I have had satisfied patients with both Silicone and Saline implants. But one of the most common disparities between the two is the difference in how the breast feels with each. I’ve heard a saline implant described to feel like a water balloon and the silicone to feel more like the supple breast tissue. Fortunately, saline implants have claimed major ground with the Ideal Implant.

This year, the Ideal Implant became available to the public through a select number of plastic surgeons, including myself. This occurred after many years of testing and trials to prove safety and patient satisfaction. I believe it is going to be immensely popular since it satisfies  patients’  safety concerns and… they don’t have to compromise on the feel.

Why Some Women Prefer Saline:

-Natural: Saline implants provide peace of mind. Since the sterile salt solution is of no risk to the body and in the case of any leakage, it would be absorbed with no ill effect. While the FDA has ruled silicone is safe, the saline solution being a completely natural substance is preferred by many women.

-Rupture: Also, many women prefer to know if there is any leakage in their implant, which can be nearly impossible without an MRI of a silicone implant. On the other hand, it can be very evident when a saline implant needs to be replaced because as the saline leaks out, the implant deflates and breast returns to its size before the augmentation.

-Flexibility: Saline implants are filled after they’re in the chest, so the size can be easily customized. Even if breasts are different sizes, the saline can even them out as close as possible. There is also more flexibility on choosing the incision site, since the saline implant can be placed through the armpit, areola, or the crease under the breast.

Natural Look and Feel with Ideal Implant
Some women just didn’t like how the saline implants felt, but that has now changed with the Ideal Implant. The innovative design of the Ideal Implant includes a series of implant shells nested together and two separate chambers. This holds the saline filler in place and controls the movement of the saline within the implant… so that it maintains an aesthetically appealing position and shape within the chest wall. This feels natural.

This design with the inner chambers is called a Structured Breast Implant because the inner compartments control the flow of saline, providing the structure not available in previous saline implants. This gives the Ideal Implant a more natural look and feel. It also prevents rippling, wrinkling and folding at the edges that gave away the implant outline.

You can feel beautiful and not have to compromise on your convictions with this saline implant. With Ideal Implant, you get the best an implant can offer: complete peace of mind with a beautiful natural look and feel.

Let’s talk about whether the Ideal Implants are a good fit for you. Schedule a consultation by visiting www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

You can do all the research on the best implant, placement and incision for your breast augmentation goals, but if you don’t have a board certified surgeon with experience and artistry, then your results likely won’t be what you’d hoped for. This is why it is so important to choose your surgeon carefully. What sets a surgeon above the rest?

Credible Education and Board Certified
The surgeon must have the appropriate training and certification. Board Certification is a must. When you choose a surgeon like myself, who is triple board certified, you can rest assured you’re in the best hands possible. I am the only such surgeon in the tri-state area and one of only a handful in the United States with this level of triple board certification.

So What Does “Board Certified” Mean?

Actually not all certifications are equal. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has the highest standards, and is what I’m certified by. With an ABMS certification, you can be assured that the doctor has voluntarily submitted to this extra process to demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their field:
1. graduated from an accredited medical school
2. completed at least 5 years of additional training as a resident surgeon in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
3. passed comprehensive written and oral exams

Caring and Concise Consultation
Since Breast Augmentation is the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery, I get a lot of questions on the many aspects of this highly personalized surgery. Even though patient knowledge and understanding of breast implants can give us a starting point, you’re ultimately trusting the first hand experience and practical knowledge of your surgeon to help you achieve your personal goals.

Part of that experience is the ability to listen and communicate about goals and expectations. I encourage my patients to bring pictures of what they want and don’t want. Also, you are welcome to see lots of examples of my work.  In addition to discussing your health history and the results you’d like, it’s important to get to know you in terms of your lifestyle. Lifestyle choices and activities, such as drinking, smoking, diet, vitamins/herbal supplements, working out, horseback riding, etc. are important factors.

