Chattanooga Doctors

Will Full Face Lift Require General Anesthesia Which May Displace Front Teeth Dental Work?

55 y/o F considering full face lift vs lifestyle lift...the lifestyle lift was a consideration because i worry about displacing/destroying fragile dental work involving two front upper teeth if i have general anesthesia...still in research mode, please advise. Thanks. I do understand that full face lift with general anesthesia allows deeper/greater repair.

Facelifts can be done under sedation or general anesthesia. For a good Facelift, you will have to select a good surgeon, not a marketed, branded procedure.

You do not have to go completely to sleep. No matter which technique you choose, make sure that your plastic surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgey, Inc., not some other Cosmetic Board or Academy.

I hope this helps.

J. Jason Wendel, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Do I Have Enough 'Spare Fat' to Have a Fat Transfer Breast Enlargement? (photo)

I'm 18 years old, 173cm tall and weigh about 63 kilograms. My left breast (B cup) is a full cup size larger than my right. I hate having asymmetrical breasts and really want to have a fat transfer procedure to make the right breast a B cup to match. I'm fairly fit so I'm worried I won't have enough fat to 'harvest'. Also, what would be the cost of this procedure be in Australia? Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated! (Oh and I definitely do not want breast implants)

The body of information is growing rapidly in fat transfer for breast enhancement and reconstruction.  Yes, it works. You can expect to get about a 150 mL increase in the amount of volume in the right breast.  This would give you a more even match between your two breasts. Fat can be taken from your flanks, butt, tummy, hips, and/or thighs...or...a little from each.

You will have to see plastic surgeons in Australia for cost estimates. Best of Luck!

J. Jason Wendel, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Reconstruction Options for Very Thin Mantle Radiation (30 Yr Ago) Patient with DCIS?

Now 5'3"/~90 lb. Even when 105 I was a B- at most. Bilateral mastectomy, due to my hx & mother's breast CA, set for 3/6/12. Two surgeons gave different recommendations - 1-stage with Alloderm & implant by an MD who has not treated anyone with my hx vs. 2-stage with expanders & implants by an MD who has "done" 6 Hodgkin's patients ~like me. I work full-time and prefer the easiest recovery IF the long-term results are equal. What factors should carry the most weight & what would you recommend.

Both options sound reasonable.  I have done both expander and direct implant-based breast reconstruction in patients with a history of mantle radiation with success. 

If, by some chance, your tissues are not suitable for implant reconstruction, then you may consider bilateral latissimus dorsi flaps, TRAM, muscle-sparing free TRAM, free TRAM, DIEP, SGAP, or IGAP flaps as alternative methods for breast reconstruction.

Discuss this with your plastic surgeon and seek other opinions if necessary. Good luck.

J. Jason Wendel, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon