Having large breasts is important to numerous women throughout the world, notably in the United States. In fact, more than a quarter million women in the United States last year went “under the knife” to receive breast implants. The national average of breast augmentation procedures was just under 300,000, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) statistics.

As for the cost of plastic surgery, many people simply cannot afford it. This is where financing options play into effect; selecting an appropriate payback plan can help to alleviate stress and the need to go to desperate measures to afford plastic surgery. Case in point: the recent crime committed by Shatarka Nuby. This 29-year old woman decided to pay for her plastic surgery using a credit card that was registered in a stranger’s name. She underwent liposuction and a breast implants exchange procedure in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is now facing up to 10 years behind bars, as reported by Telegraph.co.uk.

So what does this say about our culture and plastic surgery? It weighs of importance in different ways for different people. While such women like Nuby decided to take matters in her own hands and commit a crime just to get plastic surgery, there are thousands of others who go about paying for their procedures the legal way. For those who are unsure about the best route to go when it comes to financing plastic surgery, visiting a plastic surgeon and asking the right questions can help them make the most appropriate decisions.

Dr. Leonard Hochstein, a board certified Miami, Florida area plastic surgeon, values personal care and, along with his staff, helps to educate patients regarding their options with plastic surgery. More information about the practice of Dr. Hochstein can be obtained by visiting his website.

One of the biggest uncertainties about any medical treatment is how the recovery process plays out and surgery, including plastic surgery is definitely no exception. Closely monitoring one’s post-operative progress is crucial in early detection and treatment of any probable risks and complications from having plastic surgery. Because breast augmentation is now the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the world, we’re going to examine all of the variables and circumstances that factor into a healthy and safe breast augmentation recovery.

Recovery time for breast augmentation can vary significantly, depending on where your breast implants are placed. You have two options for your breast implants placement. They can be placed over the muscle (subglandular) or beneath the muscle (submuscular). Subglandular placement requires less recovery time than submuscular. Women who have subglandular placement usually feel ready to get up and go in a couple of days.

Incision Options for Breast Implants

The incision type and location used in your breast surgery also affects the recovery time, amongst other factors, such as how visible scarring will be. There are a few incision options including the following:

• Areola incision (Periareolar)
• Armpit incision (Transaxillary)
• Under the breast fold incision (Inframammary fold)
• Belly button incision (Transumbilical)

Women usually can return to work after about a week. You will need more time for recovery if your work or personal life frequently entails things like heavy lifting and strenuous exercise routines. It is important to discuss recovery times with your breast surgeon prior to the procedure.

The Periareolar incision is made where the darker skin of the areola meets the lighter skin of the breast. This is the most popular incision used for breast implants. This location allows for the scar to blend naturally with your skin tone and is not very noticeable. The areola incision is suitable for both the subglandular and submuscular placements. You may be able to return to your every day activities after about two weeks.

The armpit incision is placed in the natural folds under your arm. The incision is about an inch long and is fairly easy to hide. The technique results in little to no bruising with the use of an endoscope. The armpit incision also allows for both types of breast implant placement, whereas incision at the areola is only used for subglandular implant placement.

The inframammary fold incision is placed in the crease under the breast, at the chest wall. This technique is commonly used in breast augmentation and usually accounts for about one to two weeks of recovery time.

The belly button incision is often referred to as the TUBA, which stands for trans-umbilical breast augmentation. The incision is placed in the belly button and the scar is minimal and easy to hide. This incision allows for both subglandualr and submuscular breast implant placements. The recovery time is fairly quick with minimal bruising.

Last month the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) surveyed their member surgeons to get an idea about current trends in breast augmentation, as well as statistical analysis of trends in all procedures. Most of the answers they received are not at all surprising, with one big exception.

