Birmingham Breast Augmentation: American breast implant data shows more then 300K surgeries in 2009. Picking a quality surgeon.

According to recent data from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), breast implant surgery was the top cosmetic surgery performed in 2009 with close to 312,000 procedures done. Despite it's popularity, the seriousness of these operations should not be minimized. If you're choosing breast augmentation make sure your surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). These are the benchmarks to ensure your surgeon is fully trained and qualified to perform this type of procedure.

There are many fringe organizations (a charitable description) and providers who claim they are as qualified or (shockingly) even more qualified to do breast augmentation surgery then a plastic surgeon. It's both a lie and a disservice to patients to suggest as much, but desperate times lead to desperate measures for providers trying to reinvent themselves as a nebulously described group of "cosmetic surgeons".

Quite frankly, if someone operating on your breast is not fluent or trained in techniques to do complex reconstruction or revision of the tissue they are going to leave a trail of mutilated patients trying to do operations involving breast implants as the skills and judgement for breast augmentation are learned and polished on these more complex cases. In my practice, we do hundreds of complex breast procedures annually ranging from breast augmentation to nipple sparing mastectomies for cancer. Each of these operations is individualized and brings to bear the combination of advanced surgical training and experience. To suggest that someone like the aforementioned "cosmetic surgeon", who thinks they have found a short-cut through long and difficult training, is qualified to do your surgery is wishful thinking.

The best results with cosmetic and other surgery types are when the operation is performed right the first time, while revision and redo surgery is fraught with much more unpredictable results. You owe it to yourself to research the most qualified providers for your care which will be a board certified plastic surgeon.

Rob

FDA to mesotherapy - Put up or shut up!

The FDA last week issued cease and desist orders for a number of clinics offering fat melting "mesotherapy" injections. 
The drugs most regularly used in this process are phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate. Other drugs or products such as vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts are often mixed into the "gumbo", complicating any assessment of safety or efficacy. Phosphatidylcholine is not approved for injection into your body and has never been evaluated for that use in controlled settings. The new warning shot over the bow went out to six U.S clinics:

• Monarch Medspa in King of Prussia, Pa.
• Spa 35 in Boise, Idaho
• Medical Cosmetic Enhancements in Chevy Chase, Md.
• Innovative Directions in Health in Edina, Minn.
• PURE Med Spa in Boca Raton, Fla.
• All About You Med Spa in Madison, Ind

I would strongly advise people considering using these facilities to think again, as their disregard for patient safety with off label experimentation of these injectable concoctions should signal a general disregard for their patients. As alerts to this FDA warning went out on the ambulance chaser network of websites, expect to see ads shortly recruiting clients for lawsuits.

FYI If you are interested in reading about mesotherapy, I've written several entries about it since 2007 which can be seen here.

Rob

Allergan reaches the finish line with FDA breast implant study!

Allergan, the world's largest maker of silicone gel implants, has announced they've reached full enrollment of the silicone breast implant follow up study group by the FDA when the devices were reintroduced for cosmetic use in 2006. This study involved registering patients undergoing breast augmentation going forward so as to better understand outcomes. We'll be watching data group for years going forward on reoperations, hardening, rupture rates, and other parameters.

We were proud to have our patients enroll in this important study since 2006 and have respect for Allergan's role in improving education of both surgeons and patients regarding proper selection and use of these devices.

Dr Rob Oliver Jr.
Plastic Surgery Specialists PC of Birmingham
(205) 298-8660

Birmingham breast augmentation - news from the Atlanta breast symposium

Last weekend was the 2010 Atlanta Breast Symposium, one of the biggest meetings of the year for cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery. A quick summary of highlights

• rumors continue to swirl that form stable "gummy bear" implants will be available in the United States later this year. No one willing to go on the record with a firm date.
• the techniques for breast augmentation using fat grafting are improving quickly in terms of reliability and predictability. The safety & feasibility of these techniques on a large scale are still debated
• "oncoplastic" surgery techniques are advancing at an amazing rate. There are some real exciting things I can offer patients to improve their breast cancer reconstruction surgery.

2010 seems poised to be a very exciting year for breast surgery!

We offer all these advanced techniques and procedures in our practice. If you are in the Birmingham,AL area and wish to set up a consult, call my office at 205-298-8660.

Cheers!

Rob