Study Supports Repurposing of Body Fat for Breast Reconstruction

As more effective fat grafting and fat transfer procedures are developed and researched, plastic surgeons are setting their sights on body fat repurposing procedures as an alternative to implants.

A small study conducted by researchers of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine shows that cosmetic breast reconstruction in slim, athletic cancer patients without enough fat elsewhere in the body, is effective with a certain fat transfer technique.

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reported results of their procedure in the online version of the Microsurgery journal after reviewing results on cadavers and 12 breast cancer patients over the course of a year.

Ariel N. Rad, M.D., Ph.D., one of the assistant professors of cosmetic surgery and plastic reconstructive surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains “when implants aren’t used, the most common technique for reconstructing breasts after a mastectomy is to make breast tissue from a flap of fat and skin from the abdominal region…thin, athletic women don’t have enough tissue there. But even they often have some excess fatty tissue in the space between the hip and waist. For them, using those love handles is a new option.” (Source: Medical News Today)

The fat grafting procedure is  relatively simple process, and involves removing several milliliters of fat from an existing fatty pocket, sterilizing it, and separating the fluid to extract stem cells and pure fatty tissue. The pure fluid is then re-injected into the body in the desired areas, and it typically only takes a few days for the body’s tissues to adapt.

Surgeons who have tested this procedure have been able to achieve good cosmetic results.  If the patient is a good candidate for the procedure, the overall effect can improve the contour and shape of the waist and hip area.

MakeMeHeal.com Announces Best Celebrity Breast Augmentations of 2009

MakeMeHeal.com, a site dedicated to the latest celebrity plastic surgery news and gossip, has announced its list of “Best Celebrity Breast Augmentations of 2009”. The list is comprised of both rumors and confirmed reports of surgeries that took place this past year, and includes celebrities as young as 22 years old.

At the top of the list is Ashley Greene, the 22-year old rising star of Twilight. Jenny McCarthy also made the top of the list this year, and Make Me Heal believes that Jenny’s saline implants were replaced with “more natural-looking” silicone implants some time in 2009.

Supermodel Bar Rafaeli, a Sports Illisturated star who underwent breast augmentation this past year, is number three on the list, followed by 47-year old Ann Coulter who appeared on the front cover of Playboy in 2009. Miss California Carrie Prejean, another 22-year old who had breast implants this year is followed by Lady Gaga who hasn’t been shy about showing off her breast enhancement procedure.

Other celebrities that made the top of the list for 2009 include: Anna Faris, Ashley Dupre, Jayde Nicole, and Sophie Monk.

Breast augmentation continues to be one of the most sought-after procedures among women in the United States, and more patients are turning to both silicone and saline implants to achieve their ideal figure. Doctors are now using several innovative techniques including liposuction to transfer fat directly into the breasts, and creating an “internal bra” that helps to lift and firm up the breasts without any type of implants. Some women can also benefit from skin tightening treatments that help to firm and tone up the breast area, while others are better suited for breast lift procedures that involve minimal incisions.

More information about the latest breast augmentation techniques and procedures can be found here.

(Photo courtesy of MakeMeHeal.com)

Unique Liposuction Procedure Helps Increase Bust Size

If you’ve been thinking about getting silicone or saline breast implants, you may be a good candidate for a procedure that promises to increase your bust size by up to two sizes without implants. Dr. Thomas Young, a plastic surgeon, has been working on developing an innovative breast enhancement procedure that involves transferring fat from the hips, thighs or abdomen directly to the breasts.

Dr. Young calls it a “natural breast enhancement” procedure because the fat is removed using water-assisted liposuction and then transferred into the breast tissue using about 100 syringes. He states that, “It’s permanent, it’s safe, it’s your own tissue. You’re not getting something foreign put in that’s gonna cause a scar that’s going to need to be replaced.” (Source: WOAI.com)

Dr. Young reports that women are still able to breastfeed after the fat transfer, and that the doctor needs to use a special technique to ensure that the fat cells survive throughout the procedure.

