Wilmette Doctors

I Went Until 3400 M in a Mountain and I Felt Air Bubbles Inside my Breast. Was It Normal?

I had no pain or other symptom, just felt this bubbles inside my breast. When touched they moved all around the implant. I come back and about 1000 m mountain down the bubbles start to disappear. I'd like to know if you heard about other cases and if it's possible to continue climbing high altitude mountains.

I have to admit I am skeptical, and the 'experiment' would be easy to replicate. The idea of air forming in the implant requires a pressure drop great enough to pull air out of solution in the saline fill, cavitation, much like the gas release as the top is removed from a carbonated solution. The 'air' in your case would be nitrogen, just like a diver who was saturated at depth and surfaced too fast. An interestnig idea we'll have to test out.

Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon

Have Had Encapsulation With Saline Implants, Than Again After Revision. What Are My Options?

I Had Saline Breast Implants 6 Years Ago.  I Had my Left Breast Implant Replaced Due to an Encapsulation.  Within 4 Months I Had an encapsulation again on the same left side. At that time I replaced both implants with silicone. Now 3 years later I believe I am experiencing encapsulation again on my left side. what are my options?

The best we have done for capsular contracture is replacement in a new pocket, with recurrence rates near 50%. An allograft has been recommended 'off label' to reduce the recurrence rate but evidence so far is not conclusive. A very few will give up on implants altogether, and many more live with the firmness.

Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon

Very Unhappy With Tip Plasty Results 1 Month Post Op, Can Anything Be Done? (photo)

I had a nose job done a month ago. I thought I was going to the best because he is chief of plastic surgery at a hospital,but I was wrong! He says that my skin was thin & my tip cartilage was so screwed up, thats why my pre-nose was very boxy. Now my nose is going back to the exact nose I had. I dont get i? He told me that if I wanted it fixed he would have to put more stitches in there, but he'd need to open me up again!He says my nose was so bad that this is the best I can get? What can I do?

After you fully heal there are solutions to the tip shape, though it will likely require a second opinion. The tip was not 'screwed up', it is just that the tip reflects the form of the cartilages beneath. Do your homework and find a surgeon with a focus on rhinoplasty.

Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon