Breast Augmentation Done with Cauterization

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 used and only blunt dissection.

Electrocautery does help with bleeding and is less traumatic to the tissues than blunt dissection that is performed by the arm pit or belly button incision, that being one of the many reasons to not have your surgery done by the belly button or arm pit incision.

Hope that helps.

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 your Plastic Surgeon what techniques he/she uses to dissect the implant pocket as it does make a difference!

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 guarantees that your surgeon has had the proper training and has passed a rigorous exam that ensures that he/she has the knowledge, skill, and judgement to provide you with a SAFE and effective treatment.  Beware of board certifications in other 'specialties'.  There are certificates in "Cosmetic Laser Medicine", "Aesthetic Breast Surgery" or any other potential cosmetic or aesthetic surgery you could possibly imagine.  Most often all that is needed for these certification is a yearly subscription.  Very often to qualify for these certificates you do not need to prove you have the skill or knowledge of a plastic surgeon.

Sincerely,

Martin Jugenburg, MD

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, and electrocautery is a staple in nearly all except the most minor surgical procedures.  This is NOT a new technique, and EVERY surgeon has experience with it.

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

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.

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.

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 rate is 0.25% versus national published rates of up to 2.0%.

3. Reduced rate of capsular contracture (excessive firmness of implants due to constricting scar tissue).

This technique is neither new nor unique, but it is generally more time-consuming than blunt dissection.  As a result, most surgeons still use blunt dissection.  

While cauterization does have these advantages, I do not believe that it speeds the recovery process with regard to postoperative pain or activity limitations.

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 addition, delicate handling of the tissues as well as avoiding trauma to the ribs (if the implants are going under the muscle) will decrease the amount of pain after surgery.

However, you should expect some pain with breast augmentation, especially if the implants are placed under the muscle. The pain is variable, usually lasts 2-4 days and is easily controlled with pain medications.

Hope that helps and good luck!

Dr. Babak Dadvand

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.