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CLAIM YOUR PROFILEHello. Certain contraceptives cause hormonal changes that affect your breast tissue. This could cause symptoms independent of the breast implants. It is also possible that the hormonal changes are causing some change in the capsule or scar around your implant that is leading to your symptoms. There is only one way to find out - try stopping the pill for a while to see what happens. If your pain does not go away, then you know it's probably not the pill. Perhaps you are developing capsular contracture. If the pain goes away, then consider a different kind of pill. Hope this helps!
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Hello - CONGRATULATIONS on your weight loss! I concur with most of the other surgeons who have answered - it is probably safer to do this in stages. However, it is certainly possible to do it all at once if you are in the hands of a qualified and board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience with such large combined cases, and ideally a colleague to help them in surgery (which will reduce operative time). There is certainly a risk of blood clots from prolonged body contouring surgery, so make sure you are given the appropriate treatment to reduce this risk. Best of luck! I would do it in stages.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Hello - it is really hard to say what happened to you to cause this. Could it be a stretch mark in that area? Something that happened during or after surgery, perhaps related to the binder? Who knows. But I think once the skin has healed you can use a silicone gel to dramatically improve the scar. All my patients ask me what they can do to improve their scars, so I've done the research, and the ONLY proven topical treatment is silicone sheets or silicone gel. Hope this helps!
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Hello - I think the answer to your question depends on how you feel about your current breasts, specifically the position of your nipples. If you don't mind them being a little bit low, then a modest augmentation will give a bit more volume and fill out the upper part of the breast. And you will avoid the cost and scars associated with a mastopexy or lift. It is important to understand that because the breast is somewhat low, the implant will need to be placed low, which will limit the surgeon's ability to place the implant under the muscle (which is higher on your chest than the breast). Because the augmentation will be only partially under the muscle, or perhaps not at all, you will be at increased risk for capsular contracture. Using a textured implant can reduce this risk, but there is an extremely rare form of cancer (ALCL, or anaplastic large cell lymphoma) associated with textured implants as well. This cancer is usually curable, and it is extremely rare, but it's been in the media so I feel compelled to mention it. Some surgeons will place large sub glandular implants (over the muscle) in patients like you, which will fill out the excess skin and provide somewhat of a lift. I strongly advise against this misguided approach, as it further stretches the skin and compounds the underlying problem. In this situation, when you eventually develop issues related to the implants (want them removed, downsized, a lift, etc), it becomes a very difficult situation requiring much more involved surgery with increased risk of complications and less guarantee of an optimal result. The skin and breast tissue is stretched out and thin, and when the implant and capsule are removed, performing mastopexy can be risky due to poor blood flow to the skin. For this reason, we often do the implant removal and mastopexy in two stages (3 months apart). You don't want to go there - trust me!
With regard to what type of implant to use, I think a textured round silicone or saline implant is best to reduce the risk of capsular contracture in the sub glandular plane, but there are a lot of opinions on this matter and it's best to discuss things with a board certified plastic surgeon. Some surgeons believe the anatomic or "tear-drop" shaped implants provide a little lift to the breast, but several recent review articles have shown that in most cases there is no difference, so I would recommend sticking with round implants. In your case, if you go with a smaller implant, then the overlying breast tissue will cover the implant nicely and you won't be able to tell the difference between a silicone vs saline or round vs shaped implant. I actually recommend saline implants in patients like you because in 5 or 10 years if you are thinking of having them removed but unsure whether you want to replace them, have a mastopexy, or both, then it is easy to rupture the implants in clinic with a needle, draw off the saline, let your body absorb the rest, and then watch over several months as the breast contracts and you can see where you are at ground zero and make a much more informed decision as to how to proceed.
In short, I think you would be happy with small implants (250-350) but you can't expect a miracle, and you will likely require some type of mastopexy in the future if you want the nipples to be higher. With time, the breast tissue and nipples will continue to sag over the breast implants resulting in the "Snoopy" deformity... Best of luck!
