Determining Factors in Breast Surgery Patient Satisfaction

Recently, researchers have pinpointed six determining factors for patient satisfaction with cosmetic or reconstructive breast surgery. The study, which was published in BMC Women’s Health and authored by Dr. Andrea Pusic, interviewed 48 women who had undergone either breast augmentation, breast reduction or breast reconstruction. The study showed that satisfaction with the appearance of the breast after surgery was the number one determinant for satisfaction. Other important factors included satisfaction with the overall outcome of the surgery; their psychosocial wellbeing; their sexual wellbeing; their physical wellbeing; and their satisfaction with the process of care.

The goal of this study was to develop a more qualitative way to measure patient satisfaction in breast surgery. Dr. Pusic and her colleagues have developed BREAST-Q©,a patient-reporting system to measure the success of these types of breast surgeries using patient well-being and perception of their surgeries.

For those considering breast procedures such as breast reduction, breast reconstruction and breast augmentation, Savannah plastic surgeons at Coastal Empire, and The Woodlands plastic surgeon Dr. Kim offer great information on their websites. Or, consult plasticsurgery.org to find a board certified plastic surgeon in your area.

Saline Implants Still Top Silicone in Popularity

Several trends in breast augmentation were revealed in a recent study conducted by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Possibly the most surprising being the use of saline implants rather than silicone in 60% of all procedures. Since silicone implants have returned to the market after being cleared by the FDA, patients and plastic surgeons alike have touted their safety as well as their realistic look and feel. Yet at this point, most surgeons say they use silicone in 75% to 100% of their patients.

Other trends revealed include breast crease incisions as the most popular option, with surgeons using it 64% of the time. Smooth implants are preferred over textured by 92% of the study respondents. And round implants are used over teardrop in 96% of the all breast augmentations.

The most popular breast implant size is 300 to 400 cc, which generally results in a cups size ranging from a small to full c cup.

Breast augmentation was the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure of 2008, followed by liposuction and eyelid surgery. For those considering procedures such as breast augmentation, New Jersey plastic surgery professionals at The Parker Center offer great information on their website.

Need for Post-Bariatric Cosmetic Surgery on the Rise

The demand for post-bariatric cosmetic surgery is growing. As America's weight issues increase and weight loss surgeries advance, more and more patients are finding they need help with the excess skin often leftover after massive weight loss. This excess skin not only affects the patient cosmetically, but can adversely affect their lifestyle as well.

Common post-bariatric procedures include:
*Breast Lift
*Upper Arm Lift
*Thigh Lift
*Lower Body Lift

Obesityhelp.com is a great online resource offering exercise, diet, lifestyle and plastic surgery information for those working to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, or take control of their lives after weight loss. The site offers chat rooms, message boards, info on upcoming events, articles, and advice to its users.

In Novenber, 2008, ObesityHelp conducted a national weight loss event in Houston featuring plastic surgeon, Dr. Bob Basu as the keynote speaker. Dr. Basu spoke on such issues as body contouring options available to men and women after weight loss, as well as preparation, safety issues, pain control options, recovery and insurance coverage.

An expert in post-bariatric plastic surgery, Dr. Basu also performs such cosmetic and reconstructive procedures as advanced breast reconstruction, breast augmentation, liposuction and abdominoplasty. Houston area residents even voted Dr. Basu one of Houston's "Top Docs" for two years running.

Avoid Boobie Greed. Try the Natrelle® Pre-Consultation Kit.

Most women who’ve had breast implants in the past or are considering getting them soon are familiar with the obsession about breast size – popularly known as “boobie greed.” This condition is defined by the Urban Dictionary as “The feeling that one's breasts are too small even after having a breast augmentation.”
Do you find yourself exhibiting any of the following symptoms?
• Becoming an expert in calculating how many ccs it takes to get from a size B to a size D cup
• Stealthily filling up pantyhose with rice or oatmeal and stuffing it into sports bras
• Stealing BF/DH’s dog-eared Playboy issues to check out what breast size looks most attractive
• Browsing endless pages of before and after photos online to find the “right look”
• Discussing bra sizes, incisions, placement and painkiller effectiveness with random strangers online
• Spending hundreds of dollars on surgeon’s consultations trying to find out “how big” you should go
The cure for these symptoms is simple. A home test with a new scientific breast implant sizing system called the Natrelle® Pre-Consultation Kit, designed especially to help women get the answers they need to their questions about size.
Originally created by plastic surgeon, Elizabeth Kinsley, M.D., and Allergan, the manufacturer of quality medical products, the kit can help women suffering from this vague and undefined medical condition avoid much of the angst they experience over breast implant sizing. It comes with implants, a sizing bra and educational DVDs, in a convenient package that can be shipped to your home.
Now you can spend your time doing something more productive than obsessing over ccs. You can actually try out different implant sizes at home and work, see how your clothes fit, watch the reactions of your friends and coworkers react - all without ever setting foot in a plastic surgery office.
"After trying on the implants and seeing themselves with a totally different look, many women who said they never considered augmentation changed their minds," observes Dr. Kinsley. Although there’s no know cure for the condition known as “boobie greed”, women can use the Natrelle® Pre-Consultation Kit as a way to stop worrying and be proactive about finding out what works for them (or doesn’t).

