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Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery

269-329-0655
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Portage, MI
Battle Creek, MI

Breast Augmentation: Incision Decision

Getting a breast augmentation typically means getting breast implants. These implants will either be filled with a saline-solution or silicone-gel and inserted through an incision.

Interesting fact: soy oil and polypropylene string used to also be used as implant fillers; for various reasons these types of implants are no longer manufactured.

There are five different types of surgical incisions for the emplacement of breast implants:

  1. Inframammary: an incision made below the breast, in the inframammary fold (often referred to as an IMF incision). Dr. Elluru prefers this incision location for many of the silicone-gel implant breast augmentations he performs. The benefits of this location are: the scar is easily hidden in the crease of the breast fold and it allows the greatest access for a precise cut and emplacement of the breast implants.
  2. Periareolar: an incision made along the bottom half of the areola’s circumference. Aesthetically this is a great approach because the incisions are at the areolas’ border and therefore scars tend to be almost imperceptible. While this is a good approach, periareolar incisions do have a slight increase in the potential for post-operative functional issues. These issues could include altering the sensitivity of the nipples, a lessened ability to breast feed, and a slight incidence of capsular contraction. However, it’s important to note that this is a successful incision site without issues for many.
  3. Transaxillary: an incision made to the armpit. This allows the surgeon to place the implants without producing visible scars on the breast. One downside to the armpit incision is that it is more likely to produce asymmetry of the implants’ position. Also, if any revision is necessary a second incision will have to be made – usually an IMF or periareolar – resulting in those scars as well.
  4. Transumbilical: an incision made at the navel (often referred to as a TUBA incision). Like the armpit incisions, this approach allows emplacing the implants without visible scares on the breast. However, it cannot be used for silicone-gel implants and makes emplacement of saline implants more technically difficult.
  5. Transabdominal: through an incision made in stomach during an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), this uncommon incision is referred to as a TABA incision.

While every plastic surgeon may be able to perform a breast augmentation using any of these incisions, each surgeon will have an incision preference-and therefore, more experience with that technique and it’s outcome. Like Dr. Elluru, any plastic surgeon worth his or her salt, will help guide you on which incision will suite your body type and goals best under his or her care.

Filed Under: Breast Augmentation Tagged With: breast augmentation, breast augmentation incisions, breast augmentation Michigan, breast augmentation scars, michigan plastic surgeon

Body Sculpting for Swimsuit Season

We’ve all seen these ads: beautiful, slim models wearing gorgeous, expensive swimsuits. The catalogs come in the mail; the TV weight-loss ads push swimsuit-clad women touting their amazing results; and women’s magazines, lined up in the candy aisle at the grocery check-out, are chock-a-block with stunning women in bikinis. Inside, we realize that these are hyped up images geared to motivate us to buy: the magazine, the swimsuit, the weight-loss program. But most women also feel a twinge of self-doubt looking at these photos. Perfection is not just offered—the subliminal message is clear: if you don’t have a body like this, you aren’t attractive. I think that’s a shame, as I’ve been working with thousands of men and women all over Michigan for many years, and not a single one of them were unattractive. Sure, they had features they wanted to change, but that was to make them happier with their appearance—not to make them supermodels. There isn’t a surgical procedure that I can perform to change your body into that of the Photoshopped images in the magazines, but there are several that we can think about that will improve your appearance a great deal. Here are some of them.

A Mommy Makeover is a combination procedure that includes a tummy tuck, a breast enhancement procedure, and liposuction. The goal is to help a mom “recover her figure after she has finished bearing her children. It’s also a great procedure for any woman with torso concerns, even if she never had children but has had weight loss/gains and/or has some body sagging due to aging. Depending on the woman, the breast enhancement might be a breast augmentation with or without a breast lift or, for women with overly large breasts, the breast portion of the procedure could be a breast reduction to bring the breasts more in alignment with the rest of her body.

