Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: This might seem like a stupid question, but can men grow breasts? My boyfriend looks good in clothes, but when he takes off his shirt he looks like he has breasts. He is very self conscious about this and I am wondering if Dr. Corbin can help him?
Answer: Male breasts is a medical condition referred to as Gynecomastia. Gyno as some people call it can be due to actual breast tissue or fat. The cause of gynecomastia can be developmental, a side affects of medications, a side affect of anabolic steroids, smoking marijuana or weight gain. Whatever the cause this appearance of breasts on a man's body can be a source of embarrassment and or physical pain. The male breast tissue or extra fat can be removed via liposuction, excision or in combination. Small incisions are inconspicuously placed along the border of the nipple areolar.The average length of gynecomastia surgery is between 1 to 3 hours. Following a successful surgery most patients return to work in 5 to 7 days. For photos of other men I have helped with Gyno go to www.GynecomastiaExpert.com. On this site you and your boyfriend can see a television clip of a gynecomastia surgery I performed, as well as before and after photos. When he is comfortable have him call
my office to book a personal consultation to be evaluated. I look forward to hearing from you and helping him achieve a body image he is proud of. Thank you for contacting my office.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I've seen on line a plastic surgeon who does navel incisions is that worth it. Do you do put implants in this way? Whats the advantage and disadvantage??
Answer: I do perform the TUBA (Trans Umbilical Breast Augmentation) and I have patients who are very happy with this approach. The advantage of a TUBA is that patients who are candidates for this approach will have no scars on their breasts. A minor disadvantage of having breast implants placed in through the belly button is that patients will have a scar around the belly button. Another potential disadvantage of the TUBA is incorrect implant placement. I have corrected patients done else where who have had problems with implant placement. One implant was submuscular and the other was in front of the muscle leaving the breasts looking different. Or one breast implant is higher than the other. Another disadvantage of the TUBA is that not everyone is a candidate. Only patients with excellent measurements, symmetrical breasts, nipples that are at the same heights and no drooping or sagging are candidates for this procedure. The surgeon's evaluation of his patient's anatomy is k
ey to getting the best surgical outcome and some may do a TUBA on a patient who would get a better result with another approach. Further disadvantages of the TUBA are that the belly button is a long way from the breasts and the long tunnel created to put the breast implants in through creates a track leading from the belly button to the breasts that in some patients may leave irregularities. If patients wish to have the more natural feeling silicone breast implants they can not be put in using a trans umbilical approach and the breast implant manufactures recommend using saline breast implants only for the TUBA approach. The final disadvantage of a TUBA is if the patient is unhappy with the final outcome or needs a breast revision rarely can the correction be done using the same belly button scar and new scars may have to be placed elsewhere to correct a problem.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Hi, my name is Abby, 24 years old. I had a breast augmentation 2 years ago. Silicone implant. and a nipple revision although the nipple went back in. I was wondering if there is still a chance I could get my breast more bigger? Right now it's about a c cup went down a little bit but im not happy with my breast. I really want to go bigger than c. do you have to take out the existing implant? please e-mail me back if there's a way.and I do not really want to go back to the same doctor where I got these.Thank you,Abby
Answer: Hi Abby, thanks for your E-mail. I do breast surgery revisions on a regular basis. First, I need to examine you to see what changes you want to make to improve the appearance of your breasts and nipple. It is possible for you to have larger breast implants. You asked if I would have to remove the old implants and the answer is yes. I would remove and replace the old implants and do any breast and nipple revisions at the same time. Please contact Dee my patient care coordinator at (714) 671-3033 to book your consultation. Please bring your operative report and photos from your other surgeon.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have heard that the breasts can be made smaller using liposuction. Who are the best candidates for this type of breast reduction?
Answer: Liposuction only breast reduction is an alternative to the traditional breast reductions where breast tissue is cut out. The best candidates for liposuction reduction are patients who have very fatty breasts with high nipples.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have had breast implants for over 8 years and I love them. This year I noticed that one of my breasts was becoming firm and shifting a little on my chest. I went to see a doctor and he said I have Baker Class 3 Capsular contracture. What exactly does this mean? Can Dr. Corbin fix this?
Answer: The Bakers classification of capsular contracture is the most popular method doctor's use as a way of describing clinical firmness of the breast implant. It is a grading system I through IV. I is normal feeling like a natural breast, II is slightly firm, III is firmer than a natural breast and slightly distorted and IV is firm, distorted and painful. I do correct capsular contracture by removing the old capsule and breast implant and putting in a new implant. There are no guarantees, however, that capsular contracture will not come back even after corrective surgery. In most patients capsular contracture never returns, but in a small percentage of women they will have reoccurring firmness of the breast implants.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I am interest in Breast Augmentation Surgery, I was hoping for larger implants more like 1100cc, does Dr. Corbin do procedures like this?
