Complexities of Breast Reduction Surgery
April 19, 2013 - Rhys Branman, MD
It has come to my attention that many prospective patients might assume that breast reduction and breast augmentation are comparable procedures, possibly even that breast reduction might be simpler. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Breast reduction surgery is actually quite complex. With breast augmentation, the addition of an implant does not interfere with the deep structures of the breast tissue; the implant merely pushes them aside until the skin stretches to accommodate the addition. Even placing an implant beneath the pectoral muscle leaves the breast tissue intact, although an extended recovery period may be necessary as the muscle... 
Throughout history the pursuit of beauty and youth has inspired quests of exploration for fountains of youth or exotic herbs, to medical procedures and extreme fashion trends. From Cleopatra’s milk baths and cosmetic concoctions to the powdered faces and wigs of 18th century European courts, and the removal of ribs to create the wasp-waisted look that fit into Victorian corsets, beauty and youth have been sought by the rich and powerful. In the 21st century, however, surgical procedures have made amazing transformations possible, and not only for the rich and powerful. Now cosmetic procedures that are more than skin deep,... 
Back in 2008 Naomi Watts was quoted as saying " God, no! People my age and younger are having so much work done, but my view is that it’s a terrible thing to mess with your face. As an actress, my job is to express myself. No, seriously, we’ve got to allow ourselves to age gracefully. And somebody’s got to play the old ladies." Of course she was only 39 years old then. Now, at 44 years old, Ms. Watts is much more realistic. In fact, her comments are all over the Internet gossip columns. Now Ms. Watts is saying,... 
Some women prefer saline breast implants. Saline breast implants are made by the Mentor company in the United States, and they have a great track record, I might add. The implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution. Our bodies are made of over 60 percent saltwater, about 50 quarts of saltwater. Obviously a natural substance, the saline implant is the very safest implant you can get. This is one reason some women prefer saline implants. Now silicone implants are safe; this is why the FDA allowed them back on the market in 2006; however, some women are still a... 
You may have heard of VASER assisted liposuction. VASER stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance: ultrasound. This type of liposuction uses ultrasound in order to liquefy the fat that is to be removed during liposuction. Patients often ask why one would prefer tumescent liposuction to VASER liposuction, or the reverse for that matter. There is evidence that VASER assisted liposuction can result in less injury to the surrounding tissue, quicker healing time, and better skin contraction. However, it is important to understand that VASER assisted liposuction is not for everyone. Patients are assessed as appropriate candidates on... 
Is abdominoplasty associated with permanent long-term weight reduction? This is a question researchers have been trying to find out. What had been discovered was that many tummy tuck patients had lost more weight than explained by the removal of fat and skin during their abdominoplasty! A new pilot study showed evidence that in patients with a body mass index greater than 54 percent body fat the answer might be "Yes." With the rate of obesity continuing to climb in the United States, many people are turning to cosmetic surgery, including abdominoplasty and liposuction. However, these are not ideal ways to... 
The curve and shape of the neck is a large part of facial aesthetics. The relationship of the neck to the lower third of the face is a basic factor in planning surgical rejuvenation. Most patients do not know the technical name of a neck lift. One technique is called a platysmaplasty. The platysmaplasty involves removing a small part of the muscle that extends from your collarbone to the angle of your jaw. This procedure removes that "turkey waddle" or double chin that many of us accrue as we get older. Platysmaplasty is only effective when the platysma muscle is... 
Cosmetic surgeons are always talking about realistic expectations. What exactly does that mean, you might ask. Here is an interesting term that may help explain. The "range of believability" is the concept. What do you believe can be achieved? When a person first seriously considers seeking cosmetic surgery, it may feel as if new potentially liberating options have opened up. On the other hand, it may feel scary. These feelings describe a range of expectation, or belief about what is possible. Just from that range of possible feelings, you can see that cosmetic surgery is an emotional issue. It's easy... 
We all know that researching your cosmetic surgeon is critical for the outcome of your procedure and safety. Elective surgery involves some risk, just as any other surgery does. Of course you want the best outcome as well. One thing you should do is ask how often and how recently your surgeon has performed the procedure you are seeking. Another thing you will want to do is to look at his or her portfolio, the before and after pictures of patients he has operated on. But how do you know what to look for in these pictures? First of all,... 