Many aesthetic surgeons around the country have already been using fat injections to increase breast size, but few have used the patient’s own fat for the process. However, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that this process can be potentially dangerous. According to TheBreastSite.com, the ASAPS states, “Fat cells that are removed from one body site and injected into another frequently do not survive. Fat injected into the breast may be absorbed by the body, may become liquid and drain from the injection site or may calcify, becoming a scarred mass within the tissues. Massive calcification of injected fat can mask or mimic the presence of breast cancer. Seven to 14 ounces of fat injected into the breast, the amount required for an average enlargement, could make accurate detection of cancer by mammography extremely difficult.”

Further research is needed to determine if a simple liposuction procedure can help to increase bust size permanently and successfully, but patients may soon have several options beyond implants for breast augmentation.

“Internal Bra” Offers Benefits of Breast Lift without Implants

Women who are interested in achieving shapelier and larger breasts may not need to resort to breast implants.

A new product called the “Cup & Up” promises to improve the shape of the breasts without affecting their size. The product has been deemed an “internal bra” by some plastic and cosmetic surgeons because it works by harnessing the existing breast tissue and pushing the breasts upward to create a more attractive silhouette and shape.

The surgeon inserts a set of small silicone cups underneath each breast to improve their shape and size, and then fits a small thin strap to each cup between the ribs, breast and shoulder. The surgeon can then tighten the strap to gently lift the breasts up from a sagging position.

According to the manufacturers of the “Cup & Up” device, results of this minimally invasive procedure can last for several years and will cost less than the typical breast lift. The UK’s Daily Mail reports that the “Internatl Bra” can be fitted in just 40 minutes and the breasts still look very natural.

Orbix Medical is the company behind the device and the first woman to receive her internal bra is still enjoying results after a year. Orbix Medical is currently recruiting volunteers for a trial and will be performing another procedure during the last week of December 2009.

According to plastic surgeon Eyal Gur who has been working with Orbix Medical to fine tune the internal bra procedure, “There are a lot of younger women whose breasts started to sag even before they have had children and breast fed. Those who are sagging after having kids want to look like they were when they were teenagers. This operation will give them back youthful breasts…the internal bra would be really beneficial to women who have had partial or full mastectomies.” (Source: Daily Mail)

Surgeon Says Replacing Saline with Silicone Gel Implants Takes Only 45 Minutes

Many women are opting for silicone gel implants after reviewing the drawbacks and risks associated with saline. Silicone gel implants offer several advantages over saline implants, and may be most suitable for women who want to achieve natural looking results and have implants that feel like real breast tissue.

Plastic surgeon Allan Parungao says that women who already have saline breast implants can undergo a simple breast implant replacement procedure to make the switch to silicone.

Silicone gel breast implants were approved by the FDA in November 2006 and run a lower risk of implant ruptures and leaking. Dr. Parungao points out that, “Until the FDA approved the new silicone gel implants, women having breast augmentation surgery had only one choice: saline implants…but some women – especially those with very large implants – can experience telltale “rippling” around the edges of the implant.” This is why many women are good candidates for the breast implant replacement procedure, and in many cases, the procedure takes 45 minutes or less.

Dr. Parungao uses a special technique where the breast implant replacement is performed under local anesthesia and the patient experiences little or no discomfort. There is virtually no downtime, so the patient can return to work the next day.  (Source: PRWeb.com)

For some women, the cost of silicone gel implants may be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty of the saline implants. If the saline implants have ruptured, the patient may be able to upgrade to silicone gel implants without having to pay several hundred dollars for the procedure.

The FDA has approved silicone gel breast implants for cosmetic surgery in women age 22 and older, and these implants are widely regarded as the most natural-looking option for breast augmentation. More information about silicone implants can be found here.

Microsurgery Shows Promise for Breast Reconstruction

The UT Southwestern Medical Center has introduced a relatively new and rare microsurgery procedure for breast reconstruction patients. The center has developed the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap procedure for women seeking breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.

