Breast Augmentation: Q&A

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Breast Augmentation Done with Cauterization

Does a breast augmentation done with cauterization result in a faster recovery? I heard this is new technique that results in less bleeding/bruising therefore less pain.Do any surgeons out there have experience with this?

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26 Doctor Answers | Asked by detroitchick in Detroit

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Breast Augmentation Done with Cauterization

NEW? What new? I've been doing this for over 30 years as have most PS. Not new you are confused. Seek other opinions in person. From MIAMI DR. Darryl J. Blinski

Breast augmentation with cauterization

Dr. Tebbetts in Dallas has popularized this idea and promoted it as one which has very minimal recovery. I think that is an over-reach as recovery is very patient dependent as well as surgeon dependent. What I can say about doing the whole thing with a cautery and none with "blunt dissection", is that I can now do the whole operation in 30 minutes with less postoperative swelling and a faster time to the final look. 80% of my patients say that it hurt less than... more

Cautery and breast surgery

Virtually every surgeon uses cautery in the vast majority of their procedures. It has been around for decades and does reduce bleeding but there is no proof that it reduces pain. Cautery is essentially always used during breast augmentation surgery. I would recommend that you not trust a surgeon who claims that their cautery technique is better or that it reduces pain.

Cauterization reduces bleeding and bruising with breast augmentation

Cauterization refers to making the pocket for your breast implants by heat-sealing the tissues as they are elevated. When compared to "blunt" dissection with a metal instrument or the surgeon's gloved fingers, cauterization results in less bleeding. In my experience performing over 2000 breast augmentations with cauterization, I have noticed the following in my patients: 1. Virtually no bruising. 2. Low rate of reoperation for hematoma (bleeding). My... more

No Bleeding Breast Augmentation

Yes I follow the technique of electrocautery dissection described by Dr. Tebbetts and I feel it has several advantages. First there is very little or no bleeding which seems to result in a quicker recovery when combined with the stretching exercises he recommends. There is little swelling and bruising and I think it is the best way to perform breast augmentation

Breast augmentation with cauterization = quicker recovery?

Your question has certainly sparked many thoughtful answers from my colleagues. As plastic surgeons we rely heavily on the use of electro-cautery particularly when doing procedures on the breast and body. Gentle handling of the tissues and atraumatic techniques which as plastic surgeons we are presumed to be adept at, has a significant contributing factor to fewer complications and quicker recovery time. The use of electro-cautery in breast augmentation as reported by Dr. Tebbits from... more

Cautery and Breast Augmemtation

Using cautery is not a new technique. It's not really even a technique, but rather, a surgical instrument referred to as a bovie pencil. Most surgeons use cautery for many different types of operations. Cautery is the use of electric current to both cut through tissues and stop bleeding. It looks like a pencil and is used in the majority of surgeries performed. The factors that reduce bruising are a controlled dissection where any and all bleeding is stopped using the cautery. In... more

Breast augmentation: cautery is not new

I think we all use cautery to do breast augmentation. Cautery stops bleeding, which speeds healing. This is not new, and if someone is using this as a "selling point" for their breast augmentation, I think you should look more closely at their credentials.

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation

Breast augmentation and for that matter almost any surgery that I perform uses some form of cauterization to stop any bleeding. This is not new.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

New Techniques in Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation Done with Cauterization Does a breast augmentation done with cauterization result in a faster recovery? I heard this is new technique that results in less bleeding/bruising therefore less pain.Do any surgeons out there have experience with this? Electrocautery has been around for ages and is used in almost every surgery that is done. Now if one is having breast augmentation via axilla (arm pit) or belly button, then there may not be any electrocautery... more

Breast Augmentation with Cautery

This is a very common technique employed universally by all surgeons to treat bleeding vessels during surgery. It is also used to dissect your tissues in procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck, and various body contouring procedures. Therefore use of cauterization is the standard of care, not a new technique.

