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

Breast Augmentation, Breast Enhancement, Mammoplasty Augmentation is a surgical procedure to increase the size and shape of the breast and can offer breast lifting benefits as well.  Breast lift today employs “breast implants” or “fat grafting” to achieve the desired size, shape, symmetry and restored youthfulness.

Many women are born with breasts that are too small, not their ideal size and shape and are not as sexy as they ideally would like.  Other women experience age related changes, changes due to hormones, genetics, childbirth, illness, disease, trauma or weight fluctuation.  Each woman, despite the reasons for the changes they experience, has a mental picture of their “ideal breast”…hence the reason so many women today are lining up for Breast Augmentation surgery.

Breast Augmentation…What Is Involved?  I do many, many Breast Augmentations with women choosing to use “implants.”  Many others prefer to augment the size, shape and contour of the breast using their own natural body fat. (Fat Grafting)  The procedures involves surgically placing the implant into a pocket created in the breast in front of the chest wall.  the incision is typically made in the crease underneath the breast, allowing for more precise placement and easy access should future revision or replacement be needed.

Implants come in a host of shapes and sizes allowing for “customizing” to your personal needs and goals.  Today’s implants are the safest ever and feel as natural as your own body tissue.

Implants are either saline or silicone…Saline implants are soft shells filled with saline (salt water).  The shell is inserted first and then slowly filled.  This requires an additional tiny incision which is well hidden also.  If the shell leaks (rarely happens today) the saline is absorbed by your body tissue.  Saline implants look quite natural but don’t feel as natural as silicone.  Silicone implants have a similar shell as saline implants, but are pre filled with silicone which is a natural earth substance.  Silicone is a cohesive gel with a strong bond that prevents the gel from migrating through the body if the implant should leak or rupture. Silicone implants feel more natural with less rippling than saline implants.

Leaking or Rupturing of breast implants rarely occurs with todays advanced implants, and they last longer than their older versions.

Incision Placement…you have options.    Here are your placement options:    

1. Inframammary, this is an incision place in the crease of the breast (underneath the breast).  Most surgeons agree this is the best placement for creating breast symmetry.  Also, should revision surgery or implant replacement be needed, this has worked well….instead of having to make a new incision.
2. Periareolar…around the nipple is chosen by many surgeons because it heals the best and is small. Most scars with this incision placement are virtually invisible.
3. Axillary is an incision placed in the armpit.  This is your choice if you want to be virtually scar around or on the breast.
4. Their are advantages and disadvantages to each placement and type of implant. These should be well understood when making your decision.  I take the time to educate my patients thoroughly on these important issues and help guide them through the process.

OK, my next blog will cover Breast Reduction, another procedure chosen by men and women.  Look for it soon!

I’m here to help you achieve health and well being…and to be your absolute best!

Let’s talk soon.

Steven Davison M.D.

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

Long Lasting Facial Makeovers…Nose Jobs

Well, I’ve been getting you up to speed on long lasting Facial Makeovers, using techniques that effectively remove 10 years from your face, and keep you looking years younger always.  Today, we look at the importance of the nose and how aging affects it and…facial balance.  Nose jobs (Rhinoplasty) is one of the most elegant surgeries performed and can dramatically restore youthfulness, symmetry and balance to any aging face.

Why Rhinoplasty?  Each year hundreds of thousands of men and women decide to have their noses reshaped, repaired and done over for a host of reasons including: injuries that caused a deformed nose and hindered normal nasal function and/or left the nose misshapen (Deviated Septum) etc. Noses change with aging causing a droopy tip or bulbous tip, there may be humps and bumps or “ski slope” appearance; the nose may be too wide, to narrow, too weak and much more.  All these and other concerns  about form and function affect overall facial appearance and often…self esteem suffers.

Facial Balance & the Nose…When the nose is a problem (see above) it usually affects facial balance and symmetry…which is crucial to looking young.  Also, an out of balance nose can highlight a weak chin or other facial defects.  Bringing the nose into correct balance and proportion for your face is done by correcting size, shape and position.

The nose is the most defining characteristic on the face…for this reason nearly one million Americans have nose jobs every year.

Benefits of Nose Reshaping (Rhinoplasty) include:

• To create or restore function
• Give you the nose you’ve always wanted and never had
• Change the size, shape & position of the nose
• Create a more youthful overall facial appearance
• Achieve a harmonious blend with your other facial features
• Can be combined with other facial procedures to optimize your results

There are a host of reasons people come to me for Rhinoplasty (Nose) surgery. These include, but are not limited to, injuries…sports, accidents etc., illness or disease that has changed the shape and functioning of the nose,…or people simply want the nose of their dreams.  Whatever the reason, I am specially trained in all cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries of the nose and face and have performed a host of nose surgeries.

Since, I’ve blogged quite a bit on “facial” procedures, I think it’s important to educate you on surgeries of the nose because…

Rhinoplasty is one of the most elegant and complex surgeries being performed today. People of all ethnicities, genders and ages/stages in life decide to have rhinoplasty surgery for one or more reasons.

Rhinoplasty…Nose surgery… is done for either cosmetic or functional reasons and sometimes for both reasons.  Nose reshaping can reduce or increase the overall size of your nose…change the angle between the nose and upper lip…remove a hump…narrow the nostrils span…reshape the tip or the bridge of your nose….and more.

Sports injuries of the nose are common and usually result in a deviated septum…this hinders your ability to breathe and changes the facial landscape…often dramatically. Sometimes a nose becomes distorted from disease or illness…or an accident…or even previous nose surgery at the hands of an unqualified professional.  Some people were born with misshapen noses….other people watch their noses changes size and shape as part of normal aging.

The concerns and reasons are many and varied. However, I have been helping people with their nose problems for decades now….and can safely, effectively and skillfully improve the appearance of a nose.

HERE’S A SHORT LIST OF THE BENEFITS OF RHINOPLASTY SURGERY:

• Rhinoplasty is a delicate surgery…a surgery of illusion & balance
• The nose is the most focal point of the face & adds or subtracts from facial balance
• Over 1/2 million people of all ethnicities, ages, genders have nose surgery
• Seniors often want their noses restored to a more youthful size & shape
• Rhinoplasty restores function to an injured nose (deviated septum etc.)
• Rhinoplasty can change the size, shape & or angle of the nose
• Rhinoplasty corrects damage from previous nasal procedures
• One “nose job” does not fit all faces…I skillfully create a nose that fits your face without altering ethnic characteristics…

That’s a good start or overview on Rhinoplasty.  I use the most advanced techniques and technology to achieve the desired results and the enhance youthfulness and natural beauty.   Next time I’ll get into FAQ’s…and procedure overview.

Until then, stay well and watch out for “nose jobs.”

Dr. Steven Davison

At DAVinci…I combine the supreme elements of art & sugical science.