When most people think of plastic surgery of the breast, the first things that come to mind are procedures for women. However, male breast reduction surgery is a more common procedure than you might think.  It is estimated that 40 to 60 percent of men are affected by gynecomastia, a medical term for overly large breasts in males.  No one can say for sure what causes gynecomastia (some attribute it to heredity, others a hormone imbalance), but if you’re a male who’s ever been to the beach or pool during the summer, you can see why this can be an embarrassing and unsightly problem.

Gynecomastia can occur in one or both breasts and affects men of all ages.  Some younger boys affected by this condition will eventually grow out of it naturally. For others, the problem will remain no matter how much they exercise or work to sculpt the pectoral muscles.

Luckily, this problem can be easily fixed.  The answer?  Male breast reduction surgery.  The procedure involves the surgical removal of excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin surrounding the breast area by excision or liposuction – to give men a more sculpted and masculine chest.  Some men seeking this surgery also complain of the size of their nipple area, which may have been stretched due to the effects of gynecomastia.  Therefore, the size of the areola, or the dark skin around the nipple, can be reduced and reshaped during surgery.

Great advancements have been made in the field of plastic surgery, creating surgical techniques that are safer, simplier, and more effective than ever.  Nowadays, inconspicuous incisions for breast augmentation surgery can greatly the appearance of scarring.  At our office, we can make incisions in the armpit, the inframammary (or the crease under the breast), or even around the areola (the dark skin around the nipple).  We also offer the new TUBA approach, one of the least invasive techniques yet, with the implant being inserted through an incision made in the patient’s bellybutton!

The implant itself can either be placed beneath the breast tissue or beneath the muscle of the chest.  If placed under the chest muscle, you can reduce the risk of post-operative tightening around the implant (known as capsular contracture).  Also, this type of placement will not interfere as much with the results of your yearly mammograms.  On the flip side, placement under the chest muscle can cause more pain post-surgery and can create the need for drainage tubes in some patients. (It’s important to note that, using the TUBA approach, placement under the chest muscle is not an option).

The most important thing to know about the breast augmentation procedure is that each patient is unique in their situation. What works for one patient, may not be the best plan of action to give you the kind of results you’re looking for. So… ASK QUESTIONS!  Dr. McCluskey will be happy to meet with you to answer any questions that you may have.  It is his goal to make sure every patient is fully-informed and comfortable throughout the entire surgical process. 

For information on how to set up a consultation with Dr. McCluskey, click here.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular procedures performed in the office of the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, so it was no surprise when the American Society of Plastic Surgeons announced that breast implants are now the number one most perform cosmetic surgery in the country.  Last year alone, plastic surgeons everywhere performed over 307,000 breast enhancement surgeries.  This trend can partially be attributed to the 2006 FDA approval of silicone implants, which after technological advancements and a 10 year long study, the FDA deemed “safe and effective.” Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the two:

Saline:  A saline breast implant consists of a strong, silicone elastomer shell that is filled with salt water that has been sterilized.  An advantage to this type of implant is that, in the rare case that an implant is ruptured, the salt water will be able to dissolve natural into the body – causing little health concerns.  Also, some saline implants contain a tiny valve whereby your surgeon can increase the size of the implant if you desire them to be bigger, or reduce the amount of saline solution if you decide you want to minimize your bust. However, saline implants can have a less natural look and feel than their silicone counterparts. Especially in women who are very thin or have limited original breast tissue to cover the implant, silicone may be a more natural-looking option.

Silicone: Recently approved by the FDA in 2006, silicone implants are filled with a silicone gel, whose texture closely resembles the texture of natural breast tissue.  Silicone implants give the breast a much softer and more natural look and feel than saline-filled breast implants. The downside is that it is much harder to detect when a leak occurs in a silicone implant.  Also, once you have had breast augmentation surgery, you cannot change the size of your implant without another procedure. Long-term testing has proved that, under the care of a qualified physician, both silicone and saline implants are very safe and effective.

At our office, we use both saline and silicone implants for breast aug patients, carefully weighing the options to decide which plan of action is best for them.  Visit our breast augmentation page for more information about this procedure.   Stay tuned for Part 2 (The Procedure) of this series coming soon!

