The study used patient information from 100 consecutive breast augmentation cases performed in university settings at Kelowna (British Columbia), Loma Linda (California, USA) and Temple (Texas, USA).

According to results, the physicians who performed the study found that among breast augmentation patients in the three sampled geographic locations, most shared a similar age in their early to mid-30s. The youngest patients on average were in Loma Linda (32 years), followed closely by patients from Kelowna (33 years) and finally by patients from Temple (36 years).

Patients from each location were also apparently similar in height, although the exact findings were not published.

Among the differences discovered in the patients who participated in the study were variations in weight, body mass index (BMI) and implant volume.

Patients in Kelowna who had the lowest average BMI (20.8 kg/m²) had the greatest average implant volume (389 cc), whereas patients in Temple who had the greatest BMI on average (22.6 kg/m²) had the lowest average implant volume (335 cc). Patients in Loma Linda were in between, with an average BMI of 21.6 kg/m² and an average implant volume of 385 cc.

A positive linear correlation between BMI and implant volume was found in American breast augmentation patients, which could speculatively be because the greater a patient’s BMI, the greater their natural breast volume.

To review the study abstract, see The Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Winter 2010, Volume 18, Issue 4: e 44-e 46.

He also acknowledged the complexity of combined breast lift and augmentation procedures and encouraged surgeons to let each patient’s unique goals, breast anatomy and degree of breast ptosis, or sagging, dictate surgical incision placement and procedure(s) used to enhance the breasts.

“For many reasons, simultaneous breast lift and augmentation is one of the most difficult of all cosmetic surgery procedures. First, no two breasts are the same, and each patient is seeking a different endpoint, sometimes with unrealistic expectations,” says Dr. Cuzalina

For Owensboro breast enhancement patients, Dr. Edds uses the Regnault classification system to determine which procedure(s) are needed to provide optimal breast enhancement results.

Patients with the most severe ptosis (grades III and IV), breast tissue is often ample and a breast lift alone is needed. However, some patients who have sagging, deflated breasts may opt for breast enlargement as well as a lift.

Incisions for patients with a greater degree of sagging are usually a lollipop pattern (around the nipple and vertically along the bottom of the breast) or an inverted-T pattern (lollipop incision plus incision along the inframammary crease).

In patients who have a lesser degree of ptosis (grade I and grade II), a breast lift is also recommended, and may be performed with or without implants depending on the amount of natural breast tissue present.

However, patients with less breast droop typically require less extensive incisions that are placed only around each nipple (periareolar) or in a lollipop pattern. Patients who choose silicone breast implants may require an incision in the inframammary crease or along the underarm.

Finally, in patients with “pseudoptosis,” where the nipple is above the inframammary crease on each breast, breast implants alone will often correct mild sagging by increasing breast projection.

In all cases where mastopexy (breast lift) is combined with breast augmentation, Dr. Cuzalina reminds doctors and patients that the procedures can be staged to ensure safety.

“While there is no dogmatic way to approach the simultaneous procedure, it is helpful to remember a few basic guidelines,” said Dr. Cuzalina. “Avoid the temptation to always do a periareolar mastopexy in order to use the shortest incision possible, understand that it is sometimes good to also remove tissue to maintain implant position long-term and while patients may resist the idea, keep in mind that a staged approach, performing mastopexy first and then augmentation three months later, is always an option with a tried-and-true safety record.”

Sheyla Hershey after final breast augmentation

Instead of regarding highly publicized breast implant disasters with the blasé disinterest common today, a surprising article in the Orange County Register offered some interesting insight into botched boob jobs, suggesting that recent incidences of “plastic surgery gone wrong” serve as cautionary tales for prospective breast augmentation patients.

According to the article, the mistakes of breast augmentation patients Kenyatta Brown, Sheyla Hershey and Nicola Stratton offer three valuable lessons that women should consider as they begin their search for a cosmetic breast surgeon.

Lesson One: Buyer beware

In February 2010, mother-of-four Kenyatta Brown went to an Atlanta eye doctor for discount breast augmentation surgery and nearly bled to death on the operating table during this relatively routine procedure.

