Davis

Silicone breast implants were taken off the US market in 1992 in the wake of thousands of lawsuits claiming they leaked and caused connective tissue disorders and cancer. The rupture of those implants was usually silent, which means most went unnoticed until they were detected by an MRI.

Over the course of my career, I’ve helped hundreds of women remove or replace their older silicone implants, and I’ve performed breast augmentations on many others. As with every type of cosmetic procedure, my role as a physician is neither to encourage nor discourage but to ensure that my patient is fully—and objectively—informed of the risks, both during the surgery itself and years later on.

A couple of things to keep in mind if you’re considering breast implants or having trouble with your breast implants:

Your implants aren’t made to last forever.

The life of breast implants, both silicone gel and saline, varies by person. Some may keep their original implants for 20 or 30 years. But, most will need to have them replaced much sooner than that. As a general rule of thumb, the older the breast implants, the greater the risk of developing complications. So, plan to replace them preemptively.

The better the dialogue, the better the outcome.

Breast augmentations have come a long way. Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all procedure. Board-certified plastic surgeons today are adept at tailoring every consideration to the patient’s needs and wants, from the size and shape of the breast, to the placement of the implants and the incisions.  We are lucky enough to live in a time where most likely you will not experience trouble with your breast implants. Key to that process is communicating openly and honestly with your surgeon. If, for example, you developed larger than expected scar tissue from an earlier surgery, make sure your surgeon’s aware. It could impact your outcome here.

Keep a close watch!

Following your surgery, your surgeon will provide you with instructions for how to monitor your breast implants, which will include routine mammography screening for breast cancer. The FDA also recommends that those with silicone gel breast implants get MRI screenings three years after their surgery and every two years after that. In between, if you notice any sort of breast pain or other trouble with your breast implants, bring it to the attention of your primary care physician. Breast implants are far less likely to rupture than they once were, but it can still occur, and when they do, it’s usually without any obvious signs.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably familiar with a facelift to some degree. But, just to make sure we’re all on the same page, here’s a short description: It’s a cosmetic surgical procedure that lifts and tightens sagging skin on the face and neck to create a more youthful appearance.

The recovery can be relatively intense. A bandage may be placed around your face to minimize swelling and bruising. And small tubes are sometimes used to draw off any excess blood or fluid. You should be able to return to work within a couple of weeks, but it could take up to a year for the all of the residual swelling and bruising and changes to skin sensation to completely subside.

A mini facelift, as you may have already suspected, is a less invasive surgery with a comparatively easier recovery. Essentially, it entails a couple of smaller incisions and less cutting of the underlying tissue. The incisions are typically located along the hairline above each ear or in the natural creases that surround the ears. Through them, the tissue around the cheeks—as opposed to the entire face—is lifted and tightened, improving sagging jowls and refining the jawline.

In some cases, local anesthesia with sedation may even be a better option than general anesthesia. And the recovery time with a mini facelift is much shorter. Most are back to work within a week, some in as little as a long weekend. Thanks to the shorter incisions, there’s also less pain and swelling than there is with a full facelift.

Who’s a good candidate?

The results are obviously milder with a mini facelift because it’s a far less extensive surgery than the facelift. It won’t remedy prominent jowls, nor will it do more for the neck than provide it with a subtle lift. It’s only really able to treat mildly to moderately sagging skin. For those reasons, it’s utilized, largely, as a means to address the early signs of aging before they become too pronounced.

An appropriate candidate is someone in their forties or early fifties who are exhibiting some subtle facial sagging that’s centered in the middle of their face. Once we enter our fifties, skin laxity becomes more significant all around the face and neck—and more difficult to correct. But there are exceptions, such as someone who’s never been overweight. Skin laxity is directly tied to age-related collagen loss. But thin people have less fat on their faces, which places less stress on the skin. So, those of us in good health may be a candidate for a mini facelift into our early fifties.

One step further

It’s not uncommon for mini facelifts to be paired with a nonsurgical procedure, like Botox. It won’t add to your recovery time, and it’ll enhance the parts of your face—the forehead in the case of Botox—that the mini facelift will not, contributing to an outcome that’s bound to exceed expectations. After all, who among us, given the opportunity, would pass on trading a few days to look a few years younger?

A lot of people ask if plastic surgery is right for them? Determining whether to have plastic surgery is a very personal decision for everyone. There’s no wrong reason for justifying it, but it still needs to be carefully considered from every angle. To help with that process, here are a few key questions to ask yourself.

