Considering Breast Augmentation…. Silicone or Saline???

June 9th, 2010

When considering having breast augmentation, there are many factors to consider. Choosing an implant size is a very personal decision that depends on what you are most comfortable with. The surgeon’s goal is to educate the patient so that they are able to make a well informed decision. The two options of implants are silicone gel and saline. The silicone used today is third generation cohesive gel which was FDA approved in November of 2006. After a fourteen year study it was found that there was no correlation between silicone implants and connective tissue disease. The saline or salt water filled implants have been used since the 1990’s. If you were to view photos of women with silicone or saline implants you probably would not be able to distinguish between the two.

The main difference between the two implants is in the “feel” of the implant. The silicone gel implants feel much more like “real” breast tissue then the saline implants. Going behind or in front of the muscle depends on breast shape and tissue coverage. If you have very thin skin and little breast tissue then going behind is usually a better choice. Typically silicone implants are the best choice for women who have very little breast tissue. If you have a “droopy” or sagging breast then in front of the muscle will create more fullness of the breast.

The implant incision site is also an important factor. You can place the implant through the transaxillary (armpit), inframammary (under breast) or periareola (through the areola). A very important factor to consider would be breast feeding. The periareolar incision should be avoided if you wish to breast feed in the future. This can cut into milk ducts and interfere with adequate milk production. Breast feeding is not affected by the implant being in front of or behind the muscle. Pregnancy is another important factor to consider when choosing size. It is hard to determine how pregnancy will affect your breasts. Usually the breasts will increase in size and there after when breast feeding. Most women wish they had gone larger and we usually encourage you to go with the largest volume you are comfortable with.

Size can also be hard to determine. With implants you can never be sure what cup size you will end up with. Everyone carries their implants differently. If you are very petite or narrow you will end up with a larger cup size with a relatively moderate implant volume. If you have a broader chest you can handle a larger volume implant without looking “top heavy”. A good tool for helping you determine what size implant to choose is the rice test. This allows you to play around with different volumes and get a feeling of how you will look with your clothes on. It is not exact but gives you a pretty good indication of size. Putting gel implants in your bra is a terrible representation of what you will look like.

Implants come in low, moderate and high profiles. Your surgeon will do a few measurements of your chest wall and this determines which profile is best for your body. The low profile has the least amount of projection and is widest in diameter. The moderate and high profile implants are narrower in diameter but have a higher projection. Things to consider as a prospective patient would be your physical activities.  The larger the implant the more weighted it will be. It is very important to support your breast 24/7 and is recommended that you even sleep with a shelf bra at night.

It is important to view before and after photos with your plastic surgeon. Not everyone shares the same aesthetic goals. Also, it is important that you have realistic expectations. Breasts come in many shapes and sizes and what you consider to be “pretty” or “desirable” breasts may differ from one person to the next.

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What to Get Mom for Mother’s Day?

May 6th, 2010

Here’s the perfect Mother’s Day gift for moms of all  ages: The Mommy Makeover.

For women who have just given birth or those whose children are older, the Mommy Makeover is a special gift that helps restore and enhance a mother’s natural beauty.

Depending on the need, the Mommy Makeover can include breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck and liposuction, as well as aesthetic treatments such as Botox, Radiesse, Juvederm, Sculptra or laser skin treatments.  The course of treatments is based on an assessment by Dr. Joel Beck and the team at Bay Area Aesthetic Surgery.

Although exercise and dieting following pregnancy are strongly recommended and may lead to weight loss, often the only treatment to restore stretched skin and enhance the appearance of the body is surgical intervention.  Best candidates for the mommy makeover are women done having babies who haven’t breastfed for at least 6 months and most importantly are ready to move forward with surgery.

Because most makeovers involve a series of surgical procedures, whether it be breast augmentation or a tummy tuck, the recovery period may last anywhere from one to six weeks. During this time, Dr. Beck advises his patients to adhere to strict recuperation guidelines. Follow-up visits are generally scheduled five to seven days following a makeover, allowing Dr. Beck and his team to closely monitor each patient’s progress and/or address any side effects or concerns.

This spring, give Mom the gift of looking good.  Call Bay Area Aesthetic Surgery today at 650-570-6066 to find out how you can surprise Mom with a gift she’ll enjoy for years to come!

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Preventive Skin Care from Joel Beck. M.D., F.A.C.S.

