Posted on March 26, 2012 in Breast revision surgery
Did you know that an asthma medication can help with Capsular Contracture? Read more and find out…
WHAT IS IT?
Capsular contracture is a rare occurrence that can sometimes affect women who have breast implants. The condition is characterized by thick tight scar tissue forming around the breast implant and causing a feeling of hardness to the breast. Capsular contracture can also have an effect on breast shape and discomfort may also be evident. The surgical removal of this scar tissue is called Capsulectomy.
HOW CAN I HELP AVOID THIS?
Manual massaging helps minimize the occurrence of Capsular Contracture. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani feels that sometimes massaging breasts too soon after surgery can cause unwanted bleeding around the implant and therefore causing potential problems. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani often advises his patients undergoing Breast Augmentation to begin massaging approximately 2 weeks following surgery and should be performed at least twice a day. Additionally, he recommends the oral intake of Vitamin E following surgery. The massaging of breasts and vitamin E intake is however not recommended for ALL patients. During your follow up visits, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani and his nursing staff will guide you with which course of action is appropriate for you.
WHY?
The next question to tackle that many patients ask me is why this Capsular Contracture happens? The exact cause is unfortunately unknown but there are speculations and theories that have been formulated for the formation of Capsular Contracture. Theories include: smokers pose a greater risk of developing this scar tissue, hematomas/bleeding problems can cause an inflammatory reaction, germ contamination may cause an inflammatory reaction and leading to the development of capsular contracture. Research is continuing and hoping that we are able to find an exact cause for this occurrence would be a breakthrough in Plastic Surgery.
WHAT NOW?
So, now we have enlightened you on what capsular contracture is, what causes this scar tissue and finally the last aspect to address here is what to do if you develop this scar tissue. As mentioned earlier, surgical intervention called Capsulectomy is a consideration especially if the breast is hard, quite distorted in shape and pain/discomfort evidenced. However, new studies have shown that a breathing, asthma medication called Singulair has an off-label use for treating Capsular Contracture in the early stages of development (Grade I and Grade II). Singulair has an anti-inflammatory effect on the bronchioles and sinus cavities and it additionally woks in preventing the inflammation around an implant, which is one of the theories in capsular contracture formation. The previous medications used for the off-label use for Capsular Contracture have produced evidence of higher incidences of side effects including elevation in liver enzymes leading in liver failure.
For more information on breast revisionary surgery related to capsular contracture, please call our office today at (407) 901- 4934 to schedule your complimentary consultation or complete our contact form online. The Aesthetic Surgery Centre is located at 413 Lake Howell Road Maitland, FL 32751, and can be found online at jptrev.com or facebook.com/DrJonTrevisani. You may also visit our other website at usabreast.com.
Posted on March 6, 2012 in Frequently Asked Questions, Procedural Information
Surgery is a stressful event that creates demands on the body and one of the most common and temporary side effect from surgery is swelling. I’ve gathered up a few tips here to help combat swelling after surgery. So let’s start with the basics shall we?
- First and foremost, drink plenty of water! Water serves a lot of functions in the body and will be particularly good to reduce swelling after surgery. Many patients wonder if adding more water to the body can only make swelling worse, but the truth is that it really helps with swelling. Remember that the human body is made up of 71% water. Drinking plenty of water will help flush out your system and assist with bowel movements. Some of the anesthetics used during surgery and your post-operative medications can cause disturbances to the gastrointestinal system and can contribute to bloating and discomfort. Drinking adequate water is essential for overall good health and it can decrease swelling. You can consume up to 8-12, 8-oz glasses of water a day, to keep your body properly hydrated and reduce the swelling.
- Adhere to a healthy diet. Your body will need to do some repair after surgery to rebuild the tissues and promote wound closure. Hence, it is essential to consume a good diet. Consuming foods which are rich in proteins, omega 3 essential fatty acids, iron, fiber, vitamins, and minerals as these nutrients help in the healing process in the body and also reduce swelling. Remember leafy vegetables and whole grains are good foods that reduce swelling after surgery.
- Be careful of Sodium intake. Reducing your sodium intake from foods temporarily may also be a good idea as sodium is a natural diuretic and reduces the level of water in your body. This doesn’t mean you should not have any salt in your diet. However, avoiding prepared foods with high sodium levels is wise for overall health and especially following surgery. Many canned soups and vegetables are prepared with large amounts of sodium and salt. Additionally, deli meats, soy sauce, pickles, potato chips and pretzels are packed with high levels of sodium which increases fluid retention.
- Invest in healing supplements such as Arnica and Bromelain. These homeopathic remedies help reduce bruising and swelling. It is important to build your nutrient reserves with essential supplements, as this will enable you to have better cosmetic results by allowing your body to repair itself faster, promote better wound healing, limit scarring, and reduce the risk of infection. Having an inadequate supply of nutrients before and after surgery has been associated with slower post-surgery healing, increased complications, higher risk of infection, prolonged swelling, slower wound healing and excessive scarring. For this reason, we carry the VitaMedica Plastic Surgery Pre/Post Program that can help in providing the optimal supply of nutrients that are crucial for healing.
Posted on February 10, 2012 in In The Media, Procedural Information
Recent news reports have given light to the manufacturing standards of breast implants. Breast implants made by French company Poly Implant Prothése (PIP) have been found to contain industrial-grade silicone instead of medical-grade silicone. Approximately 300,000 women in 65 countries received implants made by the company. The PIP implants have been suspended from marketing, distribution and exportation. The health risks of industrial-grade silicone remain unclear but there are speculations of increased incidence of inflammation and concerns about cancer and other toxic exposures. PIP silicone implants were never approved and/or licensed for the use in the United States.
It is important to reiterate and stress that implants in the United States have a long, proven history of high quality with rigorous testing during the manufacturing process. Implants in the United States adhere to strict quality manufacturing requirements that measures excellent strength, resilience and elasticity. The FDA sets high standards in extensive bio-compatibility testing on all its breast implants. With these safety standards in place, the global reputation for high quality breast implants cannot be undermined.
Due to these recent developing reports on PIP implants, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani has consulted with women who have undergone breast augmentation using these French PIP implants. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani states, “I have performed numerous of breast augmentation and breast revisionary surgeries. These women who have received PIP implants do not compare with ruptured implants I have seen before. The shell of the PIP implants were completely ruptured and disintegrated”.
Mentor® has designed a Compassionate Care Program for patients with PIP Breast Implants who are considering replacement. The program is offering a $250 American Express® Gift Card to patients who replace PIP Saline or Gel Breast Implants with MENTOR® Saline or Gel Breast Implants. This program is valid from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012, and may be subject to program limits.
To learn more about this offer, please call our office at 407-901-4934 to set up your complimentary consultation with Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani.
