When Should You Replace Your Implants?

The patients of Dr. Jabs, Dr. Magge, and Dr. Richards understand how they must care for their breast implants. A common misconception about breast implants is that they need to be replaced every 10 to 20 years. The FDA has approved the use of breast implants for between 10 and 20 years, but this does not mean that the implant expires once it has reached this age. Only one in five patients need to replace their implants after ten years, with the majority seeing a prolonged period of use. Most patients only have to replace their breast implants once or twice in their lifetime.

When Should You Seek Help With Your Implants?

Since it can be difficult to diagnose these problems on your own, it’s often a good idea to schedule a consultation at Cosmetic Surgery Associates before the approved life of your implants is over. These are some reasons why your breast implants may need to be removed and/or replaced:

Hardening of Breast Implants

One common issue that breast augmentation patients face is the hardening of their breasts. This can be caused by capsular contracture, which is the hardening of scar tissue around the implant. Hard lumps in the breast, caused by calcium deposits around the implant, can also develop as a result of breast implants. Either of these conditions can be cause for removing or replacing your breast implants.

Ruptured Breast Implants

One of the rarer implications of needing a breast implant replacement is the rupturing of the breast implant. Breast implant rupture occurs in around two to twelve percent of breast implant recipients. Silicone implants can rupture completely, while saline implants can begin leaking a non-toxic solution. Most patients feel few symptoms of ruptured or leaking implants until their breasts become uneven or misshapen.

Pregnancy and Weight Gain

Certain bodily changes can lead to your breast implants needing to be replaced. During pregnancy, the breasts will first swell as you breastfeed and then go down in size, causing the position of the implants to shift. Similarly, if you have experienced significant weight loss or weight gain, the redistribution of fat in your body can also cause your breast implants to move.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are interested in exploring the option of breast implant replacement, schedule a consultation with Dr. Jabs, Dr. Magge, and Dr. Richards at Cosmetic Surgery Associates. To get started, fill out our online contact form today.

The post Replacing Your Breast Implants at Cosmetic Surgery Associates appeared first on Cosmetic Surgery Associates.

Eyelid surgery, often known as blepharoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures done today. The results can help patients look younger and more refreshed by enhancing the appearance of both their upper and lower eyelids.

Upper and lower blepharoplasty operations are both available at Cosmetic Surgery Associates (CSA) in Bethesda, Maryland. But what’s the difference between the two? Let’s take a look.

Upper Blepharoplasty

Upper blepharoplasty involves removing extra skin and fat from the upper eyelids and restoring a more youthful and alert look to eyelids that are drooping and sagging. In some circumstances, when extra skin is blocking the field of vision, upper blepharoplasty may also aid in improving eyesight.

In order to remove extra skin and fat during the treatment, an incision is created in the upper eyelid’s natural crease. Sutures are used to seal the wound and are normally removed after a week. Although recovery times vary from patient to patient, it typically lasts about two weeks.

Lower Blepharoplasty

With lower blepharoplasty, the lower eyelids’ extra skin and fat are removed. This process may help restore a younger and rejuvenated appearance by minimizing wrinkles and improving the appearance of bags under the eyes. Dark circles beneath the eyes may also be made to seem less noticeable with lower blepharoplasty.

During the procedure, an incision is created either on the inner lower eyelid or just below the lash line. In order to achieve a smoother, younger-looking appearance, the surgeon trims away any extra skin and fat and then realigns the remaining tissue. Lower blepharoplasty recovery also takes approximately two weeks.

Which One Is Best for You?

The results you’re looking for and what your eyelids look like before the procedure will determine which blepharoplasty operation is right for you. Both procedures can be performed under sedation and do not require general anesthesia. In general, patients with sagging or drooping eyelids benefit most from upper blepharoplasty. Those with bags under the eyes or wrinkles around the lower eyelids will benefit most from lower blepharoplasty.

Our plastic surgeons at Cosmetic Surgery Associates will assess your eyelids and talk with you about your cosmetic objectives during your appointment. They will also go through each procedure’s advantages and disadvantages and respond to any questions you may have.

Schedule A Consultation

Does a blepharoplasty sound like the procedure you’ve been looking for? Schedule a consultation today at Cosmetic Surgery Associates. Dr. Richards, Dr. Jabs, and Dr. Magge are more than happy to walk you through the procedure and discuss any questions or concerns you have.

To schedule a consultation today, call our Bethesda, Maryland office at (301) 493-4334 or use our online contact form. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals!

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The post <strong>The Difference Between Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty</strong> appeared first on Cosmetic Surgery Associates.