Total Body Surgical Blog

Choosing Breast implants 2.0....

Very funny huh!! Problem is, most women stress about how to pick implants. There are many questions that must be answered before making a life altering decision. Questions that you should ask are:

1. Saline or silicone, what are the risks and benefits?

2. Approach, how should I have the implants placed?

3. Size and how they will look IN me?

4. Price, how much can I afford?

5. Recovery, how long will it take?

6. Implant warranties....what are they?

7. Should I place the implants above or below the muscle?

8. Do I need a Breast lift? 

At Total Body Surgical we have a check list that we cover with every patient to cover all of these questions and more. I will answer the questions in a short fashion here but you should ask your Doctor as his or her opinions may differ.

1. Saline or Silicone....I like them both. Some women prefer the feel of silicone as they think they look and feel "more Natural". Some women have a fear of silicone. I let them feel both, explain the cost difference and let them decide. I cover what I have discussed in previous blogs about the implants.

2. Approach.....we do them all. Silicone can be placed around the nipple, under the breast, through the arm pit. Saline can be placed through all of these approaches and through the belly button as well. I prefer the arm pit as I can use creases in the skin that heal well and are concealed leaving no scar on the breast. I let you decide however.

3. Size. As explained before, we let you help choose. I will give you a range based on the size of your chest and let you try them on. My bias is this...if a Doctor tells you he will decide based on experience what looks best for you....don't walk....run from his office. This is an important decision that you should be involved in. You try on clothes don't you????

4. Price. Saline implants are usually about $1000 cheaper than saline. This is because they are more expensive to make, and carry more liability for the manufacturer. In my office, it is up to you to choose. I explain the benefits of each and you try them on. Unless you want a high profile implant, you decide based on look and feel. High profile implants are a bit different as I feel that the silicone have a far superior look.

5. Recovery. Recovery is usually a few days. I like for you to be careful lifting or raising your arms for around 2 weeks but pain is minimal after the first 3 days if you have any at all. The implants will find their home after about 1-3 months if under the muscle and shorter if above.

6.  Implant warranties, what about them?  Both of the major manufacturers will cover the cost of the implant if there is a mechanical failure due to a manufacturers defect.  This does not pay for the surgery to replace them.  They both do have a very inexpensive insurance policy that will cover this cost for 10 years.  The implants are also covered for 10 years.

7. Above or below the muscle. I usually put them below the muscle. I put them below with saline, always to avoid seeing the implant or ripples in the implant. I put silicone above the muscle in women with a slight bit of droop of the nipple.

8. Do I need a lift?? The answer to that question is complicated. Usually if you look at the fold under the breast where it attaches to the chest wall and the nipple is above this fold, you probably won't need a lift, if below, you may. However, there are other factors involved that you will need to consult your physician about.

These are the most commonly asked questions.  Hope this helps.  Breast augmentation is a very personal event.  You should have a big say in how it is done.  One of the biggest problems I see is when a girl comes in with a centerfold picture and her body is very different.  This is an expectation that cannot be fulfilled.  BE REALISTIC!! 

Come see me at INTEGRIS Total Body Surgical.  Our spring introductory offer is:

Call 918-786-7780 now for and appointment.

Dr. Jeff Swetnam of INTEGRIS Total Body Surgical

Here is the newest (or maybe oldest) form of breast augmentation.

 WHAT!!!!!

Don't believe it.....I don't either.  If all you had to do is think about breasts to make them bigger, most guys would have Triple D's!!

The last week in this blog, we discussed the different types of commercially available breast implant materials.  The natural types that are now being touted are fat grafting.  Some people are having great results with this and we are too.  However, it can be somewhat unpredictable and you have to have liposuction to get the fat.  Some women have so little fat that it is impossible to get enough to make a difference.

The time honored and gold standard is the breast implant.  These can be placed through several approaches, quickly, and with very predictable results.  Please see previous blogs and videos to get the facts on implants that are currently on the market.

My philosophy is to give you the size and shape that YOU want.  I hear stories all the time about Doctors that give their patients the size and shape that he or she feels will "fit them the best" and most of these women are too big or too small.

The way implants are sized is by the shape and size of the chest wall we are trying to fit.  You would not pull a semi truck into your garage at home now would you....  We don't worry about cc's as much as we are concerned with matching your anatomy and the look you want.  When you come for a consult at INTEGRIS Total Body Surgical we will measure first, then allow you to try on a range of implants that match your body, put on shirts that you want to wear and allow YOU to decide.  Bring friends, significant others, or husbands to help you.  The girls in the office can also give their opinions if you like. 

We hope you will come see us for a complimentary consultation.

918-786-7780

Now through June, breast augmentations are starting at $3699.00.  Look GRAND on Grand this summer!!

