Breast Augmentation Portland
Now that you've decided to have breast augmentation surgery, educate yourself on the procedure and and what to expect. Female plastic surgeon in Potland, Oregon, Dr. Kim-Chi Vu provides you with information on your breast augmentation procedure.
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Plastic Surgery Portland, Dr. Kim-Chi Vu, Plastic Surgeon, Portland, OR Now You Can Have Beautiful and Perfectly Proportioned Breasts, Love Your Looks, Experience A Surge In Your Self Confidence And A Huge Boost In Your Self Esteem Has age and gravity combined to cause your breasts to sag in a way that just isn’t acceptable to you any longer?
Or perhaps you feel you were at the end of the line when beautiful, full and proportionate breasts were passed out? Whatever the reason, are you ready for the beautiful breasts you desire and want? A breast augmentation is just what you need. Now you can be beautifully proportionate, have just the right volume and shape and look your best all the time, whether dressed for the Ball or the Beach. Have more confidence than you have in years, feel a surge of self esteem and turn heads where ever you go with a breast augmentation from Dr. Kim-Chi Vu, Plastic Surgeon, Portland, OR. Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure for breast enhancement to restore the natural and esthetic beauty of the breast to achieve harmony between the breast skin envelope, the volume of breast tissue (parenchyma) and the nipple position. During your breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Vu will address all the breast augmentation issues with you. Based upon the breast augmentation examination and breast measurements, you will be provided with the proper information and recommendations about different options for your Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
breast enhancement depending on what your concerns are and what your desires may be. Breast augmentation surgery will enhance breast volume and projection by using breast implants. The implants of choices are saline implants and silicone gel implants, both are approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) in the United States. The breast implants used in breast augmentation can be placed in either a submuscular position or subglandular position. The incision to gain access to create the pocket for the implants can be either along the periareolar, inframmary fold or axillary approach. Consideration in choosing the implant will be influenced by the amount of natural breast tissue you have, your existing breast size, and the breast size you hope to achieve. In addition, your overall body size and height as well as your chest wall dimension will also taken into consideration in choosing an implant to make it more proportional to your body. Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation With Dr. Vu Today By Calling 503.297.8555 or Toll Free 866.297.8522. This is a procedure covered by CosmetAssure. Learn how Dr. Vu protects you from any potential financial burden from complications by visiting our Complications Assurance page.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation – A Quick Glance
Who Is A Breast Augmentation Candidate? • Women who desire larger breasts. • Women with a moderate degree of breast sagging and smaller breasts, whose problem can be solved by enlargement. • Women who have one breast that is noticeably smaller than the other. Intended Breast Augmentation Results • Larger and more shapely breasts. • A more positive self image. Breast Augmentation Procedure Description • The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. • A small incision is made under the breast, around the nipple, or under the arm and a saline implant is inserted under the breast tissue or under the breast tissue and the underlying muscle. Breast Augmentation Recovery and Healing • The patient goes home in an elastic bra. The bra helps hold the breasts in the correct position. • Initial discomfort is controlled with oral medication. • Sutures are usually removed in 7-12 days. • Light activities can be resumed as tolerated. Aerobic activities can be started in about 3 weeks. Other Breast Augmentation Options An additional procedure that would enhance the result is a Mastopexy (breast lift), if the breasts are saggy in addition to being small. Insurance Guidelines This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment.