Answer: Yes I do larger breast implants in patients if they request them. Whether or not you are a candidate for 1100cc's is of concern to me. Some determining factors may include your current breast size, the texture of your skin and your natural anatomy. Many times the women people see with huge breast implants have had more than one surgery to get to the final implant size of 1100cc's. I will only perform these surgeries if I feel they are safe and will give the patients the best result for their body image. You need to book an appointment to come in and be examined as well as educated on breast augmentation with large implants. To see one of my patients with 1100 cc breast implants go to www.TheBreastExpert.com If you search the model archives for Tracy she is the patient of the month for ??.Because she was very thin with little breast tissue it took more than one breast augmentation to ultimately get her to her desired 1100cc implants.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Does Dr. Corbin put his patients on antibiotics before a breast augmentation?
Answer: Yes, I do place my pre surgery patients on antibiotics before surgery. At the time of their preoperative appointment they are given a prescription for antibiotics to be taken 2 days before their surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What Insurance does Dr. Corbin accept? Does health insurance cover breast reduction surgery?
Answer: My office accepts Aetna PPO, Healthnet PPO, & Pacific Care, PPO. There is no guarantee that breast reduction surgery will be covered by any insurance company. Some insurance companies have BMI requirements and some health insurances require that a minimum of 1000 grams of breast tissue be taken out per breast. Please check with your healthcare provider to see what their individual policy is on breast reduction coverage. If you have additional questions for my office, please call Alice at (714) 671-3033.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have G cup breasts and I am only 24 years old. It is painful carrying all the extra weight around. My back, shoulders and neck are always aching. I can't fit into normal bras and shopping for clothes is impossible. I always have to get the tops separate from the bottoms. I am not overweight, I just want the top of my body to match the bottom. Can Dr. Corbin help me?
Answer: Absolutely I can help you. It sounds like you are a perfect candidate for breast reduction surgery. Patients suffering from macromastia like yourself often suffer both physically and emotionally due to their extra large breasts. For a young woman like you breast reduction will dramatically improve your self image and make it easier for you to fit into clothing and bras. In the past young women were afraid of all the big scars associated with breast reduction surgery, but I do a minimal scar breast reduction that limits the scar to around the nipple areolar complex and vertically down the breast. I do not place the long scars along the entire crease of the breasts. With my breast reduction surgery technique the patient will benefit from less scarring, and smaller perkier breasts that are more proportionate for their body. The benefits from breast reduction surgeries that I have performed on hundreds of women are both physically and emotionally rewarding for the patien
ts.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I had my nose done years ago and after my surgery I vomited for an entire day. It was the worst feeling! I am interested in having a breast augmentation and lift, but I can't stand the thought of anesthesia and throwing up all day again. Is there anything Dr. Corbin suggests?
Answer: Medications have improved from years ago. In order to prevent nausea and vomiting with our patients the anesthesiologists administers anti nausea drugs at the time of surgery. If a patient is nauseated in the recover room the nurse can give them a shot to help prevent vomiting. Once a patient is home sometimes taking pain medicine on an empty tummy can also cause vomiting so we advise patients to eat before they take pain meds. As a part of our regular post operative care to keep our patients comfortable we give them a prescription for a supository that after it is inserted stops nausea and vomiting. While I can not guarantee that any patient will not feel nauseated following a procedure you can see that with the latest anti nausea meds we make every effort to prevent vomiting and ensure a comfortable recovery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have had 3 breast reductions and my breasts keep growing! Is there anything Dr. Corbin can do to help me? I am so frustrated with these enormous breasts.
Answer: In some patients if they continue to gain weight after their breast reductions the breasts can also increase in size. It is unusual though that you have already had three previous surgeries and your breasts are still growing. I would need to examine you and take a look at your medical history including all your past pre and post operative photos, operative reports, and mammograms. It could be that in a rare instance a patients breasts continue to grow due to a tumor increasing in size. I am not saying this is happening to you; however it can be a reason for a size increase in the breasts. Contact Dee my patient care co coordinator to arrange a personal medical examination. (714) 671-3033.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have asthma will Dr. Corbin perform a breast augmentation on me?
