3 Steps to Take if You Suspect You Have Breast Implant Illness
Breast augmentation with breast implants is still one of the most popular plastic surgeries and has a low risk of complications. However, a small number of patients may experience breast implant illness (BII). While BII is not a formal diagnosis, women experience many concerning symptoms seemingly related to their breast implants that improve when they are removed (breast explant). Researchers are investigating these symptoms, which may be debilitating and encompass over 100 potential issues ranging from cognitive impairment to musculoskeletal and system problems.
Dr. David Rankin is a breast implant removal expert renowned for his breast explant specialty. He offers breast explant surgery at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, Fla.
If you suspect your symptoms are linked to breast implant illness, there are a few steps you can take toward restoring your quality of life.
1. Schedule a Consultation with a Breast Explant Surgeon to Discuss Your Symptoms
If you develop unexplained symptoms that may stem from your breast implants, you need to discuss this possibility with a plastic surgeon specializing in breast implant illness, such as Dr. Rankin. During your consultation, he will discuss your health concerns and explore the potential causes, including breast implants.
Dr. Rankin can help narrow down the cause of your symptoms and make a plan to resolve these issues. In some women, the implants may prove to be the issue and require breast explant surgery. Other women may discover they have an undiagnosed medical condition with similar symptoms to BII.
2. Consider Other Causes
Breast implant illness symptoms can be associated with other medical conditions, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, menopause, and hypothyroidism. BII may develop shortly after breast augmentation or years later. Women who experience BII symptoms years or decades after getting breast implants may face more challenges in determining the cause of their health concerns.
A BII diagnosis may involve seeing various specialists to rule out other conditions. You may need to see a rheumatologist, endocrinologist, dermatologist, or neurologist. If breast implants are the likely culprit, breast explant may be recommended.
3. Breast Explant Surgery to Improve Breast Implant Illness Symptoms
Breast implant removal may resolve breast implant illness symptoms for some women. The procedure removes silicone or saline breast implants and may remove some or all surrounding scar tissue or scar capsule. The breast appearance will change, and some patients may wish to address a deflated breast appearance with fat grafting after breast explant. Transferring fat to the breasts from a donor location, such as the abdomen or thighs, can restore some volume. However, the breasts will not be as full as they were with breast implants.
Researchers are still investigating breast implant illness and following breast augmentation patients for more than 10 years to find definitive data and answers for patients and providers. BII can be frustrating because so little is known about the condition, but our expert breast surgeons can help you investigate your symptoms and discuss treatment options.
If you suspect breast implant illness, schedule a consultation at Aqua Plastic Surgery with Dr. Rankin. Our plastic surgeon offers this procedure in Jupiter, Fla.
5 Reasons Why Women Remove Their Breast Implants
Breast implants can balance your overall body shape and figure. However, some women experience complications, unexplained symptoms, or are unhappy with their results. These women may remove their breast implants with breast explant. Dr. David Rankin is a renowned breast surgeon specializing in breast explant who can expertly remove your breast implants and may increase breast volume naturally with fat grafting at Aqua Plastic Surgery.
1. Breast Implant Illness
Breast implant illness refers to a collection of symptoms that develop in people who have breast implants. There are more than 50 symptoms reported by women with breast implant illness that may affect their ability to think or focus and cause physical and psychological pain. Doctors theorize breast implant illness happens when there's an autoimmune or inflammatory reaction to parts of the breast implant. Breast implant removal is the only treatment option.
2. Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture is a breast implant complication that happens when the scar tissue capsule surrounding the breast implant stiffens or hardens and tightens around the implant. Patients may experience pain, and the breast may appear distorted or feel rock-hard. Capsular contracture requires breast implant removal or replacement.
3. Implant Rupture
Women with saline breast implants will see a visible change in their breasts if an implant ruptures or leaks. The body absorbs the saline solution, and the affected breast is noticeably smaller. Women with silicone breast implants won't notice a difference, which is why regular MRIs are necessary to visualize the implant and surrounding breast tissue. Implant ruptures require breast implant removal. Some women may wish to replace the implant or remove both implants and have natural breast augmentation with fat grafting.