April 1st, 2010

How do you keep your skin looking good? By taking the following proactive steps.

1. Always use sunblock. Sun damages skin. UV-B rays penetrate the top layers of skin and are most responsible for sunburns. UV-A rays penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin. Use a sunblock of at least 30 SPF with zinc oxide to make sure it protects against UV-A and UV-B. Apply every two hours or after getting out of the water.  Sunblock washes off and breaks down after application. For more information about sunscreen ratings, visit the Environmental Working Group’s website, http://www.ewg.org/cosmetics/report/sunscreen09/investigation/sunscreenfaqs#34

2. Avoid laying out in the sun or tanning beds.  Spray tans or airbrush tan available at retail outlets provide the glow you’re looking for – without exposing your skin to harmful sunlight to tanning lamps.  The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently put UV tanning beds into its highest cancer risk category — “carcinogenic to humans.”  Tanning salons typically use lamps that emit both UV-A and UV-B radiation. For more information about the dangers of tanning lamps, visit the FDA’s website, http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm186687.htm

3. Apply eye cream regularly.  Moisturizing the area around your eyes can help reduce wrinkles, but it pays to do your research. Eye cream, which comes in day and night formulas, is a cosmetic and therefore not approved by the FDA. When buying eye cream, as well as other anti-aging products, look for ingredients such as retinoids (retinol, retinyl palmitate, retinyl propionate, and others), peptides, vitamin C, niacinamide, caffeine, grape seed extract, marine extract, and other antioxidants.  Also be careful of products manufactured outside the U.S., which may have different standards than products made in the U.S.  For more information about anti-aging, go to WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/skin-care-wrinkles-9/anti-aging-products

4. Use Topical Vitamin C. Vitamin C lotion can help reduce the amount of free radical damage that occurs from sun exposure.  Research shows that topical Vitamin C can improve skin appearance by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, help heal wounds by stabilizing collagen, and protect or reduce the severity of sunburns.  Free radicals can cause tissue damage because they take electrons from your body’s healthy molecules to balance themselves.  Consider not only topical Vitamin C, but also Vitamin C Ester, which can penetrate more deeply into your skin.  For more information about Topical Vitamin C, visit http://www.dermnet.org.nz/treatments/vitamin-c.html

5. Start early with Botox®. Botox® is an FDA-approved injectable treatment that helps smooth away wrinkles around the eyes, brow and frown lines.  It’s best to start using Botox when lines are just beginning to appear. Botox should typically be done every three to six months to maintain the beneficial effect of the treatment.  For more information about Botox® treatments, visit http://health.discovery.com/centers/plasticsurgery/face/botox.html

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Dr. Joel’s Top 5 Beauty Ideas For Looking Younger

March 12th, 2010

With Spring just around the corner, you want to look your best.  So what should you do? Consider Dr. Joel’s top five for looking great:

LATISSE® gives you longer, thicker, and darker lashes – without the hassle of mascara.  LATISSE is an FDA-approved, prescription treatment that combats time’s natural aging process that thins lashes. The key with LATISSE is proper application. See how to apply LATISSE correctly to let your lashes bloom.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple, nonsurgical treatment that can temporarily smooth frown lines between your eyebrows and make you look years younger. The whole procedure takes about 10 minutes and gives you a healthy glow for up four months.  By looking at these before-and-after pictures, you can see why it’s a favorite of our clients.

Radiesse™ is another terrific way to restore the radiance of your face. Radiesse is a non-surgical filler that lasts for about 18 months and minimizes skin folds and marionette lines. Radiesse takes 10 minutes, requires no downtime, and delivers immediate results.   See how good these Radiesse patients look.

Juvederm™ is a new kind of gel treatment that smoothes away facial wrinkles and folds, and lasts six months or longer.  Juvederm™ replaces hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that hydrates skin, but decreases with age.  A Juvederm gel injectible works well because it flows easily into the skin, creating a clean, natural look. These before-and-after pictures tell the story.

SmartLipo is laser-assisted body sculpting procedure that removes excess body fat and is an increasing favorite among our clients. It is a perfect alternative for patients considering liposuction, but are nervous about the procedure. SmartLipo is an ideal treatment for the face, neck, arms, knees, love handles and male breast enlargement. SmartLipo firms the body’s shape, reduces cellulite and tightens sagging skin.

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