5 Things You Must Know Before Having a Breast Procedure
Jourdan Gottlieb, MD
Seattle, WA
1) Has your surgeon been trained specifically to do breast augmentation?
There are several procedures where specialists may overlap in their skill and training. For example, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons may have the background and ability to do back surgery. For surgery of the nose, plastic surgeons, ENT surgeons and oral surgeons may all lay claim to training and skills. For breast augmentation surgery, only plastic surgeons
have received training as an integral part of their surgical residency. Board certification in plastic surgery and membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is a reliable sign that a surgeon is qualified to perform breast augmentation. 2) Who will be doing the anesthesia? Most plastic surgery procedures are done safely today, however the greatest risk to health involves the administration of anesthesia or sedation. In the setting of breast augmentation, your anesthesia may be performed by the surgeon, by a nurse anesthetist, or by a physician anesthesiologist. This person has the responsibility of maintaining your comfort, your breathing and vital functions. Ideally, this person is well trained, will keep the patient out of trouble, but should also be experienced to handle any unexpected, though rare, problems that occur. This person’s sole function should be performing anesthesia, not functioning as an extra nurse, and should not be doing your surgery. 3) Who will be in the surgery suite? When a patient undergoes surgery, in a hospital operating room there will be a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, a scrub technician (who assists the surgeon by passing instruments, and so forth), and a circulating nurse, who will provide equipment as needed to the operating field. This is the gold standard. This
would be the easiest requirement to cut corners on regarding personnel during breast augmentation. Make sure that the anesthetist is not being asked to perform double duty as the circulating nurse, so that your comfort and safety is his or her only function. Be sure that the surgeon can concentrate on your surgery. 4) Is the surgery suite accredited? Your surgery may be performed in a hospital, an outpatient surgical center, or in a physician’s office operatory. In order to attain accreditation the facility must meet standards of safety. For hospitals the gold standard is
the JCAH, or Joint Committee on Accreditation of Hospitals. For surgical centers or office operatories, the gold standard is Medicare accreditation. An operating room that is not accredited may not have been able to attain the high standard required to document the safety of that facility. 5) Is the surgeon experienced and versatile enough to be permitted to perform this
procedure at a hospital? There are surgeons who can perform any procedures they wish in their own offices, but who cannot perform those same procedures in a hospital because they cannot demonstrate a record of training in that field. The
first thing to do is ascertain if the surgeon does have hospital privileges to perform breast augmentation. There are varying techniques that can be chosen by the surgeon and the patient. For example, there are three common
incisions, two alternative positions for the implant, and several types of implants, which may vary in size, shape, surface and content. Each alternative has advantages and disadvantages.
About Breast Augmentation...
Breast augmentation is also known as mammoplasty, breast enlargement or breast enhancement. A silicone or saline-filled implant is used, which can be a replacement for breasts removed through mastectomy, or as a cosmetic enhancement for women with small breasts. The manufacturers of breast implants have designed different shapes in recent years, including anatomic, teardrop, or round and new textures as well - smooth or fuzzy. New shapes allow the doctor to customize your surgery and satisfy individual tastes in appearance. Saline implants are used almost exclusively and have been for at least the past twenty years. Saline is not new or experimental in any way and has more than stood the test of time. New implant fillers such as soybean are still experimental, and have not been approved by the FDA. Silicone breast implants are currently in testing with the FDA to be sure that their safety is absolutely certain before they are returned to the marketplace. The ideal candidate for breast augmentation typically has complaints of breasts that are too small or uneven, out of proportion to the rest of her body, or appear to be sagging or deflated. She may also have a desire for clothing to fit better or to feel sexier and have a better body image. The breast augmentation procedure usually takes about two hours and is done under general anesthesia. The patient will need to take 5-7 days away from work or strenuous obligations. About Breast Reduction...
Women with heavy or large breasts often
experience a variety of medical problems caused by the excessive weight, from back and neck pain or skin irritation to skeletal deformities and breathing problems. Bra straps may leave indentations in a woman's shoulders or back. A wide variety of medical problems can be alleviated by breast reduction surgery as well. Some conditions that may be associated with overly large breasts are back and neck pain, skin irritation, skeletal distress, breathing problems, fatigue, inability to exercise comfortably, or sleep difficulty. Bra straps can leave permanent indentations in the shoulders, sides and back. Bearing the weight of large breast can also dramatically affect self esteem and body image. The procedure removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts, making them smaller, lighter, and firmer. It can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to achieve the look of smaller, better-shaped breasts in proportion to the rest of the body. A consultation with Dr. Gottlieb for breast reduction will involve a discussion of your desired goals. Together, you will select the appropriate size in proportion to your body shape. Not interested in surgery quite yet? Read about the Non-Surgical Breast Lift
Jourdan Gottlieb, MD
Now offering SmartLipo in Seattle, for minimally invasive contouring and reshaping of the body.
Dr. Jourdan Gottlieb began his career as a practicing academic trauma surgeon, then completed his plastic surgery training at the prestigious Northwestern University in Chicago. In 1985, he moved to Seattle to join the faculty at the University of Washington, and five years later opened a private practice in Seattle; first at Elan Plastic Surgery, and now at Plastic Surgery Seattle.Dr. Gottlieb has been selected as one of America's Top Physicians by the Consumers' Research Council of America and has also been named as one of the Puget Sound area's "Top Doctors for Women" (as reported in Seattle Magazine's annual "Top Doctors" issue). Specialists selected for this honor were chosen by a group of 5,000 medical professionals in a three-county area who were asked whom they would visit or recommend to a loved one for treatment of conditions that tend to affect women. Patients who come to Plastic Surgery Seattle have their surgery at accredited operating rooms, either at the Seattle Surgery Center or at Swedish Medical Center. Most plastic surgery procedures are done safely today, however the greatest risk to health involves the administration of anesthesia or sedation. To ensure that his surgery patients are in the best trained hands, Dr. Gottlieb arranges that a physician, board certified in anesthesiology, is responsible for their safety and comfort. Plastic Surgery Seattle offers financing for plastic surgery procedures such as breast implants through Capital One Healthcare Finance, with a flexible monthly payment option specifically designed for cosmetic surgery. Jourdan Gottlieb, MD
1600 E. Jefferson St., Suite 501
Seattle, WA
|