THE SPECIFIC RISKS AND THE SUITABILITY OF THE BREAST AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE FOR A GIVEN INDIVIDUAL CAN BE DETERMINED ONLY AT THE TIME OF CONSULTATION. ALL SURGICAL PROCEDURES HAVE SOME DEGREE OF RISK. MINOR COMPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT AFFECT THE OUTCOME CAN OCCUR OCCASIONALLY. MAJOR COMPLICATIONS ARE UNUSUAL.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation Potential Risks
No surgeries are performed without risks. Dr. Vu’s goal is to perform the planned procedure, take extra precaution during surgery, and most important of all is to be safe and yet achieve utmost optimal outcomes. Following are some of the potential risks that are commonly discussed about regarding breast augmentation. A. Capsular Contructure Capsular contraction is the most common side effect of breast implants. During surgery, a pocket is created for the implant that is somewhat larger than the implant. A fibrous membrane, called a capsule, then forms around the device. Under ideal circumstances, the pocket maintains its original dimensions and the implant stays inside, remaining soft and natural. For reasons that appear to relate to the individual characteristics of the patient, however, the scar capsule shrinks in some women and squeezes the implant, resulting in various degrees of firmness. This contraction can occur soon after surgery or many years later and can appear in one or both breasts. Some theories suggest that a low-grade infection may “trigger” some contraction. Capsular contraction is not a health risk, but it can detract from the quality of the result and cause discomfort, pain, or distortion of the breast contour. When contraction of the capsule occurs, correction may be possible, depending on the degree to which it has progressed. Treatment may be as easy as massages to severe circumstances where surgery is required for removal of the capsular tissues. B. Hematoma Some postoperative bleeding into the pocket containing the breast implant occurs in 2-3% of women. If the bleeding has been minimal, the body will absorb it with time. However, marked swelling resulting in expanding hematoma may require surgery for evacuation of the hematoma, which rarely occurs. C. Infection Postoperative infection is uncommon, but possible. We reduce this to a minimum by giving intravenous antibiotics during surgery and oral antibiotics after surgery. Most infections are mild and resolve without incident. If a serious infection should develop, the implant will probably need to be removed. D. Decreased/Loss Of Skin Or Nipple Sensation Nerves that supply skin or nipple sensation may be cut or damaged while the pocket or space for the implant is being created. Although this does not happen routinely, it can happen no matter how carefully the surgery is done. If sensory loss occurs, the nerves slowly recover within 1-2 years in about 85% of cases.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
E. Wrinkling Occasionally, the edge of the implant can be felt. These problems are usually mild and require no treatment. Experience has shown that the wrinkles usually improve with time. The quality of your skin and the amount of your breast tissues may also contribute to postoperative wrinkling. F. Asymmetry If your breasts had slightly different shapes before surgery, they may remain slightly different after surgery. Rarely, in spite of careful attention to detail, the dissected pockets may end up slightly different in shape or height. If this is not noted while you are in surgery, and poses a problem after healing, you may later need a small adjustment procedure. G. Deflation If, for any reason, the valve or implant covering fails, the saline will leak and be excreted by your body. This causes no medical harm, but requires replacement of the implant in a secondary procedure. The rate of saline-implant leakage is quoted at about 1-2% over many years. H. Breast Feeding Many women with breast implants have nursed their babies successfully. Nevertheless, any breast surgery can theoretically interfere with your ability to breast feed. I. Breast Cancer There is no evidence linking saline or silicone gel implants and breast cancer. The only clinical studies available show that the prevalence of breast cancer in women with implants is the same or even slightly lower than that in women without implants! Furthermore, two studies have shown, to date, that the stage of breast cancer detection in women with implants appears to be identical to that found in the overall population. J. Mammography You should tell the technician that you have implants. Special techniques will be used and extra views may be needed in order to see as much of the breast tissue as possible. Even under the most ideal circumstances, some breast tissue will remain unseen, and a suspicious lesion may be missed. Because the breast is compressed during mammography, it is possible, but rare for an implant to rupture. View Breast Augmentation Photos.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
K. Asymmetry It is quite common for the two breasts to heal differently. One may swell more, one may feel more uncomfortable, or the shapes may differ initially. After complete healing, they should look remarkably similar and natural. L: Healing of Sensory Nerves Regeneration of the sensory nerves is also accompanied by tingling, burning, or shooting pains, which will disappear with time and are nothing to be alarmed about. As the nerves regenerate, the nipples commonly become hypersensitive. This will subside with time. You may find that gentle massaging helps or desensitization exercises will also help. M: Sloshing You may hear and feel “sloshing” in your breast after surgery. This is not the implant! It is the air that is trapped in the space around the implant and the natural fluid that accumulates after an operation. It will all be absorbed by the body within a few weeks. N: Immune Disorder Some women have claimed that silicone gel prostheses have contributed to or stimulated connective tissue disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosis, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Other complaints involving the nervous system, skin and immune systems have been reported. After extensive studies and data collections from two manufacturing implant companies, Mentor and Inamed, reports claiming a causal relationship between silicone gel and such symptoms have been published in the medical literature and widely reported in the press. To the present time, no such relationship has been established scientifically to claim a causal relationship between silicone gel and symptoms published. The FDA as of 2007, have approved Gel implants to be available for primary breast augmentation, as well as for mastopexy with augmentation and breast reconsctructions. The saline (salt water) used to fill saline implants is harmless and is absorbed from the body should there is leakage of the implants. O: Subpectoral Placement Of Implants (Under The Muscle) If you and Dr. Vu have decided to place the implants under the pectoralis muscle, a unique set of risks apply. During contraction of the muscle, the implants will temporarily be flattened and/or pulled upward. Occasionally, the implants may “ride” higher than their original position because of the muscular contraction. Implants were originally placed under the muscle to reduce the frequency of capsular contraction as well as providing additional support and coverage of the implants, especially in thin women or women with suboptimal amount of tissue parenchyma to begin with. Placing the implants under the muscle may reduce visible wrinkling.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation Postoperative Care
Special attentions are placed during your postoperative period. My goal is to make sure that you are comfortable after you leave the surgery center, and have proper instructions how to take care of yourself in order for you to have a pleasant surgical experience. A. Dressings During your postoperative period, you will be provided with a bra strap to wear. The bra strap will help keep the implants from rising too high. In addition, we will have you start doing breast exercises the following day. This will help keep the implants mobile and soft. Approximately after about one to two weeks, proper fitting bra will be recommended, to help maintain the shape of your new breasts. The sutures will be removed approximately five days postoperatively. During the first week, attempt to sleep on your back instead of on your side. We want your implants to stay in a perfect position during the initial healing process. If you cannot sleep on your back, sleep in another comfortable position. B. Bathing We recommend sponge baths for the first couple of days. You may shower about postoperative day three. We recommend that the steristrips be left alone during shower. Keep the surgical site clean and dry. Dr. Vu will remove the sutures about day five postoperatively. C. Sun Exposure Scars take at least one year to fade completely. During this time, you must protect them from the sun. Even through a bathing suit, a good deal of sunlight can reach the skin and cause damage. Wear a sunscreen with a skin-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 at all times when in the sunshine. Be extremely careful if areas of your breast skin have reduced sensitivity. D. Driving You may drive when driving does not cause pain. This usually occurs in 4-6 days if you have a car with power steering. E. Exercises You may take gentle walks within a few days. Do not return to aerobic exercise for 3 weeks. Return to unrestricted activities take approximately six weeks. View Breast Augmentation Photos. Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation With Dr. Vu Today By Calling 503.297.8555 or Toll Free 866.297.8522.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
Or perhaps you feel you were at the end of the line when beautiful, full and proportionate breasts were passed out? Whatever the reason, are you ready for the beautiful breasts you desire and want? A breast augmentation is just what you need. Now you can be beautifully proportionate, have just the right volume and shape and look your best all the time, whether dressed for the Ball or the Beach. Have more confidence than you have in years, feel a surge of self esteem and turn heads where ever you go with a breast augmentation from Dr. Kim-Chi Vu, Plastic Surgeon, Portland, OR. Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure for breast enhancement to restore the natural and esthetic beauty of the breast to achieve harmony between the breast skin envelope, the volume of breast tissue (parenchyma) and the nipple position. During your breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Vu will address all the breast augmentation issues with you. Based upon the breast augmentation examination and breast measurements, you will be provided with the proper information and recommendations about different options for your Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
breast enhancement depending on what your concerns are and what your desires may be. Breast augmentation surgery will enhance breast volume and projection by using breast implants. The implants of choices are saline implants and silicone gel implants, both are approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) in the United States. The breast implants used in breast augmentation can be placed in either a submuscular position or subglandular position. The incision to gain access to create the pocket for the implants can be either along the periareolar, inframmary fold or axillary approach. Consideration in choosing the implant will be influenced by the amount of natural breast tissue you have, your existing breast size, and the breast size you hope to achieve. In addition, your overall body size and height as well as your chest wall dimension will also taken into consideration in choosing an implant to make it more proportional to your body. Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation With Dr. Vu Today By Calling 503.297.8555 or Toll Free 866.297.8522. This is a procedure covered by CosmetAssure. Learn how Dr. Vu protects you from any potential financial burden from complications by visiting our Complications Assurance page.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation – A Quick Glance
Who Is A Breast Augmentation Candidate? • Women who desire larger breasts. • Women with a moderate degree of breast sagging and smaller breasts, whose problem can be solved by enlargement. • Women who have one breast that is noticeably smaller than the other. Intended Breast Augmentation Results • Larger and more shapely breasts. • A more positive self image. Breast Augmentation Procedure Description • The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. • A small incision is made under the breast, around the nipple, or under the arm and a saline implant is inserted under the breast tissue or under the breast tissue and the underlying muscle. Breast Augmentation Recovery and Healing • The patient goes home in an elastic bra. The bra helps hold the breasts in the correct position. • Initial discomfort is controlled with oral medication. • Sutures are usually removed in 7-12 days. • Light activities can be resumed as tolerated. Aerobic activities can be started in about 3 weeks. Other Breast Augmentation Options An additional procedure that would enhance the result is a Mastopexy (breast lift), if the breasts are saggy in addition to being small. Insurance Guidelines This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment.
