Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Do you have hospital privileges to perform breast surgery?
Answer: Yes I do have hospital privileges to perform breast surgery. In fact for many breast reconstructions and reductions I prefer to operate on these patients in a hospital.

Plastic Surgery Q and A - Financing Surgery

Question: I can't afford to pay for my breast augmentation and lift all at once can I make payments? 

Answer: Yes, we have several different financing options available for patients. We work with excellent finance companies to get the best rates and the lowest payments available. Some patients also choose to use their charge cards and make payments to the charge card company. Our patient care coordinator Dee has assisted hundreds of patients find affordable financing solutions. If you need financial assistance please contact her at (714) 671-3033 or visit http://thebreastexpert.com/cost-breast-surgery.htm

Plastic Surgery Q and A - When do you recommend surgery for massive weight loss ?

Question: I have lost over 100 lbs over the last year. My breasts are a mess!! They are just loose skin and my nipples are hidden under the breast fold. I was on the web site www.CosmeticSurgeryAfterWeightLoss.com and I saw some of your work. You perform miracles. I don't plan on loosing any more weight. When do you recommend surgery for massive weight loss patients like me? 

Answer: The answer to this question is that it varies from patient to patient. However, for the best surgical results I recommend the patient has been at a stable weight for a good period of time and they don't plan on loosing any more weight. Also, the massive weight loss patient must be evaluated thoroughly prior to surgery to make sure their nutritional levels are good and that they are healthy and strong enough to have an elective procedure. Medical clearance and lab work is done prior to surgery to help with a safe surgical outcome. It is very common for massive weight loss patients to see changes to their breasts following weight loss. After weight loss women's breasts lose shape, fullness, and droop. Because natural breasts are made up fatty tissue once the fat is reduced or loss it dramatically affects the shape and size of the breasts. Often there can be excess hanging skin covering the remaining breast tissue causing an aesthetically unattractive look. I perform cosmetic surgery on weight loss patients on a regular basis and these aesthetic changes can be very rewarding for both the surgeon and the patient. I enjoy helping these women achieve their ultimate goals to look the best they can after all the sacrifices they made to lose weight.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Do nurses administer anesthesia at your surgery center?
Answer: No. I prefer not to cut corners when it comes to patient care and safety. I only use Board Certified Anesthesiologists (Medical Doctors) to administer anesthesia to my surgery patients. It may be more cost effective to use nurses, but I would rather have another Doctor doing anesthesia and charge my patients a little more.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Who does Dr. Corbin use for anesthesia? Are they board certified?
Answer: Yes, I only use Board Certified Anesthesiologists (Medical Doctors) to administer anesthesia to my surgery patients.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: If I have stretch marks on my breasts will they go away after a breast augmentation?
Answer: Stretch marks on the breasts will not go away after a breast augmentation. There is nothing that makes stretch marks disappear. In a small number of patients their stretch marks may become more noticeable.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Does wearing a bra really help stop the breasts from sagging?
Answer: This is an interesting question. Most doctors would say that giving support to the breasts particularly if they are large will help prevent sagging over time as the skin and breasts age. Naturally over time the weight of the breast, gravity and the loss of elasticity age the breasts causing them to sag.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a Becker breast implant?
Answer: It is an adjustable silicone gel and saline breast implant manufactured by Mentor. Usually this implant is used for breast reconstruction to enlarge the breasts over time. The Becker breast implant may also be used for standard breast enhancement in some patients.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What are textured breast implants?
Answer: Textured breast implants are implants that have a textured outer shell. These implants are also known as Siltex breast implants. These breast implants are sometimes used to help prevent capsular contracture. Textured surface implants are also used if the implants are placed sub mammary instead of sub muscular.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: If I get breasts implants will they stop my breasts from sagging?
Answer: Breast implants do not prevent the breasts from sagging. A breast lift and implants may improve the appearance of a sagging breast, but implants alone will not stop sagging. In fact if a patient with sagging breasts only puts in breast implants there is a chance that the extra weight of the breast implant could make their breasts sag even more.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Are breast implants guaranteed for a lifetime?
Answer: No breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime, however the manufactures warranty the implants for a lifetime. Mentor the implant company I use offers free replacement implants should the patient ever have a rupture.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Why do I have to stop taking Aspirin before my breast augmentation?
Answer: Aspirin may increase the risk of bleeding.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: How long before my breast surgery do I have to stop taking aspirin?
Answer: Generally, in a healthy patient we have them stop taking Aspirin or anything containing Aspirin at least 2 weeks before surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a tram flap?
Answer: A tram flap is a transverse abdominis myocutaneous flap or in layman's terms a 'tummy Tuck' Breast Reconstruction

