Author Archives: Meagan Henderson

Las Vegas Breast Augmentation

Younger Women Opting For Breast Augmentation

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Breast Augmentation and Younger Women

Breast Augmentation & Breast Implants

Breast Augmentation & Breast Implants

There are a variety of reasons why women choose to undergo breast augmentation procedures. Years can take a toll on the appearance of a woman’s breasts, and some choose to get a breast augmentation to improve their appearance. Recently, more women are getting breast augmentations solely to boost their confidence. A study revealed that women undergoing the procedure are gradually getting younger and younger every year. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 3,325 women under the age of 19 underwent a breast augmentation procedure in 2013. This is a 64 percent increase of young women within the last ten years.

Young Patients Getting Breast Augmentation

There are a variety of reasons why younger women opting for breast augmentation is not so surprising anymore. 25-year-old Lori Rupp is a young adult who got a breast augmentation procedure after college graduation. She gained confidence after getting the procedure, which helped in her search for a career. Rupp stated, “I work out, eat healthy, and try to take care of myself, but there’s only so much you can do for other aspects of your body.”

The procedure has improved her confidence dramatically. Even shopping has become more fun, offering the opportunity to find clothes that suit her new body.She said, “I can feel more comfortable being at the pool in a swimsuit and not worry about thinking I’m a 12-year-old boy.”

Along with Rupp, there are many other young women undergoing breast augmentation procedures. Every year, more and more young women are becoming interested in the procedure. Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. William Adams explained that his patients are now falling in the demographic of 18-to-26 years old.

Adams stated, “They’re young. They’re going to live a long time. There’s potential for having to replace the implant or having to do other surgeries. There could be unexpected risks and complications. All that has to be discussed.”

Lifespan of Breast Augmentations

The average lifespan of a breast augmentation procedure is about 10 years—from either wanting to upsize, having a leak in the implant, needing a breast revision, or patients suffering from capsular contracture. Overtime, they usually need to be replaced.

When younger women choose to undergo the procedure, they need to be carefully screened. Plastic surgery is a major decision, no matter what procedure a young woman chooses to undergo. They need to be getting the procedure for the right reasons.

Age does play a major role in breast augmentation, as both types of implants aren’t available to women at the same age. Women have to be at least 18 years old to get saline implants, but are required to be at least 22 years old to get the silicone implant.

If you are considering a breast augmentation, schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. He is a board certified plastic surgeon with many years of training. He has helped a number of women enhance their confidence with a breast augmentation procedure. He uses sophisticated surgical techniques and technologies to promote safety and aesthetically pleasing results. For more information about breast augmentation in Las Vegas, contact 702.410.9800.

Botox a Fix for “Gummy” Smiles?

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Botox a Fix for “Gummy” Smiles?

Girl without a gummy smile

52-year-old Susanna Miller-Pence didn’t feel comfortable smiling. It wasn’t because of her teeth, but the appearance of her gums bothered her. Every time she smiled, her upper lip was up so high thata large portion of her gums was exposed. This gave her a gummy smile, which she was not a fan of it. Miller-Pence stated, “The doctor explained that my gums were longer than my teeth, so the dimensions weren’t right.”

In 1999, Miller-Pence had an operation to remove the extra gum tissue, which is known as a gingivectomy. Just one month later, she couldn’t stop smiling. Finally, she didn’t have a gummy smile.

What causes gummy smiles?

There are a variety of reasons why people have gummy smiles. The most common reasons include having a short upper lip, excessive gum tissue or small teeth. Unfortunately, all of these problems are hereditary. Ideally, a smile should only show about two millimeters of gum.

Dr. Stan Heifetz, New York cosmetic dentist, stated, “Anything over three to four millimeters of gum showing starts to look gummy.”

Dentists, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have all done research on the matter. Nearly all the participants agreed that two millimeters or less of gum tissue produced the most normal smiles. Participants of the studies began noticing excessive gum tissue at three millimeters, and most people felt that over four millimeters was too much. Doctors concluded that approximately 14 percent of women and 7 percent of men have gummy smiles.