Credibility Among Peers and Clients
Besides checking patient reviews, it’s important to consider what kind of reputation the doctor has in their field amongst peers. I have always been on the cutting edge of my field, as a professor, examiner, and writer of more than 100 clinical papers in my field. Also, I have given more than 95 national and international lectures. Some of my greatest acknowledgements have been:

… Receiving the nomination by my peers in the Washingtonian for both “Best Doctor” in plastic surgery and breast reconstruction

… Being rated currently as a Castle Connolly best surgeon and an “America’s Top Surgeon”
… Have the honor of my patients choosing me as “The Best Plastic Surgeon” of DC and “Number One Doctor” for many      years in a row

As you can see, you can trust that your Breast Augmentation is in the best hands with a surgeon like myself. Visit www.davinciplastic.com to set a consultation today.

Steven Davison M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

One of the hardest situations in the plastic surgery industry is to have a patient’s results not go as expected. This may or may not be the fault of the physician, but the best results are directly correlated to the most credentialed, experienced surgeon. This is why it is crucial to only trust your face and body to an experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon…someone like myself.
In my area, I’m the only triple Board certified plastic surgeon, a member of multiple prestigious medical societies, and a published professor at Georgetown University. Along with my many years of experience, compassion and patient care, these credentials have led to my ability to provide a very high level of patient satisfaction. As a result, I’m often called upon to correct the concerns that arise from unsatisfactory surgeries, at the hands of other physicians, and the unforeseen side effects that happen from improper healing.

For example, an occasional unwelcome side effect after beast augmentation surgery is Capsular Contracture. This occurs when the scar tissue that has formed around breast implants tightens and hardens around the implants to create an imbalanced external appearance. This means that the affected breast will look a different shape or be at a different height on the chest. While meticulous surgical precision can help prevent capsular contracture, as with any surgical procedure there will be scar tissue and there are factors outside of the physician’s control.
Here are some tips that can contribute to avoiding Capsular Contracture:

…Avoid smoking is one of the most predictable ways to reduce your chances, as you’re twice as likely to have Capsular contracture if you smoke.
…Two weeks prior to surgery, start taking Vitamin E and possibly Prednisone, a prescription corticosteroid drug.
…Breast implants in a submuscular position, or under the pectoral muscles, may be less likely to develop capsular contracture than when breast implants are placed in a subglandular position, or over the pectoral muscles.
…There’s a slightly higher percent of Capsular Contracture with silicone implants over saline.
…Upon the instruction of surgeon, massaging and compression of the breast implants can help keep the capsule flexible and loose.

Capsular contracture may develop at any time, but can occur as early as 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, and usually not later than 6 months. It can affect just one or both breasts. Fortunately, it can be corrected with Revision Breast Surgery.  There is a special art and skill to correct Capsular Contracture… because of the difficulty of working with scar tissue. It’s a puzzle figuring out what possibly went wrong and then to skillfully correct it.

Revision Breast Surgery to correct Capsular Contracture can involve a variety of ways for releasing the interior scar tissue. These ways may include capsulotomies, capsulectomies, implant exchange or placement behind the pectoral muscle. A Capsulotomy is a surgical procedure that releases scar tissue without removing it from the pocket. This gives room for the breast pocket to expand, relieving the scar tissue contraction that is squeezing the breast implant. A Capsulectomy is a more aggressive approach, as it completely removes the scar tissue surrounding a breast implant. This procedure is more often used when the scar tissue is very thick and calcified or when a silicone breast implant has ruptured.

If you’ve experienced the disappointment of your breast augmentation not going right and want to trust your body to one of the leading plastic surgeons to correct it, please set up a consultation at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

One of the 2016 predictions I feel strongly about is that the Ideal Implant will grow to be the primary and most requested implant for breast augmentation. After many years of trials and testing, to prove safety and patient satisfaction, the Ideal Implant is now available to my patients and those of other plastic surgeons around the country.

Not the Same Saline Implant
The Ideal Implant improves upon the saline implants of years past… but still offers the benefit of peace of mind by being a natural, harmless substance. It is called a Structured Breast Implant because the design has inner compartments to control the flow of saline, giving the implant a more natural look and feel and making it more resistant to leakage.