The preference for natural looking results continues for the vast majority of plastic surgeons and their patients. For example, the average implant size used by most of the surveyed surgeons is 300 – 400 cc. For most patients, this size will result in full C cup breasts. More than 60% of surgeons place the implants under the chest muscle rather than on top of the muscle, again aiming for a natural appearance to the slope of the chest wall.

An overwhelming majority of ASAPS plastic surgeons prefer round implants as opposed to “anatomical,” or teardrop shaped implants. The survey did not detail the reason for the preference, but the plastic surgeons we’ve spoken with say that implants occasionally rotate and shift inside the breast capsule. Obviously, anatomical implants would look unnatural upside down. Additionally, most plastic surgeons feel that round implants look very natural when the right size and position is selected, and particularly for submuscular placement.

The ASAPS survey also found that 64% of surgeons prefer an incision near the crease underneath the breast. Although there are other options, notably around the areola, an incision under the breast can give the surgeon optimal access with the least amount of visible scaring.

The big surprise, is how many plastic surgeons and patients continue to choose saline-filled implants. The ASAPS survey showed that 60% of their members are still using saline implants, with an overwhelming majority of those selecting saline implants for first time patients. Furthermore, when silicone gel was chosen over saline filling, the reason most often cited was “patient preference.”

So, it would appear that many plastic surgeons still select saline-filled breast implants quite often. The question is, “Why?” Not only has the filling been shown to be safe and unlikely to leak, it both looks and feels more like real breast tissue.

Could it be that even though silicone gel implants were re-approved by the FDA in 2006, there’s still a lack of faith in the devices? Perhaps many patients, and even some surgeons, haven’t done extensive research on the options? Maybe the choice of saline is simply a result of habit?

Whatever the case may be, the president of the ASAPS noted that good results depend more on “patent-appropriate” surgical techniques more than on the type of implant chosen. If the procedure is done correctly, only a defective implant of either type would create a probable high-risk scenario.

Breast augmentation continues to remain one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in our country today. Even recent reports from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reveal the breast augmentation surgery is now the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, knocking off liposuction. However, the results of these procedures have always produced mixed reactions from the women who have or want them.

While many women feel younger, sexier, and more alive as a result of their enhanced new figure, others lament about the lack of a natural appearance provided by their breast implants.

Vaser® Hi Def Breast

This struggle to achieve a more natural result has led many cosmetic surgeons to continually improve the procedure in the search of better end results. Recently, a new advancement in augmentation procedures is providing women with breast implants that more closely resemble a natural feeling breast.

This procedure, the Vaser® Hi Def Breast, adds a new twist to the typical enlargement surgery by combining it with liposuction. This advancement has led to a greater satisfaction rate among women opting for surgery, as their new breasts have a more natural and attractive appearance.

Vaser Hi Def Breast employs ultrasonic technology to remove specific fat pockets in the breast tissue, while leaving other fat cells and neighboring nerve tissue untouched. This enables your cosmetic surgeon to more subtly sculpt your breasts, giving them a more youthful, firm, and natural look.

The Ideal Candidate for Vaser® Hi Def Breast Augmentation

This procedure is not right for all women. As with traditional implant procedures, it is important to consult with an experienced cosmetic surgeon to make sure you are a good candidate for Vaser Hi Def Breast. As part of this consultation, your doctor should talk with our about your medical history and your goals for your surgery.

Ideal candidates for Vaser Hi Def Breast are women who:

• Are in good overall health
• Are physically fit
• Have reasonable expectations for the surgery
• Have good overall self-esteem

As with any major surgery, there are risks that accompany this breast augmentation process. A good candidate needs to understand these risks and be willing to accept them. Also, candidates must recognize that this procedure isn’t meant to drastically alter your appearance to make you feel like a completely different person. It is intended to subtly alter your appearance so that you have fuller, more contoured breasts that help you feel younger and more attractive.

Allergan, Inc., a breast implants manufacturer and worldwide leader in the body rejuvenation industry, is reemphasizing assurance in women considering breast augmentation to be highly informed before their first plastic surgery consultation by introducing The Natrelle™ Pre-Consultation Kit. It is an answer for both women starting out, and plastic surgeons that want the right information in the hands of prospective patients.

