Edmonds Doctors

Are Rubbing "Squeaky" Noises 3 Weeks Post op Normal?

I had my BA 17 days ago(sub-muscular silicone). Immediately after the surgery I noticed a lot of squeaking and popping, which I knew was normal and it went away. However, my right breast has begun making a fairly loud rubbing noise when I do my massages or when I move my arm in certain directions. It feels like the implant is rubbing on my chest wall when it moves. Is this normal this many days out? My friend jokes that I have a squeaky toy now - funny as long as it goes away! Thanks.

The "noise" is the shell of your implant rubbing on the rib cage, making friction and that is what makes the squeak.  There will be a smooth slippery layer of tissue forming between these two surfaces soon and the bothersome squeaking will go away. I have never had a patient where it didn't eventually disappear.

If you are still bothered by tis after 6 to 8 weeks be sure to go back to your surgeon

Phillip C. Haeck, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

I Had Implants Done 27 Years Ago, Not Sure if They Are Saline or Silicone. How Can I Tell?

Is there any way to tell if I have silicone or saline implants?

There only two ways to know what you have had done in the past:  Obtain your records from the surgeon's office where you had them put in.  The type of implant will be listed in your file.  Short of being able to do that the only other way is to have a plastic surgeon remove them.  When the surgery is over he or she can tell you what they found.  

Twenty seven years ago the implants weren't made like they are today.  Very few people drive twenty seven year old cars.  I highly recommend getting these exchanged for newer implants soon.

Phillip C. Haeck, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

How Come a Face Lift is Muscle Repositioning Oposed to Just Pulling the Skin Back?

When you hear about a face lift you hear the doctors say they have to re position the muscles in the face opposed to what seems to be the obvious thing to do and that is to just pull the skin back and sow???

The first time a muscle based facelift was done in 1978 it was met with skepticism by plastic surgeons.  But within a few years it became widely embraced since it gives longer lasting results, requires less dissection of the skin itself and when the sowing is done on the muscles the skin can be tacked down, not pulled.  The facelifts where all the tension is in the skin and not the muscles in general have much less fine lined scars.  I don't do any facial work without doing something to the muscle layer too whether it is a mini lift a full facelift or a neck lift.  if you find a surgeon who only tightens the skin I would keep looking.

Phillip C. Haeck, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon