Am I Too Old for a Breast Augmentation?

Posted on by Dr. Golosow

Breast augmentation with implants is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in women of all ages. Although most people would believe that breast augmentation is mainly for younger women, there are a significant number of older and middle-aged women who consider breast augmentation at some point. If you’re one of them, it’s natural to wonder if breast augmentation is right for you at this stage of life. Here’s what to know about breast augmentation and what you can expect later in life.

Age Is Just a Number

Even women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s can benefit from breast augmentation. In fact, age isn’t the most important factor in determining your candidacy for breast augmentation. Instead, overall health is what matters most. If you’re healthy, non-smoking, and able to undergo surgery, you’re likely a good candidate for breast augmentation.

Consider Mammograms

Many women opt for breast augmentation in their 20s or 30s when regular mammograms are not a regular part of their health care. For middle-aged women, you’ll need to consider the effect implants can have on your regular breast cancer screenings – that’s because normal screening techniques can’t account for implants. You may need to take extra steps to account for your implants or even switch to a different provider. Dr. Golosow can help you determine the right steps to take for your health during your consultation.

Breast Lift May Be Necessary

Breast implants can be a great way to restore your confidence in your body later in life. However, implants won’t stop the impact of age on your body. Older women considering breast implants may need to also consider a breast lift in combination with their augmentation to correct sagging and ensure the implants look youthful and upright. This can mean extra surgical steps and extra cost, so Dr. Golosow can recommend your best options.

A Higher Risk of Complications

Relative to having implants at a younger age, older women may experience longer recovery times, various pains and aches, and at the same time, anesthesia-related complications. Some researchers believe that women in their 50s and above may experience more complications (such as infections) after the procedure. This is due to the age-related possibility of a decrease in hormone levels. In general, a woman around the age of 40 might have similar possible complications as a woman in her 20s. However, older women can be at a higher risk, so it’s important to discuss your options with the help of your board certified plastic surgeon.

Advantages of Breast Augmentation in Older Women

Women over their 40s may actually have some advantages of undergoing breast augmentation surgery. For one thing, the typical age for the onset of menopause is about 51 years. This means you won’t pose a pregnancy risk, which can negatively change your results if you become pregnant after your procedure. Additionally, you’ll be less prone to hormone fluctuations and changes in your body.

Schedule a Consultation

Breast augmentation is just as beneficial for older women as for younger women. To meet with Dr. Golosow and learn more about your options for breast augmentation, we invite you to contact our Fort Myers area offices by calling or filling out our online form.

How Long Do Implants Last? Silicone, Saline, and When to Replace

Posted on by Dr. Golosow

One important factor in your breast implant surgery process is the probability that they’ll need to be replaced at some point. Although techniques and technologies are better than ever, it’s always smart to consider the possibility that you’ll need revisional surgery. This can seem overwhelming, so Dr. Golosow can give you the best idea of what to expect from the lifespan of your unique implants. Here’s what to know about breast implant replacement and what to expect if you need it.

What’s the average lifetime of an implant?

While implants don’t expire, they’re not immune from complications; your average silicone or saline implant is replaced within one to two decades, after which roughly 20% of patients pursue removal or replacement within 8-10 years. There can be a lot of reasons for this aside from complications, however – sometimes it comes down to simple preference. There are some complications that will require replacement, however, so here’s what to know about them.

Signs Your Implants May Need To Go

Hardening

With any implant surgery, the body naturally forms a capsule of scar tissue around the foreign body. Sometimes the scar tissue hardens around an implant in a process known as capsular contracture. This can cause pain, soreness, tightness, and irregularities in the breast. In severe cases, it can even displace the implant and lead to unfavorable cosmetic results. There are effective ways to prevent capsular contracture during and after your surgery, so Dr. Golosow will discuss your best options.

Saline Rupture

If holes or tears from within a saline implant’s shell, it will deflate. Although the saline will be safely absorbed by the body, the end result is a drastic difference in the appearance of the breasts. Although ruptures are increasingly rare, your risk can go up if the implant experiences too much wear and creasing over time.

Silicone Rupture

Silicone is denser than saline, meaning it usually remains around the implant or adjacent scar tissue after a rupture. This means a rupture (sometimes called a silent rupture) can be much harder to detect with silicone implants. Some known symptoms of a silent rupture include:

  • Change in sensation
  • Asymmetry
  • Burning
  • Diminished size
  • Hard knots
  • Numbness
  • Pain/tenderness
  • Swelling
  • Tingling

Roughly 2-12% of silicone implants rupture at some point, but this can depend on many different factors.

Ripples and Palpability

Ripples happen when the implant wrinkles, while palpability is the ability to sense rippling by touch. Sometimes these changes are visible through the skin and can require surgical correction if you’re unhappy with how they look.

Repositioning

Implants are not zero-gravity, meaning they can lose their initial position over time. Changes in body weight can also lead to an unfavorable look. If these affect your cosmetic satisfaction or cause discomfort, then implant revision or replacement is an option.

What to Expect From Implant Removal

You don’t need to have had your implants placed by Dr. Golosow to have her remove them. During your consultation, you’ll discuss your implants’ condition and review surgical options like simply removing the implant, removal plus breast lift, removing the scar capsule, or replacing the implant (possibly with an accompanying breast lift). Each procedure is unique and Dr. Golosow can help you determine the best course of action for your cosmetic goals.