Last week I gave you the 411 on the popular injectable fillers derived from hyaluronic acid; so this week I’ll go over some popular collagen- based fillers and popular injectables for uses other than just the treatment of wrinkles.

Radiesse® is a dermal filler made up of calcium-based microspheres (calcium hydoxylapatite.) It is unique in its claim to promote natural collagen reproduction, causing the body to form its own collagen around these microspheres, and ultimately making the effects of Radiesse® last longer with multiple treatments. The first treatment is expected to last from 3 to 6 months, but can last from 12 to 18 months after the second treatment.  Radiesse® is typically pricier than other popular dermal fillers.  It is effective for nasolabial folds, cheekbones, and jawlines, but not usually for lips. Because it is not a hyaluronic acid (HA filler) based product, it cannot be dissolved by hyaluronidase (enzymes that eat away HA) if the patient is unhappy with the results.

EVOLENCE® is a collagen based injectable made from porcine (a.k.a. pig collagen), which is very similar to human collagen, yielding natural looking results.  EVOLENCE® recently announced FDA approval of the claim that results last though 12 months – making it the first and only filler to provide immediate results and last longer than a year.   EVOLENCE® is approved for the treatment of wrinkles and folds and causes minimal to no swelling and bruising.

Artefill® is unique in that the injected particles do not absorb into the skin like other popular fillers – this making results last longer (some reported results lasting up to 5 years).  In the US, Artefill® is only FDA approved for nasolabial folds and requires a skin test to be done 4 weeks ahead of the scheduled injection.

Sculptra® is an injectable in a whole new ball game than other popular dermal fillers.  It is made of poly-lactic acid and is used for the treatment of lipotrophy, or lost facial volume.  This filler is commonly recommended for HIV patients who can add volume to their cheeks and other facial areas.  Unlike most fillers that require only one treatment to immediately achieve desired results, Sculptra® requires 3 or more injections spaced between 1 to 2 months apart. While Sculptra® can be more expensive than other fillers, it can last up to 2 years.  It is also less painful than its volume-building counterpart: human fat.

Fat Grafting, or the removal of fat from one part of the body to shape or rebuild another, can be used as an alternative to facial fillers. Fat injections can build volume in the face and fill in deep wrinkles with no risk of allergic reaction (seeing as it is your own fat!).  However fat injections can be painful because plastic surgeons must use liposuction first to extract the fat before it can be injected into areas of the face. 

Hopefully this information has helped you sort out “who’s who” in the dermal filler world so that you may make more informed decisions about your procedures.  For more information about injectable fillers or to schedule a consultation, visit the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta website and schedule a consultation with Dr. Paul McCluskey today.

Cosmetic injectable fillers have become one of the most competitive markets in the world of plastic surgery.  There are currently more than 15 different brands available to consumers – all claiming that they are the best nonsurgical injectable to smooth out your wrinkles or plump up your lips. To help make all of this less confusing, I’ve written a brief description of the most popular dermal fillers on the market, so you can decide (with the help of a plastic surgeon), which product will best fit your needs.  

(This week’s blog will focus on the popular HA fillers – my next entry will give more detail on alternative popular filler products)

Restylane® is the world’s leading dermal filler, with an estimated 10 million injections since the product launched in 2004.  Like many of its filler friends, Restylane® is made of hyaluronic acid (commonly referred to as an “HA filler”).  In fact, Restylane® was the first filler developed to use non-animal collagen (most previous products used bovine collagen).  The hyaluronic acid in Restylane®, and products like it, have a very low risk of allergic reaction because the substance occurs naturally in the body. Restylane® is commonly used for the correction of wrinkles under the eyes and around the nose and mouth, as well as for the plumping up of lips.  Because the acid in Restylane tends to absorb water, temporary swelling can be expected. Restylane® lasts from 3 to 12 months (6 months on average), but because it is an HA filler, hyaluronidase (enzymes that eat away HA) can be used to dissolve the product if the results are not what you expected.

Perlane® is made by the same company as Restylane® and also makes use of hyaluronic acid, however the particles are larger, making the product thicker for effective treatment of deeper wrinkles.  Perlane® is only FDA approved to last 6 months, and like Restylane®, it can be dissolved.

