Breast Surgery allows patients to make lasting changes to their looks so they can enjoy their image and feel comfortable.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the U.S. As an aesthetic breast surgeon, Dr. Newman specializes in aesthetic breast augmentation and is an expert in primary and secondary (revisionary) breast augmentation procedures. Breast augmentation involves using implants to fulfill your desire for fuller breasts or to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy. Implants are silicone shells filled with silicone gel or saline. They are placed behind each breast, underneath either breast tissue or the chest wall muscle. Notice in these pictures below how the latest silicone gel does not leak even when the implant is cut in half. In addition sizing options have expanded significantly in recent years allowing for a much better fit to compliment different body shapes.
There are now four implant companies from which to choose the implants that we use for breast augmentation and implant based breast reconstruction procedures. I recommend checking their websites as well to educate yourself. At this point there are really only minor differences amongst the products offered by these companies which are heavily regulated in the USA. Dr. Newman will typically use Mentor MemoryGel breast implants or Sientra silicone gel implants.
Allergan and Motiva are also used as the other two companies that also offer similarly fine products that I will occasionally use by either replacement or request. Surgeons have to pay to get links on their commercial websites however, so keep in mind the surgeon locator is not very thorough on any of these links.
Dr. Newman also registers all of his patient’s implants placed through the National Breast Implant Registry (NBIR) by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Plastic Surgery Foundation. This is done to track and monitor breast implant procedures and outcomes, contributing to patient safety and improved standards of care. The NBIR, established by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the FDA, collects data on breast implant surgeries to identify trends, complications, and long-term safety concerns.
Key reasons for use:
Patient Safety Monitoring: The registry tracks implant-related complications (e.g., rupture, capsular contracture) and rare conditions like Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), enabling early detection of issues.
Data-Driven Insights: Surgeons contribute anonymized data (e.g., implant type, surgical technique, patient outcomes) to help identify best practices and improve surgical outcomes.
Regulatory Compliance: Participation aligns with FDA recommendations for post-market surveillance of breast implants, ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Quality Improvement: Data analysis helps surgeons benchmark their performance against national trends, refining techniques and reducing complication rates.
Patient Trust: Using the registry demonstrates a commitment to transparency and evidence-based practice, reassuring patients about implant safety.
Research and Advocacy: Aggregated data supports research into implant longevity, safety profiles, and innovations, potentially influencing future guidelines or device approvals.
Practical use:
Surgeons submit data on each implant procedure, including implant details (brand, type, size), patient demographics, and follow-up outcomes.
The registry provides reports to surgeons, highlighting their practice trends compared to national data.
It aids in patient follow-up by tracking implants for potential recalls or safety alerts.
By participating, plastic surgeons contribute to a centralized database that enhances the understanding of breast implant performance, ultimately benefiting both patients and the medical community.
Breast Lift
Commonly referred to as a breast lift, mastopexy surgery raises and firms the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour. Breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of your breasts or round out the upper part of your breast.
Breast Revision Procedures
Many females have had breast procedures in the past. Revisions may be indicated for a number of reasons, whether it is related to prior implants, the scars from a reduction or reconstruction, or genetics, gravity, and time had their effect on breast placement, there are many options available. If you have had a prior surgery make sure to inform your primary care/gynecologist to check your breasts annually and order the appropriate surveillance tests. In addition if you are considering revision, try and obtain the prior records of the operations and implants if possible. These can be very useful to determining your best options.
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts. A breast reduction always includes a lift- in other words the tissue repositioning includes removing excess weight but also skin and reducing the areolar complex to fit the new breast size. A certain size breast with symptoms will qualify some ladies to have insurance cover the procedure so it is imperative to have these symptoms documented by your family practice or gynecologist providers. Such symptoms include upper back and neck pain, frequent rashing underneath the breasts, as well as “shoulder notching” a physical sign that the brassier has tried but failed to relieve the heavy weight of the breasts. Every woman should do self breast exams and have regular physicals to document and maintain breast health. Notifying your primary provider can be the first step to improving your symptoms, your overall health, and your life! (Also at the appropriate age -or if there are any symptoms/earlier indications- do not ignore getting your mammograms!- These new 3D CT mammograms are pretty fantastic technology.)
The “Mommy Makeover” this is the combined approach to repair the consequences of pregnancy and weight gain/loss. Most commonly this involves combining breasts and belly: a breast procedure such as an breast augmentation and/or breast lift or even breast reduction (which always includes a lift) with an abdominal procedure such as a tummy tuck and/or liposuction.