Schedule a Consultation

Breast implant removal or revision can help you love your implants again. To meet with Dr. Golosow and learn more about your options, we invite you to contact our Fort Myers office by calling or filling out our online form.

 

How to Prepare for Your Breast Augmentation

Posted on by Dr. Golosow

If you are preparing for any surgery, you’re likely feeling nervous in the days leading up to the procedure. Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce anxiety. Anyone pursuing breast augmentation with Dr. Lorraine Golosow should follow her pre-procedure directions, making sure they can receive a ride home and pursue aftercare with someone they trust so they can recover quickly. These are some of the things Dr. Golosow may have you look over in order to prepare yourself for breast augmentation surgery.

Make Your Arrangements

On the date of your breast augmentation surgery, you will need someone to transport you to and from our office. Either this person or someone else you trust should be willing to be with you as often as you need during the first 24 hours of your recovery. Since the procedure uses general anesthesia that will leave you fatigued and drowsy hours after you leave, you will definitely need the assistance. The importance of this caretaker means you should plan things out with the relevant parties several days ahead of the procedure.

Prep Your Home

Think about whatever you will need or want after your breast augmentation surgery to make you feel as comfortable as possible during recovery. Here are a few suggestions.

  • Make your bed with clean bedding.
  • Keep your favorite entertainment options nearby so you can read, listen, or watch from the comfort of bed.
  • Go grocery shopping and maybe even prepare some meals ahead of time.
  • Since you won’t be able to raise your arms above your head, arrange important things in your home so this won’t be a problem.
  • Refill your prescriptions ahead of time.
  • Pick out comfortable clothes for the days after surgery. Items like sweatpants, robes, and anything else designed for comfort and ease should be your priority.
  • Settle household chores ahead of time. Your priority after surgery should be on recovery, so either do your various chores before the procedure or have others handle them for you.

While each of these things may seem trivial, every little thing that you can have taken care of adds up to a quicker and easier post-op recovery.

Heading Back to Work

The average patient needs anywhere from three to seven days to fully recover from breast augmentation. This means that you should request the appropriate time away from work or school. It also means that you need to modify any childcare arrangements you have.

Once Dr. Golosow determines that you are safe to return to non-strenuous activity, you must stick to whatever recovery instructions you were given. It will take a few weeks before your body will be strong enough to return to activities like a high-impact exercise routine.

It is normal for your breasts to appear high-up for as much as three months after the procedure but this is normal; all implants eventually settle into their proper place.

It is worth noting that where you had your implants placed within your body is a major factor in the timeline of your recovery process. Breast implants that are installed below the pectoral muscle take a longer time to heal than ones that were simply placed below the breast tissue.

Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Surgery

Not everyone responds the same way to invasive surgeries, which is why it’s important to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon about the options you have to achieve the look you desire. Dr. Lorraine Golosow is here to listen to your concerns and provide an honest assessment in your first consultation. Schedule your consultation today to find out what our team can do for you.

Your Breast Surgery Options Explained

Posted on by Dr. Golosow

A woman’s breasts can impact her self-esteem and self-confidence significantly. There can be changes in the breasts from aging, weight fluctuation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and even diseases such as cancer. Thankfully, there are numerous surgical options available for women that can give them the breast look they want and improve their quality of life. 

Breast Surgery Options

Every woman’s body and goals are different. There are options for any need. Some surgeries can be combined, as well. Here are breast surgery options that you and your surgeon can choose from:

  1. Breast Augmentation: When your breasts are not the size you want or are asymmetrical, breast augmentation can help. This is one of the most popular surgeries performed because it helps women feel more confident and can give better shape, volume, and contours to the breasts.
  2.  Breast Implant Exchange: After a woman has had augmentation, she may eventually decide on a breast implant exchange, also called a revision. This procedure entails removing the current implant and putting in a new one. Some reasons this surgery is done are due to capsular contracture, rupture, wanting to change the size or shape of the implant, or wanting to change the type of implant.
  3. Breast Implant Removal: Sometimes, a woman may decide to remove the implants permanently. It can be because she experienced problems with her implants, or sometimes she just wants to go back to the natural size and shape of the breasts instead of the current augmented one.
  4. Breast Reduction: When a woman’s breasts become excessively large, they can cause great discomfort to her. The weight can cause back and postural issues that impact the quality of life. If a woman is faced with these problems, she may decide to reduce the size of her breasts surgically to help. This surgery can reduce and eliminate pain and other issues caused by large breasts such as sell-consciousness or the inability to do activities she loves.
  5. Breast Lift: Aging, pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and breastfeeding can impact the firmness and volume of the breasts. They may begin to sag and droop. A breast lift can help them sit higher on the chest and look more youthful and firmer. Sometimes breast lifts are combined with augmentations or reductions to give the best results.
  6. Breast Reconstruction: Breast cancer can sometimes cause a woman to lose her breasts via mastectomy. This is a necessary surgery, but the loss of one or both breasts can impact a woman emotionally. There are methods to reconstruct breasts after mastectomy. The two main options surgeons have are implants or using the patient’s tissues to rebuild and give them a new breast or breasts. Having this surgery can help a woman celebrate survival and also help her heal emotionally at the same time. She will feel more feminine and like her old self again.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are interested in one or more of these procedures, call Lorraine Golosow, MD. and her staff today to book your consultation.