A team at Oslo University Hospital compiled the research, which was released in November 2011. The team set out to determine how the thoughts and feelings of women who visited a breast augmentation forum might affect other visitors also interested in the surgery. The findings were largely positive.

The team discovered that the culture of the breast augmentation forum is often one that provides emotional support. By sharing one’s own experiences on a breast augmentation forum, patients are able to support each other on many levels.

Also of note were the relationships women discussed on the forums. Researchers found that women often discussed not only how they felt about themselves, but also their environment and their surgeon. The relationship a patient has with her surgeon is key, as it helps to build trust.

The idea of the breast augmentation forum was found to be integral to the women’s lives since it allowed them to open up and to learn in a way not readily available. By finding an online community who were not only interested in breast augmentation, but many who had experienced it, patients were able to more easily traverse the emotional aspects of plastic surgery.

To learn more about breast augmentation, as well as its emotional benefits, please contact Vancouver plastic surgeon Dr. Workman by emailing us.

After losing the weight, Olivia Ward struggled with the excess skin many weight loss patients deal with. Dr. Walden described how many patients may look “deflated” or feel like a “sack of skin.” It can be difficult to fit into certain types of clothing, like lingerie and health issues can also come up. These conditions can include rashes that form in skin folds.

Due to these concerns, Dr. Walden stresses that body contouring for patients who have lost a dramatic amount of weight is not a vanity surgery—she would classify it as reconstructive.

To remedy Olivia’s redundant skin, Dr. Walden says she performed a tummy tuck and breast lift. In both of these surgeries, the excess skin is separated from the tissues and removed. The plastic surgeon may also use liposuction to remove small, stubborn pockets of fat. The remaining skin is then tightened to ensure a more taut-looking appearance. In the case of a tummy tuck and breast lift, the bellybutton and nipple areola may need to be moved to a higher position, respectively.

Though later pregnancy can affect the look of the body, those who have undergone previous body contouring after major weight loss will only require a smaller procedure post-baby, if they desire.

To learn more about body contouring in Vancouver, please email plastic surgeon Dr. Workman.

Oftentimes after a patient has undergone bariatric surgery which results in dramatic weight loss, they come face to face with the reality of loose skin. When the body has lost such a great amount of weight, the skin has often lost its elasticity and cannot conform to the new, slimmer body shape. Because of this body contouring after weight loss is often necessary for patients to regain ease in their lives.

Plastic surgeons from the ASPS, however, have found that patients may not often know about procedures for body contouring after weight loss or may not be able to afford them. In a paper he presented last month at the annual ASPS conference, plastic surgeon Dr. Jason Spector shared the results of a recent survey he conducted.

According to Spector, nearly 300 patients participated in the survey. Spector found that only about a quarter of the patients who underwent bariatric surgery discussed options for body contouring with their surgeon prior to the bariatric procedure. Just more that 10% of patients went through with body contouring after weight loss.

The main reasons patients gave for not undergoing body contouring after weight loss? Being unaware of their options or the cost of the potential procedure. If they had been better informed, nearly 40% of the patients said they may have made a different decision about body contouring.

Though body contouring after weight loss is categorized by most health insurance providers as a cosmetic procedure, plastic surgeons often regard it as reconstructive. They may compare it to breast reconstruction.

Loose skin after dramatic weight loss can result in a range of health issues for patients. The folds can become infected or develop skin rashes and it can get caught in tight spaces. Patients with loose skin after dramatic weight loss also have difficulty exercising and finding clothing that fits their new frame.

To learn more about body contouring after weight loss, we encourage you to join the mailing list of Vancouver, WA plastic surgeon Dr. Workman.

For anyone who is unable to make it we will be blogging live from the event with text, photos, and video so keep checking back for updates.

Plastic surgeons and other surgical doctors often use sutures because of their ease of use. They are pliable and can be used to close incisions on many parts of the body. Surgical staples are also a popular wound closure device but in some cases, may result in scarring.

The new wound closure device being developed by SurgiMatix combines the ease of use of surgical staples and the strength and durability of sutures administered by a surgeon.

Pre-clinical testing of the device was completed in the spring of 2010 and the results showed many benefits over more standard methods of wound closure. It showed to heal wounds quickly and cause less scarring when compared to surgical staples.

To learn more about advances in plastic surgery, please join the mailing list of Vancouver plastic surgeon Dr. Workman.

While previously, patients were instructed to get a breast implant MRI three years after surgery and every two years going forward, that requirement is no longer in place.

“Women should feel assured that the FDA continues to believe that currently marketed silicone breast implants are safe,” said Dr. William Maisel, chief scientist for the FDA’s Center for Devices.

While there are some types of damage that a breast implant MRI can detect, such as ruptures that may not otherwise be visible, patients may not be at a greater risk. Additionally, the cost of a breast implant MRI may be too high and deter women from undergoing regular testing.