Now that a natural feeling saline implant is available, the greatest downside of saline implants, from the past, is eliminated. In older models, all the saline would pool in the bottom to give a sagging feel. Another downside was  folding at the edges so the implant outline would be detectable. Now, with the inner layered structure inside the Ideal Implant, neither of these is an issue.

Designed for an Aesthetically Natural Look and Feel
The innovative design of the Ideal Implant includes a series of implant shells nested together inside two separate chambers. This holds the saline filler in place and controls the movement of the saline within the implant. This maintains an aesthetically appealing position and shape that also feels natural. This internal structure is designed to reduce folding, rippling and wrinkling, which is a common complaint for traditional saline implants. With no folding and a lowered outer edge, the Ideal Implant achieves an improved seamless contour with the chest wall.

Materials with Well Being in Mind
Ideal Implant is filled with saline, a safe sterile salt water solution that is used in many medical capacities and, unlike silicone, poses no harm if it leaks. Even so, Ideal Implants internal structure is designed to reduce folding and wrinkling, which is thought to be the main cause of implant rupture and deflation. The outer shell is made with similar time tested silicone material as other implants, including the silicone. Even though no implant offers a lifetime warranty and requires regular checks, you can have the peace of mind that if there was a leak, you wouldn’t be exposed to a toxic material.

Experience to Demonstrate Reliability and Safety
A multi-center US clinical trial that began in 2009 with 502 women resulted in the Ideal Implant being approved by the FDA and Health Canada in 2014. Ideal Implant is made in the United States at an FDA-inspected facility with more than 30 years experience.

Feel Beautiful and Secure with Ideal Implants
I believe Ideal Implant provides what women are looking for in a safe implant….. peace of mind with a natural look and feel. To schedule a consultation to find out if Ideal Implants are a good fit for you, visit www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.
Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

This is the time of year women line up to get breast augmentations in order to look great for beach season or… to restore a more youthful look lost while aging, or to get back a pre baby body…and for many other reasons.  One common concern always prevails and that is the desire for the most natural looking results possible.

IMPLANT LINGO…Avoiding a “fake” look is a top concern today because many women innocently have breast procedures done by doctors who are not always qualified to perform them, or who lack the knowledge base needed to guide patients into the right procedures using the right implants or they have little to no experience, and also by others who simply can’t get the job done right for various other reasons. Board Certification and specialized procedural training helps to avoid these sad situations. Here’s the “lingo” or critical elements in breast augmentations:

• SHAPE…implants come in round or teardrop shapes.  Round implants create more cleavage and fullness, while teardrop or stable form implants are shaped like natural breasts and they slope downward.
• PROJECTION/PROFILE…Projection is the distance the implant protrudes outward from the chest.  Wider chests require minimal projection while moderate projection is best suited to narrow bodies and maximum projection offers the most fullness.
• TEXTURE…Textured implants are firmer than smooth ones and may not look or feel as natural depending upon patient preference.
• VOLUME…is how full an implant is. A natural look, using implants, may involve compromise on size.  Too much volume has different effects on different people.
• PLACEMENT…Implants can be placed over or under the chest muscle.  Each placement has it’s virtues and should be well discussed with your surgeon before deciding on placement.

YOUNGER vs MATURE PATIENTS...Younger people today want more volume and “bigger sized” breasts while the more mature population wants to look “proportionate” but filled out (not larger) to overcome the ravages of aging.  But they all want this one thing:  an attractive size and pretty shape and position without looking “fake.” Nobody wants to look like they have “implants.”  The right surgeon helping you make the right choices at the right times can avoid the dead giveaways so common with fake looking implant jobs.

