Breast Augmentation: Bigger or Smaller? | Huntsville Cosmetic SurgeryBreast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries that women undergo each year. Whether you want larger breasts, or you would like to have a smaller chest, you will want to do your research.

Exchanging old implants for a smaller, or larger size is a not uncommon request. While you may be pleased with the size of your initial implants, due to physical changes, you may want to consider smaller or larger implants to find a more aesthetically pleasing body contour.

Breast implants can last from 10 to 15 years and sometimes longer. But here are some reasons that you might consider having new implants:

  • Implant rupture
  • Hardening of the capsule around the implant
  • The implant drops, or becomes out of place
  • Swelling
  • Asymmetry

Dr. Landon McLain says “In my practice and nationally, the most common reason to revisit a breast implant is implant malposition.  Over time, some implants will drop too low or drift laterally.  This can usually be repaired with an internal lift that may preclude the need for a mastopexy and the addition of new scars.”

Dissatisfaction with the look of your implants is one reason some women consider an implant exchange. Some others include:

  • Desire to switch from textured to smooth implants
  • The need for a breast lift
  • An issue with the initial breast implants
  • Changing the implant from saline to silicone
  • Aging

Breast tissue sagging as we age, or after weight loss or gain is another reason that many women may consider breast augmentation. With aging, the body produces less collagen and elastin. A breast lift can help correct sagging from pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well.

Speaking with your board-certified cosmetic surgeon is the best way to make a decision that will work for you and your body. This will also ensure that you achieve the best aesthetic results.   If you’re interested in a breast augmentation, please give us a call.  Dr. McLain will be happy to give you all your options.

How long do cosmetic plastic surgery procedures last? | HuntsvilleIf a patient is planning to undergo any type of cosmetic surgery, one of their main concerns will be whether the aesthetic results with meet their expectations, and what will be the duration of their post-operative recovery. But while selecting a cosmetic procedure, the sustainability or longevity of the outcomes should also be an essential consideration.

This will help the patient to choose a surgery that not only satisfies their immediate post-operative expectations, but also their long-term aesthetic needs. Identifying the right time or stage of life to have a surgical procedures is also crucial while making a cosmetic surgery decision. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides breast implant removal to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding communities. 

Factors that will Influence the Longevity of Results

Some important aspects to know about various cosmetic surgery procedures are as follows:

Implants will require replacement at some stage

During their first consultation, many women desire bigger sized breast implants. However, an experienced surgeon will inform the patients whether their choice is suitable for their body type or not. While implants do not have an expiry date, they are not guaranteed to last a lifetime. 

On average, saline or silicone breast implants may last anywhere between 10 and 20 years. Therefore, patients considering breast augmentation are recommended to take into account their future needs to have their implants replaced.

Body contouring requires you to maintain a healthy lifestyle 

Irrespective of the age at which a person decides to go for a cosmetic surgery, some surgical procedures will need permanent changes to their lifestyle in order to ensure sustainable results. For best results, body contouring surgeries such as liposuction and tummy tuck need to be followed by an active lifestyle and a healthy diet. 

If the patient does not keep their body weight under control, they might regain the fat it in other areas. A procedure such as fat transfer breast enhancement or a breast reduction will create long-term results. However, weight gain or loss will still have an influence on the patient’s breast size. Therefore, you should be prepared to maintain a healthy and stable weight after the surgery.

Surgical procedures cannot stop the process of aging 

Gravity is ever-present, and will continue to exist after your cosmetic rejuvenation surgery. It will always push down on your skin and over time, soft tissues will be vulnerable to that pressure. For instance, a facelift may not appear as ‘fresh’ as it did during the first year after the surgical procedure. Almost one in five patients who go through facelift come back within seven years for further tightening or wishing for a revision facelift procedure. 

The aging effects usually manifest around the eyes, and even after an eye lift, the upper face will still age. Due to this reason, upper eyelid surgery may have to be repeated after a period of five to seven years.

You can ensure that the outcomes of facial rejuvenation surgery are extended by keeping yourself hydrated and making use of a high SPF sunscreen on a regular basis. You should also stay away from alcohol and cigarettes, which can lead to premature facial aging. 

Does the Age of the Patient Make a Difference?

Age in itself is not a deciding factor, and if the patient is in good overall health and does not suffer from conditions such as hypertension, osteoporosis, or diabetes, they could still be a good candidate for surgery. There are some surgeries which cannot be undertaken before a particular age because they will not deliver the ideal or most sustainable results. 

For example, if you undergo a facelift much later in life, you will have less elasticity remaining in your facial skin. Therefore, the result is not going to be notable in comparison to someone who undergoes the procedure in their forties and fifties.
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for breast implant removal surgery.

For More Information

McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

Choosing The Best Surgeon to Remove Your Breast Implants | HuntsvilleIn many cases, a breast implant removal surgery may turn out to be a more complex procedure compared to the original breast augmentation. Therefore, you should ideally choose a surgeon who has the requisite skills and experience to perform implant removal. 

If you have already had an unpleasant experience at the time of your original breast implantation, it makes sense to be more careful at the time of explantation, and find a surgeon with an impeccable track record of safety and patient satisfaction. Your surgeon should be able to reduce the risk of leakage of silicone or other problems during the implant removal surgery.

