Plastic Surgery Articles

Study: Metal Breast Implants May Prevent Future Deformity

April 24, 2007 -

A new Australian study found that silicone breast implants coated with titanium metal can actually help prevent post-operation hardening or deformities in patients.

Conventional implants such as saline or silicone may react with breast tissue, sometimes resulting in capsular contracture-hardening of the breast.

Australian researchers claim a very thin coating of titanium metal around a silicone implant can prevent the reaction from occurring, reducing the risk of capsular contracture.

“The idea is the body sees the titanium, not the silicone, and it won’t react. There is a significant problem so it’s exciting to try and find ways to avoid it,” said lead researcher Dr. Daniel Fleming.

Currently, 3,000 Australian women are being recruited to be participants in a large clinical study to test the titanium breast implant.

Considering breast augmentation? Please contact us today to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your plastic surgery options.

Insurance Co. Must Cover Boy’s Gynecomastia Surgery

April 12, 2007 -

A New York state court of appeals recently ruled that an insurance company must reimburse a teen boy and his father for the cost of a breast reduction surgery to correct a devastating condition known as gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia is a condition marked by abnormally large breasts in men and can have serious psychological and social effects, especially in young boys who are subject to the scrutiny of their peers.

Some insurance companies deny claims seeking coverage for breast reduction surgery to correct gynecomastia, arguing that the surgery is not medically necessary. This was the case of 17-year-old boy whose claim was rejected by Group Health Incorporated.

However, the boy’s father said his son was teased by peers and even considered not going off to college for fear that his dorm-mates would make fun of his condition.

Both the state Supreme Court and the appellate division found in favor of the boy and his father, calling the teen’s breasts a “deformity” and ordering GHI to reimburse the father $5,000 of the $7,500 cost of the breast reduction procedure.

Considering male breast reduction? To learn more about the procedure from a board certified plastic surgeon near you, please contact us today.

Breast Cancer Patients Don’t Always Get Plastic Surgery Referrals

April 10, 2007 -

Very few breast cancer patients pursue reconstruction surgery after mastectomy, and new research helps explain why. Less than 50 percent of breast cancer surgeons regularly refer their patients to a cosmetic surgeon to discuss treatment after mastectomy, a new University of Michigan study indicates.

The study surveyed 365 breast cancer surgeons to see how routinely they were referring patients to plastic surgeons prior to mastectomy. According to the survey results, 44 percent of surgeons referred fewer than 25 percent of breast cancer patients to a cosmetic surgeon.

However, the doctors involved in the study credited the low rate of reconstruction in breast cancer patients to other factors:

• 64 percent believed their patients weren’t interested in reconstruction
• 57 percent thought reconstruction surgery wasn’t of utmost importance to breast cancer patients
• 39 percent said their patients were concerned about the lengthy process of reconstruction surgery

Furthermore, nearly half of the surgeons claimed they thought their patients were concerned over the cost of reconstruction, although a 1998 law required insurance carriers to cover breast reconstructive procedures.

“We, as a profession, need to do a better job at offering multidisciplinary care or improved decision aids so that patients can be fully educated about all of their treatment options,” said lead researcher of the study Dr. Amy Alderman.

“Knowing about reconstructive options appears to influence women’s choice for surgical therapy. We have made some significant advances in reconstructive surgery where immediate reconstruction produces better aesthetic results,” she said.

Considering breast reconstruction? Please click here to speak with a board certified plastic surgeon near you about your options.

What Age Is Too Young for Breast Surgery?

April 4, 2007 -

Breast augmentation procedures are so popular and even commonplace that many young girls see getting breast implants as a kind of rite of passage. In fact, giving breast surgery as a high school or college graduation gift is one of the latest cosmetic trends. However, it’s a trend that raises a pertinent question: What age is too young for breast surgery?

The Food and Drug Administration has approved silicone breast implants for use in women over the age of 22. The approved age for saline implants is 18. However, there are exceptions where a young woman can get implants at even younger ages.

Most plastic surgeons agree that a young woman should wait to undergo breast surgery-augmentation and reduction-until her breasts have fully developed, typically between the ages of 18 and 22. Exceptions to this include:

• Abnormal breast development
• Severe asymmetry or disproportion
• Disfigurement
• Excessive breast tissue

In cases involving any of these conditions, breast surgery can help boost a young woman’s self-esteem and confidence.

Interested in learning more about your options? Please contact us today to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you.

Silicone Implants to Cause Soaring Rise in Breast Augmentation Procedures

April 3, 2007 -

With the approval of silicone breast implantsafter nearly a 14-year banthe number of breast augmentation procedures are expected to soar, putting nose jobs and other popular cosmetic procedures in the shade.

In 2006, breast augmentation surgeries topped rhinoplasty (nose jobs) procedures for the first time since the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) began gathering cosmetic surgery statistics in 1992.

“With the return of silicone breast implants to the U.S. market, it is likely the number of breast augmentations will continue to increase,” said Dr. Roxanne Guy, president of the ASPS. “Some woman prefer the look and feel of silicone implants and were waiting for the FDA to make its decision.”

According to ASPS statistics, approximately 329,000 patients underwent breast augmentation procedures last year, and 307,000 got nose jobs.

While some plastic surgeons and patients are still wary of the potential risks of silicone breast implants, many believe they offer a more natural look and sensation than their saline counterparts.

Considering breast augmentation? Please click here to schedule a consultation with a trusted board certified plastic surgeon near you.