4. No Longer Satisfied with Results
Decades ago, excessively large breast implants were popular. Women with overly large breast implants can suffer from neck, back, and shoulder pain because the larger breasts alter their center of gravity and put more force on the spine. These are the same issues women with naturally large busts experience. Large implants may limit activities, such as jogging and other exercises. Women who had breast augmentation years ago may wish to remove their breast implants now that they're older because they feel the implants no longer reflect their cosmetic goals.
5. An End to Maintenance Procedures
Breast implants are not lifetime medical devices; they need to be replaced every 10 to 20 years, and the risk of implant rupture increases the longer the implant is in the body. While many women keep their implants throughout their lives, such as women who have the procedure to address asymmetrical breasts, others may not want to continue these maintenance procedures as they age and have the implants removed.
Schedule a Breast Explant Consultation at Aqua Plastic Surgery
If you're interested in breast implant removal, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation with our experienced plastic surgeons and breast explant specialists. Contact our Florida office in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830.
The Benefits of Liposuction to Enhance Your Beach Body Shape
Many men and women feel vulnerable and self-conscious in swimwear. Bathing suits are revealing and may accentuate your troublesome areas where fat cells resist diet and exercise. When you are uncomfortable in a bathing suit, it’s hard to enjoy the beach. Liposuction with our experienced plastic surgeons is a safe, effective procedure that can improve your appearance. Let Aqua Plastic Surgery help build your confidence in your beach body this summer!
Stubborn fat is often out of your control due to your genetics, age, or sex. The best workout routine and restrictive diet may make little to no difference in areas such as your buttocks, thighs, abdomen, upper arms, and thighs. Liposuction eradicates unwanted fat cells for a slimmer, more proportionate body shape.
Benefits of Liposuction
Liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgeries in the United States and is performed hundreds of thousands of times annually. The procedure is an effective solution to stubborn fat and provides a smoother body contour, which results better-fitting clothing and swimwear. Liposuction is an outpatient procedure that relies on tiny incisions for minimal scarring. Patients are typically back on their feet within the first week of recovery.
The fat removed via liposuction is gone permanently. While the remaining fat cells can expand, future weight gain will be more proportionate. Fat removal with liposuction may improve your health by reducing blood fat levels and inflammatory cells and providing better mobility for a healthier and more active lifestyle. Liposuction tends to increase self-esteem, making patients more comfortable in their skin.
Liposuction at Aqua Plastic Surgery
Our plastic surgeons have extensive experience with liposuction with training in several techniques, such as SmartLipo, power-assisted liposuction, ultrasound liposuction, and suction-assisted liposuction. We have the most profound and successful results with tumescent liposuction, which involves injecting tumescent fluid with lidocaine into the treated area. The fluid breaks up fat calls and constricts blood vessels, reducing post-operative bruising and discomfort. A thin cannula is inserted through tiny incisions to suction fat cells out of the body. Liposuction can remove fat from one or several body areas and is often used with tummy tucks, mommy makeovers, thigh lifts, and other procedures to remove loose skin tissue.
If you’re interested in liposuction, schedule a consultation at Aqua Plastic Surgery. Use our contact form to schedule a consultation with our plastic surgeons, or call our Jupiter, FL, office at (561) 776-2830.
How to Choose Between Breast Implants and Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation comes with more options than ever before, with saline, silicone, and “gummy bear” silicone implants or fat grafting for natural enhancement.
While traditional breast augmentation uses implants to increase the size of and elevate the breasts, fat grafting uses fat cells harvested from a stubborn area.
There are benefits and drawbacks to each method. The right breast augmentation method for you depends on your anatomy, breast tissue, and cosmetic goals. Our surgeon can determine if breast implants or fat grafting can deliver your desired bust during your consultation at Aqua Plastic Surgery.
