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I would like to get breast implants but I have a family history of breast cancer.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants on October 5th

Question: I would like to get breast implants but I have a family history of breast cancer. Would this mean I am not a good candidate?

Answer: Not at all. Getting breast implants does not increase your chances of getting breast cancer. In our Practice, the implants are placed under the muscle and this does not interfere down road with mammograms since there are techniques that are available to separate the breast tissue from the implant so that it can be imaged on a mammogram.

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I am 25 and one of my breasts is noticeably smaller than the other.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants on October 5th

Question: I am 25 and one of my breasts is noticeably smaller than the other. Can I just get one implant? Should I wait until I am older to have a procedure like this?

Answer: If you are 25 years old and your weight is stable, then you can safely proceed with a breast augmentation procedure. If only one of your breasts is smaller and you are very happy with the size and shape of the other one, then yes you can get one implant to match, but usually it is necessary to do a bilateral procedure even if two very different size implants are used in order to get symmetry.

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I have an "A" cup and would like to have an implant.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants on October 5th

Question: I have an "A" cup and would like to have an implant. I am still deciding which type of implant to have. Which is implant is most popular now, the saline or the silicone? What is the main advantage and main disadvantage of each type of implant?

Answer: The more popular implant today is the silicone implant. About 80% of patients in my practice come in requesting silicone implants. The main difference between the two is how they feel. The saline implant will be slightly more firm and more palpable. The silicone implant does have a much more soft and natural feel and that is the main difference between the two.

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I have been flat chested for too many years.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation on October 4th

Question: I have been flat chested for too many years. I am now 53 years old and back on the dating scene. I think men are more attached to women who have larger breasts. Is this a good enough reason to have breast implants? Will a man be able to tell that I have had one?

Answer: Well, I always tell patients that the best reason to get a breast augmentation is if you, yourself, desire to have a breast augmentation. It is a very personal decision but patients who have done it for other people have usually been very unhappy and dissatisfied after they have had the procedure. A breast augmentation done correctly means that the patient will have a very natural look and it should not be readily obvious that the patient had a breast augmentation.

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I am on a program to lose upwards of 75 pounds of extra body weight.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction on October 3rd

Question: I am on a program to lose upwards of 75 pounds of extra body weight. I am concerned by breasts will sag and lose elasticity after the weight loss. To avoid this, should I get a breast reduction surgery before I begin losing weight?

Answer: Absolutely not. If you get a breast reduction before losing the weight and then go ahead and lose 75 pounds or more, the breasts will be completely deflated again after surgery and may even require additional surgery for revision. It is always preferable to lose the weight first and then get surgery on the breasts performed once you are closer to your goal weight.

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I have been thinking about breast reduction surgery just because it is so hard to find clothes.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction on October 3rd

Question: I have been thinking about breast reduction surgery just because it is so hard to find clothes. What actually happens during the procedure? Is it like liposuction for breasts?

Answer: It is not at all like liposuction for breasts because the breast tissue is actually removed during the procedure. The excess breast tissue is removed but sufficient breast tissue is left so that the breast can be shaped and sculpted into a pleasing shape. The breast tissue is then lifted and resuspended so that it is in the proper position and shaped like a much more natural looking breast. The excess breast tissue is then sent off to Pathology where it is examined to make sure to weigh the specimen and also to make sure there is no evidence of any hidden breast cancer.

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What is the difference between silicone and saline implants?

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants on October 2nd

Question: What is the difference between silicone and saline implants? Can you speak about different cases in which each implant was specifically chosen?

Answer: The main difference between silicone and saline implants is what is contained within the shell. The shell of both implants is made out of silicone. Of course, in the saline implant there is saline water and in the silicone implant it is filled with a silicone gel. Nowadays these silicone implants have a cohesive gel. They are also called gummy bear implants which mean that if the implant is cut in half the gel does not leak out. The main difference from a cosmetic point of view is how the implants feel. The implants will have the same shape and the same size, the same overall look but the feel is very different. Both implants can be used safely. However, in patients who have very little breast tissue to begin with, saline implants can be very palpable and may cause some rippling and therefore in those specific cases a silicone implant may be a better choice. Also, in patients who are very active in activities such as Pilates or Yoga, a silicone implant is much softer and may interfere less with these types of activities.

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I am getting breast implants and was wondering if the implant can be damaged afterward if you fall or get into an accident.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants on October 2nd

Question: I am getting breast implants and was wondering if the implant can be damaged afterward if you fall or get into an accident.

Answer: The implants are very sturdy. A typical fall or activities of normal daily living would not damage or rupture the implants. There have been some cases of auto accidents or severe trauma or cases of airbags deploying that have ruptured implants. In the case of a saline implant, the implant would rupture, the saline would leak out. This is no danger to the patient but the breast would go flat. Compared to a silicone implant, if the shell were ruptured, the breast would not go flat since the gel would not leak out and the only way to know if there was a rupture would be to get an MRI.

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I am interested in exchanging my implants for a smaller size or having them removed all together.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants on October 2nd

Question: I am interested in exchanging my implants for a smaller size or having them removed all together. I feel I look too top heavy. My surgeon has advised against this and says the appearance afterward would not be satisfactory so I am wondering if I could have a minor breast lift performed at the same time to improve the appearance and what exactly would a minor lift entail?

Answer: If you remove breast implants completely or change them for much smaller sizes, then there would be skin laxity and extra loose skin because the skin envelop will be larger than the implant that is currently in place. A breast lift can be performed which would involve sculpting and shaping the existing breast tissue to sculpt it and reposition it over the implant. These procedures combined are done very frequently at the same time.

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My breasts are about two cup sizes different.

Posted by Dr. Alain Polynice in Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction on October 1st

Question: My breasts are about two cup sizes different. Is it possible to get a breast reduction in just the larger breast? Will health insurance cover this?

Answer: If the breast is significantly larger and causing back pain or symptoms of bra strap digging into the shoulders or rashes under the breasts, then these are medical indications for breast reduction and should be covered by your insurance company. As always, predetermination and preauthorization will be obtained by your team here at the office prior to proceeding with surgery.

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