THE SPECIFIC RISKS AND THE SUITABILITY OF THE BREAST AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE FOR A GIVEN INDIVIDUAL CAN BE DETERMINED ONLY AT THE TIME OF CONSULTATION. ALL SURGICAL PROCEDURES HAVE SOME DEGREE OF RISK. MINOR COMPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT AFFECT THE OUTCOME CAN OCCUR OCCASIONALLY. MAJOR COMPLICATIONS ARE UNUSUAL.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation Potential Risks
No surgeries are performed without risks. Dr. Vu’s goal is to perform the planned procedure, take extra precaution during surgery, and most important of all is to be safe and yet achieve utmost optimal outcomes. Following are some of the potential risks that are commonly discussed about regarding breast augmentation. A. Capsular Contructure Capsular contraction is the most common side effect of breast implants. During surgery, a pocket is created for the implant that is somewhat larger than the implant. A fibrous membrane, called a capsule, then forms around the device. Under ideal circumstances, the pocket maintains its original dimensions and the implant stays inside, remaining soft and natural. For reasons that appear to relate to the individual characteristics of the patient, however, the scar capsule shrinks in some women and squeezes the implant, resulting in various degrees of firmness. This contraction can occur soon after surgery or many years later and can appear in one or both breasts. Some theories suggest that a low-grade infection may “trigger” some contraction. Capsular contraction is not a health risk, but it can detract from the quality of the result and cause discomfort, pain, or distortion of the breast contour. When contraction of the capsule occurs, correction may be possible, depending on the degree to which it has progressed. Treatment may be as easy as massages to severe circumstances where surgery is required for removal of the capsular tissues. B. Hematoma Some postoperative bleeding into the pocket containing the breast implant occurs in 2-3% of women. If the bleeding has been minimal, the body will absorb it with time. However, marked swelling resulting in expanding hematoma may require surgery for evacuation of the hematoma, which rarely occurs. C. Infection Postoperative infection is uncommon, but possible. We reduce this to a minimum by giving intravenous antibiotics during surgery and oral antibiotics after surgery. Most infections are mild and resolve without incident. If a serious infection should develop, the implant will probably need to be removed. D. Decreased/Loss Of Skin Or Nipple Sensation Nerves that supply skin or nipple sensation may be cut or damaged while the pocket or space for the implant is being created. Although this does not happen routinely, it can happen no matter how carefully the surgery is done. If sensory loss occurs, the nerves slowly recover within 1-2 years in about 85% of cases.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
E. Wrinkling Occasionally, the edge of the implant can be felt. These problems are usually mild and require no treatment. Experience has shown that the wrinkles usually improve with time. The quality of your skin and the amount of your breast tissues may also contribute to postoperative wrinkling. F. Asymmetry If your breasts had slightly different shapes before surgery, they may remain slightly different after surgery. Rarely, in spite of careful attention to detail, the dissected pockets may end up slightly different in shape or height. If this is not noted while you are in surgery, and poses a problem after healing, you may later need a small adjustment procedure. G. Deflation If, for any reason, the valve or implant covering fails, the saline will leak and be excreted by your body. This causes no medical harm, but requires replacement of the implant in a secondary procedure. The rate of saline-implant leakage is quoted at about 1-2% over many years. H. Breast Feeding Many women with breast implants have nursed their babies successfully. Nevertheless, any breast surgery can theoretically interfere with your ability to breast feed. I. Breast Cancer There is no evidence linking saline or silicone gel implants and breast cancer. The only clinical studies available show that the prevalence of breast cancer in women with implants is the same or even slightly lower than that in women without implants! Furthermore, two studies have shown, to date, that the stage of breast cancer detection in women with implants appears to be identical to that found in the overall population. J. Mammography You should tell the technician that you have implants. Special techniques will be used and extra views may be needed in order to see as much of the breast tissue as possible. Even under the most ideal circumstances, some breast tissue will remain unseen, and a suspicious lesion may be missed. Because the breast is compressed during mammography, it is possible, but rare for an implant to rupture. View Breast Augmentation Photos.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
