Pure Aesthetics

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:14:59 +0000

The youthful shape and firmness of your breasts may be adversely affected by pregnancy, breast-feeding, and weight fluctuations. If your skin loses its elasticity, your breasts can sag (“breast ptosis”).

For women who are dissatisfied with loose skin and sagging of their breasts, a breast lift procedure may help to restore firmer, higher, more youthful breasts.

Breast lift (“mastopexy”) is a surgical procedure to restore shape and position of a woman’s breast, particularly after pregnancy, breast-feeding, and weight loss. If you have a reasonable amount of your own breast tissue and are happy with your bra size, then this is an ideal operation to correct these problems. If, however, your breasts have “deflated” after breast feeding, or you would prefer larger breasts, then a breast augmentation in combination with a breast lift procedure (“augmentation mastopexy”) may be the best way to achieve the desired results.

In a breast lift, excess skin is removed and tightened. The areola is re-positioned higher on the breast, as well as re-shaped or re-sized. The remaining skin is then closed around the areola, creating perkier, firmer and more youthful looking breasts. Depending on how much excess skin there is, the scars range from a half circle at the border of the upper areola, to full circular around the areola, then possibly with the addition of a vertical scar from the bottom of the areola to the lower level of the breast, and in the most severe cases, also a scar along the underside of the breast in the fold where the bra sits.

If your breasts are small or have lost volume, breast implants inserted in conjunction with mastopexy can increase both their firmness and their size. This procedure is called “augmentation mastopexy”. If an implant is used as well, it is placed either beneath the breast or beneath the chest muscle, through the planned breast lift scars.

Breast lift surgery is usually done as either day surgery or with a single night hospital stay. The surgery is done under general anaesthetic and takes between 1 and 3 hours. Drains are sometimes used for a brief period. Gauze and bandages will be placed and a compression bra worn to keep swelling down and to help support you while you recover.

Improve the Appearance of Your Breasts With Breast Augmentation

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:57:37 +0000

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to enhance the shape or size of a woman’s breasts using breast implants, to improve appearance of the breasts, balance a woman’s symmetry and proportions and improve self-image and confidence in their appearance, before or following pregnancy. Breast augmentation can make smaller breasts larger, balance breasts that are asymmetrical, or restore fullness that has diminished with age, pregnancy or weight loss. Breast implants can also be used for reconstructive purposes for developmental breast disorders or after breast cancer surgery.

Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed procedures in Australia. Breast implants enhance the size and shape of the breast by adding firmness and fullness. By individualising the procedure to each individual, and by careful selection of the appropriate implant, specific deficiencies and concerns can be addressed. There is no one implant that is best for all women. Dr Merten tailors the surgical choices to give the best possible result.

What is the difference between a Plastic Surgeon and a “Cosmetic” Surgeon?

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:23:10 +0000

Many patients do not know that in Australia, any doctor may perform surgery without being trained in surgery and not holding specialist recognition as a surgeon. This means someone not trained in Plastic Surgery could be performing your surgery. You need to ask specifically if your “surgeon” is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (“F.R.A.C.S”). This is the only legally recognised accreditation for Australian surgeons. Other groups, such as the “Australian College of Cosmetic Surgeons” try to appear as though they are a valid specialist group. They are not, and do not have recognition as a specialist group by the Australian Medical Council. There is, in fact, no such thing as a “cosmetic surgeon”. Most doctors using this title are not specialist surgeons and have not undergone specialist surgical training.

Check your “surgeon’s” qualifications; Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons can be verified at: http://www.surgeons.org

Next, you should confirm your surgeon has undertaken formal training in Plastic Surgery, which is a 5 year training program and is highly selective to ensure only the best candidates are accepted into this training program. This training program is hands-on training, under direct supervision of senior surgeons, and despite what other groups erroneously claim, includes training in cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, as well as major reconstructive surgery covering the entire body.

Most plastic surgeons in Australia are members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Membership of this organisation can be confirmed on their website: www.plasticsurgery.org.au. If your surgeon is not a member, you should ask why not.

Finally, you should confirm your plastic surgeon is experienced in your particular procedure. They should be able to show you a wide range of photos of their own work, with patients similar to you.

By choosing an Australian qualified Plastic Surgeon, you can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training in plastic surgery in a program accredited by the Australian Medical Council and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.

Breast implant costs and combining several surgeries in one visit.

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:40:31 +0000

QUESTION: What costs are involved for the anatomical gel saline filled breast implant? And how much for the round? Is it possible to do a tummy tuck and with the two combined, and do doctor’s do deals on these?

DR STEVE MERTEN SAYS:
Costs for breast augmentation range from about $9000 to $10 500. The lower range generally are for round implants and the higher for anatomical. It is the cost of the implants that varies, not the doctors’ fees. Anatomical implants are up to twice as much as round implants, although different brands vary somewhat. I prefer using gel implants, not saline filled implants.

It is certainly possible to do both breast augmentation and tummy tuck at the same time, and I do this combination frequently. Tummy tuck, or “abdominoplasty” has a Medicare Item number, so there are rebates for this surgery, and if you have health insurance, your hospital fees may also be covered. When we are doing combinations of procedures, there is usually some cost benefit because of time savings in these settings.

I’m considering a tummy tuck, do I need to lose weight?

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:05:13 +0000

QUESTION: In the last 5 years I’ve had 3 caesareans, lost 40kg and as a result have some major stomach sag with loads of excess flab, I have been considering a tummy tuck but am unsure of how much more weight I need to lose to make a good result. At the moment I am 85kg, how much more should I lose before I consider the surgery?

DR STEVE MERTEN SAYS:
This surgery is ideally done when you are at, or close to, your ideal weight. Having said this, however, I understand how difficult it can be to exercise properly when you have a lot of loose skin and stretched muscles from the pregnancies, so I don’t exclude patients from having the surgery who aren’t at this point. Probably more important is not smoking and being in good general health.