According to Dr. Michael Saint-Cyr, this procedure preserves muscles so that recovery is quicker and there is less postoperative pain. In this procedure, the surgeons can reconstruct the breast with skin and fat that is taken from the abdomen. This gives the patient a tummy tuck while getting their breast reconstruction, and the entire process is completed by reattaching blood vessels under a microscope.

According to Dr. Michel Saint-Cyr, assistant professor of plastic surgery, this microsurgery can be done immediately after a mastectomy so that patients can have their breast tissue removed in just one step. Dr. Saint-Cyr points out that the reconstructed breast is firmer, has a more youthful appearance, and looks very similar to the original breasts because of this procedure. Since a significant amount of fat is removed from the abdomen, the patient undergoes a basic tummy tuck which can help to further improve their appearance and enhance their silhouette.

Dr. Saint-Cyr also points out that “Due to the complexity of the microsurgery, only about 40 surgeons nationwide routinely perform these types of procedures so travel may be required for some women to find a surgeon with the needed experience.” This type of surgery may be most appropriate for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and must have either one or both breasts removed.

This procedure, along with other similar microsurgery procedures, will be discussed at the “What’s New in Breast Reconstruction: Optimizing Results Using a Multidisciplinary Approach” seminar hosted at UT Southwestern in early December. The event will be open to the public and will include discussions about breast conservation therapy, nipple-sparing mastectomy techniques and options in breast reconstruction.

(Source: MedicalNewsToday.com)

Breast Augmentation a Hot Topic at ASPS Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons touched upon several hot topics related to emerging technologies, techniques and surgery options for plastic and cosmetic surgery patients around the globe. A significant portion of the event was dedicated to the controversial techniques and emerging technologies used for breast augmentation, breast reconstruction and breast enhancement procedures.

The 2009 Plastic Surgery meeting touched upon several issues such as the implications of fat injections, and what the options were for women who had to have their breasts removed because of breast cancer or an accident. Dr. Robert Grant, a board-certified plastic surgeon who practices in New York City reported that there is definitely a need for more scientific research regarding the effects of fat transfer, and that this procedure does show some positive benefits for cosmetic surgery patients.

Fat transfer can be used to correct deformities of the breast, create more symmetry in the chest area and may also be used as part of a breast augmentation procedure.

Other key issues addressed at the ASPS annual meeting included stem cells that can be used for reconstructive procedures.  Stem cell research has been conducted for breast reconstruction procedures, but also for correcting scars, and for creating new tissue after an injury.

The ASPS meeting is the biggest plastic surgery meeting in the world, and gives surgeons the opportunity to network with other professionals in the industry and includes lectures, workshops and presentations.

Breast augmentation continues to be among the most sought-after procedures for women of all ages in the United States, and current techniques and procedures include more than breast implants and fat transfer procedures. Surgeons have found ways to recontour and shape the breasts without surgery, and have also been testing implant-based breast reconstruction procedures using products such as AlloDerm®.

Breast Enhancement Pills Could Still be a Health Risk

For the thousands of women who want to achieve a more attractive silhouette with larger breasts, breast implants are a viable solution. Both silicone and saline implants are among the most sought-after cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States, but even though they are immensely popular, they are not without their risks.

Some companies offer an alternative solution to surgery with skin tightening procedures that help to contour and ‘plump up’ the breast tissues, and breast enhancement pills that promise to enlarge the breasts within a few weeks.  Unfortunately, breast enhancement pills are still considered to be a scam, and are not really an effective alternative to surgery.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued several warnings about the effectiveness of breast augmentation pills, creams and other products that are readily available over the counter. Their official statement reads as follows: “There is no device or system of exercise that will increase the size of the breasts. At best, devices promoted as breast developers merely strengthen and develop the muscles that support the breasts, and exercising these muscles will not appreciably increase breast size.” (Source: FDA.gov)

Ultimately, breast enhancement pills have been deemed to be scams and ineffective products that promote false promises. These pills promise to ‘enlarge breasts permanently without surgery’ and are usually made with ingredients such as guggulsterones, theobromine and green tea extract that directly affect the thyroid hormones and supposedly trigger growth of the breasts. These are all herbal products that have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA, and there is limited information available on the safety and effectiveness of these pills in the short-term and long-term. The makers of these products to provide some information about potential risks. People who are taking high blood pressure medication or other herbal products are warned not to take these supplements.

