Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: On one side of my body my ribs stick out more than the other side. Will this affect of my breast augmentation surgery?
Answer: Absolutely, if you have a chest wall deformity the breast implant will look different of the side where your chest wall protrudes out more. Because the chest wall sticks out farther it may give the breast implants the appearance of being larger on that side. Some things can be done to try and even out the differences, but in extreme cases visible differences may always occur. Sometimes what happens is that patients do not notice or appreciate the chest wall deformity when the breasts are small , but once the breasts are made larger the problem also may appear larger and more obvious. I always try and diagnose a chest wall deformity, asymmetry, scoliosis or differences in patient's breasts with them after their first evaluation with me. I also try and inform them of surgical strategies to try and make the breasts look as good as possible.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have a bladder infection. Will I have to cancel my breast surgery that is in 2 days?
Answer: Yes, you can not have any active infection and have surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: After my breast augmentation I now have a uniboob! What is this deformity called and does Dr. Corbin know how to fix it?
Answer: The uniboob breast deformity is known as symastia. The medial skin on the midline of the breasts is not attached or scarred down to the chest wall. This condition can be congenital or can be a surgery complication. Obviously, in your case symastia is a result of a breast augmentation complication. Surgical causes of symastia can happen when very large implants pull the skin away from the chest bone. I have fixed some of the most challenging and difficult cases of symastia. It is a very hard deformity to correct and depending on the severity it may require more than one corrective surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a Spectrum breast implant?
Answer: It is an adjustable saline breast implant manufactured by Mentor. This saline implant is unique because it has a small removable fill tube that allows the plastic surgeon to go back up to 6 months after the initial breast surgery and adjust the amount of saline solution in the implant.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a natural breast made of?
Answer: A natural breast is made up of fatty breast tissue and milk ducts. Behind the breast is the pectoralis major muscle (chest muscle) and behind the muscle is the ribcage. Note if a patient has no pectoral major muscle this medical condition is referred to as Poland Syndrome. Poland Syndrome chest deformity can be corrected with reconstructive surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Can Silicone breast implants cause cancer?
Answer: According to the National Cancer Institute, and their study of over 13,500 women with silicone implants from before 1989 they found no significant increase in breast cancer.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What gets rid of scars?
Answer: Unfortunately there is no magic wand or erasure that will permanently remove scars. There are some topical gels and silicone sheets that can be applied to the scar that may lighten it or make it less noticeable. If a scar has healed poorly it can also be cut out and revised.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Can I choose the shape I want my breasts to be with a breast augmentation?
Answer: I generally tell patients that an augmentation takes your natural breast shape and enlarges it. To a small degree shaped breast implants may have a subtle shape difference on the breast. In my opion maybe in a very large implant more significant shape changes can be seen with shaped breast implants.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Does Insurance cover breast augmentation surgery?
Answer: Health Insurance does not cover cosmetic breast augmentation surgery. The only time they may cover breast augmentation surgery is if it is for reconstructive purposes to correct a congenital deformity like Poland syndrome or another type of breast developmental deformity.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: How old do you have to be to have a cosmetic breast augmentation?
Answer: The FDA states patients have to be 18 years old before they have a cosmetic breast augmentation. Reconstructive breast surgery can be done on younger patients and these patients are also candidates for silicone breast implants.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: If I have a breast lift will it last a lifetime?
Answer: The positive results of a breast lift do last a lifetime and the breasts will always look better than if a breast lift surgery was not performed. There are factors that may affect the appearance of the breast over time such as gravity, weight gain or weight loss, pregnancy, aging, lax skin and breast cancer.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I just stopped breast feeding my baby. How long should I wait until I have my breast augmentation?
Answer: Generally, I recommend waiting until the breast dries up first and sometimes this may take up to 3 months. This also allows the size and shape changes in the breasts to occur before surgery so the patient and surgeon can decide what breast surgery will give the best result.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I read about breast implants that are made of sugar is this true?
Answer: Yes, the heritage company is searching for a silicone alternative breast implant. They have come up with a Hydrogel breast implant that is filled with distilled water and natural sugars. They are similar to the latest cohesive silicone gel breast implants (Gummy Bear implants). Breast implants made of sugar have not been granted approval by the FDA yet.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Will a breast augmentation lift my breasts?
Answer: No. A breast augmentation only makes the breasts bigger it does not lift the breasts. Only a breast lift will lift the breasts.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: If I loose weight will my breasts droop?