Why do I want plastic surgery?

The catalyst for your desire to have plastic surgery may be easy to pinpoint: a genetic trait, a trauma, aging. But, why do you want plastic surgery? And why now?

Be sure to trace those questions to their root and answer them honestly. Plastic surgery can provide a big confidence boost. If, however, you’re doing it for the sake of someone else’s happiness or to help soften a particularly tumultuous time in your life, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment. Do it for yourself, and yourself alone.

What do you know about the procedure?

Obviously, a plastic surgeon’s going to answer any questions you may have, but you’ll want to arrive for your initial consultation already fairly well-educated about your procedure. (Reading this blog post is a good start.)

Go online and try to find as much as you can not only about the procedure itself but also what constitutes the ideal candidate for it, what you should realistically expect for an outcome, any potential complications, and a general idea of what it’s going to cost. The more knowledgeable you can be entering your consultation, the more productive it’s going to be.

Can you afford it?

Most plastic surgery is considered cosmetic, so it’s not covered by health insurance. And a surgical procedure can be costly. But many board-certified plastic surgeons offer a variety of payment options, including credit cards and health care financing. So, the cost shouldn’t necessarily be a deterrent. You should, however, be prepared when you meet with a financing specialist during your consultation.

You’ll also want to get the exact price for your procedure and ensure that there aren’t any hidden fees. The total cost should include the surgeon’s fee, the cost of the anesthesiologist, the surgical center’s fees, follow-up appointments, and surgical garments. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of any medications.

Can you handle the recovery?

It’s only natural to focus on the “after” picture, but the recovery from your intended procedure shouldn’t be glossed over. You’re going to be tired, sore, swollen, and bruised for a few days, or even a couple of weeks, depending on your procedure.

Make sure you have ample vacation time because you’re not going to want to push yourself and risk complications. If you have young kids, is there a family member or close friend you can ask to help you look after them until you feel more like your normal self?

Where do I find a surgeon?

Once you’ve answered all of the above to your satisfaction, start searching for a surgeon online. Filter them through a couple of qualifiers:

• Is she/he a board-certified plastic surgeon?
• Does she/he have extensive experience with my procedure?

Once you’ve narrowed the field down to a few surgeons, schedule consultations with each of them. That face-to-face meeting is going to help you see how much rapport you have with a surgeon, and that should never be discounted. Plastic surgery, as we said, is a personal decision. So, naturally, the connection between patient and doctor plays a critical part. Contact Dr. Davis today and see if plastic surgery is right for you.

Have you entered our CoolSculpting contest yet? You’re always putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own. With Valentine’s Day approaching, how about throwing some love your way for once?

We have just the way to do it: We’re running a CoolSculpting Valentine’s Day contest. One lucky winner will receive two free CoolSculpting sessions, valued at $1,500, with us here at Davis CPS. CoolSculpting is the top nonsurgical treatment for permanently getting rid of stubborn body fat. More on that in a moment.

To enter, all you need to do is fill out the short form on this page with some basic information about yourself and upload a photo, or photos, of the areas you’d like to treat with CoolSculpting. (Please know, your photos will not be shared in any way without your written consent.)

Easy, right? We’ll be selecting a winner on February 13. [Enter Now!]

We’ll notify the winner by phone and then make a public announcement via email using only their first name and last initial. (No photos will be used in the email.) The winner, however, needs to be willing to share one post each on their Instagram feed and story with the following caption: “I won two free CoolSculpting sessions from Davis CPS in Cherry Hill, NJ.”

Now, what exactly is CoolSculpting? It’s an innovative procedure that uses controlled freezing to eliminate unwanted fat. And it requires little to no recovery.

Years back, a couple of Harvard scientists noticed that some kids got dimples in their cheeks when they ate popsicles. They later came to realize that the popsicles were freezing and eliminating small pockets of fat cells. Simplistic as that sounds, that’s the premise behind CoolSculpting.

The procedure delivers precisely controlled cooling to a targeted area. The treated fat cells are frozen, then die. There’s no damage to the skin or the surrounding tissue. Over time, your body will naturally process the fat and eliminate the dead cells, leaving a more sculpted you.

You won’t be put under. In fact, you can catch up on emails while you undergo the treatment. Come in for a session in the morning and head straight into the office as soon as you’re done.

So, what are you waiting for?
Go register, and make this a Valentine’s Day—and bathing-suit season—to remember.