Indiana Plastic Surgery Blog

After an inquiry by the French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (SOFCPRE) uncovered safety issues with Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) breast implants, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons issued a guidance advising the estimated 50,000 British women who have the implants to seek corrective surgery if their implants are ruptured.  

According to the results of the SOFCPRE inquiry, PIP breast implants were found to contain an untested, unapproved silicone gel that has not undergone safety tests and also lacked an essential protective barrier, making them especially prone to rupture.

Breast implant ruptures are uncommon in the safe, FDA-approved breast implants used in the U.S., but breast augmentation patients should know how to detect a breast implant rupture, as well as the corrective surgery options that exist should implant malfunction or breast implant trauma occur.

In saline breast implants, ruptures are usually easy to detect because the implants deflate and noticeably lose volume.  In silicone breast implants, ruptures are not as obvious and require an MRI 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 breast surgery include:

• Breast implant exchange (breast augmentation revision)
• Breast implant removal (breast explant surgery)
• Breast lift with implants or without implants

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 with implants may also be performed to remove skin that has sagged with age since the initial breast augmentation, while a breast lift without implants may be performed to remove skin stretched by the breast implants if a patient decides not to have the implants replaced.

If you experience a rupture in your breast implants, remember there’s no need to panic, as ruptures in FDA-approved breast implants pose no immediate health risk.  Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon with considerable experience performing breast surgery for reassurance and help deciding which corrective surgery option is best for you.

A new study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery analyzes the factors that motivate women to undergo breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, and abdominoplasty.

According to survey analysis, specific factors –both physical and psychological –can predict an interest in cosmetic procedures.   1862 women in northern Norway responded to a questionnaire regarding their interest in cosmetic surgery.  All participants were under the age of 35.

Women interested in rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, and liposuction were motivated by “complex psychological factors.”   Researchers found correlations with lifestyle factors such as divorce, history of teasing, education, self-image, body dysmorphic disorder, and the so-called Big-Five personality traits.

Questions about abdominoplasty (the tummy tuck) presented some unique findings.  Most participants who were interested in the procedure were interested in it exclusively. Having children and the “desire to repair the bodily changes occurring after childbirth” was a consistent predictor of interest for a tummy tuck.

Read the abstract of this study online on Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

First quarter earnings for Allergan, maker of Botox, are way up. Second quarter forecasts, according to the Wall Street Journal, are way ahead of expectations.

Given the statistics just released by the ASPS, their success shouldn’t be all that surprising. According to the society, minimally invasive procedures have increased an incredible 99 percent since 2000.  Topping the list are wrinkle fillers and botulinum toxin injections, two treatments in which plastic surgeons will likely reach for an Allergan product.

Image courtesy of the ASPS

For Allergan, being on the cutting-edge of aesthetic medicine also doesn’t hurt. New products like Juvederm Ultra XC and Latisse are getting plenty of attention right now, which should only increase consumer demand for these cosmetic procedures.

A recent study of 581 breast cancer patients has revealed inequalities correlated with race and health insurance coverage.

According to the research, black women have to wait longer for breast cancer treatment and diagnosis, regardless of their health insurance coverage.  White women with no insurance coverage also waited significantly longer.

The findings come from George Washington University Cancer Institute.  Patients were treated at 7 hospitals and clinics between 1997 and 2009.

Highlights

• To get a definitive diagnosis, insured black patients and uninsured white patients had to wait over twice as long as insured white patients.
• Contrary to the researcher’s expectations, insurance coverage did not even the field between racial groups. Having health insurance coverage did not mean a quicker diagnosis in black women.
• After diagnosis, black patients had to wait twice as long as white patients to begin breast cancer treatment.

Read more about this study on womenshealth.gov
Information on breast reconstruction in Indiana

This story from CNN documents the increasing number of cosmetic procedures being performed in Iraq. As violence in the region subsides, Iraqi women have begun to seek cosmetic enhancement with greater frequency.

“It does seem that cosmetic surgery is on the rise” says reporter Mahammed Jamjoom, who stands by while rhinoplasty is performed on 26-year old Noor Aziz.

Read “Buying Beauty in Baghdad” and see more videos on CNN.com

Dr. Robinson will be traveling to Haiti to volunteer through the University of Miami Hospital. Note that since the days they recorded the story above, conditions in Haiti have improved.

The NPR morning edition broadcast this morning discussed how aging muscles contribute to weight gain, a message that magnifies the importance of exercise for the aging person.

When you get older, you lose muscle mass, meaning your body weight can stay the same but the percentage of muscle in your body decreases. Muscle repair also becomes slower. Because muscle plays such a critical role in burning calories, your weight, health and body shape can all be affected by this change.

Listen to the program online to learn more

The author of Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery starts where you expect other writers on the subject to stop – discussing the questions people truly want to ask but seldom do; with the answers they really want to have, but can’t seem to find.

Stern did a substantial amount of work.  She conducted over 100 in-depth and intimate interviews with women.  She had some work done herself, so she’s got cred.  She tells the truth about her own experience, pushes aside some of the same old questions, (Am I a good candidate for X?  Should I tell anyone or just pretend it’s the same old me?) and moves into fresh new territory.

(more…)

The poll we posted 2 weeks ago received over 40 responses.  The largest group – almost half the participants – agreed that a tax on cosmetic surgery would discriminate against women.

In the “other” category, we got the following 3 responses:

• A fair tax to pay for an elective “luxury” procedure.
• Will negatively impact the industry.
• Largely a tax on the middle class.  Nixes Obama’s pledge not to raise our taxes.

The discrimination arguments tend to be the most significant and interesting side of this debate, in my opinion. Terry O’Neill, President of NOW, the National Organization for Women, recently voiced strong opposition to it as a “tax on middle-aged women,” an argument that has some “third wave” feminists scratching their heads.

A British cosmetic clinic is showing off the cosmetic surgery results of their employees in a 2010 calendar.  They’re calling the calendar “tongue-in-cheek, but tasteful,  featuring “girls from across our company of all ages and they all look amazing.” [The Sun]

Can breast implants or lasik eye surgery be considered a marital asset?  According to the Associated Press, attorneys in North Dakota thought the issue was worth debating.  The judge’s ruling? “nonsense”  [Star Tribune]

Marketing for breast augmentation with fat-grafting is being “ramped up” says the New York Times.  Experienced plastic surgeons weigh in to warn potential patients about the unpredictable nature of this procedure.  “Suddenly everyone is claiming to have 10 years experience,” says expert Dr. Sydney Coleman. [NY Times]

Giving cosmetic surgery for Christmas?  Don’t surprise your significant other with a plastic surgery gift certificate unless you’ve discussed the idea in the past.  Do it right and you’ve got an extraordinary gift!  [RealSelf]