8 Reasons Your Breast Augmentation at Rucker MD Plastic Surgery Clinic will be Easy and Speedy.

If the only thing that is separating you from the breast augmentation you've always wanted is the length of recovery time and the pain, this post is for you. Our patients often come to us with these exact concerns, and with having performed several thousands of breast augmentation procedures, we now have patients rating their pain level from a 2 to a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most painful.  I attribute these low pain levels and speedy recovery times to the following factors: 

1. Each augmented breast is routinely injected with anesthesia before the patient awakens from the procedure. This technique gives a four hour, pain-free period and allows our patients to easily start their oral pain medication, allowing a smoother transition in pain control. 
2. Our patients are instructed to take their pain pills every 4 to 6 hours after surgery for the first 24 hours. This helps to give a uniform level of pain control and helps to avoid cycles of increasing pain that may happen within the first 24 hours. 
3. All of our patients are prescribed a muscle relaxant which helps to reduce the overall incidence of muscular spasm, which can contribute to the pain level.
4. We routinely give our patients anti-nausea medication to help avoid nausea caused by the anesthetic.  
5. Our patients are instructed to sleep in a “Lazy Boy” position, with the head slightly elevated so as to put less pressure on the chest and to reduce the discomfort caused by trying to sit up.
6. Each patient is given specific instructions for a gradual return to normal activity over a 2 to 3 week period. This helps to avoid setbacks in recovery that are usually caused by over-activity. 
7. All of our patients are instructed to wear a support bra to help avoid the movement of the breasts during routine daily activities. 
8. The incision used to introduce the implant is made as small as possible so as to also help reduce the level of post-operative discomfort.

With these pain reduction methods, our patients have described the breast augmentation procedure to be less stressful and much less painful.  Less muscle spasm, less post-operative nausea and a smaller incision all help to produce a faster and smoother recovery.

To set up a consultation with Dr. Rucker, call the Rucker MD Plastic Surgery Clinic at 800.456.8222 and check out the website at http://www.ruckermd.com  

Doctor, do I need a breast lift with my augmentation? And what is the difference between silicone and saline?

It’s hard to give the best answer without the benefit of an examination, however, there are three general complaints you may have that will indicate whether you need a breast lift with your breast augmentation.
Three good indicators are:

• You feel you have lost fullness on the upper portion of your breasts
• You feel a push-up bra is a necessity
• You feel going braless is not an option

Before.

After.

A good at-home test to decide whether a lift is right for you is to place your index finger beneath the fold of your breast and point upwards toward your nipple.  If your finger tip protrudes over the upper portion of your areola or above it, then a lift is probably needed, however, a detailed examination by your plastic surgeon is recommended.

If a lift is needed, but not done with your augmentation, your breast sagging may appear more pronounced after your breast augmentation procedure. In my experience, 75% of my patients that opted for a breast lift also chose a breast augmentation. A breast augmentation and breast lift combination may be the best option for you if your goals include any of the following:

• Regaining a "perky”  look
• Improving your cleavage
• Being  able to go braless

Your next decision may be choosing between a saline versus a silicone implant. I personally believe that current saline and traditional gel-filled implants will be obsolete in the near future.  I use the Sientra  “Gummy Bear” implant.  The benefits of this new implant option include a natural feel, less complications in the event of rupture and a probable less chance of scarring around implant. See video for more details. Choose wisely.

“Some people think that women with perky, well-formed breasts are stupid. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Women with perky breasts make men stupid.”

To schedule a consultation, call us at 800.456.8222 and visit our website www.ruckermd.com 

The Future of Breast Augmentation.

Silicone or saline? That is the question that many women on the market for a breast augmentation face. When weighing the options, there have always been strong arguments for both sides. Thanks to new technology, the future of breast augmentation is here with a new implant that has the best of both worlds.

