Indiana Plastic Surgery Blog

The price of an abdominoplasty depends on the setting: will you be at a hospital or surgery center? Because it may take longer, the cost also depends on the need for additional procedures: do you need liposuction as well?  Are you a post-bariatric surgery patient?

A basic abdominoplasty will cost approximately $6000-$7000, including anesthesia, facility and surgeon’s fee.  This price would be for a straightforward tummy tuck without liposuction.  When liposuction is involved or when the patient has lost a significant amount of weight (after gastric bypass for example) the surgery takes longer, may include an overnight stay, and therefore costs more.

Be sure to schedule an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon who can assess your condition and give you a precise understanding of what your surgery will entail and why it costs as much as it does.

People often say that silicone breast implants look and feel more natural than saline implants, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that saline is an inferior implant.  It often comes down to a matter of patient comfort and preference.  When either implant is placed under the muscle, the breast assumes a look and feel that is quite natural.

The advantages of saline implants include adjustability and easier placement, since they come empty from the manufacturer and get filled during surgery.  Don’t choose an implant that is too large for your body.  Simply put – large implants increase the likelihood of an unnatural result.

If you want great results, consult with us about your desires and concerns before proceeding with breast augmentation.

Revisionary breast procedures may include breast implant removal, a change in size, or a switch from saline to silicone.

During such procedures, some patients may benefit from a breast lift, when down sizing or after weight changes.  Over time, skin loses its elasticity, which requires excess skin to be removed and/or tightened.  The amount and degree are determined by the patient’s desired breast size and the amount of elasticity remaining in your skin.

Site location, above or below the muscle, as well as the type of implant (saline or silicone) will also determine the appropriate procedure and your final result.  In some circumstances, patients may not need a lift and instead may benefit from a site change.

The cost of breast augmentation depends on several factors including the following:

• Implant type – saline vs. silicone
• The physician
• The geographic area
• The type of anesthesia

The approximate cost at Indiana Plastic Surgery ranges from $5200 (package price for saline implants, includes my fee, facility, anesthesia, cost of implants and postop visits) to $6200 (package price for silicone implants).

This price may vary depending on whether a patient is having a revision or replacement, as well as the possible need for a breast lift with an augmentation.
Beware of prices that seem to good to pass up and be sure to verify your plastic surgeon’s credentials, making sure he or she is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Also, check on the facility where your surgery is being performed to make sure it is accredited by the state in which your physician practices.

Making a decision about breast implant size requires consideration of several factors:

1) The size you think you would like to be
2) The actual diameter of your breast (measured in your plastic surgeons office)
3) How you look with implant sizers placed in your bra at your consultation
4) The amount of skin laxity or sagging in your breasts

All of these things must be taken into account to give you the best possible look and fit.  Patients sometimes have unrealistic requests that will not fit them as an individual due to their breast anatomy or body type.

The rule of thumb is to have realistic expectations regarding the cup size you would like to achieve, but this requires that you understand breast augmentation surgery.  Make sure you and your board certified plastic surgeon have a thorough discussion, so you understand the procedure and the surgeon understands your wishes. Doing so will optimize your results and increase your level of satisfaction with the surgery.

A 20-year-old patient recently asked us about breast augmentation with silicone implants, explaining that an Illinois cosmetic surgeon had offered to perform the procedure if she signed a waiver.

When the FDA reintroduced silicone breast implants for use in cosmetic breast surgery, the restriction put in place was patients had to be at least 22 years of age.  The only exception was for patients with severe rippling from a previous breast augmentation or patients requiring them for reconstructive reasons such as Polands Syndrome or other congenital breast deformities.

Use of silicone implants for any other purposes than stated above are considered off label uses.  This means the implant manufacturer will not be liable for any problems that may occur.

We told this patient that the proposal to sign a waiver to get silicone implants under the age of 22 seemed unusual and even suspicious.  An ethical, board certified plastic surgeon probably would not make such an offer.

It is common for patients who get breast augmentation to feel quite different after getting implants. Breast implants can bring new mental and physical feelings and change the way you experience life. Adjusting to these changes requires time.

After several months (sometimes sooner), almost all patients adjust to their implants and begin to accept them as a part of themselves. With time, breast implants will look more natural and become a part of you.

We tell our patients that “time is on their side.” While it is rare, patients that feel uncomfortable about their implants several months after the procedure can have them removed or changed.

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Should I reach a certain ‘goal weight’ before my tummy tuck?

Tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) works best for individuals who have come as close to their goal weight as possible and have been able to maintain this weight for several months.  Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss and diet and exercise are crucial for maintaining your results.  Abdominoplasty is a rewarding surgery for many people and can help you get over the hump that exercise and diet can only partially provide.

The procedure will not only address any excess skin and subcutaneous tissue you have, but also tighten your abdominal (6 pack) muscles and remove some of your stretch marks.

How long after childbirth should I wait?

I do not recommend having the surgery until you are finished having children.  Doing so would possibly effect the beneficial results you obtained from the procedure.  Although there is no specific time when a tummy tuck should be done following pregnancy, 6 months is considered an appropriate amount of time to wait.  At the minimum, 3 months might be considered safe.

The most appropriate time to have a tummy tuck following pregnancy is when A) you have decided not to have more children, and B) when you have lost your pre-pregnancy weight.

There are a few plastic surgeons (they are definitely in the minority) who will perform a tummy tuck at the same surgical setting as the delivery.  The potential problem with this is the patient has not lost her pregnancy weight and when she does so, may experience less than optimal results.

Can I remove stretch marks with a tummy tuck?

Unfortunately, there is no good solution for addressing stretch marks other than their surgical removal.  The amount of stretch marks that are able to be removed depends on the amount of skin that is able to be removed during a tummy tuck.  Depending on the elasticity of your skin, you may be able to have some of the stretch marks removed that extend above your belly button.

Forehead lines are a bothersome issue for many people, young and old, making them self-conscious of the appearance of their upper face.  Patients often ask us, what can I do about them, aside from brow lift surgery?

First of all, there are two types of forehead wrinkles a patient may need to address.
•    Dynamic wrinkles are caused by active movement of the facial muscles.
•    Static wrinkles are present without contraction of facial muscles, as if they are ‘etched’ into your face.

The neuromuscular blocking action of Botox (or Dysport) is perfectly suited to treat dynamic wrinkles.  That’s why Botox injection is regarded as the best and least invasive method of addressing forehead wrinkles.

Botox may help soften static wrinkles but will not cause them to completely go away. To go beyond what Botox can achieve and further erase these wrinkles, additional procedures such as laser therapy may be appropriate.

Soft tissue fillers, Juvederm and Restylane, may also be beneficial when used in conjunction with these procedures.