Brown’s near fatal experience serves as a strong reminder that state medical boards do not limit a licensed physician’s scope of practice based on training or credentials, so physicians with little or no experience performing breast augmentation are allowed to take up the practice at will simply to make a quick buck in the lucrative, cash-only cosmetic surgery business.

Additionally, this story reminds that when it comes to cosmetic surgery, you typically get what you pay for, so breast augmentation cost should be the last consideration when you are choosing a surgeon.

Lesson Two: Bigger isn’t always better

It was unsurprising that Sheyla Hershey, owner of the world’s largest breast implants, experienced post-operative complications after traveling to Brazil for the breast enhancement procedure that finally allowed her to achieve the 38KKK bustline she desired.

Silicone breast implants of the size Hershey demanded are illegal in the U.S., so she traveled abroad for the procedure that Texas plastic surgeons had warned her was extremely high risk.  Hershey developed a near-fatal staph infection after the surgery, and the gigantic implants had to be removed.  She may also lose all or part of her natural breasts as well.

Hershey’s story highlights the importance of trusting the advice of the surgeons whose opinions you seek, as well as the importance of setting realistic breast augmentation goals that can be safely achieved for the best aesthetic outcome.

Lesson Three: There’s no place like home

At the time that British Extreme Makeover star Nicola Stratton flew from the UK to Los Angeles to undergo 30 hours of cosmetic surgery, she probably had no idea that traveling abroad for her procedures could prove problematic.

However, after Stratton began experiencing breast augmentation complications, including saline breast implant deflation and capsular contracture, she became painfully aware how problematic the distance between her and her surgeon was since she didn’t have the means to return to LA for revision surgery.

In addition to considering your breast augmentation surgeon’s training, credentials, experience and ethical standards, it is also important to consider proximity so that you are able to see your surgeon for follow up appointments and revision surgery should the need arise.

Dr. Gerald Edds has earned certification from three different medical boards, including the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and has more than 25 years of experience performing cosmetic breast surgery.  This makes him uniquely qualified to help prospective Owensboro breast augmentation patients achieve beautiful, natural-looking results.

[Modernmedicine.com]

You probably know that SPF stands for sun protection factor. But how should you apply that to your daily life and choose an SPF rating that is right for you? People often think the sun protection factor is an estimate of how much time you can spend in the sun. According to the Beauty Brains blog, this is only half of the equation….

[Beauty Brains: What does SPF really mean?]

Do you need cosmetic surgery after massive weight loss? Two sisters in Oklahoma did after they each lost over 130 lbs. Marla Sheperd and Kelly Butler decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery. With help from Dr. Louis Garosby and one cosmetic surgeon in Tulsa, the sisters are looking great.

[Sisters See Incredible Results Following Weight Loss Surgery]

In some patients, the ability to breastfeed is disrupted by a past breast augmentation.  Usually, this is associated with the periareolar incision (around the lower half of the nipple).  To minimize your risk, a surgeon might recommend other incision sites such as the armpit, breast crease, or navel.

While breast Implant placement below the pectoralis muscle may also be recommended, even with subglandular placement, breast feeding is not necessarily compromised.

Regarding infant safety, research studies haven’t found any measurable risks.  In the late 90s, a study was published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showing that women with silicone breast implants carry no higher levels of silicone (silicon) in their breast milk than women without implants.  It isn’t known what effect would occur if a small amount of silicone were to pass through to the infant.

If you still have concerns, speak to Dr. Edds or your OB/GYN.  Whether you plan to become pregnant or not, it is best to understand all of the possible breast augmentation risks before proceeding with surgery.

341,144 liposuctions were done in 2008, while breast augmentations numbered a surprising 355,671 during the same time period. “For the first time in the twelve years these statistics have been collected, liposuction is a runner up in popularity to breast augmentation”, said ASPS President Alan Gold.

Dr. Gold theorizes: “Changes in fashion, i.e. décolletage baring styles, might be a factor in bringing about this change. This turnabout will generate discussions in the medical community and the public at large”, he predicts.

We’re curious about what our readers think. Is this change surprising? Is it an obvious result of “changes in fashion”?