Up until five years ago, the salt water filled implant (saline) has been the preferred implant. The standard silicone implant has since returned to favor, but there has always been that lingering doubt of what happens if it leaks. 

Saline Implant Benefits:

• Non-toxic in the event of leakage since it is filled with salt water.
• Size can be varied by merely adding more fluid to enlarge it.

Saline Implant Drawbacks:

• Does not feel natural.
• Tends to reveal itself more by producing ridges on the breast.
• Higher chance of leakage.

Over the past five years, many of my patients have chosen the silicone-filled implant because it does feel much more natural, and it tends to not show the ridges beneath the skin that the saline implant does. Nonetheless, it still causes some concerns if there was leakage, and the silicone was to leak into the breast tissue.

Currently, I feel the saline-filled implant and the standard silicone gel filled implants will be obsolete within the next two years. This is due to the current availability of the revolutionary high tension, gel implant – AKA the “Gummy Bear” implant. The term is coined from the fact that when cut in half, the breast implants are able to retain their shape with no leakage, similar to the popular gummy bear candies.

The benefits of the “Gummy Bear” implant are so pronounced that it has become my implant of choice.

"Gummy Bear" Implant BENEFITS: 

• Smaller chance of a leakage of gel into the body if a rupture is to occur.

• Natural feel, similar to the gel-filled implant.

• Multiple shapes and sizes offered.

• Cost is very comparable to the standard gel-filled implant.

• Some studies suggest that there may be less of a chance of scarring around the Sientra “Gummy Bear” implant.

With these suggestions and information in mind, it is important to remember that a consult with your plastic surgeon is highly recommended to determine your personalized needs. For more information or to set up an appointment, please call 715.833.1068 and speak to our patient coordinator.

It's here! PROFILES Summer 2013!

Check out the latest issue of PROFILES magazine to read up on:

• The Future of Breast Augmentation by Joseph Rucker, MD, FACS
• Benefits of Stem Cells in your Skin Care Regimen
• Menopause & You by Donna Schoenfelder, MD
• Help! I have ACNE SCARRING
• Group Workouts You Will LOVE by Lori Heck, ASPIRE Personal Training
• Feed Your Skin! by Tammy Schofield, MS, RD
• The Enza Medispa summer specials!

Doctor, What Size and Type of Implant would you Recommend?

When choosing a breast implant, there are two major factors one must consider (1) what size implant is best for me and (2) what type of implant should I choose. The following information is meant to guide you in making an educated decision

IMPLANT SIZE: While there is no specific chart that will display exactly what size implant should be used, most surgeons will have a general suggestion for each of their patients. The surgeon must make a determination based on the cup size that the patient desires as well as the body size of the patient. Generally I offer the suggestions listed below:

• Small statured women (<5'3") with an A cup requesting a C cup. My implant range suggestions are between 280cc to 380cc
• Medium statured women (>5'3") with an A cup requesting a C+ cup size. My implant range suggestion is between 380cc and 480cc
• Large statured women (>5'8") with an A cup requesting a C+ cup to a D cup. My implant range is between 480cc and 540cc

IMPLANT TYPE: When it comes to implant type, I personally think the saline filled implant and the standard silicone gel filled implants will be obsolete within the next two years. This is due to the many benefits of the revolutionary Sientra "Gummy Bear" Implant. The benefits of the Sientra implant are so pronounced that it has become my implant of choice due to the following reasons:

• There is a smaller chance of a leakage of gel into the body if a rupture is to occur
• Has a natural feel similar to the gel filled implant
• There are multiple shapes and sizes offered
• The cost is very comparable to the standard gel filled implant
• Some studies suggest that there may be less of a chance of scarring around the Sientra implant

With these suggestions and information in mind, it is important to remember that a consult with your plastic surgeon is highly recommended to determine your personalized needs. For more information or to set up an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Rucker, please call our offices: 715-832-1774. All inquiries are welcome and can be answered by an experienced Rucker MD staff.