Answer: Yes, I can perform a breast augmentation on you if you have asthma, but you will have to discuss your medical issues with the medical doctor who is going to be performing your anesthesia. Asthma is not a contraindication for a breast augmentation.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have given birth to three children and I want my body back. I want to have my breasts made bigger and lifted and a tummy tuck. Can Dr. Corbin do all the surgeries on the same day?
Answer: Yes. It is very common for multiple plastic surgery procedures to be done at the same time. In fact it is usually beneficial for a patient to do the surgeries at the same time because it cuts down on the operating room fees and it requires only one recovery period. For many women with jobs or family's with busy schedules multiple procedures is often the most time and cost effective way to do more than one surgery.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I want to have my breast done at the same time as my nose. Does Dr. Corbin do noses and would he do the 2 surgeries together?
Answer: Yes I do rhinoplasty surgery. I do the full gamut of plastic and reconstructive surgeries. It is very common for two plastic surgery procedures to be done at the same time. In fact it is usually beneficial for a patient to do the surgeries at the same time because it cuts down on the operating room fees and it requires only one recovery period. To see photos of some of my rhinoplasty s go to NoseExpert.com or Dr.Corbin.com

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have lost over 150 lbs. I have worked so hard to get the extra weight off my body, but now I have a bunch of hanging skin. I used to have nice full breasts and now they are just sagging skin with nipple attached! Help, I need the breast expert. Does Dr. Corbin perform surgery on major weight loss patients?
Answer: Yes I perform the full gamut of plastic and reconstructive procedures. I do body lifts, thigh lifts, tummy tucks, brachioplasty, butt lifts and breast lifts on patients who have lost massive amounts of weight. Body resculpting procedures are very popular procedures.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I currently have 500 cc implants that I have had for over 10 years. I want to go with a smaller implant maybe 375 cc or 400 cc. My breasts are not droopy now, but I have heard that my breast shape will change if I put smaller implants in. Is this true?
Answer: Yes there will be some change in your breast shape if you replace your larger implants with smaller ones. Because you have had the larger implants for a long time the pocket and skin have stretched to accommodate a 500 cc implant. If something smaller is put in that space the larger pocket and extra skin will not have changed and will probably need to be tightened. The breasts may appear a little droopier. Depending on how much breast sag and nipple location you may also benefit from a breast lift with the implant exchange. Once you have had implants for 10 years your breasts are never just going to go back to where they were before surgery. Even without breast implants your natural breast shape would change over 10 years.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Does Dr. Corbin recommend taking herbs or vitamins before and after plastic surgery and if so which ones?
Answer: Pre operative and Post operative surgery patients have to be very careful what vitamins and herbs they take before and after surgery because some may cause problems like bleeding or cause surgery complications and possible complications with anesthesia. To simplify our patient's lives and to aid in the healing process we use a surgery program that is specifically developed for the surgery patients needs. Some of the main vitamins include Arnica and Bromelyn to help reduce bruising and swelling.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: If I get breast implants will I loose the feeling in my nipples?
Answer: Though it is uncommon, a small percentage of women who get breast implants loose some or all nipple sensation in one or both nipples. The majority of patients with breast implants have nipple sensation, but loss of sensation is a known risk of the procedure.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have an embarrassing problem. Just below my left breast I have a third nipple. Besides looking strange, it is sensitive and I am embarrassed to be intimate because of it. Can it be removed?
Answer: Having a third nipple may look out of place, but it can easily be removed with a simple surgery. You will have a small incision where the nipple was, but it will look more balanced and better than the third nipple.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a crescent breast lift and who is a good candidate for this surgery?
Answer: A Crescent breast lift is a type of breast lift that involves the resection of a crescent shaped area of skin from the superior aspect of the areola of the breast. This breast lift technique is most commonly used to correct slight differences in nipple-areola heights on the breasts. This breast lift is not recommended for patients who are in need of a major breast lift.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I am a 19 year old girl who has lopsided breasts. One of my breasts is a small A cup and the other is almost a C cup. The bigger boob is also a lot droopier than the small one and this nipple is lower. I have gone to one surgeon who recommended just putting a breast implant in on the smaller side to match the larger boob. Will the implant also help match the shape of the larger side and make the nipples at the same place?