The kit is a thorough, thoughtful and elegant package for every woman starting the process of achieving a new body image through breast augmentation. It is an intimate, at-home preparation for face-to-face consultations with plastic surgeons, and an ideal resource for patients to set a size goal. The Natrelle™ Pre-Consultation Kit was developed with the help of two of America’s most prominent plastic surgeons, who participated in the kit’s orientation video featuring an informative actual breast exam.

Mr. Jeffrey Moore of communications firm 3v07, and director/producer for the program, established that the Natrelle™ Pre-Consultation Kit’s primary driver must be an elegant approach for selecting what size implant each patient would like to set as their goal.

“This is such a personal, life-long decision that it is hard to believe that until this Natrelle™ Pre-Consultation Kit many women would set a goal for their new profile by filling plastic sandwich bags with rice or hair gel to get an idea of what size they would like to be. A search of the Internet turns up one resource after another recommending this process. At best, some may take 20 minutes in a doctor’s office to determine their goal. Our first principal in development of the kit was to assure that size selection is now a personal, fun, at home experience women could take their time with.” Mr. Moore goes on to say, “The Natrelle™ Pre-Consultation Kit size selection experience is elegant and complete. Women are provided with a beautiful bra and 4 different breast implant-like sizers to assure they are comfortable with their breast enhancement before starting the process. This is a great solution for both women and their doctors.”

Contemporary research clearly shows that practicaly every woman begins her path to breast augmentation by doing some form of research on the web. With the decision to offer this kit prominently through web services offered by Allergan and Natrelle™ patients can be empowered to approach their initial consultation confidently. The kit provides an excellent look at the initial consultation and covers each topic a woman will discuss with her doctor, giving her the perspective to make informed decisions. This includes styles of breast implants, incision choices and profile choices.

The Natrelle™ Pre-Consultation Kit features a DVD orienting patients to the process of getting a new profile, a discussion brochure for the information they will cover with their Plastic Surgeon and a breast sizing system with a special brassiere and trial implants. The kit also includes a $50 rebate for Natrelle™ gel implants and $120 in savings on the Allergan aesthetic products BOTOX® Cosmetic (botulinum toxin type A), JUVEDERM™, LATISSE™ (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%.

The Natrelle™ Pre-Consultation Kit is $39.95 and available to patients only via the Internet at www.Natrelle.com starting April 1, 2009.

Researchers in Britain have found a new application for the highly controversial Stem Cell Therapy: Breast Augmentation!

No area of research in the medical and scientific communities has created as much of a debate as stem cell therapy. Despite the positive research results that stem cells have the potential to treat many different types of conditions including stroke, paralysis and birth defects, there is much contention surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells.

More recent stem cell research being conducted, however, is focusing on using (non-embryonic) stem cells derived from the patient’s own body. This research has shown promise for a variety of medical therapy options, including treating brain injuries in rats.

Thus far, scientists in the UK have been working on the new method exclusively for treating women with breast deformities caused by cancer and its subsequent treatment. The process involves harvesting stem cells from fat located around the woman’s stomach or thighs using highly specialized equipment. The stem cells than can then be mixed with another batch of fat from the patient’s body before being injected into the breasts.

The researchers claim that it can take several months before the breast achieves the desired shape and size. Researcher and breast augmentation consultant Professor Kefah Mokbel from the London Breast Institute, who is in charge of the project, will treat 10 patients from May. He predicts private patients will be able to pay for the procedure within about six months, at a cost of about £6,500 (approximately $9500.00, USD).

“This is a very exciting advance in breast surgery,” said Mokbel. “They [breasts treated with stem cells] feel more natural because this tissue has the same softness as the rest of the breast. Implants are a foreign body. They are associated with long-term complications and require replacement. They can also leak and cause scarring.”