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Hello - it is not at all uncommon to have such symptoms after BBA, and even if the exact same procedure was performed on each side, it is not uncommon for patients to experience symptoms on one side that they do not have on the other side. Give it more time, be patient, communicate with your surgeon any concerns you have, and I hope you obtain the result you are looking for! Best of luck, EGH
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Hello - if you had purely a size discrepancy of roughly 25cc, then using different size implants should make things more symmetric. Hopefully you tried different sizers in the office prior to surgery and were able to participate in the decision to use 425/400cc implants, however an experienced plastic surgeon is also able to make this judgement to give you the result you are looking for. Many times, however, there are other subtle asymmetries beyond size, such as differences in nipple position, fold position, etc, that are not solved by merely placing different implant sizes, and these may be differences that you either have to accept or consider further surgery to address. It is really hard to say anything without seeing photos, and certainly you should allow several more months to pass before passing judgement. I hope you have a good relationship with your surgeon so you can voice these concerns. Best of luck!
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Hello - your symptoms sound very troubling, but I don't think they could be caused by having a mommy makeover a year ago. It is also unlikely that an elevated D-dimer would be caused by having a mommy makeover a year ago. Unexplained bruises are also likely unrelated. You may feel some scar tissue from the surgery on the breasts or lower abdomen, but new bruising cannot be explained by having had surgery a year ago. I would forget about the ED and see your PCP, hopefully someone who can spend some time with you to figure out what is going on. Best of luck!
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
If you are in remission, then using Lovenox to prevent blood clots after surgery should be safe. It shouldn't cause a flare of your Crohn's colitis. If you had active Crohn's, it might cause more bleeding, but if you are in remission it shouldn't. I would run this by your gastroenterologist to be sure, and make sure your plastic surgeon is aware of your concerns. Best of luck!
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Hello - it is impossible to say what is best for you without having an in-depth discussion regarding your goals, taking into consideration your risk tolerance. You should seek consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, or even two. Holding your arms out in the photographs does not allow us to fully evaluate the degree of ptosis, or droop, your breasts have. After reviewing the options (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast aug/lift, liposuction, tummy tuck, etc), someone in your shoes might consider weight loss and then a mastopexy or augmentation. Other patients may choose a more aggressive approach, to include augmentation/lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction without an attempt at weight loss first. I would probably try liposuction and a mastopexy first, see how that goes, and if you can lose weight you might consider tummy tuck (if you need it) and augmentation (if you need it) in the future. Best of luck! EGH
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
I agree with the other surgeons who have recommended weight loss prior to surgery. Abdominal fat is distributed differently in different people. In your case, there is excess fat both inside and outside the abdominal wall. If you were to have a tummy tuck now, you would still have a protuberant abdomen, and you wouldn't be happy with the result. If you then lost weight, you would develop excess skin and you wouldn't be happy paying for a second abdominoplasty. Get to your ideal body weight, and then consider surgery. Abdominoplasty is truly designed to address excess skin, not excess fat, so it's best when it can do what it is designed to do! Weight loss is not easy, especially when you have small children, so try to develop clear goals and get your friends/family/children to support you in your efforts. Best of luck! EH
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
I had such a great experience with Dr. Halverson and his team. I had done my research and when I met him, I knew I would be in good hands. He is truly talented at what he does and I am forever grateful!
Having been diagnosed with an early stage breast cancer, I tried three lumpectomies hoping to avoid a mastectomy, which seemed such a radical step. But the pathology reports kept coming back with unfavorable results. I was told I was a good candidate for a mastectomy with a breast reconstruction at the same time and was referred to Dr Halvorson. I am so thankful for that referral! I had no idea where to go or what qualifications were important, but I found myself in excellent hands. After Dr Halvorson explained my options, I chose a tissue flap surgery rather than an implant and I am so happy and satisfied with the results. As the many other reviews are stating, Dr Halvorson is very kind, patient, knowledgeable, and skilled at what he does. The scar left from my lumpectomies was not smooth and would get very sore, but he corrected that, too, in the process of the reconstruction. I am so thankful that he recently moved to this area and was available when I had a need for his expertise. At one point, I called his nurse's cell # and left a message wondering if I had an infection starting after surgery and was surprised that Dr Halvorson himself returned my call within the hour. His nurse, Mary Lynn, was good to call other times to check on my progress and I really appreciated her kindness, too. So I couldn't have had a better experience or better results. I feel whole and normal again. Thank you Dr Halvorson for your top notch care!
I was so nervous to get my breast augmentation but am now so happy and grateful I did! Not only has it helped my self confidence tremendously, has the healing process been so much easier than I had expected, but also, the finished work is incredible. The staff were always so pleasant and helpful; I highly recommend! Updated on 12 Nov 2018: So I had 400ccs of high profile silicone implants, under the muscle, for my breast augmentation. Before surgery I was probably a full B size cup and I believe, once fully healed, I should be a full D size cup. My incision was under the crease of my breasts and is barely noticeable at all!!