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a tissue expander?
Answer: A tissue expander also referred to as a Skin Expander is a silicone bag usually progressively filled with saline to expand the skin and surrounding tissues in the breast or other area used. This device is frequently used to create more skin following a mastectomy to allow for placement of a permanent breast implant.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: My nipples do not stick out. I think they are inverted. Is there a surgery that can correct inverted nipples?
Answer: Yes I can perform a surgery on you to make the nipple protrude more or I can also increase the size of your nipples making them more prominent looking.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have huge nipples. Can I have the nipples made smaller?
Answer: Yes large nipples can be made smaller with surgery. Depending on what your needs are this can be done at the same time as a breast lift if the breasts need to be lifted. If all you wish to change then we can just perform a nipple reduction surgery to create a smaller nipple and areolar.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Can I change the color of my nipples? They are pink and I would like them to be darker?
Answer: Yes the color of your nipples can be made darker by tattooing them. We will provide you with a color chart so you can decide on the new nipple color.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I am a surfer. Will I be able to surf with breast implants?
Answer: Yes you will be able to surf with breast implants. I have other female patients who are professional athletes and some who are surfers with breast implants. If you look at Kara the playboy playmate who is in the patient of the month archives you will see that she is a surfer from Hawaii.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Are breast implants permanent and do they last a lifetime?
Answer: Changes to the breasts following a breast surgery can be permanent. Breast implants however do not last a lifetime. The implants come with a lifetime warranty from the manufactures in case they rupture and need to be replaced. Also they recommend the implants be replaced every 10 years. Many surgeons argue that if it aint broke don't fix it. So if there is nothing wrong with the implants leave them alone. There are many patients of mine who have had their breast implants for many years, but eventually for one reason or another they decide to change implants and or improve the appearance of their breasts. Some potential reasons patients need additional surgery are; breast implant deflation, capsular contracture, infection, implant shifting, aging breasts, childbirth, weight loss, weight gain, natural changes in the breasts appearance or calcium deposits in the breasts. Fortunately, these side affects do not happen to all patients, but I do inform my patients of all the
potential risks and known complications of breast surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a chest wall deformity?
Answer: A chest wall deformity is the most common congenital deformity of the anterior wall of the chest, in which several ribs and the sternum grow abnormally. This produces a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. It can either be present at birth or not develop until puberty.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have scoliosis will this affect my breast surgery?
Answer: Excellent question. Yes scoliosis does affect the surgical out come because of the chest wall deformity. A patient with scoliosis generally has breasts that are at different heights and the ribcage projects out more on one side affecting the appearance of the breast on this side. If one shoulder is higher than the other this may also contribute to one breast being higher. Patients with chest wall deformities should be aware of the differences in their breasts before surgery because sometimes putting breast implants in intensifies these differences and they become more obvious after surgery. I take measurements of each surgery patient's breasts and try to point out any differences to them so they are aware that they have differences that may exist after surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Generally how long do the sutures stay in for before you remove them?
Answer: If I place sutures in a patient I like to remove them 5 to 7 days post operative to avoid problems with scarring.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What are tuberous breasts?
Answer: Tuberous breasts refers to a breast deformity where the breast is shaped like a tuberous plant such as a potato. It is a form of constricted breast deformity. The diagnosis of a tuberous breast must be made prior to surgery so the surgeon can tailor the corrective surgery that will most improve the shape of the deformed breast. A simple breast augmentation alone will not correct this breast deformity it will only enhance it. To view photos of breast deformities go to www.TheBreastExpert.com and look under procedures. In the deformity section you will see photos of this and other breast problems.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: After I breast fed my child my breast skin drooped and they became smaller. My nipples are still in the same place, but all the skin abound them sags. Do I need a breast lift?
Answer: It is hard to say weather you would benefit from a breast lift with out physically examining you. Based on your physical description it sounds as though you may have what is referred to as Pseudoptosis. If your nipples are above your inframammary crease and the only thing sagging is the breast tissue you may benefit from breast implants to fill in the breasts and you would not need a lift. To determine exactly what surgery will give you the best result you need to book a personal consultation to be evaluated.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: After my breast surgery how would I know if I had an infection?
Answer: Infections following breast surgery are rare, but can occur. Generally speaking some things to watch for that might indicate a patient has an infection are, a fever, one or both breasts are very swollen and red.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I had a breast augmentation done a week ago and I am feeling shooting pains one in a while in my breasts. Is this normal?
Answer: Yes, these pains are a normal part of the healing process. The nerve endings are responding to the trauma of breast surgery and or healing changes are also occurring.

Plastic Surgery Q and A - After my breast lift and augmentation I began lactating

Question: After my breast lift and augmentation I began lactating? Is this normal or should I be concerned?
Answer: Interestingly, lactation after a breast surgery is an odd finding in some women that stops over time, this should not be a major concern.