Bottoming Out

Patients who have thin or stretched skin may experience a loss of the skin’s natural elasticity, resulting in skin that is extremely loose or lax. These patients are susceptible to bottoming out, a condition that occurs when the envelope supporting the breast implant drops, causing a sagging, pendulous appearance. In these patients, the nipple ends up siting high on the breast with the bulk of the breast tissue hanging well below the nipple. The breast skin may also appear stretched below the nipple, magnifying the breast’s droopy appearance. In these patients, ADM can be used to provide a supportive meshwork between the breast tissue and the chest muscle, keeping the breasts in a more desirable position.

Capsular Contracture

Contracture occurs when unnaturally thick scar tissue forms around the implant, squeezing the implant over time and causing tightness and other changes in the appearance of the breast as well as discomfort in many patients. ADM has been shown to help thwart the formation of unnaturally thick scar tissue that causes contracture. Although it’s not entirely clear how it “shorts out” the scarring process, some experts believe ADM may help reduce inflammation that causes scarring; by promoting the rapid growth of healthy cells, ADM also may help “crowd out” scar tissue cells, preventing the formation of thick, fibrous tissue.

Rippling/Wrinkling

Wrinkling and rippling typically occur when the pocket formed to surround the implant stretches, becoming too large for the implant and allowing it to move or migrate from the desired position. The laxity that occurs can cause the tissues surrounding the breast to become loose, eventually resulting in wrinkles Wrinkling also can occur in women whose breast tissue is weak or thin. ADM is used to provide a supportive sling for the implants; over time, the patient’s own cells will form within the matrix, increasing support.

Fold Malposition

The natural folds along the bottom and side of the breasts are an integral part of the body’s natural curves. In some patients, especially those with thin or weak breast tissue, the pockets supporting the implants can become compromised, allowing the implant to drift downward or sideways, causing folds to flatten out and resulting in an unnatural appearance. ADM acts as a “tissue buttress,” providing added support for the pocket and redefining the natural folds.

The need for revision surgery is most common among women with thin or weak breast tissue, but complications can occur in any patient, especially as they age. Added to a revision procedure, ADM can help patients achieve their aesthetic goals and increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. Give us a call today to learn more (305) 861-6881. You can also read more about the breast procedures that Dr. Krau performs on these pages: Miami Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, Breast Revision.

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The study used a validated survey called Breast-Q to question women about multiple quality of life issues both before and six months after their breast augmentation procedures. The Breast-Q survey is the only breast augmentation survey that meets both federal and international standards, which means the results are more standardized – and hence more accurate – than other surveys that address patient satisfaction levels following augmentation.

The results of this study, which included patients who underwent augmentation with a single surgeon between January 2008 and May 2009, indicated that women who have breast augmentation surgery experienced significant increases in physical, sexual and psychosocial well-being, in addition to greater satisfaction with their overall appearance.

Although patients reported increased satisfaction in several areas, the study showed that the patients who had the highest overall levels of satisfaction were those who were happiest with the appearance of their breasts following surgery. The survey also indicated that although many of the survey respondents reported decreases in physical well-being immediately following the procedure due to post-surgical pain, those feelings had no bearing on overall satisfaction levels, implying women were willing to experience temporary discomfort in exchange for the benefits they later experienced in terms of increases in quality of life and well-being.

Breast augmentation remains the most popular cosmetic surgery among women and the second most popular procedure overall, according to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) which reports that in 2012: 286,274 breast augmentations were performed.

The Breast-Q study helps illustrate why the procedure is so popular, and also highlights that breast augmentation offers benefits far beyond improved breast appearance.

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Getting an idea of the size options that are available and how they’ll look on you can be difficult. The good news is, if you’re considering breast augmentation, there are a couple of options you can use to actually see how implants of different sizes will look even before you undergo surgery. The first relies on a couple of simple items that you probably already have at home: rice and pantyhose.

First, you need a pair of pantyhose with no holes in the foot or ankle areas. Cut them off a few inches below the knee and fill them with rice using the following guidelines: 1 cup of rice is roughly equivalent to a 240 cc implant and ½ cup is about the same as to a 120 cc implant. Tie off the pantyhose leg near the rice and place the bags of rice in your bra to get an idea of how different sizes will look on your body.

To get a much more accurate idea of a wider range of implant sizes, the volume sizing kit by Mentor is the way to go. Available in our plastic surgery facility, the Mentor Sizing kit allows you to “try on” 24 different volumes, ranging from 150cc-775cc so you can feel confident in the implant size you’re choosing. What’s more, the kit allows you to use a different sizer for each breast so you can see how implants can help you “even out” the natural size differences that may exist between the left and right sides.

There’s no doubt that breast augmentation can have a significant impact on your life; in fact, a study by researchers at Ohio State University found that women who receive implants report not only better self-image following surgery, but also an increase in sexual well-being and better quality of life. Taking the time to realistically evaluate size options and the way they look on your own body is critical in helping you feel good about your implant procedure. To ensure the best results, ask Dr. Krau about Mentor’s sizing kit and how it can help you visualize yourself and your new profile prior to surgery.

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