Dr. Jessica Suber, a physician in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, stated, “I believe the incidence is probably higher than we think, but we specialists just see and count the ones we treat, which are on the low side since not many people come to the doctor and ask about treatments for this. It’s something a lot of patients aren’t aware of.”

Botox as a Solution

Years ago, surgery was the only option to treat the problem. This is a very painful and costly solution. Fortunately, a study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal from March found that Botox could eliminate the appearance of a gummy smile.

Botox does provide a more cost efficient alternative to surgery. Typically, Botox costs a couple hundred dollars. The surgery that Miller-Pence underwent cost her $15,000, which is not covered by insurance. Botox is also a safer alternative.

Unfortunately, the use of Botox to correct a gummy smile will only work if the problem is in the lips. If the problem is in the bone, surgery would be the only option.

An exact number of operations done to correct gummy smiles are hard to determine, as most patients that undergo the procedure will combine it with other medical treatments. From 2005 to 2006, the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute estimated that 569,160 gingivectomies were performed.

If you suffer from a gummy smile, schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. If the problem is in your lips, he can fix it by injecting Botox. He is a board certified plastic surgeon so you can be sure he will produce aesthetically pleasing results. For more information about plastic surgery in Las Vegas, contact 702.410.9800.

Quality of Life Improves After Breast Augmentation

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Quality of Life Improves After Breast Augmentation

Women decide to undergo breast augmentation procedures for various reasons. Some want the procedure for the sole reason of having larger breasts, while others get the procedure after having a mastectomy. A study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons revealed that women who have undergone a breast augmentation procedure report having a better quality of life overall. The women claimed to have gained confidence in both their psycho-social and sexual well-being.

Better Quality of Life

Very happy smiling womanThe BREAST-Q survey was used to measure each woman’s standpoint before and after the procedure. The survey was created for a new patient-reported outcome measure, with both satisfaction and quality of life evaluated through a modular, procedure specific structure. The survey focused on six aspects that affect the quality of life: satisfaction with breasts and overall outcome; psycho-social, sexual and physical well-being; and satisfaction with care.

Women took the survey six weeks before the surgery, six weeks after the surgery and again six months later. More than 600 women participated in the survey and were asked to rank their satisfaction on a 100-point scale. Most women received silicone implants, and in each surgery, the implant was placed under the muscle.

Results of the Study

The study found an increase of satisfaction levels from 25 out of 100 up to 80 out of 100 after the surgery. Psycho-social and sexual well-being had a similar outcome.

However, the study also found that many of the older women tended to have a decrease in their quality of life following the surgery. Six weeks after the surgery, they reported having lower physical function. However, after an additional six weeks, their physical function levels returned to normal. A lower physical function could cause a delay in the recovery process, meaning patients will have to attend more follow-up appointments with their surgeon to ensure that full function does eventually return.

ASPS member Dr. Amy K. Alderman stated, “The older patients seem less satisfied with their aesthetic result and less likely to have their expectations met.”
The survey also revealed that older patients were not as satisfied with their breasts following the procedure. Scores from women over the age of 50 averaged at 77 out of 100. Meanwhile, the scores for women under the age of 30 averaged 90 out of 100.

An increase in the quality of life is considered one of the most important factors when undergoing a cosmetic surgical procedure. Breast augmentation is the most common procedure in the US, and in 2013, about 290,000 women underwent a breast augmentation procedure.

Dr. Adlerman concluded, “These data along with other research using the BREAST-Q can be used on the policy level to support the availability of breast implants for women in the US and worldwide.”

If you are considering a breast augmentation, schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. He is a board certified plastic surgeon with a broad range of expertise. He can answer any questions you have about the procedure. For more information about Las Vegas breast augmentation, contact 702.410.9800.

Odd Facts about Breast Augmentation

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Odd facts about breast augmentation

More and more women are opting for breast augmentation procedures. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that the number of breast augmPicture showing a glow in the dark breast implantentations has increase
d by one percent in 2013. Women who are considering a breast augmentation need to do their research. Common facts about breast implants are important for women to be aware of before getting the procedure. This includes knowing about the different types of implants and where the incision will be placed. However, there are some odd but interesting facts about breast implants that many people may not know.