Although a Tummy Tuck is part of a Mommy Makeover, it can be performed alone, too. It sculpts the tummy by surgically reconnecting the muscle (called the abdominus rectus) that runs down the middle of the abdomen. After that, the tummy tissues are pulled down like a window shade to a tighter position and sutured. You even get a new belly button! My Michigan Tummy Tuck patients are ecstatic with their results, because a Tummy Tuck really gets rid of that bulge that is so tough to reduce with diet and exercise, especially after having babies. Also, if you have stretch marks, all or at least most of them can be removed with a Tummy Tuck. Next to liposuction, it’s one of the most popular body sculpting procedures that I do here in my Michigan plastic surgery practice.

Liposuction is also part of a Mommy Makeover and is often part of a Tummy Tuck because either due to pregnancies, weight gain/loss cycles and/or aging, spots of exercise-resistant fat often remain even after a Tummy Tuck. Liposuction can get rid of those little pockets of fat. While it’s not a weight loss method per se, liposuction will definitely make you look like you’ve lost weight. Because I only need a few tiny incisions to insert the liposuction wand (called a cannula), recovery is usually rapid for liposuction patients. It’s great for the tummy, love handles, thighs (inner or outer), back fat and even the area above the knees.
If you’re concerned about the appearance of your body and you’d like some improvement before this year’s swimsuit season begins, call 269-329-0655 and make an appointment either at my Battle Creek or Portage plastic surgery office. If you’re reading this after office hours, click this link to complete an online appointment request form.

Filed Under: Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction, Liposuction Tagged With: battle creek liposuction, breast augmentation Michigan, michigan plastic surgeon, Portage liposuction, Raghu Elluru, tummy tuck in battle creek, tummy tuck portage

What Happens in a Breast Augmentation Consultation?

southwest michigan breast implants

The most important appointment we’ll have together is your consultation. After examining your breasts and hearing your goals for enhancement, I’ll take multiple measurements to insure that the right fit is accomplished. Following this, you’ll have the opportunity to insert various sizes of breast implants into a soft jog-bra, so you can estimate the results.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your consultation:

  1. Bring a low-cut, white tee shirt to wear so you can clearly evaluate the amount of cleavage that occurs with various implant sizes.
  2. Bring your Significant Other or close friend with you for feedback. This is a big decision so it’s helpful to have “outside” advice.
  3. When you’ve settled on a size, I’ll come back into the consultation room to see what you’ve decided and give my feedback as well.
  4. Take photos of yourself with the various implants in your bra from the front and the side. Be sure to label them so you know what sizes you inserted in each photo. Tip: write the size on a piece of paper and hold the paper in front of the camera in a corner of the shot. Easy!

Want to find your perfect fit? Schedule a consultation!

Michigan breast augmentationYour breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Raghu Elluru at Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery includes a personal implant sizing session, so you can feel the difference between the various implant sizes. Board certified plastic surgeon & breast surgery specialist Dr. Raghu Elluru spends time at each consultation to help you make the right choice. Call 269-329-0655 for your appointment today!

Filed Under: Breast Augmentation

Size Matters—But Size Isn’t Everything!

My objective in every breast augmentation is to create natural results with breast implants that compliment my patients’ body shape, lifestyle and personal goals for enhancement.

Two Limiting Factors in Breast Implant Size

Current Breast Size

Your current breast size determines the amount of breast tissue available to cover your breast implants. If you have very small breasts and taut skin, some implants are too large to be covered. Does this mean you can’t “go large”? No. It means that, if you wish to enlarge your breasts more than 2 cup sizes, you may have to increase implant size in stages to avoid stretch marks and/or tissue damage.

Shoulder and Chest Width

Nobody wants their breasts to extend beyond the sides of the rib cage, i.e., “side boob.” For this reason, I carefully measure the width of your breasts so that the results are attractive both when viewed from the front and the side.