Answer: Generally most patients notice changes in their breast shape after weight loss. The breast is mainly made up of fatty tissue so when women lose weight they may also lose it in their breast too. In the case of major weight loss patients they definitely can expect to have droopy breasts after loosing massive amounts of weight. Whereas a women who looses a small amount of weight may see little to no change in her breast size and shape.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Will a tightening cream make my breasts firmer?
Answer: Some firming creams may firm the skin around the breast tissue, but it will not lift, tighten or firm the breasts in any way.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Can I still have a mammogram if I have breast implants?
Answer: Yes patients with breast implants have mammograms. You will have to let the radiologist know before the mammogram that you have implants. Some places may have you fill out a questionnaire before hand that asks if you have breast implants and they warn you of the possibility of implant rupture following a mammogram.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a Seroma?
Answer: A Seroma is a collection of fluid in a closed space. It is usually seen following dissection under the skin as in an abdominoplasty or dissection of the skin as in a breast augmentation. The collected serum is basically blood without the red cells.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a hematoma?
Answer: A hematoma is a collection of blood usually associated with a surgical incision site frequently causing noticeable swelling and ecchymosis. The body can usually absorb small hematomas, but larger ones may require a simple surgery to drain the excess blood from the site.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Can exercise lift my breasts?
Answer: Exercise may firm your pectoral muscle, but it will not do anything to change the shape of your breasts or change the location of your nipples. Exercise will not lift your breasts.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Will I have to spend the night in a hospital after my breast augmentation?
Answer: Generally, breast augmentation is performed on an outpatient basis. However, if a patient has a pre existing health condition their surgery may be done in a hospital.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: How long is a breast augmentation surgery?
Answer: Generally breast augmentation surgery is an hour long. This does not mean that's all the time you will be at the surgery center because there is pre surgery preparation and post operative recovery time which may add an extra 2 or 3 hours on to the total time involved for breast augmentation surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: If I have a breast reduction will this make my breasts firmer?
Answer: Initially following the breast reduction the breasts may feel firmer, but sometimes over time the skin envelope accommodates the new breast size and they may not be as firm. Usually, the breasts will look and feel firmer after a breast reduction, but with gravity and skin laxity it can change as it would even without the surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: How long after my breast augmentation can I wear an under wire bra?
Answer: Generally, I recommend that my first time breast augmentation patients don't wear under wire or push up bras for 3 to 6 months following surgery because scar contracture may cause the implants to sit too high.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Can I wear a push up bra after a breast augmentation?
Answer: Every surgeon has their own take on this. Generally I recommend my first time breast augmentation patients don't wear under wire or push up bras for 3 to 6 months following surgery because scar contracture may cause the implants to sit too high.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: If I do not have anyone to take care of me for the first 24 hours what do you recommend?
Answer: We can arrange different aftercare options for you depending on what your needs are. Some surgery patients like to stay in an aftercare facility for the first 24 hours or their entire recovery period while others prefer to recover in a hotel with a private nurse. This is a detail my patient care coordinator will arrange for you at the time of your surgery booking. Dee can assist you with all your pre and post surgery arrangements so you will be comfortable and well taken care of.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Can I drive myself home after my breast surgery?
Answer: No you can not drive yourself home after surgery. You will be under the influence of a general anesthetic and it is recommended that you wait 24 hours before driving provided you are not taking any pain medication.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Is the facility where I would have my breast surgery accredited?
Answer: Yes, I only operate at an accredited surgery center or accredited hospitals.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: How would I know if my silicone breast implants were ruptured?
Answer: Silicone breast implant ruptures are harder to detect than saline implant ruptures. If a patient with breast implants is concerned about a rupture I recommend an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to view the breast implants to see if it is ruptured. When a silicone implant has a rupture usually the sticky silicone gel stays isolated in the scar that surrounds the breast implant. With ethier newer silicone gel implants the silicone is a cohesive unit and if ruptured it does not run out in liquid form like the saline breast implants.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: At what age do I have to get a mammogram if I have breast implants?
Answer: Generally, if you have no family history of breast cancer I would recommend you have a mammogram once a year starting at age 40. However, I have breast cancer patients who are under 40 and they believe women should go for regular mammograms at any age.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What lab work do I have to have done before my breast surgery?
Answer: We generally get a pregnancy test, cbc, protime and ptt. If a patient is over 40 and or has a family history of heart or health problems we recommend an EKG. If a patient is over 40 or has a family history of breast cancer we require a mammogram. Some exceptions apply, based on the general health of each patient and their family history. Specific lab work needed before surgery is discussed with each patient at their pre operative appointment.