Category Archives: Breast

Practice Overview

McLain Surgical Arts, led by double board certified cosmetic and oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Landon D. McLain, is a premier practice providing cutting edge procedures in aesthetic as well as oral and maxillofacial surgery. The practice offers the dual benefits of cosmetic surgery as well as oral health procedures under the same roof.

As an experienced cosmetic surgeon, Dr. McLain provides customized treatments that are tailored to meet the specific health and aesthetic needs of a patient. The practice is equipped with latest technologies to help deliver the safest and most effective outcomes in every procedure. Dr. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, AL and surrounding communities.

Oral and Maxillofacial Procedures

McLain Surgical Arts provides a comprehensive range of oral and maxillofacial procedures, including the following:

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are also called the third molars. Very often these teeth may come in impacted, requiring extraction. Dr. McLain is highly trained and experienced in performing this procedure with satisfying and sustainable results for his patients.

Dental Implants

Dental implant surgery is a complex procedure, but it is by far the most effective procedure for teeth replacement. Dr. McLain provides advanced dental implants to restore both function and aesthetics.

Jaw Surgery

As a leading double board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. McLain specializes in procedures that repair jaw related irregularities, improve bite and breathing ability, and enhance orthodontic outcomes. He provides this surgery to patients in Huntsville, AL and nearby areas.

Facial Trauma Surgery

Dr. McLain puts his extensive training in dental, medical, and cosmetic surgery to full use when performing advanced and complex procedures such as facial trauma surgery. He can achieve corrective results while maintaining the aesthetic balance at the same time.

Aesthetic Surgery Procedures

McLain Surgical Arts is fully equipped to provide the latest and proven aesthetic surgery procedures. Dr. McLain is a trained and experienced cosmetic surgeon providing these procedures.

Breast

Breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, breast augmentation with lift, and breast revision are some of the key breast cosmetic surgery procedures offered by Dr. McLain.

Body

Major body contouring procedures performed at McLain Surgical Arts include liposuction and tummy tuck surgery. Liposuction is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the US today. Both women and men can benefit equally from these procedures.

Face

With his strong training background in oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. McLain is in the perfect position to provide facial cosmetic surgery as well as oral and maxillofacial procedures.

Skin

A number of non-surgical skin rejuvenation procedures are also provided at Dr. McLain’s practice. These may be performed independently or in conjunction with facial plastic surgery procedures. The procedures include Botox, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and other aesthetician and skin care services and products.

Dr. McLain practice is based out of Huntsville, AL, and serves Birmingham and Decatur, AL, as well as parts of Georgia and Tennessee. Dr. McLain is a recognized leader in the field, who is involved in multiple lecturing, training, and research activities, in addition to providing cutting edge treatments to his patients.

Trans-axillary Breast Augmentation…what’s the confusion?

I am often surprised at what my patients tell me they read, hear or have been told about some of the more commonly performed cosmetic surgeries they are interested in.  Breast augmentation is one of the usual ones cited as confusing by some of my patients, especially regarding the different incision types.  Occasionally, patients report that some of the misinformation comes from other surgeons, even ones that I know are very experienced.  This is often regarding one of the newer techniques used for breast augmentation… the transaxillary or armpit incision.

The truth about incisions to place breast implants is fairly simple.  In most patients, if the surgeon is experienced in all types of incisions, the results should be similar regardless of the approach used.  There are 6 different approaches possible to place breast implants commonly used today.  They are…

  1. Transaxillary
  2. Periareolar
  3. Inframammary
  4. Trans-umbilical (limited to saline implants only)
  5. Trans-abdominoplasty (through the tummy tuck incision)
  6. Trans-mastopexy (through mastopexy or breast lift incisions

 

In my practice, the transaxillary, inframammary and trans-mastopexy incisions are by far the most common approaches requested.   However, the transaxillary incision seems to be a source of some confusion for patients and surprisingly, some surgeons.  I have been told by more than a few clients that they were informed that they could only get saline or very small silicone implants if they chose the armpit incision… or that there is a higher risk of asymmetry using the transaxillary technique.  That is entirely untrue.  I have personally placed large gel implants via the armpit approach and have had wonderful results with a very high rate of symmetry and patient satisfaction using this technique.  For this reason this has become my most requested approach to breast augmentation.   So why is it that this “myth” continues to be espoused.

Here are a few of my theories as to why…

  1. Lack of any actual experience with this technique by some surgeons offering breast augmentation
  2. Increased cost of materials required for the transaxillary technique  (i.e.  different retractors, and endoscopic instruments),
  3. Lack of training in this particular technique in many residency programs, and
  4. Overall, a higher degree of technical demand placed on the surgeon (the inframmamary and periareolar incisions are typically easiest to learn)

So what are the advantages of the transaxillary/armpit approach to breast augmentation?  Primarily, it is that this format keeps an incision off the breast as long as possible.  Of course, breast implants do not last a lifetime in most cases, so any replacement, adjustment or removal will require a different incision type.  There are also several studies that suggests this incision type has a lower degree of complications versus others;  specifically related to a higher chance of being able to nurse after breast augmentation, lower risk of infections and lower rates of capsular contracture.

To summarize, the armpit or transaxillary incision for breast augmentation is a wonderful option for most patients seeking breast enhancement and can be used to place both types of implants (saline or silicone), all sizes and in either plane (above or below the muscle).  If you want to keep incisions off the breast as long as possible, this may be a great option for you.   For more information on breast augmentation or other cosmetic procedures at McLain Surgical Arts please call 256.429.3411 or complete the online contact form on our website

Dr. McLain

“Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it. “

Henry David Thoreau