Healing and Scars

Scarring happens after every kind of surgical procedure, including medical procedures and cosmetic procedures. Scarring is simply your body generating skin and tissue at an accelerated rate. Because your body is producing tissue more quickly, it needs the help of collagen to hold your skin together. The excess of collagen is what causes a scar.

Before and after your breast augmentation procedure, Dr. Slenkovich and his nursing staff will give detailed scar care instructions.

After breast augmentation, your scarring will continue to change and should continue becoming less and less visible for as much as a year after the procedure. The placement of the incisions for breast augmentation is carefully chosen by Dr. Slenkovich to help the healing process and to hide any visible scarring.

While most scarring is very minimal, we offer several options, including medical skin care and laser treatments, to reduce the appearance of scars.

Please contact Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Slenkovich today to learn more about how we prevent scars after Colorado breast augmentation surgery.

Breast implants, as we know them in the era of modern medicine, came into use in the early 1960s, including both saline and silicone breast implants. In 1962, a housewife in Texas became the first woman to receive silicone breast implants. In the subsequent 38 years, both saline and silicone breast implants have undergone numerous advances to become the safe, natural looking implants that we use today.

In 2006 the FDA re-approved silicone gel implants. Also known as the “gummy bear” implant because of its texture, this new breast implant technology provides a natural look and feel with years of safety research behind it.

To discuss which type of breast implant is right for you, speak with your Colorado breast enlargement surgeon, Dr. Nick Slenkovich, about the risks and benefits of each.

If you are interested in breast enlargement surgery in Colorado or have questions about breast enlargement implants in Colorado, please contact Dr. Nick Slenkovich at the Colorado Plastic Surgery Center today to schedule your consultation.

• Smaller original breast size
• Thin skin
• Large implant size
• Type of breast implant
• Under-filled saline implants (not enough saline)

If you are considering breast enlargement surgery, but are concerned about the potential for rippling, mention your concerns during your breast enlargement surgery consultation with our board-certified Colorado plastic surgeon. The decision to have breast enlargement surgery is deeply personal and requires careful consideration. Breast enlargement surgeon Dr. Nick Slenkovich is a friendly, caring doctor who will listen to your concerns and educate you on all your breast enlargement options.

During your initial consultation, Dr. Slenkovich will perform an examination and give you his recommendation on which size and type of implant will give you the best result without rippling.

If you have already undergone breast enlargement surgery and are unsatisfied with the results because of rippling or any other problem, Dr. Nick can advise you on the benefits and risks of breast implant revision surgery. The Colorado Plastic Surgery Center is equipped for many types of breast augmentation or revision surgery and Dr. Nick is ready to help you reach your breast enhancement goals. With a personal touch, Dr. Nick will help you get the figure you have always wanted.

If you are interested in breast enlargement surgery in Denver, Colorado, please contact Dr. Nick Slenkovich at the Colorado Plastic Surgery Center today to schedule your consultation.

Dr. Slenkovich requires all of his breast patients over the age of 30 to have a mammogram before surgery. This mammogram acts as a baseline

There are some steps you should take to ensure your mammograms are as effective as possible following your breast augmentation:

• Consider submuscular implant placement. Placement of breast implants below the muscle during breast augmentation may increase breast tissue visibility.
• When scheduling a mammogram, talk to the clinic about their experience in performing mammograms on women who have had breast augmentation.
• When you arrive for your mammogram, mention that you have breast implants.
• Be prepared to answer questions the radiologist may have about your breast augmentation procedure.

To learn more about breast augmentation, please contact Colorado Plastic Surgery Center today to schedule an appointment with Denver cosmetic surgeon Dr. Nick Slenkovich.

Symmastia is most often related to a surgical error or poor planning on the part of a plastic surgeon. This is just another reason it is so important to select a board certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Nick Slenkovich. During the creation of the pockets for the implant, some inexperienced plastic surgeons will aggressively dissect the tissue between the breasts. They may be responding to a patient’s request for cleavage creation, but when overdone the remaining tissue may not be sufficient to hold the breast implants apart.

Another error that contributes to symmastia is attempting to use breast implants that are too large or too wide for a patient’s chest, and they cause the skin and fat in the center of the chest to separate from the breastbone. Selecting breast implants of an appropriate size and profile can help prevent this complication. During your breast augmentation consultation Dr. Nick will take body measurements to help you determine the best size and profile to meet your goals.

Women with a depressed breastbone (pectus excavatum) are more at risk for this complication, but an experienced surgeon can still provide a good result.

The good news is that because symmastia is most often associated with a surgical error, you can dramatically reduce your risk of this complication by working with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.

Please call or email us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nick Slenkovich, who can talk to you about this or other potential complications associated with breast implants.

All of the options for breast implants can be a little confusing and overwhelming. Denver breast surgeon, Dr. Nick Slenkovich will walk you through your breast implant choices in a confidential breast augmentation consultation. He will inform you of all the advantages and disadvantages to each type of breast implant and answer all of your questions.

One of the choices you will have to make about breast implants is what type of surface you would like on your implants. You can choose either a smooth breast implant or a textured breast implant.

Smooth Breast Implant

The smooth breast implant only comes in the round shape and are thought to look more natural after placement due to their softer feel and mobility. This implant is less likely to cause rippling and offers a very natural look.

Textured Breast Implants

Textured breast implants come in either round or contour breast implants. The contour breast implants must be textured to avoid rotating that causes the breasts to look misshapen. The texture of the implant feels like fine sandpaper and can sometimes attach itself to the breast tissue causing the implant to ripple.

Please contact the Colorado Plastic Surgery Center today to schedule a consultation about your breast augmentation surgery. Dr. Slenkovich will be more than happy to discuss your breast implant options with you. He sees patients in and around the Denver, Colorado area.

Dr. Slenkovich places the implant under the muscle using an inframammary incision (in the crease under the breast). You can expect to be in the building for about 3 hours and your caregiver may wait in our comfortable waiting room. If a breast lift is recommended, the incision may be placed around the areola (darker area around the nipple). Saline or silicone gel implants may be used, as each has different characteristics. The incision may be 1 inch to 2.5 inches depending on the type and size of implant. We provide complimentary cosmetic consultations to patients requesting information about breast surgery. Our clinic is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and we typically perform surgeries on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

2) WHAT HAPPENS DURING A CONSULTATION?
A consultation typically lasts an hour. Here you will meet Dr. Slenkovich and our staff, receive information on the surgery, be examined by Dr. Slenkovich and try on breast implant sizers to help you decide which implant size you like best. You will then receive a price quote  from our patient coordinator, Lyndsay, as well as information on financing and steps for booking surgery. You can even get a tour of our surgery center if you like. It can be helpful to bring your significant other, a friend or family member to the consultation for support. You are welcome to come back as many times as needed, free of charge, until we have answered all of your questions.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SILICONE GEL AND A SALINE IMPLANT?
Both implants are excellent choices these days. Technology has come far and manufacturers have created an excellent, natural-feeling breast implant. Saline implants have been around the longest. They are less expensive, can sometimes be felt or seen under the skin, and are more noticeable if they deflate. The silicone gel implant is made up of a cohesive gel which is similar to a gummy bear. It feels more natural, is more costly, and requires an MRI every few years to screen for potential silent leaks. Both implants are available in a variety of sizes and projections. Dr. Slenkovich will make a few suggestions after he examines you based on the base width of your current breast tissue. Ultimately, the decision is yours in choosing the best implant for you. For more information, see this blog entry on the differences in implants.

IS THERE ANY LAB WORK REQUIRED BEFORE SURGERY?
Generally, if you are healthy, labs are not required by Dr. Slenkovich. This will be determined at the consultation visit. However, any woman with a family history of breast cancer or who is over the age of 30 is required by Dr. Slenkovich to have a baseline mammogram prior to your pre-operative visit (generally 2 weeks before surgery). This provides an excellent screening tool for breast cancer. You will need to tell the mammographer in the future that you have breast implants so that certain views and techniques are used.

3) WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATIONS YOU SEE?
Breast implants are a man-made device and therefore can fail. Although many women have their implants for years and years, complications can still occur. The most common nuisances associated with a breast augmentation are discomfort, pain, swelling, bruising, temporary changes in sensation of the breast or nipple and asymmetry. Less often, but more concerning are hematoma (internal bleeding in the breast), infection and capsular contracture (scarring around the implant potentially causing firmness, pain and asymmetry). The latter complications could potentially lead to re-operation.

4) WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF A BREAST AUGMENTATION?
Our breast augmentation price quote will be itemized and will include the implants, surgeon’s fees, anesthesia fees, facility/supply fees, all your post-op medications, an early on-site Solstice peri-operative therapy appointment to decrease swelling, CosmetAssure 30-day Insurance covering early complications and all your pre-op and post-op visits (typically at 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months and annually). The manufacturer of the implants also provides an upgraded warranty for an additional charge in case of an implant rupture years down the road.

• Round breast implants
• Contour breast implants

Denver breast surgeon, Dr. Nick Slenkovich is committed to helping you choose the correct style breast implant that will get you the results you desireWhile Dr. Slenkovich only uses round implants, it’s important to understand the differences.

Round Breast Implants

The round breast implant is typically chosen more for breast augmentation than the contour breast implant and is in fact Dr. Nick’s preference for shape. This is because the round breast implant offers benefits that the contour implant does not.

The round breast implant offers a more forward projection of the breast adding to the fullness of the upper portion of the breast. Women who wish to have fuller upper breasts can achieve this look without resorting to larger breast implants. Most women feel that this shape of breast implant enhances the breasts more with greater:

• Lift
• Fullness
• Cleavage

The Contour Breast Implants

The contoured breast implant is shaped like a teardrop and is sometimes referred to as a teardrop breast implant. The shape of this type of breast implant is designed to give a natural, sloping look to the breasts. However, it does not give the youthful fullness to the upper portion of the breasts and contoured implants do not often have the soft, natural feel that round implants have.

The contour implant does possess the risk of rotating after placement causing the breasts to look misshapen, an issue that does not arise with the round implant since it is the same shape all the way around. As a result, the contoured breast implant requires a textured surface because it has a tendency to rotate. The textured surface does help minimize the likelihood of rotation happening.

To learn more about breast implants and breast augmentation in Denver, Colorado, please contact Dr. Slenkovich today to schedule a breast augmentation consultation.

Fat transfer for breast augmentation uses liposuction to remove fat from one area of your body and place it into the breasts. This procedure is ideal for those who want fuller breasts without implants. Common areas for liposuction for fat transfer include:

• Thighs
• Abdomen
• Back
• Buttocks

If you are interested in a fuller breast but do not want a dramatic change in your appearance, a fat transfer may be a great option for breast enhancement. In order to undergo a fat transfer for breast enhancement, you should:

• Have an ample amount of fat in the desired area
• Have a realistic expectation of the outcome of your procedure
• Desire roughly a half-cup size more fullness in your breasts
• Have an ideal breast shape to begin with

Please learn more about fat transfer for breast enhancement today when you contact experienced breast enhancement Denver cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Slenkovich today at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center, serving Denver, Colorado.

There are three options for incision sites for breast augmentation:

• Inframammary–at the breast crease
• Periareolar–around the areola
• Axillary–in the armpit

The inframammary incision is the one most commonly used, and preferred by Dr. Slenkovich, because it allows for the greatest flexibility and ease of implant insertion. It can be used with either saline or silicone gel implants.

A periareolar incision

The axillary incision has the advantage of not being actually on the breast, but it does have some limitations. Transaxillary breast augmentation (breast augmentation using the axillary incision) can only be performed using saline breast implants. Saline breast implants come unfilled from the manufacturer, allowing them to be rolled and inserted via the small incision in the armpit, then filled once inside the implant pocket. Transaxillary breast augmentation is also associated with higher rates of asymmetric results.

To learn more about your breast augmentation options, please call or email Dr. Nick Slenkovich at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center today.