Dr. Marshall Yellen practices at the Plastic Surgery Clinic, 10 Lynoak Cove.
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A “mommy makeover” at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Jackson can include any of the following…
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• Mastopexy surgery to lift the breasts and improve their appearance.
• Liposuction to remove excess fat from the belly and legs.
• Mini-abdominoplasty to remove excess skin around the abdomen.
• Botox injections to remove frown lines between the brows of the face.
• Juvederm injections to provide a non-surgical face lift. Juvederm gel is made of the natural sugar (Hyaluronic acid) found in the skin.
• Latisse, an FDA-approved prescription treatment, to grow eyelashes.
• The Obagi Nu-Derm System, pharmaceutical grade skin care system.
Breast implants ‘improve the body image’
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| Dr. Marshall Yellen holds the new silicone gel-filled breast implants in his hands. |
Some call it the “Mommy Makeover.” After having a baby, a woman decides she’d like to enlarge her breasts back to the size she enjoyed before pregnancy or while nursing.
And while she’s talking to the plastic surgeon, maybe he could get rid of some of that excess stomach skin and tissue? And what about those fine lines and wrinkles she’s seeing on her face?
It’s not an unusual request of Dr. Marshall Yellen, a board-certified plastic surgeon at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Jackson. He specializes in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery.
He is seeing an increase in patients who want breast implants, he says. “It’s more socially accepted and it’s more affordable. A lot of patients miss the volume and the look of their breasts after pregnancy.” But breast enlargement is not just popular with new mothers. Women of all ages, mothers and non-mothers alike, seek breast augmentation, says Dr. Yellen. “They want to improve their body image.”
Dr. Yellen starts with a consultation with the patient in his office. He explains the risks, benefits, options and what to expect during and after surgery, answers the patient’s questions, and determines the size for the implant. Most women go up at least one cup size, sometimes two sizes, from an A or B cup to a C or D. The patient’s goals and expectations are discussed in detail.
He offers two types of implants: a saline implant and a silicone gel-filled implant. The saline implants are less expensive, but the silicone implants feel more natural and are more aesthetically pleasing, he explained.
Silicone implants got a bad rap several years ago and were taken off the market. Dr. Yellen’s clinic participated in a study on the safety of the implants by one of the manufacturer’s, Allergan. “There was no proven link between breast implants and systemic diseases in women,” he says. The FDA approved the safety of silicone gel implants in 2006.
Since breast augmentation is considered cosmetic surgery, it is not covered by insurance. Women concerned with cost should still come in for a consultation, says Dr. Yellen. “You’ll find them affordable.” (The implants also are used in reconstruction of breasts, which may be covered by insurance.)
Care Credit, for example, will finance the breast augmentation surgery with competitive interest rates.
The surgery itself is done in an outpatient setting or same-day surgery center. The patient is put to sleep with anesthesia. The incision Dr. Yellen makes varies depending on the type of implant, but are done to later hide the scar. The procedure takes one to two hours.
Most patients take a week off from work, recovering in four to seven days, he says. “Most women return to their full activities in three to four weeks.”
The implant can last 15 to 20 years, barring any problems, he says.
Dr. Yellen encourages women to follow American Cancer Society recommendations and continue to do monthly self-breast exams and to have mammograms as prescribed by their physician.
At times, Dr. Yellen does recommend a mammogram before the procedure to ensure beast health. “Informing the radiologist of the implants allows the technician to obtain a good diagnostic mammogram.”d by a board-certified plastic surgeon for a medically healthy patient at an accredited outpatient facility."