NATURAL LOOKING vs FAKE LOOKING AUGMENTATIONS:  Some breast augmentations are so good that you can’t tell they’re not the breasts you were born with (natural) while others are obvious from far off, and you know these are not natural.  There are 10 giveaways that tip people off to real vs fake breasts.  They are:

1. Breasts are too close together.  Real breasts do not touch each other all the time unless you’re wearing a bra or tight top.  Natural breasts have a normal space between them.
2. Breasts sit too high on the chest.  The top of the breast should start at the armpit. If they sit higher than this…they are probably fake.  High profile implants have a more pronounced look than their moderate counterparts or low profile implants.
3. Breasts are too round…are a dead giveaway! Breasts should more resemble pears than round watermelons.
4. NO natural slope…are a sign of large, round implants. Natural breasts always slope downward.
5. GAP that keeps the breasts too far apart.  This indicates implants that are too large or are placed in a pocket that is too small causing the area between the breasts to look wide and bony.

Well, there are more (5) and other “need to know” information I’ll share with you in my next couple blogs.  But I have patients waiting for their personal consultations.  You guessed it….they want Breast Augmentations or Reductions or Breast Lifts with Implants etc. 

FILLERS and BOTOX/BROTOX …for “quick fixes” now.

Are you Beach Body Ready?  Let’s talk now and tailor your own personal treatment plan!

Happy Spring!

Steven Davison,  M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

International travel for the purpose of having some “specialized” cosmetic procedure is very common today. At DAVinci we have a significant family of International patients and that trend is growing weekly.  Patients from around the world come to us for the “Premium” procedures we offer including refined surgical techniques and results they love.

Often, people book Medical Vacations because they want the privacy, a little get away and because they think “it’s a better deal.”  Many of them regret the face or bad breast job they now have to live with, until they show up in my office for “Revision” surgery.  I recently blogged about Revision Rhinoplasty (nose jobs) and Revision Facelift surgeries and Revision Breast surgeries using the premium Natrelle410 implants.  Please refer to those blogs for more info.

INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS TRAVEL TO DAVinci for “peace of mind” knowing I am skilled and qualified to perform the often delicate, difficult procedures they desire. I can and do perform these amazing procedures because I am specially trained in plastic and facial plastic surgery and am experienced to do so.   Beware of media ads promising affordable breast implants, facelifts, nose surgeries and more.  Know before you go that you are in trustworthy hands!  Look at the education, training, certification and experience of the surgeon you are considering.

PATIENTS TRAVEL to DAVinci for PREMIUM PLASTIC and FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERIES Things our international patients know about DAVinci: 1) We do complete detailed planning and a tailored treatment plan for each patient.   2) Our medical team has years of experience and are highly qualified  3) All surgeries are performed in an AAAASF or JCAHO certified surgical suite fully equipped with world class technology/precision instruments…same as a hospital  4)  I am triple board certified and fellowship trained and teach other surgeons globally the specialized techniques I developed and use  5) Each patient is followed closely with ongoing post procedure care  6) Many patients combine the medical treatments with a mini vacation to enjoy the many sights and sounds of the beautiful Washington, D.C. area  7) I only perform procedures within the scope of my ability and expertise, 8) The FDA, as overseer of all things medical in the USA protects against procedures being offered that may not be safe & effective .

Our patients proudly show off their results everywhere they go…as soon as can!

PREMIUM PLASTIC and FACIAL PROCEDURES offered at DAVinci include:  Revision Facelift Surgery,  Revision Rhinoplasty surgery and Breast Augmentation using Natrelle410 supreme implants.  This includes revision breast surgeries to replace old or problematic implants, reconstructive breast surgery following mastectomy for cancer or prevention (see blog on Angelina Jolie) and other reasons.

PEOPLE TRAVEL TO DAVINCI BECAUSE Revision Surgeries are difficult and more complex than the primary surgery.  Scar tissue and rearranged anatomical features as well as normal age related changes have to be dealt with.  Most surgeons are not educated, trained or experienced in dealing with revision surgeries.  See https://www.davinciplastic.com.

PEOPLE TRAVEL TO DAVinci because they know their results will be supreme and the support they receive is the best! From the first contact by phone, face to face or eMail, and for the rest of their lives…our patients have come to trust and rely upon the “reliable” medical skill and sensitive, caring family we are…all of us from all around the world!

