At this season, body-revealing styles are leading women to elect both surgical and non-surgical procedures as they prepare for the outdoor activities of the Saratoga summer. At Altiora, these procedures are also some of our favorites. Every spring we delight in the confidence and beauty of our patients who enjoy the subtle or dramatic but always natural results of breast augmentation, liposuction and botox injections. However, we want you to be careful you are not misled by misunderstandings and myths.
A quick quiz can help you comprehend some of the biggest questions and myths behind a few of the popular procedures here at Altiora. Find out if you know the legends or the truth behind these plastic surgery questions.
Questions about Breast Enhancement or Augmentation Procedures
There are many questions involving breasts and breast augmentation. But below are three that are sometimes very confusing. What would your answers be?
Procedures–The Breast Implant Question: Mama, Baby and Breastfeeding Time-Is it safe?
1. Will breast augmentation correct my droopy breasts?
Sadly, the answer is no. Only a breast-lift, which is a different procedure, will help ptosis or sagging of breast tissue. We have blogged about the difference between breast augmentation and breast lift previously.
The good news is that in some cases, you can do these two procedures as a combo, at the same time. Breast Augmentation will make your breasts more symmetrical, better shaped and larger. However, it is not designed to defeat the droop.
Breastfeed
2. Is it safe to breastfeed if you have breast implants?
According to the Mayo Clinic, breastfeeding with implants is safe. It is possible your breast milk could absorb some of the silicone from breast implants. However, the minuscule amount that might be absorbed is not harmful. Likewise, the style of the breast implant might hamper your ability to breastfeed. Thus, Mayo Clinic states, “Because breast milk is the best thing you can feed your baby, encourages women with breast implants to breastfeed if they’re able to do so.”
3. Can breast implants increase my risk for breast cancer?
According to the IOM, there is no evidence that the implants cause cancer. However, we can understand this misconception. So how did all the rumors begin?
Plastic Surgery Procedures: With or without breast augmentation, always do your regular self-exam.
As we said above, we want you to know that The Institute of Medicine (IOM) stated flatly, that implants did not cause breast cancer.
The rumors that breast implants cause breast cancer might have begun with some FDA reports. Mayo Clinic summarized those reports for us: You still need to do your regular exams after you have breast implants. That means, be faithful to your breast self-exams, mammograms and clinical breast exams. Wouldn’t you take these anti-cancer measures anyway, even without implants? Of course.
“The FDA believes that women with breast implants that have textured surfaces have an extremely low but increased risk of developing breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).” They specified, “However, that doesn’t mean that these implants cause BIA-ALCL. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between the condition and breast implants.
Cancer vs. Implants + No Direct Evidence = Relief
Altiora wants you to know that ALCL is an extremely rare cancer. It develops in any area of the body, but it especially likes the lymph nodes and skin. Mayo reports, “Research suggests that BIA-ALCL is usually found near the breast implant within the surrounding scar tissue, not the breast itself.” And they documented the rarity thus, “A recent review of documented cases of BIA-ALCL in the United States from 1996 to 2015 determined that the incidence of BIA-ALCL was two per 1 million women with a textured breast implant.”
Naturally, Altiora feels that any association between a procedure and cancer must be explored. And, depending on statistics, this might cause concern. However, we also agree with Mayo Clinic whose experts say, “Still, it’s important to keep the potential risk in perspective.” In other words, two cases per one million, although important, does not create a high-risk concern.
If the risk does concern you and you are not seeking a very large augmentation, then we suggest you look into the analogous fat transfer technique. This procedure involves only your own fat and tissue. That technique and a breast lift might give you the lift and curve you wish if breast enhancement is your goal.
At any rate, we hope these comments ease your concerns about the rumors. Below is another procedure that often causes misconceptions.
Legends of Liposuction: Liposuction and Common Quick Questions
There are also many legends and myths associated with liposuction. Let’s hope the quick quiz with questions and answers below dissolve some of your concerns.
Procedure Question: Liposuction and Cellulite Dimples?
- Is Liposuction an easy way to get rid of my cellulite?
No. Liposuction is not a way to destroy cellulite. Tight bands of fibrous tissue are at the root of cellulite. So if the top layer of fat just under your skin is removed, you might be dismayed to find more dimples after the liposuction than you had previously. Because tight bands of fibrous tissue cause cellulite, you might find that extracting the fat layer under the skin might actually worsen the dimpled look.
At Altiora we counsel patients to investigate realistic results from any procedure before making final decisions. Only your cosmetic surgeon will give you the answers to detailed questions about such procedures as liposuction. He or she will professionally understand the important aspects of your case. Only your plastic surgeon can consider the elasticity and texture of your skin, and make a value judgment about how you will react to certain procedures. Talk to your plastic surgeon. Know what to expect. Then decide.
Weight Loss?
2. Is Liposuction going to help me lose my extra weight?
No. Liposuction is not really a weight reduction procedure. In fact, chances are that your doctor will insist you eat healthy and maintain an active lifestyle prior to the procedure. Shape up as much as possible naturally before you take the option of liposuction.
3. Is my fat just going to return after I have liposuction?
This common fallacy depends on a patient understanding how fat cells work. At birth, the body actually stops producing fat cells. They are all there, just very small, or large depending on how much you feed them. They grow. That is correct. Fat cells just get larger or smaller as you grow larger or smaller.
Remember to shop for mom! Mother’s Day is May 13! (Hint: Skincare from Altiora!)
“Liposuction reduces the amount of fat cells in targeted areas.” Understand that with liposuction, your doctor removes and destroys certain selected fat cells. They cannot come back. Ever. The rumor that they return must have been started by people who encouraged other fat cells to grow through incorrect diet or lack of exercise. For more expert information on this matter, visit this reliable online resource.
Your Terrific Take-Away:
Next week we will complete this Quick Quiz on Popular Plastic surgery with some pointed Q and A’s about Botox. This is one of our favorite non-surgical procedures at Altiora. The prime take-away now and the bottom-line is that you must have an honest consultation with your board-recommended plastic surgeon about your expectations before deciding on any cosmetic procedure, surgical or non-surgical. Altiora thanks you for dropping into this blog. Please check previous blogs by using our index and enjoy some preliminary answers. But remember, they are not intended to replace consultations with doctors.
One More Take-Away (A Very Special Reminder:) Next Sunday is Mother’s Day in Sarasota, Florida, the US, the World and the entire known Universe. Remember to reserve some shopping time and find her something special.