The Price of Becoming Barbie

For her recent post for The Big Money, writer Lauren Sandler recently went on a quest to see how much it might cost to surgically turn oneself into Barbie. Luckily, there were several surgeons and plastic surgery associations who advised her against surgically undergoing such a feat, including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Sadly, however, others suggested she come in for a consultation.

Though Sandler's quest was merely for the sake of curiosity, others have actually spent the money and undergone the procedures needed to resemble the plastic doll as closely as possible. In the mid-1990s, at the age of 31, a woman named Cindy Jackson began her surgical transformation, undergoing 31 surgeries in 14 years, including four facelift surgeries, eyelid surgery, cheek implants, two rhinoplasties and a procedure to shorten the span between her nose and mouth. She also had "permanent Barbie make-up" applied to her eyes, eyebrows and lips. The bill ultimately added up to $100,000, though Sandler said it would have been higher if it hadn't been for the numerous discounts she received. This figure also doesn't include upkeep, such as routine lip injections to keep them full and plump.

Jackson isn't the only woman to undergo such a transformation. Calling herself the "Real Life Barbie", Britain's Sarah Burge reportedly spent more than $700,000 on over 150 surgeries to mimic the doll's look, including calf implants, butt implants and injections in her armpits to stop her from sweating.

Of course, most people who seek out plastic surgery don't push things to such extremes, but merely want to create change or two to improve on what they have, not to become a living doll. If you are considering making a cosmetic change, either through a tummy tuck, facial procedure or breast augmentation, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Orringer offers great information about what to expect from various procedures, including the risks involved, the recovery and results on his website.

Breast Augmentation Incision Placement Options

When considering breast augmentation, incision placement is an important aspect to discuss with your surgeon. Though plastic surgeons use their skill to make incision scars as inconspicuous as possible, their placement can play a important role in a patient's satisfaction with her results.

The three most common incision options are:
*Inframammary (crease beneath the breast)
*Periareolar (following the line of the areola)
*Axillary (within the folds of the armpit)

Each of these incision options offer their own advantages and disadvantages to consider. The Inframammary option, for instance, allows the best surgical access to the breast, therefore the most control over how the implant will look in a patient after surgery, as well as access to correct issues of breast shape and sagging. This option is best in women with enough breast volume to cover the incision, concealing it from view.

The Periareolar option creates a smaller scar than the inframammary, so it is appealing to many breast augmentation patients. With this option, a tunnel is created through the breast tissue for implant placement. The size of implant that can be used with this incision option depends upon the patient's areolar size. With this option, the risk of loss of nipple sensation is slightly higher than with other options. There is also evidence that the risk of capsular contracture (the hardening of tissue around the implant) is also greater with the periareolar incision.

The Axillary incision option offers the advantage of no scarring on the breast at all. The incision is concealed within the folds of the armpit and a tunnel is created to the breast area. This option offers a lower risk of sensation loss and capsular contracture than a periareolar incision. This is a good option for women seeking enlargement, but no extensive lifting or reshaping of the breast. It can accommodate implants of up to two cup sizes.

For women considering breast augmentation, San Jose plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Lowen suggests choosing an incision option based on desired breast shape rather than scar placement.

"Wherever the incision is placed, favorable healing usually results in scar that is thin and barely detectable after the usual six to 12 months required for scars to mature. This means that if the ultimate goal is optimal breast shape, and if that shape may be best achieved by one or two but not all three of your incision location choices, the trade-off is usually well worth it."

Dr. Lowen does warn, however, that predicting which patients will heal with less optimal scars can not be predicted. "Healing is affected by genetic factors over which we have insufficient knowledge and control to predict final appearance in any given individual. However, we do know how to create and suture incisions to accommodate the breast implants, and how to place them to make the scar as favorable as possible."

What Do Gummy Bears Have To Do With Breasts!?

When you think "gummy bear," you probably imagine a little candy snack that squishes in your mouth. Well, there's a new kind of gummy bear, and it's designed for your breasts. Introducing, "gummy bear breast implants."

That's not the technical name, of course. They are called "cohesive gel" implants, and they are a variation on traditional silicone and saline implants. The reason they are called "gummy bears" is because they feel like the popular candy when you squeeze them.

These cohesive gel implants hold lots of promise. Breast implants are quite safe these days, but we all know that a rupture or leakage could cause major problems. Gummy bears are made tougher, so they are less likely to break. Even though they are stronger, they are just as flexible as silicone implants. This means that they give you a natural feel.

Not every plastic surgery clinic offers gummy bears yet. They are still new and in the experimental stages. But, these new implants could one day take the breast augmentation world by storm. Lots of women are now "going gummy" and getting cohesive gel implants as an alternative to silicone and saline.

For more information on breast augmentation, Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Bob Basu can answer your questions.