K. Asymmetry It is quite common for the two breasts to heal differently. One may swell more, one may feel more uncomfortable, or the shapes may differ initially. After complete healing, they should look remarkably similar and natural. L: Healing of Sensory Nerves Regeneration of the sensory nerves is also accompanied by tingling, burning, or shooting pains, which will disappear with time and are nothing to be alarmed about. As the nerves regenerate, the nipples commonly become hypersensitive. This will subside with time. You may find that gentle massaging helps or desensitization exercises will also help. M: Sloshing You may hear and feel “sloshing” in your breast after surgery. This is not the implant! It is the air that is trapped in the space around the implant and the natural fluid that accumulates after an operation. It will all be absorbed by the body within a few weeks. N: Immune Disorder Some women have claimed that silicone gel prostheses have contributed to or stimulated connective tissue disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosis, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis etc. Other complaints involving the nervous system, skin and immune systems have been reported. After extensive studies and data collections from two manufacturing implant companies, Mentor and Inamed, reports claiming a causal relationship between silicone gel and such symptoms have been published in the medical literature and widely reported in the press. To the present time, no such relationship has been established scientifically to claim a causal relationship between silicone gel and symptoms published. The FDA as of 2007, have approved Gel implants to be available for primary breast augmentation, as well as for mastopexy with augmentation and breast reconsctructions. The saline (salt water) used to fill saline implants is harmless and is absorbed from the body should there is leakage of the implants. O: Subpectoral Placement Of Implants (Under The Muscle) If you and Dr. Vu have decided to place the implants under the pectoralis muscle, a unique set of risks apply. During contraction of the muscle, the implants will temporarily be flattened and/or pulled upward. Occasionally, the implants may “ride” higher than their original position because of the muscular contraction. Implants were originally placed under the muscle to reduce the frequency of capsular contraction as well as providing additional support and coverage of the implants, especially in thin women or women with suboptimal amount of tissue parenchyma to begin with. Placing the implants under the muscle may reduce visible wrinkling.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
Breast Augmentation Postoperative Care
Special attentions are placed during your postoperative period. My goal is to make sure that you are comfortable after you leave the surgery center, and have proper instructions how to take care of yourself in order for you to have a pleasant surgical experience. A. Dressings During your postoperative period, you will be provided with a bra strap to wear. The bra strap will help keep the implants from rising too high. In addition, we will have you start doing breast exercises the following day. This will help keep the implants mobile and soft. Approximately after about one to two weeks, proper fitting bra will be recommended, to help maintain the shape of your new breasts. The sutures will be removed approximately five days postoperatively. During the first week, attempt to sleep on your back instead of on your side. We want your implants to stay in a perfect position during the initial healing process. If you cannot sleep on your back, sleep in another comfortable position. B. Bathing We recommend sponge baths for the first couple of days. You may shower about postoperative day three. We recommend that the steristrips be left alone during shower. Keep the surgical site clean and dry. Dr. Vu will remove the sutures about day five postoperatively. C. Sun Exposure Scars take at least one year to fade completely. During this time, you must protect them from the sun. Even through a bathing suit, a good deal of sunlight can reach the skin and cause damage. Wear a sunscreen with a skin-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 at all times when in the sunshine. Be extremely careful if areas of your breast skin have reduced sensitivity. D. Driving You may drive when driving does not cause pain. This usually occurs in 4-6 days if you have a car with power steering. E. Exercises You may take gentle walks within a few days. Do not return to aerobic exercise for 3 weeks. Return to unrestricted activities take approximately six weeks. View Breast Augmentation Photos. Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation With Dr. Vu Today By Calling 503.297.8555 or Toll Free 866.297.8522.
Plastic Surgery Portland - Breast Augmentation
