Breast Lift, Implants, & Augmentation
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May 2009
Can anyone recommend an experienced plastic surgeon for
breast surgery involving removing a ruptured implant and
reconstructing what remains? Your experiences and input are
most welcome. Thanks.
anon
I have had two breast surgeries with
Dr. Robert Aycock -- an
augmentation/lift and a repair to remove scar tissue. Both went
very well and I am very happy with the results. I used the Walnut
Creek office at 925-937-8377 but there is also a Greenbrae office
at 415-925-1700. He and his office staff have a warm but realistic
approach. He also has a web site that shows before and afters.
kl
Dr. Michael Cedars on Pill Hill in Oakland did my plastic surgery
and I am very pleased with the result. He and his office staff are
really great to work with.
Happy I went to Dr. Cedars
August 2008
Hello. I am interested in recommendations for a great cosmetic
surgeon for breast augmentation. I am also interested to hear from
those of you who have had this procedure done, as I am still in the
deciding stages and would love to hear your stories, both positive
and negative. Are you glad you did it? any regrets? thanks!
anon
Hello: I'm in treatment for breast cancer, which includes breast
reconstruction post-mastectomy.
Kaiser Permanente's plastic
surgeons do a lot of reconstruction surgery for patients like me and
so are excellent at breast procedures such as the augmentation
you're considering. My Plastic Surgeon is Karen Yokoo, MD, and I
highly recommend her from my own experience and from the photos of
other patients. Kaiser has a fee for service cosmetic plastic
surgery offering. Dr. Yokoo is worth checking out. I would,
however, recommend that you take care to make certain that you're
doing this for yourself and your body - because you want it.
Anon
July 2008
hi - I am seriously considering a breast lift (no augmentation)
and would appreciate any recommendations in the east bay or SF
for a surgeon to consult with. thanks!
looking for a great surgeon
I had a breast lift done my Dr. Michael Cedars in 1998 - at the
time I thought I wanted a reduction (purely cosmetic - not enough
to be a medical issue)and saw SEVERAL plastic surgeons in the area,
many of whom seemed only to care whether my check cleared. Dr.
Cedars, who is located right by Alta Bates hospital on Webster, was
very patient and thorough in explaining my options and was most
concerned with me being happy with the results. He was also the
only Dr. who approached this as serious surgery rather than a
beauty treatment, which for me was reassuring - when you are
totally under, it's not *really* a spa day. I was very happy with
the experience (done at the Surgery Center by the McArthur Bart
Station), and 10 years later all I can think is that I wish I'd
done it sooner.
Having had no complications or issues, I haven't had to contact Dr.
Cedars since, but I believe he's still in business at the same
location.
still perky
I would like to recommend
Dr. Elizabeth Lee. I had a breast
reduction in Feb 2007 and it has changed my life. My scarring is
nearly invisible, and I'm sure the scarring from a lift would be
even less. My recovery was very fast - back in the gym after 2
weeks. From my first consult I knew that I would use Dr. Lee
because in addition to her fine surgical skills, she really works
with you to understand exactly what you want. Her pre- and
post-surgical care is very thorough and thoughtful - there were no
surprises and I felt cared for and supported every step of the
way. While a lift is a different procedure than a reduction, I
have every confidence that Dr. Lee would do an equally fantastic
job - I've heard that Dr. Lee performs lifts with very small
incisions.
Dr. Lee is located on Regent Street in Berkeley. Her number is
510-704-2170.
Couldn't be happier
I recommend Dr. Kenneth Bermudez. My daughter just had breast
reduction surgery for health reasons. She had interviewed other
doctors but felt more confident about Dr. Bermudez. He practices
in S.F. but there weren't that many appointments so the
''commute'' was not an issue. The office staff was particularly
kind and helpful. His number is (866) 229-8155
Mom
August 2006
Looking for a plastic surgeon for breast lift/agumentation..
Has anyone had any experience with Dr. Togba? Any negative
experiences with other doctors/procedures are appreciated as
well.