Not all medical professionals are in agreement, however, that the new technique is quite ready for public use. Says Los Angeles plastic surgeon, Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, M.D.:

“Everyone expects to see major advances in these areas in the coming years,” “No doubt, this is the future of plastic surgery. But it is not yet the present.”

The use of stem cells in healthy women undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery is controversial, to say the very least. Medical boards and top physicians alike have warned that the breast enlargements should not be offered to healthy women until large-scale trials in cancer patients have shown that the new procedure is safe and effective. The treatment is not yet available to women solely for cosmetic purposes.

Eva Weiler-Mithoff, a consultant and plastic surgeon at Canniesburn hospital in Glasgow, is co-leading the British wing of a European trial of stem cell therapy for women who have been left with post-cancer breast deformities. So far more than a dozen British cancer patients have been treated and Weiler-Mithoff is impressed with the results. She does not believe this justifies offering the treatment to healthy women, however. According to Weiler-Mithoff, while breast cancer patients regularly attend follow-up appointments, young women who have had cosmetic surgery are less likely to do so and complications could be missed.

The same technique, however, has been used in Japan for six years, initially to treat women with breast deformities caused by cancer treatment and, more recently, for cosmetic breast augmentation in healthy women.

Until now, when fat was transplanted to the breast without extra stem cells (a procedure commonly known as fat grafting or transfer), surgeons had difficulty maintaining a blood supply to the new tissue. Surgeons believe the increased concentration of stem cells under this technique promotes the growth of blood vessels to ensure a sufficient blood supply circulates to the transplanted fat cells.

Mokbel is confident the therapy is safe and that, after carrying out about 30 procedures, the London Breast Institute will be able to offer the procedure to private patients. Mokbel says that he believes only modest increases in size can be achieved using the stem cell process and points out that only gains in cup size will be made, no improvement in firmness and uplift will be achieved. Or not yet, at least.

Christina Applegate Opted for Double Mastectomy,
following her Breast Cancer Diagnosis, this past
August.

The entertainment world was stunned this past August when the star of ABC’s “Samantha Who?”, Christina Applegate announced that she had breast cancer and was set to undergo a double mastectomy to combat the disease. An outpouring of support and well-wishes from fans and women who had undergone the same circumstances followed as she embarked on course of action that for her, “seemed the most logical.”

During her treatments, doctors detected the presence of “CDH1″, a rare genetic mutation that placed her at an extremely high risk for cancer to spread or return, and despite the fact that cancer was only discovered in one breast, she, like a growing number of breast cancer victims, chose to have both breasts removed as a precautionary measure.

“I didn’t want to go back to the doctors every four months,” she says. “I wanted to be rid of it. For me this was the choice I made and it was a tough one.”

What may seem like a drastic step to some, becomes a reasonable decision for patients like Applegate who have the CDH1 gene.

“There’s around a 50% chance of having a recurrence in 5 years, and possibly a 60% chance of developing cancer by the age of 70,” says Dr. Steven Schonholz, Medical Director at Mercy Medical Center’s Breast Care Center.

While it isn’t known what type of Breast Reconstruction she’s had, following her Mastectomy, she is an ideal candidate for tissue expansion (a reconstructive procedure, using the patient’s own tissue) or breast implants, given her age, figure and medical history.

So, where is Applegate now, in terms of her health and state of mind?

“I’m clear. Absolutely 100-percent clear and clean it did not spread, they got everything out.” She added in a Good Morning America interview, following her reconstructive procedure: “I’m going to have cute boobs til I’m 90”.

We here at Breast Implants Info wish Ms. Applegate well and hope that she enjoys many happy and healthy years to come.

Given the controversy and debate that seems to always surround plastic surgery, we want to know where you stand on plastic surgery for reconstructive purposes. Share your thoughts (or your own personal story) about Breast Implants, Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, by leaving us some comments.