In a guidance issued by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, thousands of UK women with French-made Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) breast implants were advised to undergo corrective breast surgery if their implants have ruptured. The guidance was issued after an inquiry by the French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons revealed that PIP implants were faulty and prone to rupture, which could pose a potential health risk since the implants were filled with an unapproved silicone gel that had not undergone safety tests.
Although the FDA-approved breast implants used in the U.S. are safe, and rupture is uncommon, it is important for breast augmentation patients to know how to detect a breast implant rupture, as well as their options for correction should implant malfunction or breast trauma occur.
Rupture in saline breast implants tends to be obvious, as deflation and noticeable volume loss will occur in the implants. However, in silicone gel breast implants, ruptures are not as obvious and an MRI is required for detection. When ruptured breast implants do not cause problems with breast appearance or health, occasionally women will choose to forego revision surgery, however most pursue corrective surgery.
Options for corrective surgery include:
Breast augmentation revision, or breast implant exchange
Breast explant surgery, or breast implant removal
Breast lift in combination with breast implant exchange or removal
Many women who experience a rupture in one or both breast implants choose to exchange their implants for new ones via breast augmentation revision surgery, while other women choose to simply undergo breast explant surgery, or implant removal, and do not have their implants replaced.
A breast lift is often recommended to avoid sagging caused by excess skin when breast implants are removed and are not replaced. A breast lift may also be recommended in combination with breast augmentation revision if breasts have begun to sag with time since the initial breast augmentation surgery.
If your breast implants have ruptured, don’t panic, as there is no immediate health risk. Consult an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who can show you before and after pictures of satisfied breast revision surgery patients and help you decide which corrective breast surgery option is right for you.
If you’re considering breast augmentation, you’ve probably heard about the next generation “highly cohesive” silicone gel implants. If not, you may want to read up on the Natrelle 410 or the Mentor CPG 300 series breast implants.
A recent study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal compares the outcomes of both breast implants and studies the potential processes that may improve breast augmentation with the new prosthetics.
The authors evaluated data such as:
Breast characteristics
Patient’s quality of life
Patient and surgeon satisfaction with outcome
Adverse events
After breast augmentation with highly cohesive silicone gel implants, doctors followed up on patients 16 to 77 months later. “The outcome data indicate that these devices produce natural-appearing breasts with extremely low aggregate reoperation rate (4.2%), writes study author Mark Jewell M.D. Between the two breast implant manufacturers, the study showed measurable differences in the incidence of visible implant rippling.
To learn more, read the abstract on PubMed.gov for “A comparison of outcomes involving highly cohesive, form-stable breast implants from two manufacturers in patients undergoing primary breast augmentation”
Sirius Doctor Radio on Saturday featured a program called “The Dean’s List: A Decade in Medicine,” which outlined major medical breakthroughs of the past decade. Host Dr. Andrew Brotman and other physicians discussed 5 breakthroughs in depth, some of them directly related to cosmetic surgery.
Along with the drug, procedure, and medical discovery of the decade, The Surgery of the Decade was “Minimally Invasive,” including advanced techniques that utilize “smaller incisions, laparoscopes, robotics and computer-aided surgery.”
Such minimally invasive procedures would include transumbilical breast augmentation, a surgery that uses an endoscope to place breast implants through an incision in the navel.
Many people aren’t aware that warranties on silicone breast implants were substantially upgraded this year, but time is running out to take advantage of them.
Schedule your breast augmentation on or before December 31st and you can qualify for the best breast implant warranty ever – offering $3500 in financial reimbursement in the event of an implant rupture. Even if your implant fails ten years down the road, the manufacturer will pay to help cover costs like anesthesia, facility, and surgery.
Previous warranties offered standard lifetime product replacement and a financial reimbursement of $1200, while the premium warranties covered around $2400. While these reimbursements have always been in place to offset the cost of revision surgery, for the patient they still carry the potential for out-of-pocket expense.
Those considering breast surgery with silicone implants may want to schedule it now rather than next year. If you want some extra peace-of-mind about the financial risks associated with implant failure, this might be a great way to get it.
What’s commonly known as TUBA, or even “belly button breast augmentation,” is an effective method of breast implant placement that produces attractive results and scars that are literally invisible.
Dr. Gottlieb performs this operation by making an incision in the navel and then creating a “tunnel” through the subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen to the breasts. The implant is then placed symmetrically behind the nipple, above or below the pectoral muscle. To provide a view of the patient’s underlying tissues, a tiny fiber optic camera called an endoscope is used.
Some have criticized the transumbilical method for its inherently “remote” technique, which doesn’t allow the surgeon direct access to the breasts. Although this objection seems reasonable, the results achieved with TUBA breast augmentation say otherwise. If the patient is safe, satisfied, and the aesthetic results are comparable (or superior) to other breast implant placement methods, the objection doesn’t hold any weight.