Still, many people continue to purchase these over-the-counter products in hopes of achieving bigger, more attractive-looking breasts without surgery. The FDA and several other medical organizations have warned that these products are just fads and may cause several health problems.

Miami Cosmetic Surgery Center Now Offering Bikini Body Packages

Bikini season is right around the corner, which means more people are opting for quick-fix cosmetic procedures and liposuction to achieve their beach-ready look. Cosmetic Harmony, a medical tourism company based in Colombia, has recently launched its lineup of ‘Bikini Body Combos’ specifically for beach lovers.

The experts there report that they see a significant increase in demand for specific procedures like liposuction, tummy tucks, breast jobs and thigh toning during March and the rest of spring season as more women look for ways to freshen up their looks before summer.

Cosmetic Harmony has experienced a significant increase in both new and returning clients who want combination procedures, and they’ve made it possible for more people to have them by reducing the prices and offering combo procedures as a package. Individuals interested in liposuction and thigh toning, or breast enhancement and tummy tucks, can now purchase a package and save a few hundred dollars.

Cosmetic Harmony offers a number of attractively priced packages for foreigners. A sampling of some of the combination procedures include:

Eyelid surgery + Nasal labial fold fat injections: Regularly $3,285, promotional price = $2,685

Face Lift + Eyelid Surgery: Regularly $7,825, promotional price = $6,785

Breast Augmentation + Abdominal Liposuction + Etching: Regularly $5,580, promotional price = $4,985

These procedures can cost up to five times more at cosmetic and plastic surgery centers in the United States and Europe, and the surgeons of Cosmetic Harmony have been fully trained and certified by the Colombian Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons does warn all individuals who are considering cosmetic surgery overseas to do some research about the center they are going to, read all the ‘fine print’ in the contracts and disclosures, and confirm that the surgeon they will be seeing has been certified by the country’s national plastic surgery boards and medical boards.

ASAPS Warns Consumers About Breast Surgery Deals

Competition is fierce among cosmetic and plastic surgeons during these tough economic times, and some are attracting patients by extending discounts, coupons and special offers for high-ticket procedures.

However, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is encouraging consumers to look past marketing campaigns and make sure they are receiving professional treatment – especially for extensive procedures such as breast augmentation, facelift surgery and liposuction.

Professional breast augmentation doctors across the country undergo several years of training before they can perform breast implant procedures and other breast enhancement techniques successfully. Surgeons who have not received adequate training, or those who are new to the industry, may perform procedures that require revisions or end up causing extensive tissue and skin damage.

According to a recent press release about finding quality procedures , a ‘red flag’ that a doctor may not be working with the patient’s best interests in mind is a dramatic reduction in the price of the procedure; when quality counts, very few doctors are willing to lower their fees, and those that do may not be providing the best service.

Since there are so many risks involved with the procedure, the ASAPS encourages consumers to ask several questions and conduct extensive research before signing any type of agreement or contract with a surgeon. Some of the key questions to ask include:

• Is the surgeon a member of the ASPS and/or ASAPS?
• What is the expected recovery time?
• How long will results last?
• Are before-and-after procedures available?
• Who will be performing the procedure?

Breast augmentation and breast enhancement surgery continue to be some of the most sought-after procedures, but the $4,000-$10,000+ price tag for surgery has left many people searching for a better deal.  Unfortunately, discounted surgery can turn out to be a costly mistake; the ASAPS is encouraging all consumers to review the full range of breast procedure options available by ASPS and ASAPS Member Surgeons – and pay the full fee if necessary.