Glow in the dark

Some specialty implants are glow in the dark. If you put flashlights underneath these particular implants, there will be a glow. It can be very hard to see through your skin though.

Smart chips

Some breast implants have smart chips implanted in them. The microchip is called “Q inside”. It is heat resistant. The chip contains important information such as the serial number, manufacturer name, date of manufacture and other data. However, breast implants in the United States do not have these smart chips. Instead, tracking information (e.g. serial number, manufacturer, and date) is sent in to the appropriate manufacturing company for patients to look up at any time.

Vegan

The material that is used to make breast implants is considered vegan. Many years ago breast implants were not vegan. They used to be filled with a non-vegan oil designed to be safe for the body in case of a rupture in the implant. This type of implant proved to have too many disadvantages. Clinical trials were done to determine this. Since then, non-vegan implants have been discontinued in the US.

Weight gain

Getting breast implants can cause your weight to slightly increase. Fortunately, the amount of weight that a person will gain is not significant. A single implant that is filled with 450 cc of saline weighs about 1.3 pounds, the smaller the implant, the less the weight. This only affects the person’s exact weight number. Breast implants will not affect the woman’s health.

Tax deduction

Depending on your line of work, you may be able to write off your breast implants as a tax deduction. After the Hess vs. Commissioner Case in 1994, the US Tax Court has allowed women in certain professions to write off their breast implants as tax deductions. These jobs include exotic dancers, cocktail waitresses and the adult entertainment industry.

If you are considering a breast augmentation procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. He is a board certified plastic surgeon that can answer any questions you may have about the procedure. For more information about breast augmentation Las Vegas, contact 702.410.9800.

Breast Augmentation Las Vegas

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Breast Augmentation – Before or After Having Kids: Does it matter?

breast augmentation las vegas

Breast augmentation before or after having children?

You know you want to have kids one day. You have anticipated it your entire life. After maturing and settling into your adult body, you have also decided that you want breast implants via a breast augmentation procedure one day. This raises the question: Should you get a breast augmentation before or after having kids?

The time you should get a breast augmentation depends on a few factors. If you plan to have kids in the immediate future, you should wait until after you have had kids. If you aren’t planning to have kids right away, the decision is ultimately up to you. Here are a few factors you should consider about breast augmentations.

It is important for potential moms to know that implants will not affect fertility. Some women have the misconception that implants could affect the ability to conceive a child. It doesn’t matter whether your implants are silicone or saline, you will still be able to conceive a child. The FDA did a study about implants and fertility. It was revealed that implants will not increase the risk of a miscarriage either.

If you get your implants before having kids, be aware that there is a small risk that pregnancy could impact the quality of your breast augmentation. It only happens in a few cases and the majority of women were still happy with their breast augmentation even after giving birth. A major factor to consider is the length of time since getting your implants. The older the implants are, the more likely pregnancy could affect them. It is imperative for potential patients to know that breast implants are not permanent. Most women have their implants in for about 10 to 15 years before getting them redone. Getting pregnant 10 years after getting a breast augmentation will likely affect the appearance of your breasts. This is something that needs to be discussed with your Board Certified plastic surgeon. Genetics could also be a factor. A good idea is to ask your mother if her breasts experienced major changes during her pregnancy. If your mother did, you will likely experience these same changes as well.

Breastfeeding is another concern that many potential moms have. Physically women with breast implants are able to breastfeed normally. Psychologically, some women may not be able to. Many women who believe they won’t be able to breastfeed will prevent themselves from producing milk. This can happen to women with or without implants.

It is important for breastfeeding mothers to know that the implants are completely safe. No matter if it is a silicone or saline implant, it will not affect your baby’s health.

There is no medical need to wait until after having children to get a breast augmentation if that’s what you desire. It is ultimately the potential mother’s decision to be informed of the small potential of an issue later that she would want to get corrected.

If you have any questions about breast augmentations and pregnancy, you should schedule a consultation with  Las Vegas plastic surgeon Dr. Reynolds.  Dr. Reynolds is a Board Certified plastic surgeon and can effectively answer any questions or concerns you have in regards to the procedure. To schedule a consultation, contact Reynolds Plastic Surgery at 702.410.9800.