Thank you
Paula
Hi I could have sworn I posted a positive recommendation for
Dr. Togba before but did not
see it in the archives. I had a breast reduction/lift done in October. I had very uneven
breast from nursing on one side and have been agonizing over the surgery for a number of
years. I was nervous about the procedure, the recovery and the scars. Well, I am so glad I
did it and Dr. Togba did a phenomonal job. I was back at my job after 2 weeks and recovered
very fast. Scars are minimal, you can't even tell. I am so happy I went through with it and
cannot recommend Dr. Togba enough, i would go back to him in a heartbeat.
anon
May 2006
Three kids and my once perky breasts are a tired, pitiful, almost
invisible sight. Thus, I have begun to seriously consider plastic
surgery. In the spirit of exploring my contorversial utopian
ideal I am seeking personal experiences with such operations.
Very specifically (and exclusively!) I would like to learn about
particular doctors, costs, troubles, triumphs, etc. that have
resulted from surgeries performed ONLY in the last three years. I
have heard enough horror stories about outdated procedures to
suffice.
I appreciate any contacts and/or information you can offer.
Thanks a lot!
Ready for change!
I was in your shoes last year. Absolutely nothing but loose skin left
in the bust area. I had a lift and augmentation from
Dr. Aycock in Walnut Creek. I did tons of research on the
procedure(s) on the net beforehand, and his office had lots of
before/after pictures to show me what I could realistically expect. It
cost about $6k, and worth it. I didn't get ''big ones'', but rather a
size that was close to my pre-pregnancy size.
The shape is different, of course, and I wish they looked more natural,
but I am still pleased I did it. I was depressed every time I saw
myself in the mirror, and this was one of the few post-pregnancy
''repairs'' that was possible (since the stretch marks, loose skin, and
wider ribcage aren't fixable). It did wonders for my self-esteem.
I think the main thing I can recommend is to do lots of research, don't
expect perfection, but rather a great improvement on what you have now,
and ask your doctor as many questions as you can think of.
Good luck!
anon
I had an augmentation and lift done about 2 years ago. Same situation as
you (everything seems to go south after a couple kids...LOL). Mine were
done by Dr. Aycock on San Miguel in Walnut Creek. He did a very good job
and I am 90% happy with the result. The bigger breasts make the rest of
you look slimmer by the way! I understand you shouldn't go too big as it
can be stressful on your back. I went from about a B to a full C. The
only negative was that I had a capsular contracture on one side...some
scar tissue forming on one side around the implant, so that makes that
side a little harder to the touch.
I understand that this is rare. I went in for a second surgery to try to
correct it and remove scar tissue but it happened again. Maybe just my
system? Anyway, I have full feeling in both nipples and it has not
inhibited my doing sports at all.
There was some concern that it could make cross country skiing (swinging
the arms) more difficult. Recovery time was about a month for going back
to sports. I think it is a morale lift (pun intended!) for us more
middle aged ladies. Good luck!
anon. mom
March 2006
My 17.5 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with
congenital constricted tubular breasts. We have consulted with
two surgeons, one at Children's Hospital in Oakland and the other
at UCSF, who both recommend augmentation of the breast that is
signficantly smaller. The consultations have been driven by my
daughter - she has been asking to get her breasts ''fixed'' for a
couple years now and is feeling like it is time to do it before
heading off to college next fall. She is extremely self-conscious
about her lop-sidedness and doesn't wear close-fitting clothes or
bathing suits. If anyone out there has experience with this, I'd
greatly appreciate hearing what you decided and, if you went
through with the surgery, how it went.
(For those of you who will
tell me that all women's breasts are slightly different sizes,
this is not her case: she really has one significantly smaller
breast and one well-rounded, fully-developed breast. She
currently only wears baggy sweatshirts and is often in tears when
trying to wear something else for some sort of dressier occasion.
She's also not happy with the bras that have inserts, which she
does use off and on).
Concerned mom
YES to surgery. This was/is me. It was so incredibly hard. I
cannot describe adequately how careful I had to be to not show
this to others. For quite a while I had only one breast. My
breasts are different cup sizes - one is usually a C, the other
an A. The timing would be perfect - before going to college.
this really impacted my ability to be intimate too. all is well
now though. only question I'd ask would be about
breastfeeeding - now that I have successfully breastfed my son
(small breast being the big producer over here!) for over a
year, I would hate for your daughter to miss out on that.
odd boobs
I had to respond to this, as I just had this surgery myself at
age 32 for the same thing: severe assymetry from a tuburous
contracted breast. After years of feeling embarassed and anxious
every time I put on a bathing suit or wore a tight shirt, I'm
just giddy about the fact that I don't have to feel that way any
more. I should add that I spent most of my life hoping the
problem would resolve itself once I finished developing, once I
finished breastfeeding, etc., and it never did.
