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I love being a plastic surgeon. Seriously, I can’t think of a better job. You basically make people happier about how they define themselves. I know appearance can be superficial, but that’s what it is supposed to be – the surface.

When you feel “fat” just because you have a bulge in your lower abdomen after a few kids, why shouldn’t you get that tummy flattened? You will look “sexier” and “more in shape,” clothes will fit better. The result, as patients constantly tell me after a tummy tuck, is that you feel “sexier” and “more in shape.” The “look” does affect how you “feel,” and you deserve that. Go ahead and tell people you just worked out, but you and I know that sit-ups alone won’t pull that tummy back in after the kids stretched the muscles apart.

If you always wanted bigger or perkier breasts, you deserve them. Your current breasts are fine, but if you want a little more, or a little lift, you should get them. Patients tell me they just feel better about themselves when they get that look. I’m not talking about breasts that come into the room five minutes before you do. I’m not talking about the “what ridiculous implants” look.  I’m talking about the “wow, those look nice” appearance of reasonably sized implants.

When you feel good about your appearance, it does truly affect how you feel about the deeper part of your self. It is the rare individual who truly cares not an iota about their appearance. Clothes, haircuts, shoes, make-up all are part of how you present yourself to the world and reflect your own inner beauty.

Although facial implants offer an excellent long term solution to cheek hollowness, many patients desire a less invasive procedure.  For those patients we recommend a dermal filler.

The goal is to increase volume, and the best way to achieve that is with the patient’s own fat.  Autologous fat transfer involves the harvesting of fat through liposuction of the stomach or buttocks.  The fat is purified and then injected into the subcutaneous area of the cheek. The procedure may be performed in the office or under sedation in the OR.

If liposuction and fat transfer isn’t a desirable option for you, other good choices are wrinkle fillers like Radiesse or Juvederm.  With any of these options, it’s crucial to have a qualified practitioner do the injections.  These treatments seem simple, but a successful cosmetic result often depends on the skilled injection technique of a knowledgeable surgeon.

A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, based on patient input, revealed 6 aspects of breast surgery that made a profound impact on satisfaction and quality of life.

1. Breast Characteristics
Clearly the main goal of cosmetic breast surgery – participants of the study commented about improvements in breast shape and the clothing options that were now available to them as a result.  One patient with breast implants reports, “Some things are much more fun to put on, and the stuff that I used to wear looks way better–I am sure they looked good before, too–but I just fill in a bit more, look a bit more busty in them.”

2. Physical Well-Being
Breast reduction patients can get relief from back and neck pain, which often allows increased activity and better health.

3. Psychosocial Well-Being
Patients in the study shared the positive changes in self perception and experiences in social settings. Increased confidence and feeling as if you fit the perceived “norm” of the female body are said to be a common benefits of breast surgery.

4. Sexual Well Being
When people feel more attractive, they generally experience more sexual pleasure.  If breast implants or another surgery improve a woman’s perception of her self and her body, sexual well being can consequently improve.

5.  Surgeon-Patient Relationship
Women who experienced a good surgeon-patient relationship – with open, honest communication – expressed more satisfaction with breast surgery.  Patients who had an adverse relationship with the surgeon or staff reported being fearful, uncomfortable, and less satisfied.

6. Overall Satisfaction
Researchers also included the simple category of general satisfaction.  Would you undergo the surgery again?  One breast augmentation patient responds, “there is not one day that goes by that I am not so pleased that I did it.”

You can access a similar article by the same researchers for free at BioMed Central.

Our patients frequently ask about breast feeding and breast augmentation.  Can the surgery disrupt the ability to breast feed?  Is it safe for my child?

In many cases, breast feeding is not disrupted by the presence of a breast implant. However, in some patients, often when an incision near the nipple was utilized, the patient’s ability to breast-feed does get disrupted.

How to minimize this risk

Utilizing a surgical incision that avoids manipulation of the nipple can decrease the risk of disrupted breast feeding.  Therefore, if this is a concern, you may want to investigate incision techniques such as the following:

• Inframmary fold incision
• Transaxillary incision
• Transumbilical breast augmentation

Although breast feeding is not necessarily compromised by sub-glandular (above the muscle) breast implant placement, some surgeons maintain that sub-muscular placement reduces the risk as well.

Is it safe for the newborn?
If you’re especially concerned about infant safety, you may want to reference a study published in the June 1998 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.  The study found no measurable risks to the infant, and found that women with silicone breast implants, and women without them, show comparable levels of silicone (silicon) in their breast milk.  It is not known what effect could occur if a small trace of silicone were to pass through to the infant.

Ask Your Surgeon
Feel free to speak with Dr. Dreyfuss, Dr. Gelman, or your OB/GYN if you still have questions and concerns about this topic.  Whether you plan to become pregnant or not, it is best to understand all of the possible breast augmentation risks before proceeding with surgery.