Jacob Haiavy MD and William A. Brennan MD published a study in 2007 that analyzed 245 patients of transumbilical breast augmentation, and found that the rate of complications was comparable to other breast implant placement methods. Furthermore, 1 year after transumbilical breast augmentation, 95 percent of the patients were satisfied with the surgery and 86 percent were satisfied with the implant size chosen.
For more information on transumbilical breast augmentation at Plastic Surgery Seattle, contact the office of Jourdan Gottlieb MD.
During consultations, a frequently asked question at our Seattle office is about breast feeding after receiving breast implants. Is it possible? Is it safe for the newborn?
Ability to breast-feed
While uncommon, a certain number of patients do experience a disruption in their ability to breast feed. Choosing a surgical incision that avoids manipulation of the nipple can decrease this risk. If breast feeding is likely in your future, you may want to investigate incision techniques such as the inframmary fold incision, transaxillary incision, or transumbilical breast augmentation method.
Although breast feeding is not necessarily compromised by sub-glandular (above the muscle) placement, some surgeons maintain that submuscular breast implant placement reduces the risk as well.
Infant Safety
Research studies published in the late 90s regarding infant safety haven’t found any measurable risks associated with breast implants. In the late 90s, a study was published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showing that women with silicone breast implants show comparable levels of silicone (silicon) in their breast milk to women without implants. It is not known what effect could occur if traces of silicone were to pass through to the infant.
Feel free to speak with Dr. Gottlieb 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.
A patient talks about her breast augmentation surgery to help you make an informed decision and safely achieve a satisfied outcome.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery produced this educational video, and is devoted entirely to advancing the field of cosmetic plastic surgery through education and research.
2008 Statistics gathered by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveal that 355,671 breast augmentations were performed in 2008, while 341,144 liposuction procedures were done nationwide.
This seems to indicate significant change taking place in the industry; for the first time, the popularity of breast augmentation procedures has outdone that of liposuction.
In a recently issued press release, ASPS President Alan Gold is quoted, saying “for the first time in the twelve years these statistics have been collected, liposuction is a runner up in popularity to breast augmentation. He further predicts that “this turnabout will generate discussions in the medical community and the public at large.” According to Dr. Gold it’s possible that “changes in fashion, i.e. décolletage baring styles, might be a factor behind this change.”
10.2 million cosmetic procedures were performed nationwide in 2008 and 92 percent of them were had by women. The top 5 include:
1. Breast Augmentation
2. Liposuction
3. Eyelid Surgery
4. Rhinoplasty
5. Abdominoplasty
The top five non-surgical procedures were the following:
First of all, you would call Dr. Gottlieb at Plastic Surgery Seattle right away!
Breast implants are often covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, making the replacement cost much lower than expected.
A saline implant that has ruptured carries no health risk, but it will certainly feel and look strange. If you have silicone implants, damage can be diagnosed with an MRI.
While not a common occurrence, implants can fail for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the problem occurs when the implants are filled beyond (or below) the manufacturer’s recommended fill range. Other times, texturing of a saline implant can result in excessive wrinkling and premature wear, causing the implant to fail.
Even regular wear and tear can cause breast implant deflation over time, and your lifestyle can also play a role in how long your breast implants will last.
A deflated implant can be safely removed and replaced in a surgical procedure similar to the original breast augmentation. Usually the same breast augmentation incision is used to approach the deflated implant.
While all this might seem like a hassle, the good news is that recovery from breast implant repair surgery is usually easier than the original surgery, since the pectoralis muscle has already been stretched.
On December 1st, 2008, Mentor corporation (MNT), the well-known breast implant and aesthetic specialties supplier was purchased by Johnson & Johnson for a price of 1.1 billion. Market analysts claim the move was probably due to the recent economic strain that had the company aggressively marketing its popular silicone implants.
FDA approval is expected in late 2010 for Mentor’s newest product offering in the anti-aging market. “PurTox” is supposed to improve a patient’s appearance by relaxing the muscles that cause facial lines and wrinkles. The drug is derived from the botulinum toxin, like the popular Allergan Inc. product and main competitor, Botox.
Plastic Surgery Seattle, Jourdan Gottlieb M.D., Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Disclaimer & Copyright 2008
1600 E. Jefferson St. Suite 501
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 320-2270
outlined major medical breakthroughs of the past decade. Host Dr. Andrew Brotman and other physicians discussed 5 breakthroughs in depth, some of them directly related to cosmetic surgery.
Many people aren’t aware that warranties on silicone 
During consultations, a frequently asked question at our Seattle office is about breast feeding after receiving breast implants. Is it possible? Is it safe for the newborn?
2008 Statistics gathered by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveal that 355,671 
First of all, you would call Dr. Gottlieb at Plastic Surgery Seattle right away!