Answer: Thank you for contacting the breast expert site. Based on your physical description, generally, I would recommend a breast implant on the smaller breast and a breast lift on the larger breast to try and match the nipple height of the other breast. To get the best surgical advice I would have to examine you to determine the best type of breast lift and the best implant size to even the breasts out and make them more symmetrical. A breast implant alone on the smaller breast will only solve the size difference and will not address your nipple concerns on the larger breast. The nipple needs to be repositioned in order to match the other side.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: My mom had a breast augmentation done over 20 years ago. Now I want to have my boobs done and she is very supportive and has been helping me to choose my surgeon. My mom's scars are under her breast in the crease. Is this still the best place to put the breast implants in through?
Answer: If you had asked me this question 20 years ago I would have said, 'Yes', but today women have better choices as to where their incisions are placed. The inframammary breast augmentation is the oldest technique. Since the development of breast augmentation surgery, there have been many advances in the techniques to include, Peri areolar breast augmentation, axillary breast augmentation and the tuba breast augmentation. The best place to put the implants through varies from patient to patient. I don't believe that one approach to breast surgery is the,' Best' for every patient. Because I perform breast augmentations using all 4 options, Nipple areolar, Tuba, Axillary, or Inframammary, I carefully evaluate each patients individual needs to educate them on the best surgery approach for them. If my patient has good measurements and is selecting an average size breast implant, I prefer to let my patients have the option of deciding where they would like their small incisi
ons placed. I tailor the surgery to suit each individual patient.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I went for an appointment with a plastic surgeon and he only puts breast implants in through the nipple on all of his patients. I have small light pink nipples and I am nervous about having a noticeable scar on them. Are the nipples the best place to put the implants in through?
Answer: The best place to put the implants through varies from patient to patient. I don't believe that one approach to breast surgery is the,'Best' for every patient. Because I perform breast augmentations using all 4 options, Nipple areolar, Tuba, Axillary, or Inframammary, I carefully evaluate each patient's individual needs and educate them on the best surgery approach for them. If my patient has good measurements and is selecting an average size breast implant, I prefer to let my patients have the option of deciding where they would like their small incisions placed.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What does half over and half under mean?
Answer: It is a term describing the breast implant location relative to the pectoralis major muscle. The breast implant is not totally sub muscular.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I had an inverted T breast lift with another plastic surgeon. After letting my scars heal for about a year I went and had them lasered to try and make them less noticeable. What a huge mistake! Now my scars are darker and brown. It looks worse. If there is anything Dr. Corbin would recommend to help me I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Answer: Because there is no magic eraser to erase the scars, I would recommend cutting the dark scars out and starting over again with fresh scars. No surgeon can control or determine how a patient will scar. After surgery many of our patients use a topical formula called Scarguard. This is believed to help scars heal better.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I have one child and am planning to have another baby in a year or so. After my first baby and breastfeeding my breasts are so small and droopy. I really need a breast lift. What would Dr. Corbin recommend?
Answer: If you are planning on having more children in the near future I would recommend you wait to have your breast lift surgery. As you have seen from your first pregnancy, the appearance of the breast can change dramatically after childbirth so waiting until you are finished having children in usually the best advice.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: Over the past 2 years I have had three breast surgeries with my plastic surgeon. She recommended the implants from the 410 study. I went along with her recommendation, but I am very unhappy with the scars, the size and the shape of my breasts. After my last surgery she switched me to smaller implants, but did nothing to change the size of the pocket that the larger implants were in. After about a month I noticed that the shape got worse and very distorted looking. I went on another consultation and the doctor thought the breast implants shifted. Is this possible?
Answer: Yes sometimes breast implants may shift from their original position. This shift may change the appearance of the breasts, giving them and unusual shape and look. (especially the pre-shaped anatomical breast implants) Implant shifting can happen for a number of different reasons: Injury to the breast implants, pregnancy, weight gain, weight loss or if the implant is not securely positioned in the breast pocket. Breast implant shifting is unusual, but can be corrected with surgery. I just corrected a patient with implants from the 410 study that shifted. The initial plastic surgeon did not tighten the pocket around the breast implants and they were moving around and flipped distorting the breast shape. I had to revise her pockets and replaced the anatomical (teardrop) shaped silicone breast implants with round silicone gel. The patient is very happy with the appearance and feel of her new breasts. For photos go to www.TheBreastExpert.com photo gallery redo section.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: I read that textured breast implants rupture more frequently than smooth surface breast implants? What does Dr. Corbin think?
Answer: Luckily, we have very few ruptures in our practice, although of those we have had the majority is with textured surfaced implants.

Plastic Surgery Q and A

Question: What is a doughnut breast lift?
Answer: Some patients refer to the circum areolar breast lift as the,'doughnut lift' because the shape of the scars resembles the shape of a doughnut.