Desired Breast Size
Women may choose breast implants because implants offer reliable results; they won’t decrease in size unless there is a complication, such as a rupture. Breast augmentation with fat grafting is less predictable in this sense, because some of the fat transferred to the breasts will be reabsorbed by the body.
Saline and silicone breast implants are customizable and can increase the breasts by a half cup or several cup sizes, whereas fat transfer breast augmentation is often limited to increasing breast size by one-half to one full cup size.
Thus, fat transfer may be a better option for patients seeking a small increase in breast size who want a natural alternative, but implants are the best choice for a sizable increase.
Breast Shape
Breast implants come in round or teardrop shapes. Round implants offer more projection and even fullness in the upper breast and nipple area. Teardrop or tapered breast implants have a sloped appearance that mimics the natural breast shape, increasing volume and definition below the nipple. Transferring harvested fat cells may enhance breast size but won’t significantly impact breast shape like implants.
Eligibility
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved saline breast implants for adults 18 and older and silicone implants for patients 22 and older. Fat grafting is an option for patients at least 18 years old as long as they have adequate fat stores to harvest for the procedure. Women should also be in good general health and have realistic expectations for their breast augmentation results.
Results
Breast augmentation with breast implants is customizable and predictable. Silicone implants are pre-filled to the desired size, and saline implants are filled after being surgically placed in the breasts. Fat grafting offers less predictable and reproducible results because the body will reabsorb some transferred fat cells. Some patients may need one or more subsequent procedures to achieve their ideal size with fat grafting. Fat transfer may provide longer-lasting results than breast implants because the surviving fat is permanent, and implants need replacing every 10 to 20 years.
Fat transfer may be combined with breast implants to alter the size and shape further and is also used in conjunction with breast lift or breast reduction.
If you’re interested in breast augmentation, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation and discuss your options. Call our Jupiter, FL, office at (561) 776-2830.
Reverse Signs of Aging Caused by Sun Damage with Cosmetic Treatments
You can't take back the time you've spent in the sun, but you can mitigate the damage caused by UV rays with cosmetic treatments and better sun protection moving forward. Skin care treatments at Aqua Plastic Surgery can improve sun-damaged skin. Whether you struggle with blotchy spots, fine lines, spider veins, or loose skin, these non-surgical procedures can help restore a smooth, even complexion.
How Sun Exposure Causes Premature Aging
The skin has three layers:
- The epidermis, or outermost skin layer
- The dermis, or upper-middle tissue layer
- The subcutis, or bottom layer of skin tissue
The dermis contains collagen, elastin, and other fibers that form a youthful skin structure, and this area suffers the most damage from sun exposure. UV rays penetrate the epidermis and reach the dermis, damaging collagen fibers and mutating elastin. UV damage causes the growth of abnormal elastin enzymes called metalloproteinases. These malfunctioning enzymes degrade collagen instead of rebuilding it after sun damage, causing premature wrinkles and a leathery skin texture.
Chemical Peels for Sun-Damaged Skin
Chemical peels improve sun-damaged skin by exfoliating the epidermis and revealing new skin. Layers of chemical solutions are applied to the face for a controlled "wound." Facial peels vary in intensity from light to medium to deep and may use glycolic, trichloroacetic, salicylic, lactic, or carbolic acids to improve skin concerns. These treatments can improve skin tone and texture and reduce skin discoloration caused by sun exposure.
IPL® Photofacial for Skin Discoloration
IPL® Photofacial uses intense pulsed light to target dark spots on the skin. Powerful light flashes break down brown and red pigments, and the skin heals by scabbing over and flaking away, or the body absorbs the discoloration. IPL treatments reduce sunspots, broken capillaries, and other skin concerns that make you look older than your given age. The light wavelengths target the pigments that develop after years of sun exposure. IPL® Photofacial is used on the face and chest to target age spots, freckles, moles, and discoloration.
Microneedling with PRP for Smoother, Luminous Skin
Microneedling triggers the skin's natural healing response by forming thousands of micro-injuries in the skin. The tissue trauma stimulates your body's natural healing response for firmer skin with a better tone and texture. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in your blood contains growth factors promoting cell regeneration and regrowth. PRP with microneedling offers healthier, smoother, more youthful skin.
CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing
This intensive laser treatment removes the surface layer of the skin to rebuild and rejuvenate your tissues. CO2 laser resurfacing uses carbon dioxide to evaporate the top skin layers and improve sun damage, fine lines, scarring, and discoloration. This ablative laser reduces premature aging and heats the underlying skin tissues to promote collagen production.
Recovery time from these skin care treatments varies from little to no downtime to one or two weeks of healing.
If you struggle with sun damage and premature aging, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery via email to discuss your skin concerns and treatment options or call our office in Jupiter, FL, at (561) 776-2830.
Tummy Tuck Procedure Offers Smoother Contours and May Even Improve Low Back Pain
Most women decide to have tummy tuck to regain the figure they lost after pregnancy or after significant weight loss. While tummy tuck, formally known as abdominoplasty, can flatten the stomach, the procedure offers benefits beyond the aesthetic. Aqua Plastic Surgery’s double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. David Rankin, discusses the advantages of tummy tuck and how the procedure may even improve low back pain or urinary incontinence
Tummy Tuck
During tummy tuck, the surgeon tightens and repairs the underlying abdominal muscle structure to create a flat, smooth profile. It turns out that this cosmetic surgery may have a functional benefit for patients.
Many women opt for mommy makeover that includes tummy tuck. This involves additional procedures depending on a woman’s choices, such as breast augmentation, breast reduction or Brazilian butt lift.
Back Pain Reduction
Low back pain after labor and delivery is a common side effect for many mothers. This is often due to diastasis recti, the separation of the abdominal muscles. This condition affects core strength and places a burden on the back. Tummy tuck corrects diastasis recti. It may also improve posture.
In an Australian study published in Connect, 214 women undergoing tummy tuck completed questionnaires both before the procedure and several months later. In the pre-operative questionnaire, 51% of women reported “moderate to severe” disability from back pain. Six months later, just 9% reported such pain.
In addition to enjoying their newly contoured figures, these women were living without the back pain that formerly plagued them.
Improved Bladder Control
After childbirth, it’s not unusual for women to experience urinary incontinence. Sometimes, women expel urine involuntarily while laughing or sneezing. Other women may need to wear protective pads to deal with urine leakage.
In that same study, 42.5% of women completing the pre-operative questionnaire reported that urinary incontinence was a “significant” concern. The results six months later were even better than those reported by women dealing with back pain. Just 2% of the women noted that urinary incontinence was still a concern.
If urinary incontinence is causing embarrassment and affecting your quality of life, tummy tuck may well resolve this issue. Reattachment of separated muscles reduces or eliminates urinary incontinence.
For More Information
If you would like more information about tummy tuck, and which procedures complement this surgery, please contact Aqua Plastic Surgery today. Use our contact form or call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830.
What Will My Breasts Look Like After Breast Implant Removal?
Women may decide to have breast implants removed for various reasons but worry about what their breasts will look like after the procedure. Explant surgery involves removing both the implants and any scar tissue that formed around them. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, our plastic surgeons Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel discuss what breasts usually look like after breast implant removal and how a breast lift can help improve their appearance.
Breast Implant Longevity
At the time of your breast augmentation or reconstruction surgery, surgeons normally inform you that breast implants will eventually need replacement. While under normal circumstances breast implants should last 10 to 15 years, leaks are always a possibility. Saline implant leaks cause deflation and silicone implant ruptures may result in the hardening of scar tissue around the implant.
Whether leaks or the passage of time dictate the need for a new implant, it’s also a good time to consider whether to opt for permanent removal. It’s natural that after having implants for a long period, women wonder what their breasts will look like without them. Much depends on the amount of scar tissue surrounding the implants.
Aesthetic Considerations
After explant surgery, expect a significant reduction in breast volume. That makes sense since the implants are gone; however, it can result in certain aesthetic concerns. These include:
- Sagging
- Downward position of the nipples and areolas
- Loose skin
- Indentations
Patients with large implants but relatively little natural breast tissue are most vulnerable to these aesthetic changes.
Explant Surgery and Scarring
Typically, explant surgery involves using the same incisions created during implant surgery. No new scarring results. Breast lift may require an additional incision from the nipple to the breast crease.
Breast Lift
Fortunately, breast lift performed in conjunction with or after explant surgery can resolve many aesthetic concerns. This procedure lifts sagging breasts and removes excess skin. Breasts appear more youthful, with “perkiness” restored and higher nipples. While your breasts look smaller, they are still attractive after breast lift.
Enhancing Breast Shape
Another advantage of undergoing breast lift after explant surgery is the enhancement of breast shape. The operation creates a fuller, more rounded breast. Your breasts look and feel firmer. The goal is to make you happy with the outcome!
Get More Information
If you would like more information about breast implant removal and breast lift, please contact Aqua Plastic Surgery or call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830. We will explain the breast explant process and answer any questions.
Greet the New Year With Wide, Youthful Eyes After Blepharoplasty
In the new year, you may prefer an old look — that is, the appearance of your eyes before aging resulted in drooping and sagging. After all, the eyes mirror the soul, and you want them to reflect how young you feel inside. Eyelid surgery can make you look younger and revitalized. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, our trusted plastic surgeons Dr. David Rankin and Dr. Allyson Deziel discuss how eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, can turn back the clock and restore youth to tired eyes.
How Aging Affects Eyes
Besides the vision changes associated with aging, the eyes’ appearance is also affected. As we get older, sagging skin contributes to an aged look. The drooping of the eyelids does more than make someone look old. The eyes may often appear angry or tired, even if they are not. Muscles supporting the eyelids weaken, causing excess fat and skin collection. Bags form under the eyes, eyebrows sag and upper lids hang downward.
Arguably no other cosmetic surgery does more to reduce an aged appearance than blepharoplasty. This procedure gives you a wide-eyed look that refreshes your entire face. Expect to take at least a decade off the appearance of your face with blepharoplasty. Even though your face continues aging, the results of blepharoplasty are permanent.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty consists of both upper and lower eyelid surgery. Upper eyelids may develop saggy, wrinkled skin, while fat buildup in the lower eyelids causes puffiness and bagging. Patients may opt for both upper and lower eyelid surgeries or just one type.
In upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon generally makes an incision in the natural crease above the eye. A certain amount of skin and fat is then removed or the surrounding muscles are adjusted. For lower eyelid surgery, incisions are usually made beneath or inside the eyelid. Fat is removed or rearranged and excess skin is eliminated. Tightening of the lower eyelid muscle further enhances results.
Complementary Procedures
Many patients opt to have other procedures done at the same time as blepharoplasty. These include:
Blepharoplasty and Vision Issues
As with other cosmetic surgeries, insurance will not cover blepharoplasty when performed solely to improve appearance. In some cases, eyelid sagging becomes so severe that peripheral vision is impaired. When blepharoplasty is used to correct serious visual abnormalities, insurance may pay for part of it.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery
To discuss blepharoplasty and what to expect, please contact Aqua Plastic Surgery via email or call our Jupiter office at (561) 776-2830.
Refresh Problem-Prone Skin With Chemical Peels and Skin Care Treatments
Is waking up to find blemishes that weren’t there when you went to bed a common occurrence? Have you tried countless over-the-counter products to combat problem skin? Don’t despair — help is available. Board-certified plastic surgeon David Rankin of Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, Fla., answers questions about refreshing problem-prone skin with chemical peels and other skin care treatments.
Problem-Prone Skin
What exactly constitutes problem-prone skin? It’s a vague term, but if you have it, you know it. In general, it refers to skin especially likely to develop blemishes. This type of skin is usually oily and shiny. The excess oil makes pimples, blackheads and breakouts more likely. Battling acne means a greater likelihood of experiencing scarring and enlarged pores.
Problem-prone skin doesn’t refer solely to acne. Rosacea, which can cause round, red facial bumps, flushing, skin thickening and broken blood vessels, is another problematic issue.
The good news is that there are ways to refresh problem-prone skin, so your complexion appears brighter and smoother.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels work by exfoliating skin rapidly and reducing sebum, allowing the treated skin to eventually peel off. Underneath, smoother, clearer skin is revealed. Most chemical peels consist of the exfoliants salicylic or glycolic acid. Stronger chemical peels can minimize the appearance of acne scars and hyperpigmentation.
Epidermal turnover takes place every six to eight weeks. That means new skin cells formed in the innermost layer of the epidermis make their way to the outermost layer. Dead skin cells can build up on the skin’s surface, mixing with oils. That buildup is an acne trigger. After a chemical peel, those dead skin cells and excess oil are no longer clogging pores. That reduces pimple and blackhead formation.
With just one treatment, you should see a considerable improvement in your complexion. Even better, chemical peels require no downtime! Depending on the cause of your problem-prone skin, three to six treatments are recommended for best results.
Skincare Products
To keep skin problems at bay, you need the right skincare products. Using the wrong products can cause further damage and heartache. At Aqua Plastic Surgery, we can determine the best skincare products for your needs and tailor skin care treatments accordingly. We offer top medical-grade skincare lines with products for cleansing, toning, moisturizing and protecting your skin to fight your specific problems.
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter, FL
If you're interested in learning more about skincare procedures for your problem-prone skin, contact our experienced plastic surgeons to discuss your skin treatment options. Schedule your consultation by calling our office in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 or use our easy contact form.
Is One of Your Breasts Larger Than the Other? Try Fat Grafting
It’s not unusual for women to have one breast that’s larger than the other. For most women, the size difference, known as asymmetry, is a cosmetic concern rather than a health problem. Fat grafting can correct the condition if the size difference is within one bra cup size. The plastic surgeons at Aqua Plastic Surgery in Jupiter in Palm Beach County in Florida, discuss fat grafting and how it evens out breast size.
Asymmetrical Breasts
Asymmetrical breasts differ in size and/or shape. Often, asymmetrical breasts simply develop that way at puberty. Sometimes, the tendency towards asymmetrical breasts runs in families. Pregnancy, breastfeeding or substantial weight gain or loss may also affect breast symmetry.
However, if your breasts were previously symmetrical and the asymmetry occurred relatively recently, consult your doctor to determine the cause.
Fat Grafting
With fat grafting, fat is harvested via liposuction from another part of the body harboring excess fat. Usually, that’s the thighs or abdomen. Blood and other undesirable components are removed from the fat, and the fat is injected into the area where additional volume is desired.
Fat grafting is also known as fat transfer or fat injections. The entire process takes place with the patient under local anesthesia. Unlike other breast augmentation procedures, there is usually no need for general anesthesia.
Because your own fat is used, your body is unlikely to reject the graft. As with any procedure, infection is always a possibility but rarely occurs with fat grafting. The results look and feel natural and usually last for years, if not a lifetime. There is no scarring from the fat injection. Any scarring from liposuction is minimal.
Of course, you must have sufficient donor fat to undergo fat grafting. Those women with little body fat may need to find an alternative for breast asymmetry repair.
Other Procedures
If the breast size difference is prominent, or the patient lacks sufficient body fat for grafting, there are other procedures available for asymmetry correction. These include:
- Breast augmentation – the insertion of a silicone or saline implant to enlarge the smaller breast
- Breast reduction – changing the shape or size of the larger breast to make it smaller
- Breast lift – altering one or both breasts’ positions to make them symmetrical
Contact Aqua Plastic Surgery About Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation
If one of your breasts is noticeably larger than the other and you want to correct the condition, call our office in Jupiter at (561) 776-2830 and schedule your consultation. Our surgeons will determine whether you are a candidate for fat grafting breast augmentation and answer all of your questions.