replacement.

Deciding on the Surgeon

Through my many years of experience and artistry, as well as using the most sophisticated and cutting edge techniques, I can help to create natural looking breasts to enhance body shape. Breast reconstruction surgery requires a thorough understanding of the intricacies of the human anatomy, as this is not the same process as the standard Breast Augmentation. I have extensive experience and years of specialized training in Breast Reconstruction surgeries to provide my patients with the most beautiful, natural looking results possible.

Making Decisions

Working alongside your oncologist, we will patiently and thoroughly discuss your options regarding Breast Reconstruction surgery. We will cover many topics, such as the possibility of performing Breast Reconstruction at the same time as the cancer removal under the same anesthetic, or if we should wait until after other treatments.

You also have options as to what you’d like to replace the breast tissue with, including your own living tissue from an area with some extra to spare, such as your inner thigh, or implants made of silicone or saline. All of these can be used to create beautiful, natural looking breasts. The best choice differs for each individual based on many factors so we will discuss this extensively. Some of these factors are (but not limited to):

• cancer type
• stage of breast cancer
• your personal preferences
• overall health

If you’re considering Breast Reconstruction after cancer, and you’re looking for compassionate and expert care for the best results possible, please visit our website to schedule a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Sincerely,

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

I wrote some blogs on breast surgery a few weeks ago and then took a break to focus on summer sun precautions.   Now I want to finish the breast series with this blog on scarring and incisions.  Scarring is always a concern when choosing a cosmetic surgery. We want to be able to focus on the beautiful results of the surgery, not the incision scars it may leave behind. Fortunately, with a Breast Lift, there are a variety of incisions, some more inconspicuous than others. However, different techniques may be required based on how much sagging you want corrected. The incision I recommend will be based on your personal goals, existing breast tissue, and the amount of excess skin to be removed. Here is an explanation of each of the possibilities.

Minimal Sagging: Crescent Incision
This incision is very small and traces around the upper half edge of the areola. While this is minimal scarring sounds ideal, it can take away only a minimum amount of skin. This makes it only an option for patients who have very little sagging to correct. For this reason, it is the least frequent incision technique and is usually only done in combination with a breast augmentation.
Mild Sagging: Peri Areolar or “Donut” Incision
The Peri Areolar incision is a circular incision tracing around the outer edge of the areola. This technique can also be used to reduce the size of the areola if that is desired. Like the Crescent incision, this “Donut” incision is commonly performed along with a Breast Augmentation and can address mild sagging.

Moderate Sagging: Vertical or “Lollipop” Incision
Two incisions are required for this technique, as it can accomplish more extensive reshaping of sagging breasts. They form the pattern of a lollipop, hence the nickname. The first incision is around the outer edge of the areola and the second runs down vertically from the bottom center of the areola to the underlying crease where the breast meets the torso, called the inframammary fold. This is a very common incision technique since it allows for the removal of a moderate amount of excess skin and reshaping of the entire breast. Fortunately, these scars are easily hidden in bras and bikini tops.

Extensive Sagging: Inverted T or “Anchor” Incision
Dramatic results for reshaping the breasts are available with the Inverted T incision. Getting its nickname as the “Anchor” lift because of the incision pattern, this technique involves 3 scars. One is around the outer edge of the areola, then another is down vertically from the bottom outer edge of the areola to the breast crease, and the last one is hidden in the horizontal crease of the inframammary fold. This technique allows for the removal of a significant amount of excess skin and sagging tissue. It is also used when the Breast Lift is combined with a Breast Reduction. This gives beautiful correction for reshaping pendulous breasts, which is when the nipple is below the edge of the crease of the inframammary fold and it is pointing downward.

In my expert hands, these incisions will be as minimal as possible, and over time, with your proper care these scars will fade. Regardless of which incision technique is required, your scars will be concealed and far from your mind when you see how lovely your lifted breasts look in your clothes and bathing suit. Contact me for a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon