Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery | Dr. Desman

If you are concerned about scarring following breast augmentation surgery, you are not alone. While scars are an inevitable part of this procedure, the incision will be made in a discreet manner, and the scar will be very difficult to notice unless you point it out.

Whenever your skin is cut, your body forms a scar as part of its healing. Extra collagen, a fibrous protein, replaces the damaged cells and connects the edges of your skin.

Your degree of scarring will be influenced by:

• Your age
• The location, length and depth of your breast enlargement incision
• Your heredity
• Your ethnicity

You have several choices for the location of your incision. These include underneath your breast, in the crease (that will be covered by your breasts); around your areola, (the change in skin texture and color will camouflage the scar), and in your armpit (only exposed by a sleeveless shirt and raised arms).

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of scarring after breast augmentation surgery:

• Keep your surgical tape in place covering your incision for as long as possible
• Do not smoke for several weeks before and after your surgery (tobacco reduces your ability to heal)
• Ask about recommended over-the-counter creams or gels

Does breast augmentation surgery sound like something you can benefit from? If so, and you live in the Alexandria, Virginia area; please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office today to set up your free, initial consultation.

Following plastic surgery, the recovery period will vary by person. The key to minimizing your recovery period and getting the best possible results from your plastic surgery is following Dr. Desman's postoperative instructions exactly. The length of your recovery largely depends on the type of procedure you are having, and whether you are having one or multiple treatments performed.

For example, if you are recovering from something like liposuction, your recovery period will be shorter than if you are recovering from a tummy tuck.

After surgery, you will have bandages placed to prevent swelling. Once you return home, you will need to leave those bandages on for however long you are instructed. It is a good idea to create a relaxing, personal space in which you can recover. You should keep anything you need within close range to limit your movement while you are recovering. You may not be able to return to work for days, even weeks; especially if you have bandages in visible areas.

The first few days are the worst. Generally, you should start to feel good no later than 10 days after your procedure. However, the swelling will likely remain for longer. In the beginning, your scars will appear large and pink. Do not be discouraged. They will fade.

It generally takes a month until you can resume your normal fitness routine. However, gentle walking can help your blood circulate and aid healing. You can discuss a fitness regimen with Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman.

If are interested in making permanent enhancements to your body and you live in Alexandria, Virginia or the surrounding area, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office to schedule your free consultation today.

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Women have always been the most common recipients of plastic surgery. Although this is still true today, the number of men receiving plastic surgery has grown significantly and continues to grow.

Liposuction is the third the most common plastic surgery procedures sought by men, after nose reshaping and blepharoplasty. Liposuction on men is commonly used to address exercise-resistant fat deposits found in the:

• Belly
• Love handles
• Face and neck (especially using VASER Liposelection)
• Gynecomastia (male breasts)

In many cases, these fat deposits do not respond to diet or exercise. They are often the last to go, and may only disappear after a person has reached an unhealthy weight.

Men's fat is different from women's. Men store fat in different locations. Men's fat is also deeper than women's, and it is often structurally different. Men seeking liposuction should seek to work with a doctor who has experience performing male liposuction.

If you have long tried to sculpt your body with exercise, but have found that no matter how hard you work, some parts of your body do not improve, schedule a male liposuction consultation at the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery today.

Breast augmentation is the most popular type of cosmetic surgery for women. And while many are successful, there are some that do not go according to plan. Here are some indications that your breast augmentation surgery may have gone wrong.

High fever, swelling, discolored or odorous fluid leakage: These may all be signs of infection. While any surgery carries a risk of infection, if this happens to you, you may need to have the implant removed. Some symptoms of infection include fever, swelling, tenderness, inflammation and redness. If you suffer infection during the postoperative period, you can normally have new implants placed in a few months.

Deflation: Deflation is a sign that your saline implant has ruptured. Anyone who has implants is at risk for rupture at some point in their lifetime. In fact, about 10 percent of implants rupture within the first five years of implantation.

If your silicone gel-filled breast implant ruptures, on the other hand, no one may be able to tell. This is why it is important to have routine MRIs to screen for ruptures. Symptoms of a silicone rupture include lumps surrounding the implant or in the armpit, change or loss of size or shape of the breast or implant, pain, tingling, numbness, swelling, burning, or hardening in your breast.

Breast implants are covered by a warranty that covers replacement costs due to rupture for a certain length of time.

Breasts that grow hard and painful: These are often a sign of capsular contracture. Sometimes, the scar tissue that forms around your breast implant will constrict and pull tightly against the implants. If this starts to happen to you, your breasts may start to feel hard, misshapen or painful. Capsular contracture happens in about 5 percent of patients, though there is no way to predict this condition.

If you live in Alexandria, Virginia and you believe that your breast augmentation surgery may have gone wrong, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office to see how Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman can help.

If you have undergone breast augmentation surgery and are unhappy with the result, your first action should be to call your surgeon. The surgeon who performed the first surgery will be best able to identify what might be the problem. At the Virginia Center for Plastic Surgery, we work hard to help our patients out on the rare occasions that they have less than ideal results. Other doctors are sometimes as accommodating, and some are not.

If your doctor is uncooperative or you are really dissatisfied, we can give you a professional assessment of your results and/or schedule you for breast augmentation revision surgery.

Breast augmentation has a very high success and approval rate, with nearly 90% of patients saying they would have the surgery again. In the rare instance that something does go wrong, know that we will be here for you.

If your breast augmentation surgery did not go as planned and you live in the Alexandria, Virginia area, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office to see how Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman can correct your procedure.

Breast implants can go either under your chest muscle or over. Your placement will depend on your physical characteristics, such as the amount of breast tissue you have, and the effect you want to achieve with your breast implants.

Here are the different breast implant placement options:

Subglandular placement

Also known as retroglandular or submammary placement, with this technique, your breast implant will be placed above your pectoral muscles but below your mammary gland. Technically, all implants are subglandular because breast implants placed below muscle are also below your mammary gland. However, this term refers to placement just below the mammary glands and over your chest muscle.

Subglandular placement of breast implants is best for women with adequate breast tissue to cover the breast implant. Subglandular breast implants are also more visible, and are better for women who are less concerned about a natural-looking result than a dramatic one. Subglandular placement is also recommended for women who want large implants.

Subpectoral placement

Often described as "subpectoral" placement because full submuscular placement is very rare, subpectoral placement means your implant will go below your pectoralis major muscle. With a subpectoral placement, the implant is only partially submuscular because only the upper half of the implant will be underneath your pectoral muscle; the lower half will not be. A subpectoral placement is also called a retropectoral.

Subpectoral or submuscular placement is best for women with insufficient breast tissue to cover the breast implant. It also often gives a more natural-looking appearance. And it is a slightly safer option, since it reduces the chances of capsular contracture and is less likely to interfere with mammograms.

If you are interested in breast augmentation surgery and you live in the Alexandria, Virginia area, please contact our Alexandria plastic surgery office. Our staff can schedule your complimentary consultation with Virginia cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Desman today.