Atraumatic Breast Augmentation Speeds Up Recovery

The use of atraumatic techniques in breast augmentation DOES SPEED UP recovery and using electrocautery is one of these operative techniques that does assist in the dissection along with helping to minimize or prevent bleeding . In the past, blunt dissection was used , in which there was alot more bleeding and trauma to the chestwall and this did delay recovery and return to work for many patients undergoing breast augmentation In summary, it is important to ask... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Electrocautery

Just like most of the other surgeons replying to your question, I am a little confused. There is nothing new about the use of a cautery. Either you misunderstood or you were given a sales-pitch by a very inexperienced person. I think you need to check the credentials of the place where you had your consultation. Make sure you are seeing and speaking to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. A board certification in Plastic Surgery is the only certification that... more

Breast Augmentation with Cauterization

Electrosurgery (electrocautery) was developed mostly by the work of Dr. William Bovie in Boston between 1914 and 1927. This was a cardinal advance allowing more expeditious dissection and control of hemorrhage during all types of surgical procedures. Use of cautery is hardly new, and was practiced by the application of red hot iron to tissue prior to the introduction of electrocautery. Few surgeons perform breast augmentation without electrocautery in the modern era,... more

Breast Augmentation with Cauterization

Thanks for the question. Electrocautery is standard practice by most surgeons. It is a time-tested techniques which has been utilized in many surgical techniques including breast augmentation for decades. It significantly decreases bleeding and bruising subsequently reducing recovery time. Warmest Regards, Glenn Vallecillos, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Role of Cautery in Plastic Surgery

Electrocautery has been around for ages. Surgeons utilize this to facilitate tissue dissection and hemostasis (minimizing blood loss). Electrocautery has been utilized in all facets of plastic surgery and almost all surgeries for that matter.

Use of Electrocautery in Augmentation is Not New

The use of electrocautery in the dissection performed during an augmentation mammaplasty is not a new concept. This has been the standard for a number of years. There may or may not be a more rapid recovery with this technique. It is something that is very difficult to measure because of the wide variation of pain perception among patients.

Electrocautery for breast augmentation.

We always use cautery for breast augmentation. It decreases the bleeding, bruising and swelling. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Cauterization Is But One Technique That May Improve Breast Augmentation Recovery

Cauterization is one technique that can help breast augmentation recovery as it results in less bleeding and bruising than simple blunt dissection. But it is not the only issue that contributes to recovery after breast implant surgery and it may not even be the most important one. Size of the implant and the amount of pocket dissection needed is probably more significant. Cauterization dissection in breast augmentation, in and out itself, is not a magical method for breast... more

Breast Augmentation with cauterization

Breast Augmentation is commonly performed using electrocautery. This however is not a new technique, it has been used by the majority of surgeons for many years. Placement of the implant above the muscle has been shown to minimize pain and speed recovery. Best of luck.

Does a breast augmentation done with cauterization result in a faster recovery

Regarding: "Breast Augmentation Done with Cauterization Does a breast augmentation done with cauterization result in a faster recovery? I heard this is new technique that results in less bleeding/bruising therefore less pain.Do any surgeons out there have experience with this?" Whenever tissues are sharply cut and all bleeding is stopped before it begins, there is much less inflammation and swelling resulting in less patient pain and a quicker recovery. THIS IS NOTHING NEW.... more

Breast Augmentation using Electrocautery

Yes, breast augmentation done with the electrocautery results in a significantly faster recovery. This is not a new technique. I have been using it for 30 years and Dr. John Tebbetts in Texas has written about it for years. Most are back to normal activities within just a day or so. More patients talking on the internet about their experience have forced surgeons using other methods to adopt this gentler one.

Cautery is a time-honored technique not just for breast implants

The electrocautery device has been in use for more than 100 years and is helpful to minimize bleeding. The more important aspect of its use for breast implant surgery is precise and gentle technique and dissection under direct vision instead of bluntly. This will shorten recovery time but there is no magic.

Breast augementation with cautery

It may be better to focus on the overall skills and results of a plastic surgeon and less on minor (and not proven) techniques of breast augmentation. Typically, a small breast implant placed above the muscle will have a shorter recovery period and less pain and bruising than a large implant placed under the muscle when done by the same surgeon. Injecting a local anesthetic with epinephrine to construct blood vessels (to minimize bleeding and bruising) helps also. A cautery (when used... more

Less blunt, less damage in breast augmentation

I have to agree, since I have changed to greater use of the cautery instead of blunt dissection, I have reduced the bruising and recovery time, too. With the cautery there is very little bleeding. There is less stretching and tearing of the tissue. However, recovery and pain have a lot to do with how large an implant is placed, the more volume the greater the stretching of the muscle which causes pain.

There is a big difference...

Many of us believe that the proper way to do a breast augmentation is with cautery and not with blunt dissection. While no surgeon has 100% of his patients with a 2-3 day recovery, this much more gentle way of creating a pocket gives you a much higher chance of a more painless recovery. In addition it likely decreases swelling, bruising, and risks of capsular contracture. I would meet with a board certified plastic surgeon and ask what type of method he uses, and why....... more