KC Plastic Surgeon's Blog

Breast Reconstruction Surgery, Suzanne Somers Tells All

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Briana

Rob Rich via Flickr

After undergoing a lumpectomy 12 years ago, actress and author Suzanne Somers felt dismayed by limited options for breast reconstruction which prompted her seek out an experimental breast reconstruction surgery.

In 2001 Somers was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her right breast. The surgery that followed removed a large portion of her breast, leaving her with significant asymmetry. Somers also elected to undergo several weeks of radiation therapy, which has become the standard of care for breast cancer patients in the U.S.

Over a month of radiation “left what breast I had flatter and flatter. I had a Double D on one side and on the other side I could hardly fill a B,” Somers recently told People Magazine.

When researching the breast reconstruction options, Somers turned to an experimental surgery not yet approved in the U.S. for breast reconstruction.

“I am so ensconced in what’s cutting edge. I get my thrill out of passing on information to women so they can have a better quality of life. “

During the procedure, fat and stem cells are removed via liposuction from the patient’s abdomen. This mixture is then injected into the affected breast area to increase size and reduce asymmetry.

For those looking for an alternative to breast implants or a TRAM flap procedure, this new surgery may serve as a beacon of hope.

“This whole thing is a win-win,” according to Somers. “You lose fat and get a new breast.”

The procedure, which takes around 2 ½ hours, is still in clinical trial testing. So far, 10 patients in addition to Somers have been accepted to participate in this research study.

Learn more about breast reconstruction surgery in Kansas City.

Smaller Breast Implants Catching On

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Briana

Beauty has always been in the eye of the beholder. Culturally this holds true as we witness seasonal shifts in everything from clothing style to nail polish color. While plastic surgery may serve as a more dramatic step towards physical beauty, the industry as a whole is not immune to societal trends and influences.

According to Dr. Stanley Gulin, a cosmetic surgeon based in Naples, FL, the plastic surgery industry is seeing a shift in breast implant sizes. Bigger isn’t necessarily better and more women are seeking smaller breast implants than in the past.

“It’s a much more reasonable thing to just downsize, so I think there is a general trend,” Gulin said.

Aside from being a hot new trend, there may be additional benefits to choosing smaller implants says Gulin. “You have less wear and tear on the tissue, the breast just keeps its shape much better, you don’t have gravity working against that large implant.”

Dr. Manny Pena, another Florida based plastic surgeon agrees, and has noticed more and more women replacing their larger breast implants with smaller ones.

“Now I’m seeing people who have had bigger implants for 10-12 years, and they come in and say ‘I want something smaller, it’s affecting my lifestyle.”

Pena says he sees more than 20 women at his practice each year seeking to downsize their implants for various reasons, ranging from simply attaining a more natural look to decreasing low back pain often associated with larger breasts.

It appears that smaller breast implants are catching on, but remember that numerous factors such as overall body size and frame, as well as lifestyle should be taken into account when choosing your ideal breast implant size.

Source: ABC News

Posted in Breast Surgery | Tagged breast implants, breast surgery, smaller breast implants | Leave a comment

New Breast Reconstruction Alternative Following Radiation Therapy

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Briana

A new study recently published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, suggests that researchers may have found a new technique that may offer breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy an effective breast reconstruction alternative.

Typically, breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy are not ideal candidates for implant-based breast reconstruction. Radiation therapy significantly damages underlying tissues at a microscopic level. As a result, radiation therapy treatments can negatively affect the outcome of reconstruction and increase the risk of long-term complications following surgery. For years this has left radiation therapy recipients with very limited reconstruction options.

The study, led by researcher Dr. Salgarello Marzja and colleagues of University Hospital in Rome followed 16 breast cancer patients who underwent both breast surgery and radiation therapy over the course of three years. Of the 16 patients, 11 had mastectomies, while the remaining five underwent lumpectomies or other breast conserving surgical techniques.

The reconstruction technique utilized combined fat grafting and breast implants. The fat grafts were obtained via liposuction from another part of the patient’s body. The fat was then injected into the breast area to provide a ‘bed’ of healthy tissue for implant placement.

Treatment did not begin until three to six months following radiation therapy. Patients received two or three fat graft injections prior to undergoing implant reconstruction. The final surgical reconstruction was performed only after the affected area presented no further signs of radiation toxicity.

Following surgery, 94 percent of patients were very satisfied with the overall aesthetic appearance of their reconstructed breasts. Researchers also noted that there were no complications and all patients experienced good healing of the tissues surrounding the implant.

Radiation therapy is quickly becoming the standard of care for high-risk breast cancer patients and researchers anticipate a much greater need for reconstructive alternatives in the near future. Thus, larger follow-up studies are needed confirm the positive results of this study.

Learn more about breast reconstruction in Kansas City.

Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)