For more information contact me, jeffswetnam@yahoo.com or call Total Body Surgical 918-786-7780

www.totalbodysurgical.net

www.allergan.com (Natrelle implants)

www.justbreastimplants.com (Mentor)

As discussed last week, breast implants can be obtained made of silicone.  When having breast augmentation, you have a choice between saline implants, discussed last week, and silicone gel implants.  The silicone implants that were made prior to 1991 were made of a more liquid silicone.  The container that covered the implant was of inferior quality and many times the silicone would "leach" out of the capsule and could spread into the lymphatics of the body.  Many people thought this explained the incidence of many chronic disease states that developed in the implant recipient.  Numerous high profile lawsuits were filed and eventually the Food and Drug Administration had them taken off of the market.  Saline implants became the only implant available to most people. 

After years of refinement and study, newly developed silicone gel implants came onto the market in 2006.  The implants have a shell that does not "leach" and the silicone was cross linked so that it is more gel than liquid.  I have placed the same video here for those who have not watched it that illustrates the difference.

It has been shown after extensive study that the silicone does not contribute to the disease states it was blamed for earlier.  This newer "gel" would be much less likely to migrate into other parts of the body even if there is an implant rupture.  The silicone wants to stay together.

Many feel that the silicone gel implants feel more natural. Rippling or wrinkling under the skin is less likely though it can still occur.  Some feel that these implants look less rounded and give a more natural appearance also. 

I personally do not have a preference as both implants can look and feel great.  I let the patient decide after hearing all of the pros and cons.  The biggest con is cost as the silicone implants are more expensive by about a factor of 2.  If a patient desires a high profile implant, I highly recommend silicone as the saline implants tend to look too fake.  Also if a person wants a TUBA (an implant placed through the umbilicus) they can only have saline as the FDA does not allow silicone to be placed that way.  The other restriction for silicone is an age requirement of 22 years or older.

At Integris Total Body Surgical we place both types of implants in all styles and through all methods.  Come see us for a complimentary consultation where YOU will help decide the implant you want to create the look you are after.

The first video shows all three implants and what is in them.

The second video shows an old silicone implant after it has ruptured.

Thanks for reading!!!

Dr. Swetnam

918-786-7780....Call today

Breast implants in society today are very common.  It used to be a procedure limited to the very wealthy but now is within reach of pretty much anyone who wants it.  Over the years there has been a great deal of change in the availability and quality of implant materials.  There are more, but the main manufacturers of implants today are Mentor and Allergan.  Both are great companies and both make good, solid, reliable implants.  Silicone implants I will cover in a later blog and will spend all of my time today talking about saline implants.

Saline implants basically are a silicone shell that is filled at the time of surgery with saline.  Saline is sterile water with sodium chloride added.  It is very prevalent in our bodies and very safe.  The implants are filled to the pre set volume that is chosen at the time of consultation.

Saline implants can be placed through the nipple, under the arm, below the breast (inframammary) or through the belly button (TUBA).  There are no age restrictions on saline implants and if they leak, they just go flat and your body absorbs the saline.

The down side to saline is that they may Ripple or wrinkle more and they tend to look more round.  Some think they feel hard.  I have seen GREAT looking saline implants and I don't push people away from them if cost is an issue or if they have any silicone fear.  Silicone implants are more costly than saline.  Incisions need to be slightly larger for silicone as they are pre filled and the saline implants come empty.

The following video is a great way to see saline implants and to compare the old silicone with the new "gel"implants.

More next week!

Jeff Swetnam, MD

Does this look and sound familiar??????  BE HONEST!

At Integris Total Body Surgical we see the results of sun exposure (over exposure) all of the time.  When we are young, we all perceive ourselves as indestructable and cover ourselves in oil while baking in the sun.  Today, with tanning beds, there is no winter break from exposure and it seems that I see damage at earlier ages than ever before.  Good skin care is the start of the healing process with retinols and or hydroquinone.  To really get a jump start on healing, we recommend laser skin resurfacing.  The machine we recommend is the Pearl 2700nm laser.  This laser treats abnormal pigments in the skin along with fine lines and wrinkles that go along with sun exposure and the normal process of aging.  The procedure is done in the office with minimal discomfort and the recovery time is only 3-4 days.  The skin after is opalescent, very soft, and looks healthier.  Over the next several months your skin will thicken with new collagen.

Treatments can be repeated at intervals and results can be maintained by chemical peels or repeat treatment.

Check out what The Doctors said.....

Everyone knows THESE guys don't lie!!! Our pricing on Pearl treatments and for packages if multiple treatments are needed or desired are VERY competitive. Cosmetic and skin consultations are always Complimentary. SOOOOOO what are you waiting for? Call us today and we will evaluate your skin and come up with a plan! 918-786-7780