FIRST TIME READING MY BLOGS?  I’m Steven Davison, M.D. specially trained in plastic and facial plastic and reconstructive surgeries.  Our office:  DAVinci Plastic Surgery is located in wonderful Washington, D.C. and here’s my website for complete info:  http:www.davinciplastic.com.

Hope everyone’s summer is going well and you are healthy and happy.

Steven Davison M.D.

“DAVinci…where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.”

Naturally oversized breasts cause physical and emotional problems for women of all ages.  Breast Reduction or Mammaplasty Reduction is the only way to permanently reduce the breast size and create breasts that are more in proportion to your body. 

With so many women today seeking breast reduction surgery, surgeons have come to understand the various reasons women choose to downsize and reshape their breasts.  Here are a few:

• To make overly large, heavy breasts…smaller
• Eliminate emotional distress, discouragement and embarrassment
• Reduce or eliminate back & neck pain
• Relieve shoulder discomfort caused by bra strap grooves
• Get rid of breast crease skin irritation and rashes
• Decrease excess, stretched skin that causes low hanging breasts
• Resize the aereola area
• Create a breast size in proportion with your body
• Renew self esteem, self confidence and sexual enjoyment
• Be able to wear and enjoy the clothing you’ve always wished you could
• Enjoy more activities you couldn’t due to breast size and weight
• Achieve Renewed health and beauty for life!

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BREAST REDUCTION DELIVERS “RELIEF”…Back and neck pain as well as grooves hindered activities of daily living.  After surgery, women were able to be more active, lift heavier objects and enjoy more dynamic movements…with less stress and little to no discomfort. Spinal weakness and disorders from lower back distress were improved.  Self confidence increased as did self satisfaction.

AM I TOO YOUNG FOR BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?  This is a common question in today’s society.  Here’s my answer….There is no specific, ideal age for a Breast Reduction, but among younger women these things need to be considered:  1) Is the patient in her 20’s and experiencing the above mentioned problems.  2) Does she have a strong desire to reduce the size and shape of her overly large breasts (macromastia)?  3) Has she stopped growing in height and in breast size?  4)  Is she emotionally mature?  If the answer to these questions is yes…then she could be an ideal candidate.  You should know that when younger women have Breast Reduction surgery…Revisional surgery may be needed later in life.

AM I TOO OLD FOR BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?… another common question women in their 60’s plus frequently ask me.  Mammaplasty Reduction is very common among more mature women and can be very effective with the correct assessment of her health, skin condition, emotional maturity etc.  Older women typically suffer with “overly large breasts” due to hormone changes from menopause and weight gain. They reap the same benefits as younger women…and today are more eager to have these age defying, health restoring procedures.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?  This is a surgery used to remove excess fatty breast tissue and glandular tissue while removing excess skin in order to downsize and reshape the breast to be more in proportion with your body.  Note: it’s important to be at a normal or close to normal proportional weight, and be able to maintain it to avoid affecting your long term results.

OK…That said, the bottom line is: whether you choose to make a dramatic change or just reduce your bra size by a few cups, Breast Reduction Surgery offers the best results for women with large, heavy breasts. Should you ever want to increase your breast size…Implants or Fat Grafting can achieve this.

This is the time of year many men and women decide to do something for themselves.  For the Holidays, for career reasons, health issues, to improve or enhance your their life…and just because they’ve always wanted to.  If that describes you, let’s talk soon!

I‘m here to help you achieve optimal health and wellness, to look and feel your absolute best!

Steven Davison M.D.

“DAVinci…where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.”

Every woman has her own idea of the “ideal breast.”  Many women are born with breasts that are too small and many women dream of larger, well proportioned, symmetrical, and not droopy or sagging…but sexy breasts. I have found this to be true among women of all ages and stages in life.

Today’s women consider their breasts to be their most feminine attributes and many women are choosing procedures that will create their ideal breast including breast rejuvenation for aging sagging, deflated breasts…or implants, fat grafting and breast lifts for restoring more youthful breasts, or breast reduction for overly large, too heavy breasts…or a combination of these to create their “ideal breast.”

In this blog I cover a few common breast myths with more information on the  procedure options, in future blogs.