The discussion of how to track the performance of breast implants, aside from breast implant MRIs, continued. One idea favored by many is to keep a registry of all breast implant patients, though the cost of such a venture could be cost-prohibitive.

Given this new confirmation of the safety of silicone breast implants, the responsibility of tracking may come down to each individual patient. While not required, a breast implant MRI may be the only way to discover a rupture. You should discuss your breast implants with your plastic surgeon if you have any questions about safety or maintenance. He will be able to provide you with specific information about the devices used and how to monitor them.

To learn more about options for breast augmentation in Vancouver, please join the mailing list of plastic surgeon Dr. Workman.

The study, which looked at what sort of foods patients who underwent the surgery incorporated into their post-bariatric surgery diet. It found that many patients shunned fats high in fat and instead made healthier choices for their post-bariatric surgery diet. Interestingly enough, a study of lab rats found a similar effect lasting up to 200 days after surgery.

The researchers said the avoidance of fatty foods as part of a post-bariatric surgery diet may be attributed to hormones. An increase in certain types of hormones may lead to unpleasant digestive feelings, causing patients to curb their intake of fatty food and drinks.

Of course, in order to maintain the positive effects of the surgery, a healthy post-bariatric surgery diet is necessary. Of great importance, too, for many patients are body contouring procedures which are often needed after losing a great deal of weight.

Cosmetic surgeons often perform body contouring for patients who exhibit loose skin and pockets of fat on the body. These surgeries can include a tummy tuck, thigh lift, and breast lift.

To learn more about maintaining your body after bariatric surgery, we encourage you to contact Vancouver plastic surgeon Dr. Workman.

During an interview on KVOA, the news station’s plastic surgery contributor spoke about popular procedures that she considers inexpensive plastic surgery options when compared to the results post-surgery.

The best option for body plastic surgery, according to KVOA, is a tummy tuck. This procedure is the only way to truly remove loose skin around the abdomen. For women, the waist-to-hip ratio is an important indicator of perceived attractiveness, according to KVOA. By removing excess skin, the midsection appears more toned and slim.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgeries performed today. Women who desire fuller breasts choose it as a long-term option. While implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime, they can last up to a decade.

To learn more about relatively inexpensive plastic surgery options that can show long-term improvements in your appearance, please join the mailing list of Vancouver plastic surgeon Dr. Workman.

Changes to the breasts can be caused by a variety of factors, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause, and weight changes. Some women with smaller breasts may experience ptosis (sagging breasts) and want to get the entire package when they consult their surgeon. Larger or medium-sized breasts can dwindle over time, and this is often accompanied by a drooping of the nipples.

There are many obvious benefits to a procedure that could offer women the chance to combine their breast augmentation and mastopexy during a single surgery:

• final results in a single session
• less time spent in the operating room and hospital
• no need to operate on scarred tissues

But is this sort of procedure safe? Some physicians have argued that combining breast augmentation and mastopexy creates added risks, such as scarring, death of breast tissue, and poor positioning of the implants. Surgeons have argued that the operation is complicated and unnecessarily risky.

However, in a recent study published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ariel Tessone and her colleagues were able to employ a safe, simple mastopexy-augmentation technique that involves resectioning the breast after the implant has been inserted. The study examines 60 patients who underwent this procedure. It reports a high satisfaction rate and a low (10 percent) reoperation rate.

While there are various considerations outlined in the study that would limit the use of this procedure, it seems that augmentation-mastopexy surgery may be a viable option for patients who want to correct both breast sagging and loss of breast volume.

After conducting an in-depth study of silicone implant safety, the FDA has confirmed that silicone gel implants “have a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness when used as labeled.” For consumers, this means silicone gel implant augmentations performed by a board certified plastic surgeon, and maintained as instructed, should present no extreme health issues for the patient.

The FDA’s silicone implant safety study also debunked a rumor that silicone breast implants share an association with “connective tissue disease, breast cancer, or reproductive problems.” Based on current data, the FDA said there is no detected connection.

Long-Term Silicone Implant Safety Tips

Women who are considering silicone breast implants should note that though breast implants are long-lasting, no such implant will last a lifetime. Over the course of her life, a woman who has gotten breast implants will likely need to have them replaced.

Patients will need to monitor their silicone gel implants over time and note any signs of complication to their surgeon. Some women may experience a hardening of tissue around the breast, called capsular contracture, or may have a revision or removal surgery.

Silicone implant safety monitoring also extends to visiting your doctor for screenings. Periodic MRIs can detect a “silent rupture” of the implant, which the patient may not be aware of. As an added precaution for women both with and without silicone gel implants, it is important to continue regular mammograms, as directed by your doctor.

Silicone gel implants are used not only for breast augmentation, but often as a part of breast lift surgeries, as well.