Two Important Questions To Answer When Choosing Breast Implant Size

1. What is your personal style?

Most women have a personal style. Maybe you favor a sporty look in your choice of clothing and accessories. Perhaps you tend toward a more glamorous appearance. Whatever your style, there are options in breast implant size and projection to fit your personal style. Consider this, however: of all reasons to replace implants, the biggest reason is a desire to be larger. On the other hand, going too large can set you up for sagging and back pain down the road.

2. What is your lifestyle?

Women engaged in rigorous sporting activities tend to prefer smaller implants. Intensive physical workouts, even with a snug fitness bra, will contribute to breast bouncing, which can impact the speed of breast sagging. Further, if your implants are too big to allow you to exercise comfortably, you won’t be happy.

Two Facts About Breast Implants & Pregnancy

If you plan to have children, it’s wise to know two basic facts about breast implants & pregnancy:

  1. Most women can breastfeed without problems after breast augmentation
  2. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can increase the likelihood of breast sagging, with or without implants.

Most Women Aren’t Matchy-Matchy in the Breast Department

southwest michigan breast implantsIs one of your breasts larger or smaller than the other? Believe it or not, this is pretty common. Most often this asymmetry is barely noticeable but for some women, it’s a full cup size! One of the many benefits of breast augmentation is my ability to adjust implant sizes so that your breasts are symmetrical when we’re finished!

For a personal consultation to discuss what type of breast implants might be best for your body and lifestyle, call 269-329-0655 to set up your appointment today!

Filed Under: Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation Basics

Michigan breast augmentation

breast implants MichiganBreast augmentation is an outpatient plastic surgery procedure to increase the size of your breasts. Performed on healthy adult women, studies show that this procedure increases self-esteem—and even sexual satisfaction—among women who have it. Breast implant options have steadily increased over the past 20 years, with the availability of multiple sizes, profiles, shapes, textures and materials. Although it’s great to have all these options, it can be intimidating. Fortunately, my Michigan breast augmentation patients have my team and me to guide them! In the meantime, here are some tips:

Soooo Much to Choose From

First, did you know that all breast implants have a silicone outer shell? It’s true. It’s the filling that separates the three types from one another. Here they are:

1. Saline implants: filled with sterile salt water after insertion.

  • Benefits:
    • Most affordable and can be placed in women as young as 18
    • Lower rate of capsular contracture (hardness of the implant) compared with gel filled
    • Allows for a smaller incision since they’re filled after placement
  • Drawbacks:
    • Less “natural” feel than gel or gummy bear implants
    • Implant rupture is immediately obvious, with a flat-tire appearance in that breast

2. Gel-Filled implants: filled with thick silicone gel.

  • Benefits:
    • Feel softer and more natural than saline
    • Lower rate of rippling compared with saline, a problem more often experienced by thinner women
    • If they rupture, you don’t immediately have a “flat tire” appearance
  • Drawbacks:
    • Cost more than saline implants
    • Require a larger incision than saline implants
    • Risk of capsular contracture is higher than with saline
    • Invisible ruptures are tougher to identify than with saline implants

3. Gummy Bear implants: filled with cohesive silicone gel. Also called “form stable.”

  • Benefits:
    • Holds its original shape the longest of the three implant types
    • Won’t leak if it ruptures
    • Has a teardrop shape compared with saline & gel-filled which are round, so they look more like natural breasts
  • Drawbacks:
    • Most expensive of the three types
    • Potentially less full appearance above the breasts compared with saline & gel-filled
    • Because they are contoured, if they rotate inside the breast, asymmetry occurs and a re-do is in order
    • Less risk of capsular contracture

When you set up your consultation, Dr. Elluru will discuss the needs and concerns most important to you and help you decide on the implant filling that will work best for you.  Call 269-329-0655 for your appointment today!

Filed Under: Breast Augmentation

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Dr. Elluru, Southwest Michigan Plastic & Hand Surgery

Portage Office

Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery
7971 Moorsbridge Road
Portage, MI 49024
Phone: 269-329-0655

Battle Creek Office

Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery
3620 Capital Ave. SW., Suite B
Battle Creek, MI 49015
Phone: 269-329-0655

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