When it comes to breast options, going bigger, smaller or lifting the breasts to a more youthful position requires correct understanding and knowledge of what these procedures entail.  There is a lot of misleading information that affects perception and can lead to poor choices.

MYTH #1…Breast Lifts are the only way to “lift” the breasts.   Breast Lifts work effectively for breast lifting if skin elasticity is good, there is a minimum of ptosis (sagging) and the nipple position will allow it.  However, implants are often chosen instead of a surgical lifting, for added volume and shape. Lifting with implants can be achieved if the right type of implant is used in the right patient.

MYTH #2…A Breast Lift achieves permanent perky breasts, elevated to a more youthful position.  Truth is: “nothing is forever.”  Aging cannot be stopped…but we offer many age defying options that can slow it down a bit…and rejuvenate  aging areas of the body.  A Breast Lift settles into position within a year after your surgery…this often appears as falling or drooping when in fact it’s just fullness being redistributed to the bottom of the breast.  As you age, your breast continues to age also and over time can become droopy again.  In the meantime, you can look years younger!

MYTH #3…Fat transfers ensure that your breasts are immune to future weight fluctuations and related breast changes.   FALSE!  Truth is:…the breasts are affected by weight gain/loss just as much as the rest of the body.  There is little you can do to avoid these changes if you are subject to weight fluctuation.  So if you plan to have a Breast Lift with or without implants or fat grafting injections, maintaining a healthy weight is the best way to prolong the wonderful, youthful results of your Breast Lift.

I have performed hundreds of Breast Lifts and by combining my honed surgical and artistic skills with todays advanced surgical science…my patients enjoy long lasting, outstanding, natural looking results.  Choose your surgeon wisely!

The next blog will cover Breast Implants.  Today’s implants are very natural, offer a host of sizes and shapes which means they can be “customized” to your personal needs and goals.  They are safe, effective and longer lasting.  Women love them!

Holidays and Christmas Wedding are coming soon.  If you’ve been thinking about an anti aging, age defying makeover, now is a great time to get it done…to look your absolute best…for now and for years to come.

Stay Well and Healthy!   Steven Davison M. D.

DAVinci…where I combine the supreme elements of art and surgical science.

BEAUTIFICATION…BALANCE…SYMMETRY….Stage III

The goal of all breast reconstruction (restoration) surgeries is to achieve symmetry and balance between both breasts and also for them to look “natural.”  Beautification is started several weeks or months after your reconstruction process is complete and you have healed nicely.  Beautification involves creating balance between the two breasts, breast contour, adjusting flaps if needed, and nipple/areolar reconstruction.  Sometimes, women choose this phase, of their breast restoration process, to include other breast procedures such as a Breast Lift or Breast Reduction.  My goal is that: “all  cosmetic surgery should be functional…and all reconstructive surgery should be aesthetic and look as natural as possible.”

My patients are living testaments to the benefits of having restorative procedures following mastectomy surgery.  Here are just a few of their comments:

“I love being able to wear off the rack clothing since you completed the beautification process and now my breasts are symmetrical and so natural looking.”

“My husband is so glad to see my level of self confidence and a sense of normal self restored again.”

“The breast reconstruction did more than restore normal looking breasts….it restored my self confidence and has allowed me to return to the lifestyle I love…and the love of my life!”

We will discuss your goals for Stage III Beautification in detail.  After decades of helping women through this process…I’ve been able to help them through the challenges…by removing fear and replacing it with knowledge and self empowerment.

STAGE IV…NIPPLE TATTO…this is just as it says…nipple tattooing to create a natural looking nipple and areola on the breast(s).  This process further beautifies the breast by defining the dark area of skin surrounding your nipple(s) and areola(s).

Regardless of when you begin the process of reconstruction/restoration…. I use the most advanced but safest methods along with finely honed techniques.  By combining my meticulous skill with my thorough understanding of the intricacies of the human anatomy, my patients enjoy amazing outcomes that are both functional and beautiful.  You can read more about this entire process at: www.davinciplastic.com