I'm not sure what kind of advice you want, but I can tell you a
bit about my experience. I had my surgery through Kaiser, and I
did lots of research online beforehand, so I knew what to expect.
The recovery was quite painful and took a couple of weeks, so be
prepared. I'd plan on a minimum of one week of mostly rest, and
two weeks at the outside. The other thing your daughter should be
prepared for is that the surgery does not make your breasts look
identical. Because the tissue was so contracted, my tuberous side
is higher than the other side, though it continues to 'settle' in
to a more natural look. I personally have been so happy to have
roughly symmetrical breasts that I could care less about this.
And don't let anyone who hasn't had personal experience with this
say ''it's normal for women's breasts to be assymmetrical.''
Whenever I talked about my situation, people said this to me
without an understanding of what it feels like to have a
difference in actual cup size. Everyone has different ways of
dealing with things, but I personally am so happy I had this
surgery.
love my new rack
I can't speak to the issue of asymmetry, but I do have some
insight to the question of going through with the surgery for
your daughter. I am a 42 yr-old mother of two girls. I had
breast reconstruction (reduction) surgery when I was 16 yrs old
and it was a life-changing thing for me - one of the best things
my mother did for me. Suddenly, I gained confidence I never had
before. I had been pretty miserable before the surgery, feeling
completely out of place, and kept to myself most of the time. It
is hard enough to be a teenager, but to be a teenager with a
noticable difference is even worse. Aside from constant back
pain and bra straps digging into my shoulders, my breasts were
simply too large for the rest of my petite frame. I felt
freakish. After the surgery, I went to the beach, wore tank
tops, and started jogging. My life was truly changed for the
better, and I finally felt good about myself.
Your daughter might have a better self-image than I did at 16,
but there is no doubt in my mind that after the surgery, her
life will improve. If either of my daughters are ever in the
position that I was in, or that your daughter is in, I would not
hesitate to proceed with surgery, barring any great risks, and
provided they wanted it.
anon
June 2005
After nursing two children and knowing that I am done having
children, I am ready to do something about the flat tires that
used to be my breasts. I am looking for an excellent plastic
surgeon anywhere in the bay area for both a lift and implants.
- in need of a lift
I would like to recommend my plastic surgeon, Karla Werninghaus at
Kaiser in Fremont/Hayward
(you can see her at either office). Last year I
had to have a mastectomy, and I had the other breast reduced. I am
very happy with my remaining breast. When I went to the breast
prosthesis shop, the owner of the shop, who has seen many breasts in
all states of repair, complimented the work that the surgeon had done. I
am pretty sure that Kaiser plastic surgeons do outside work because it is
so profitable. Just one thing: Dr. Werninghaus is not a ''people person.''
But she was very highly recommended by a nurse anesthetist who
works with many different surgeons.
Lovin' the one I got
I read the previous posts to this subject and they were all
negative. I have not regretted having breast implants 7 years
ago and would highly recommend Dr. Owsley in San Francisco.
www.drjohnowsley.com I have to warn you, he was fairly
expensive, but came VERY highly recommended and had an
excellent and supportive staff. Good Luck.
anon
I've had implant surgery twice (I went larger the second time)
with Dr. Papalian and will return to him for a lift after a few
more children. He's down the peninsula but well worth the
commute. I did thorough research and he's the best in the Bay
Area. I think he's so good because he specializes in
reconstrustive surgery after breast removal. His nurses are
great and his hospital is fantastic. His number is (650) 364-6060.
chesty and happy
June 2004
I've had breast implants for about thirteen years. So far I've
been very happy with them and haven't had any problems.
But with thirteen years and two breasfed kids into
toddlerhood they have...well...kinda changed. I think it's time
for a replacement. Which is good, because I'll be switching
over to saline. Has anybody had this procedure
(replacement ) or even a recent first augmentation and can
recommend a surgeon? I've heard something about Kaiser
(our health plan) covering removal and charging for
replacement, but both procedures are obviously done a the
same time by the same surgeon. The archive
recommendations are for breast reduction. No positive
ones for augmentation.
