As you can see from  the above patient, breast augmentation scars change from a pink color
to a lighter, more flesh color after about 12 months.

Pre-Operative Skin Care

We will often advise breast augmentation patients with darker skin types to prep the skin before their procedure to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation, or darkening of the skin, as they at a greater risk of developing this after breast surgery. People with darker skin tones possess the ability to produce greater amounts of melanin than those with lighter skin tones. The production of melanin is part of the body’s natural immune response to protect the skin after trauma. A pre-operative skin care regiment consists of using of topical products that will suppress melanin production, essentially “calming down” the skin.

Post-Operative Skin Care

Following breast augmentation surgery all patients are advice of a post-operative care for the incision sites.

Immediately following a procedure, it is important to:

• Keep the incision moist with an antibacterial product to help the skin close up and to prevent infection. Once the skin is closed, we recommend using silicone sheeting on larger incisions or ScarGuard MD on smaller ones. Silicone will help to “seal” the skin off, protecting it and facilitating optimal healing to minimize the appearance of scars. Products such as Mederma and ScarGuard (NON-MD) can also be purchased over the counter at drug stores. These products may offer some benefit, but the ScarGuard MD formula, will typically provide a better result.

• Get a peri-operative massage. This therapy following your breast augmentation will move lymphatic fluid and expedite the relief of swelling minimizing the formation of scar tissue. We feel that this step is so important, we even provide the service right here in our office.

• Avoid sun exposure to the incision area. You should keep the area covered as much as possible with clothing or bandages immediately following your breast surgery, and protect the area with sunscreen in cases of sun exposure. Mineral based sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 will provide a full spectrum protection, and is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial to facilitate healing. If you do expose the incision, a topical hydrocortisone cream on the area will help to prevent the scar from darkening.

• Take care of your health both before and after your procedure. This includes eating a nutrient-rich diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting rest. The healthier your body is, the better able it will be to heal efficiently!

For more information on breast augmentation and scarring, or if you are in the Denver area and would like to schedule a consultation with Colorado Plastic Surgery, please contact us.

Many people believe that going to other countries for plastic surgery means they will receive the same quality of care as they do in the U.S. While there are highly qualified plastic surgeons all over the world, the U.S. has some of the highest safety standards that these practices are not required to adhere to. The facility and the surgeon may lack the equipment, safety guidelines, or emergency care in case something goes wrong. Researching the facility and plastic surgeon you choose to perform your procedure can go a long way insuring your safety. Look for board certifications, accreditation and ask questions.

By choosing a qualified plastic surgeon, you can be sure that you are receiving quality care. Dr. Slenkovich at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. Our medical facility in the Denver, Colorado area features state-of-the-art equipment and incorporates the highest standards of safety.

In addition to board certification, the right plastic surgeon is going to put your health before anything else. Did Ms. Hershey’s doctors in Brazil look at her safety, or were they more interested in helping a woman achieve a record setting breast size? The right plastic surgeon will consider your medical history, as well as your reasons for undergoing a procedure, to frame realistic expectations. Dr. Slenkovich values open communication during your consultation to discuss expectations and recommendations to guide you in the decision making process.

If you are in the Denver, Colorado area and considering plastic surgery, please contact experienced and board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Nick Slenkovich for an initial 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.

The Ideal Implant is designed to combine the best features of saline and silicone-gel implant: the natural result of silicone gel and the safety of saline. Many women prefer silicone implants because of the natural look and feel they provide, but are hesitant to use them because of the chance of “silent rupture” and the FDA’s MRI recommendation.

The Ideal saline-filled breast implant looks like a standard silicone implant on the outside, since the edges have been lowered to contour better to the chest wall. Inside it contains several additional implant shells that are “nested” together. This design allows for more control of the saline solution and lessens “sloshing.” The internal structure also helps to minimize wrinkling and rippling, which are common complaints of traditional saline implants.

The new implant is still in clinical trials and will require two years of follow-up research in order for the implant to be approved by the FDA. If they do complete FDA-approval Dr. Slenkovich will most likely offer the Ideal Breast Implants at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center for his breast augmentation patients.

Learn more about the difference between saline and silicone implants.

Over time, it is normal for the appearance of your breasts to change, with or without breast implants. If your breast implants no longer look the same as they did after your initial procedure, a removal and replacement can restore the shape and contour you may have lost over time. Depending on changes in your breasts, this may also require a breast lift as well.

If you have saline-filled breast implants, a rupture will cause them to deflate, and you will immediately notice a difference in your breasts. On the other hand, cohesive silicone gel implants will not deflate when ruptured. Silicone implant ruptures are normally detected with an MRI. You should always watch your breasts for signs of complications, including hardness, pain, and undesirable changes in shape. These may indicate a rare complication that requires your breast implants be removed and replaced.

Some women choose to replace their breast implants to achieve a new size or to switch to a new type of implants, not necessarily because of a complication.

If you are experiencing signs or symptoms of a problem with your implants, and you live in Colorado, please do not hesitate to contact Denver cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Nick Slenkovich at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center today.