JUVÉDERM® is a popular competitor among the HA fillers and was developed by the same makers of Botox®.  This product is popular for the treatment of moderate to deep wrinkles around the eyes, nose, and mouth and is also good for lips. JUVÉDERM® tends to absorb less water than Restylane® and therefore results in less swelling.  It lasts on average about 9 months (this is less for use in lips) and like other HA fillers, can be dissolved.  JUVÉDERM® is noted for flowing smoothly under the skin.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to each product.  Much of the decision concerning which filler you use depends on your individual needs and the plastic surgeon you are seeking services from.  To find out more about the fillers at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta or to schedule a consultation visit our website or call us at 404-499-0111.

You always see those celebrities, like Heidi Klum and Angelina Jolie, who’ve just had babies; yet their bodies look as good, if not better, than they did before they got pregnant. As most mothers know, this is definitely not the norm. The physical toll that pregnancy takes on a woman’s body can result in stretched and sagging breasts, loose and damaged skin around the stomach, and stubborn excess fat around the hips and thighs that just won’t go away no matter how hard you work out. What’s worse is that repeated pregnancies can cause even further damage to a woman’s body and exemplify these problems. Don’t get me wrong, the joys of having a child are beyond compare, but once that “fuzzy” feeling begins to wear off, women are left with frustration and worry about their body; feeling that no matter what they do, they will never look as good as they did before having children.

Many mothers who have experienced this post-baby frustration request what we refer to as the “Mommy Makeover,” or the post-maternity body and breast reshaping, often including, but not limited to, a breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck and/or liposuction.

To learn more, please click the “read the rest of this entry” link below.
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Almost all of us have had a friend or loved one affected by breast cancer. In fact, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women (only exceeded by skin cancer). The best way to beat cancer is to take preventative measures – the more you know the better off you will be. Following are some common myths about breast cancer that need to be dispelled, and more information about the disease that you deserve to know.
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Despite what you may see in films like the summer hit Star Trek, lasers are not confined to use in intergalactic warfare. In fact, the laser provides a new, safe, and simple way to treat cosmetic problem areas more effectively than ever. Enter: the Fraxel® Laser. The Fraxel® laser is unique in that it only treats the old, damaged skins cells without affecting the healthy cells and surrounding tissue – making treatments highly targeted and effective with little to no downtime. The procedure generally causes only minimal irritation, similar to mild sunburn or a “prickling” sensation, allowing you to walk right out of the office after your treatment and continue with the rest of your day. Fraxel® procedures include treatment and repair for:

• Wrinkles
• Fine lines
• Furrows
• Acne Scars
• Surgical scars
• Bumpy or uneven skin texture
• Discoloration and uneven skin pigmentation
• Pigmented lesions (sun or age spots)
• Sun-induced redness
• Laser blepharoplasty (eye-lid surgery)
• Skin resurfacing
• Fine lines around the eyes and mouth
• Melasma (mask of pregnancy)

Dr. McCluskey is one of the only plastic surgeons in Georgia to have the original Fraxel® laser. If you are looking to help improve the look of your skin and eliminate or reduce any of the above problems contact the office to schedule a consultation.

On June 17, 2009, many cosmetic practices started offering Dysport® as another alternative to its competition, the ever-popular Botox®. While the technical merits of both are almost identical, this seems as good a time as any to refresh all our curious patients about these products.

Both Dysport® and Botox® are muscle relaxants and wrinkle removers that use a purified form of botulinum toxin as their key ingredient. Dysport® has been FDA approved for frown lines/wrinkle removal and cervical dystonia (severe neck pain and abnormal head position) treatments. Since Botox® has been around longer, allowing for more research and testing, it is also approved for treating crossed eyes, eyelid spasms, and severe underarm sweating called hyperhydrosis.

Because of its many effective uses, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has ranked BOTOX® Cosmetic the most popular physician – administered aesthetic procedure in the United States for the fourth year in a row. This includes surgical and nonsurgical procedures combined. It will be interesting to see how the new Botox® competitor, Dysport®, will change these statistics…

Regardless of which product you choose, one of the most important things to consider when getting a Botox® or Dysport® injection is to have a skilled surgeon perform the treatment.
If you have any questions regarding Botox® or Dysport®, feel free to contact us.