Surgeons who know from experience what kind of potential problems can occur in the surgery room at the time of implant removal will be better prepared to handle emergencies and make the best decisions for the patient.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides breast implant removal to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding communities. 

Visit the Surgeon’s Website

New patients should preferably review the surgeon’s website before scheduling the initial consultation. The website can be a valuable source of information to know about the surgeons practice and his or her background. 

In the first consultation, patients should ask questions frankly and without any hesitation. A dedicated surgeon will give detailed answers and ensure that all their concerns are addressed satisfactorily. 

Preferably, your surgeon should have staff privileges to perform surgery at one or more local hospitals or accredited surgical centers. In case of an emergency, you can get immediate access to a hospital.

Focus on Customization

Dr. McLain believes that it is important to individualize surgical techniques such as breast explant surgery in order to effectively address the unique requirements of the patient and achieve best possible results. 

The anatomical features of every patient are different. The surgeon should also keep in mind the personal goals and cosmetic needs of the patient and then decide on a suitable breast implant removal surgery plan. 

The perspicacious Dr. McLain carefully balances the principles of art and science in a way to deliver most satisfying results, which are not only attractive cosmetically, but also sustainable, safe, and natural looking.

Personal Attributes

The safety and cosmetic outcomes are definitely the most important considerations in a surgery such as breast implant removal. But it is also vital for the patient to feel comfortable with her surgeon. The decision to go for an implant removal surgery is a very personal one.

For this reason, you should work with a surgeon who values your personal cosmetic goals and aspirations, and respects your privacy. During the pre-op consultation, the surgeon should ask the patient about the results that she expects as well as the exact treatment options that might interest her.

In case the patient feels that the doctor is not willing to customize the procedure according to her requirements, she may reconsider her choice of cosmetic surgeon. A responsible surgeon will certainly not put pressure on a patient to go through more surgery that she actually requires.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for breast implant removal surgery.

McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.

en bloc Capsulectomy breast implant removal

Choose a Facelift Surgeon You can Trust | Huntsville | AthensTo understand en bloc capsulectomy or total capsulectomy surgery, you need to be familiar with a capsule, which is the scar tissue that grows around an implant. The development of this scar tissue is a natural reaction of the body when the implant was placed in the breast.  

In most cases, the scar tissue will not change in the way your breast implant looks or feels. When removing the implants, it is always important to take this capsule (scar tissue) into consideration. 

If the implants are being taken out permanently, a total capsulectomy can help in safer healing and recovery of the tissue. In the en bloc capsulectomy technique, the whole capsule is taken out together with the implant in one single piece.  

The implant will remain within the capsule during the entire surgery. An experienced cosmetic surgeon will withdraw the old capsule via en bloc capsulectomy only when they consider it an appropriate and safe option for the patient. 

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides breast implant removal to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations. 

When is En Bloc Capsulectomy Not Recommended? 

There are some situations where an en bloc capsulectomy surgery cannot be undertaken or may not be the most suitable option. If the capsular tissue is very delicate and thin to take out in one piece, the surgeon may not perform en bloc capsulectomy. Instead, they will take out as much of the capsule as possible along with the implant and then carefully remove the scar tissue that is left behind.  

Another condition where the surgeon may not carry out the en bloc capsulectomy is when the capsule adheres tightly to some critical tissues. For instance, if scar tissue is found closely enveloped around the rib cage, taking out the full capsule could injure the lungs.  

In these cases, some portions of the capsule will be left inside at the time of implant removal. Your breast surgeon will make sure that all required steps are taken to allow good healing, including sterilizing the remnants of the capsule. In general, the remaining capsule does not cause any health problems to the patient. 

The Process of Implant Removal  

The breast explantation surgery is carried out in an outpatient setting at an accredited surgical facility. The procedure requires the patient to be under general anesthesia and the entire surgery will last for about two hours. The procedure can usually be performed using the incision sites made during your original breast augmentation surgery.  

In certain cases, the surgeon may require to make an extra incision for total removal of the capsule. The surgeon will remove the entire capsule that has developed around the implant and take it out as a single entity. After the removal of both the capsules, the incision sites will be closed, and the breasts will be covered with bandages and a compression garment. 

Removal of implants helps to restore the natural aesthetics of the patient, but it may produce some changes to soft tissue. Drooping or sagging of the breasts may occur in some cases after the procedure because the skin stretches itself to accommodate the implant. If the patient does not wish to get new implants, there could be other ways to address this issue.  

The first is a breast lift surgery, which can be performed along with implant removal. The procedure involves elimination of excess loose skin and relocating the nipple and areola to build a perkier breast. The second choice is to use fat grafting to provide volume to the breast, partly replacing what was created by the breast implant, but with a natural and subtler effect. 

Recovery after the Implant Removal 

If you are not overweight, in good general health, and not a smoker, your recovery should not take long and you may be able to return to your regular activities in less than a week. You can expect some postoperative swelling which usually goes away within the first four weeks after the surgery. 

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and nearby areas for breast implant removal surgery. 

For More Information

McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.

Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.