In Need of Retreads
I have been very pleased with my augmentation surgeon,
Robert Aycock
in Walnut Creek (925) 937-8377. I didn't go for a ''re-
do'', but I was very pleased with his manner, his work, and the
fact that he didn't charge for a consultation (I consulted quite
a few doctors before choosing him, and they all charged). He
clearly feels confident in that he will not be ''wasting'' his
time with a client by only consulting, which is refreshing. I
was referred by a girlfriend who was very happy with her surgery
result, as well. Good luck!
anon
I am a plastic surgeon in Berkeley and do a fair amount of
breast surgery, reductions, augmentations and revisions with
implant exchange. You are correct that insurance may pay for
the removal of implants, but they are getting more sticky about
authorizing this if there is no evidence of implant rupture,
even if your implants are 13 years old and made of silicone gel.
If Kaiser will pay for removal of the implants, you should
consider having your procedure done there; the plastic surgeons
at Kaiser Oakland and Kaiser Walnut Creek are excellent. I also
believe Kaiser has a mechanism for allowing you to have cosmetic
procedures on a fee for service basis.
Good luck with your decision.
Local Plastic Surgeon
I had breast implants and a lift (after two nursing children and
40 some years of gravity) done by Dr. Robert Aycock on San
Miguel in Walnut Creek. I have been very happy with the results.
kl
September 2003
Re implants:
Does anyone have a recommendation for a good plastic surgeon for
breast augmentation? I checked the website and there aren't
many. Also, i'd love to hear from anyone who has undergone the
procedure - to hear the pros and cons. I've yet to find anyone
who has regretted it... Thanks!
My mother had breast implants after a double mastectomy 20 years
ago.I don't know if the material they use now is different than
20 years ago, but the result of her right implant has been
horrendous. It split in roughly two pieces about ten years
ago. One half has migrated under her armpit, where it will
permanently reside. (The procedure is too long and arduous for
her age and medical condition to ever have it removed) Would
recommend asking what implants are made of today and their
potential to split or leak. Also, how will implants affect
getting a good mammogram in the future.
Kelly
I don't have a recommendation for a surgeon, but do strongly
regret having had implants twelve years ago. First, it
dramatically changed my nipple sensitivity so it was no longer
pleasurable to have my breasts touched. The surgeon had informed
me that a mere 2% of women lose the sensation in their nipples.
That statistic may be true, but that doesn't include women like
myself whose sensitivity is not completely lost, just
dramatically changed. Second, the implants make breast cancer
detection much more difficult. I was later diagnosed with cancer
in one breast & the implant made it much harder to get a good
mamogram. I had no family history or other risk factors & was
otherwise healthy, so don't dismiss this concern as inapplicable
to you. When I was considering implants & asked the plastic
surgeon about the effect on breast cancer detection, I was
informed to just have an annual mamogram. Third, is there any
possibility you may want to have a baby in the future? Implants
make breastfeeding much more difficult. Some women with implants
are unable to breastfeed at all; others like myself were able to
breastfeed only with a lot of extra effort & supplementing with
formula. Whatever you decide, do your own research & don't
accept at face value what the plastic surgeons tell you.
Regarding breast implants, I know two women who got silicon ones
about 15 years ago. Both women's implants ruptured, sending the
silicon into their armpits and throughout their bodies. One
woman just passed away about 6 months ago at the age of 46 (I
don't know if her lupus had anything to do with the implants),
and the other is still alive. The living one (age: late 50's)
believes the silicon poisoned her body. She's had her ups and
downs with her health ever since. I concur with a previous
responder: do research, including talking to other women who've
had it done. Maybe consider a breast lift without implants.
Kim
Jan 2002
I am thinking about getting breast enlargements.
Does anyone know of a good doctor out there, anywhere
in America would be fine.
re: Breast Enlargement
i'd definitely check with the american society of plastic and reproductive
surgeons (asprs?) for board certified plastic surgeons in the area. i'm not
specifically recommending my mom, a plastic & reconstructive surgeon, as
she's in palm desert, ca, but her website has lots of lovely before and
after pictures: http://www.zachermd.com/
good luck.
Jessica
this page was last updated: Jun 21, 2009
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