I have contemplated getting breast augmentation done for years. After several consultations with other doctors, I came across Dr Halverson. Upon meeting Dr Halverson and his team I knew I would be well taken care of. They Answered all of my many questions and went over every detail of the whole process. I am so happy with my results and would highly recommend Dr Halverson to others. He does incredible work and is very talented!! The operating staff is wonderful as well. You will always feel comfortable and even pampered.
I came to Dr. Halvorson in March 2018 inquiring about breast augmentation surgery. I was looking for a multi-skilled surgeon in the Asheville area with outstanding credentials and excellent reviews, and that’s exactly what I found with Doctor Halvorson and his team. My first impression of Dr. Halvorson was that he is very personable, knowledgeable, and an exceedingly talented expert in his profession. He explained the entire surgery process in depth, including my implant options, what to expect before and after surgery, risks involved, etc. He answered my entire list of questions before I even asked them! Jennifer, the clinical assistant, did an outstanding job of explaining the pre/ post-op guidelines. She gave me her cell phone number to call her directly with any questions or concerns regarding my surgery. She even arranged for a staff member to come stay with my daughter in the waiting room while my husband was given my post-op instructions in the OR. Savannah, the patient coordinator, was so kind to stay with my daughter while my husband was given post-op instructions in the OR. My daughter is very shy, but she loved Savannah and was very comfortable with her. When I came back in for my post-op follow up appointment, Savannah treated my daughter to a ballon and a sweet treat, which we both greatly appreciated. Jennifer and Savannah both went out of their way to accommodate my family and me. The nurses in the OR are just a sweet bunch of ladies. They’re highly skilled and confident, which made me feel very comfortable. They are motherly, thoughtful and concerned, and they took great care of me. I am beyond satisfied with my surgery results, and how amazingly well the entire process went, from start to finish. I was able to make my initial consultation appointment much quicker than I expected, as well as my date of surgery. Dr. Halvorson and his team are nothing short of amazing and I would without a doubt recommend anyone to Halvorson Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Halverson is amazing. I have been wanting to do this surgery for years and had been putting it off because I was afraid of not getting good results. Not only did Dr. Halverson go over all of my options for my surgery, he contacted colleagues to help maximize my results. He is also great about responding to emails, I had multiple questions the days leading up to the surgery. I had upper leg liposuction and a breast lift and implants but in.
I've seen Dr Halvorson only a handful of times now and each time I'm impressed by his knowledge and skillful technic. Always taking the time to really listen to my concerns and work together with me to achieve the results I'm after.
During my bout with breast cancer, I'd given up on the idea that I would ever regain a normal appearance. Dr Halvorson proved me wrong! I am thrilled with my post reconstruction results! For anyone facing a similar situation, I highly recommend him. He possesses exceptional skill in the operating room and has a personable demeanor during office visits. In my experience, he listened attentively, answered all of my questions, patiently explained options/procedures in depth, and never made me feel rushed at appointments. As a result, I had ample information which made it easy to choose the best option for me. Additionally, I knew exactly what to expect during each step of the reconstruction process. Based on my experience, I describe him as abundantly talented, committed to excellence, and cares about achieving the best possible result for his patients. Based on my outcome, I am extremely glad that I chose Dr. Halvorson, and I recommend him without hesitation.
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer at the age of 36 and other than surviving, finding the best plastic surgeon for my reconstruction was the next most important item on my list. I absolutely found this with Dr. Eric Halvorson. I had superb care from beginning to end. He was kind, compassionate and helped me every step of the way. I never felt rushed in his office and he personally answered every e-mail and call I made to him. He made me feel comfortable in his office and during each surgery I had. Dr. Halvorson always made time for me in my many follow-up visits. My DIEP flap surgery was complicated by tight radiated skin, but after everything was finished the outcome has been amazing. I feel like my old self again. He is caring and the whole process was so much easier to deal with because of his easy going nature. I cannot thank him enough for helping me during one of the hardest times in my life.
Excellent patient care and outcomes! I had breast cancer and Dr. Havorson did my reconstruction. He was wonderful at laying out all of the possible options and helping guide my decision on what was best for me as an individual. Unlike other surgeons I saw, he didn't have a one sulution for all patients mentality. He is a genius and adept at coming up with creative solutions for the best outcome aesthetically!! I highly recommend him and will be coming back whenever I need a "tune-up" surgery!
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