Quality of Life Improves After Breast Augmentation

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

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

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.

Choosing the right plastic surgeon

Choosing the right plastic surgeon

Choosing to get plastic surgery is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. There are a lot of factors to consider. The most important factor is choosing the right plastic surgeon. You need to be sure that the plastic surgeon is board certified with sufficient experience. A study about choosing the right plastic surgeon was published in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The most influential factors were recommendations from doctors or friends and surgeon experience.plastic surgeon-facelift

Dr. Nick Marsidi of Bergman Clinics, Bilthoven, the Netherlands stated, “It seems that the greater the experience the more confident patients are for a better result.”

Dr. Marsidi used a market research technique known as conjoint analysis. This was used to assess the factors that affected each patient’s choice in plastic surgeons. The study researched the choices of 150 patients. There was a variety of characteristics that the patients considered. Patients were asked to rank the value of cost, travel time, surgeon experience, clinic size, method of referral and online presentation.

Out of these given, patients rated surgeon experience as the most influential factor. This ranked the highest at 36 percent. It was determined that patients prefer surgeons with at least 10 years of experience. Method of referral ranked as the second most important factor with a rating of 21.5 percent.

Dr. Marsidi stated, “The most preferred method of referral is by the general practitioner, followed by referral by a friend or family member.” Advertisements on TV, radio and magazines were least influential.

Travel time ranked third with a rating of 14 percent. The study revealed that patients prefer driving less than one hour to see a plastic surgeon. The cost of the procedure ranked next at 13 percent. Patients tend to remain price-sensitive. Most are only concerned with getting quality results.

Some patients do find it influential for plastic surgeons to have a strong online presence, although it only had a nine percent rating.  The size of the clinic was least likely to influence a patient’s decision. It only had a six percent rating.

“The most preferred clinic would be with a specialist that has over ten years of experience, is recommended by the general practitioner, costs 15 percent less than average, with a travel time between 0 and 30 min, is a local clinic and has an extensive online presentation,” concluded Dr. Marsidi.

If you are considering undergoing plastic surgery in Las Vegas, Dr. Reynolds may be the right surgeon for you. He completed extensive plastic surgery training at a 6-year integrated plastic surgery program at Penn State. He is a board certified plastic surgeon with a wide array of expertise. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds, contact 702.410.9800.

Voice may alter following rhinoplasty

Voice may alter following a rhinoplasty

Your nose certainly has some effect on the sound of your voice. Think of when you get a cold. Your nose is all stuffed up and your voice sounds entirely different. It may come as no surprise then to hear the results of a new study.

The February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports a study by Dr. Kamran Khazaeni and colleagues of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Irrhinoplasty las vegasan. The research indicated that patients who undergo nose surgery may notice changes in the sound of their voice. The changes in sound were noticeable to the patients and experts who examined their voices. Fortunately, the changes are minor and won’t cause impairments to the patient’s speech. The researchers emphasize the importance for potential patients to understand the risks of nose surgery. This is especially true for people who use their voice professionally.

The researchers studied 27 patients undergoing nose surgery within two hospitals in Iran. The patients consisted of 22 women and five men. Out of these patients, 22 percent use their voice professionally.

The sounds of their voices were studied by recording each patient before and after the surgery. The recordings were heard by trained listeners. While they were listening to the recordings, the trained listeners were not aware if they were listening to the before or after recordings.

The research indicated that the trained listeners were able to pick up on differences in the patient’s voices. The listeners reported an increase in hyponasality of their voices. This is the result of less air moving through the nasal cavity. This sounds slightly like a person with a stuffy nose.

Dr. Khazaeni stated, “This observed increase in hyponasality perception demonstrates that the change in the patients’ voices is perceptible to trained listeners, but does not address whether this change is apparent in everyday life and in routine conversations.”

The hyponasality is not an apparent problem. The likelihood of it affecting the patient’s everyday life is very minimal.

Each patient undergoing rhinoplasty filled out a questionnaire. This was used to determine if the patients noticed a change in their own voices. The questionnaire did reveal a decrease in the quality of voice after the surgery. Patients noticed a worsening in physical and emotional subscales.

The change in frequency and amplitude in certain sounds of the voice was determined by the use of an acoustic analysis. Changes in the patient’s voice can be directly related to the narrowing of the nasal cavity.

The researchers stated, “The changes in surface area of nasal cavity may increase airflow resistance and cause an increase in sound absorption and a decrease in passing sound amplitude.”

If you are considering getting a rhinoplasty in Las Vegas, schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. He can discuss with you the risks of the surgical procedure. Nose surgery is a permanent procedure that should take serious consideration before undergoing. Dr. Reynolds is a board certified plastic surgeon with many years of experience performing rhinoplasty. If you would like to schedule a consultation, contact 702.410.9800.