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Before & After

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Cosmetic Surgery Resources

Choosing a Breast Surgeon
Breast Surgery Q&A
"Scarless" Surgery: Q&A

Choosing a Breast Augmentation Surgeon

Breast augmentation is a major decision. If you have decided to undergo the procedure, you have most likely given it a lot of thought and you definitely want to choose a skilled breast augmentation surgeon. However, choosing a surgeon is difficult. It may seem that the more you look, the more the surgeons appear the same. The following are some steps to help guide you in your decision making process:

First, you should ask friends and family. Many people have undergone plastic surgery, and even more people know someone who has undergone plastic surgery. Ask people you know if they have any experience with a plastic surgeon or if they know of someone who has. Ask them about their experience and how they chose a breast surgeon. Even if your friends have had cosmetic procedures other than breast augmentation, the surgeons they visited may know of a breast augmentation surgeon in the area.

You can also ask someone in the medical profession such as your doctors, nurses, and other staff members. They may know of a popular surgeon or, more importantly, surgeons to avoid.

Remember to look for a plastic surgeon that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, as well as a member of the The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. These organizations screen applicants very closely. Choosing a surgeon that has already been approved can make your hunt a lot easier.

After you have constructed a list of breast augmentation surgeons you would like to meet with, schedule an appointment to visit their office. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the breast surgeon, the staff, view the facility, and learn more about the breast augmentation procedure. During your consultation, you should have some questions for the surgeon. Pay attention to the way he or she answers your questions; see if you get clear, thorough answers or just a general response.

Ask what the doctor thinks. Are there other treatment options? Will you achieve the look you desire? What are the risks? Is it worth it?

Ask the breast surgeon how many breast augmentation procedures he has performed. Dr. Workman has worked on thousands of women over the past few decades. Ask to see breast augmentation before and after photos of other patients. Ask for recommendations.

Choosing a breast augmentation surgeon is difficult because it is so important. Dr. Workman is happy to meet with you to discuss the procedure and answer any questions you might have. Contact us today to schedule a breast augmentation consultation at our Vancouver, Lake Oswego, or Tri-Cities plastic surgery office.

Breast Surgery: Q&A

Q. Will my ability to breast-feed be affected?

A. Many women with breast implants nurse their babies successfully. Nevertheless, it is possible for any breast surgery to interfere with breast-feeding.

Q. Do breast implants increase my risk of getting cancer? Or detecting cancer?

A. There is no evidence linking breast implants and breast cancer. Recent studies have shown that the stage of breast cancer detection in women with breast implants appears to be identical to the overall population.

Q. Will augmentation breast surgery make asymmetrical breasts more symmetrical?

A. If your breasts have slightly different shapes before surgery, they will remain slightly different after surgery. Breast implant surgery merely adds to the breast tissue you already have.

Q. Will I lose any sensation in my nipples or skin?

A. Nerves that supply skin or nipple sensation may be cut or traumatized while the pocket or space for the breast implant is being created. Although it doesn't happen routinely, nerve damage can occur no matter how carefully the surgery is performed. If sensory loss occurs, the nerves recover in 1-2 years in about 85% of patients.

Q. How will breast implants affect a mammogram?

A. You should alert the mammography technician to the fact that you have implants. Special techniques will be used and extra views of the breast may be required to see as much of the breast tissue as possible.

Q. Can mammography cause breast implants to burst?

A. Because the breast is compressed during mammography, it is possible for an implant to rupture. However, this is rare.

"Scarless" Surgery: Q&A

What is "scarless" surgery?

It's a term for surgery, which leaves no obvious scar. Whenever the skin is cut, it will mend itself by growing special connective tissue along the cut. We call this a scar. Most surgery requires some sort of incision, although as the years go by, incisions have become smaller as instruments get smaller and techniques more sophisticated. A surgeon will always consider the resulting scar when he plans to make an incision. Whenever possible, the incision will be made in a discreet location so as to leave an unnoticed scar.

Can "scarless" surgery be done for breast augmentation?

No, although the incisions can be placed in minimally noticed locations. There are four possible incision sites for breast augmentation, each hidden for different reasons. If the scar is not visible during ordinary work and social activities, some people regard it as invisible. But of course, you will be able to see your own scar in any location, whether in the mirror or while taking a shower, for example.

What are the possible incision sites for breast augmentation?

Transaxillary - in the armpit
Inframammary fold - along the crease beneath the breast
Peri-areolar - around the areola, the darkened skin around the nipple
TUBA - standing for Trans-Umbilical Breast Augmentation and meaning in the navel

Your incision location is partly dependent on the type of breast implant you choose to have. Silicone gel implants come already filled, whereas saline implants are inserted empty and filled afterwards. So the silicone gel implants are larger when inserted. The FDA has not approved the TUBA incision site for their placement.

If I have the incision placed in the armpit, won't the scar be visible if I stretch my arms?

Yes, some of the time sleeves will cover it. We have however encountered multiple patients with armpit placement who complained of being unwilling to lift their arm for toasting and who declined tennis and other activities that involved full range of arm movement due to others seeing their scar.

Don't silicone gel implants require larger incisions and therefore leave larger scars?

Yes, since they come already filled, they need a larger incision. Since the FDA re-approved silicone gel implants in November 2006, more and more women have been choosing them over the saline implants. The best incision site for this type of implant is the inframammary site - along the crease below the breast. This incision site leaves a thin scar that coincides with the crease, which makes it almost invisible when no bra or bathing suit is covering it. The breast must be lifted to bring it into view.

If you would like to know more about incision sites and why one would be chosen over another, call or email our Vancouver office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Workman. We are confident that you will find our offices to be friendly and inviting, and our standards are exceptionally high. We hope to work with you soon.