Size Matters: Dr. Jim Namnoum Discusses Breast Implant Sizing
It is very important for anyone considering breast augmentation surgery to understand the in’s and out’s of breast implant sizing and its dependence on each individual person’s shape and form. Most patients that come in for a consultation describe the implants they are looking for in terms of bras cup sizes, A, B, C, D etc.; but breast implants must be sized much more specifically and accurately than a women’s bra. In fact, breast implant size is measured by cubic centimeters (cc) or the amount of volume (saline or silicone) the implant shell contains.
Different volumes will be recommended depending on a patient’s desired bust size as well as their natural frame size, current breast shape, and level of skin elasticity. Factors such as height, current breast size, the width of shoulders, weight, body shape and form, etc., can make the same size implant look very different from one patient to the next.
Another common request in breast augmentation consultations is a person coming in with a photo of a celebrity or friend, saying, “I want my breasts to look exactly like hers.” But because every person is different, it is unrealistic to make a person’s breasts exactly match another’s.
Dr. Namnoum works with each patient to satisfy their desired look – while still making sure the newly augmented breasts complement a patient’s individual body frame. For more information on breast implant surgery or to schedule a consultation, contact our office today.
News Highlight: Scientists Discover Gene That Could Stop the Spread of Some Types of Breast Cancer
Scottish scientists have recently made an exciting and important discovery in the treatment of breast cancer – a discovery that may help stop the spread this devastating and, unfortunately, very common disease among women all over the world. As detailed in a recent published paper in the British Journal of Cancer on July 13, 2010 a group of researchers from Scotland have identified a gene that is greatly responsible for the spread of HER2 positive breast cancer (named after Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2), a very common type of breast cancer accounting for 1 in 5 of all breast cancer cases.
According to the study, HER2 positive breast cancer is particularly dangerous because it is linked to the spreading of the disease to other parts of the body and is known for its disease reoccurrence. Traditionally, HER2 breast cancer has been treated with a medication called Herceptin; but results indicate unfortunately this medication has not been effective in the treatment of many HER2 breast cancer patients.
With the discovery of this particular breast cancer gene, C35, and its link to the rapid spread of cancer to other parts of the body, scientists now have the potential of developing a new drug to target the C35 gene and stop the spread of breast cancer in patients who are not receptive to the traditional Herceptin treatment.
Coincidentally, there are already drugs in development that could target the C35 gene – giving scientists hope that a new treatment for HER2 positive breast cancer may happen sooner rather than later.
Dr. James Namnoum is particularly interested in the study of breast cancer due to his specialization in breast reconstruction of breast cancer patients. For more information about breast reconstruction and Dr. Namnoum’s contributions to the field, contact the Atlanta Plastic Surgery Office.
Liposuction or Tummy Tuck? Dr. Namnoum Helps to Explain Which Procedure May be Right for You
Both liposuction and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedures have been the solutions for slimmer contours in all types of patients; but without knowing procedural specifics, it is hard to know which procedure will be most fitting for you and your body type. Dr. Namnoum, board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon of Atlanta Plastic Surgery contends that many patients come into his office inquiring about one procedure, when in reality, they are looking for results that would be best achieved by another procedure. That is why it is important for patients to do their research, and consult with a qualified plastic surgeon, to find out which type of procedure will help them achieve their desired results.
When it comes to choosing between liposuction surgery or tummy tuck surgery, the key factors are a person’s skin elasticity, condition of the muscles, and area where the fat is stored. Liposuction surgery is performed by inserting a small tube (or cannula) and suctioning out excess fat in the problem areas of patients; but it does not address or remove any excess skin. Loose or inelastic skin present on a patient before the procedure will still exist after liposuction, and may look even worse without the excess fat to support it. That is why liposuction is more commonly recommended for patients with smaller amounts of excess fat that are resistant to diet and exercise, and is usually not recommended for patients who have lost significant amounts of weight or have been pregnant and still have loose, excess skin in the area.
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is a more dramatic surgery in which an incision is made, usually from hipbone to hipbone under a person’s bikini line, and excess fat and skin is removed. Unlike liposuction surgery, the remaining skin and underlying muscles can be tightened and smoothed to create a flatter tummy area. This procedure is ideal for patients who wish to have a slimmer contour, but have excess, inelastic skin from weight loss/gain, age, or pregnancy.
It is important to note that many times the tummy tuck and liposuction procedure can be combined. If a person has a significant amount of fat that needs liposuction, but also has a significant amount of loose skin that needs tightening, both procedures may be performed to address each problem and attain the best possible results. These decisions however, are made on a case-by-case basis, so it is important that you schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to develop a treatment plan specific for you.
If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Namnoum, or have any more questions about these procedures, feel free to contact our office.
Study Reveals Areas Influencing Breast Procedure Patient Satisfaction
As his four part blog series on the topic of breast revision surgery (and how to avoid it) can attest, Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium Co-Chairman Dr. Jim Namnoum of Atlanta Plastic Surgery is dedicated to his patients’ total well-being. Foreshadowing a great advancement toward furthering effective total patient care, a study published by BMC Women’s Health Journal has identified the six main influences of women’s satisfaction with their respective breast procedures.
The study, which interviewed 48 woman who had undergone a breast procedure (either breast augmentation, breast reduction, or breast reconstruction), found that a woman’s satisfaction with breast appearance was the overarching component influencing patient opinion. In addition to satisfaction, the study also revealed satisfaction with overall outcome; physical well-being; psychosocial well-being; sexual well-being; and satisfaction with overall process of care as qualitative areas which influenced a patients’ review of their procedure.
Interestingly, the study also revealed that physical well-being was the area ranked highest by breast reduction patients and of lesser importance to breast augmentation patients. The study’s researchers plan to further the raw data gathered in the study to generate patient consultation materials that allow surgeons to better aid patients in identifying their cosmetic needs. If you are interested in pursuing a breast procedure, or learning more about the other cosmetic procedures he offers, contact his office today.
Dr. Jim Namnoum Discusses Little-known Breast Augmentation Complication Symmastia
If you’ve read any of Atlanta Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Jim Namnoum’s blog posts in his series on breast revision surgery you’ll understand the complexity of complications that often lead breast augmentation patients to seek breast revision procedures. While doing adequate research on your prospective plastic surgeon and any procedure you are contemplating are great initial measures to help avoid complications following breast augmentation surgery; understanding the possible breast surgery complications is yet another tool that every patient needs to ensure they have the most satisfactory breast procedure results possible.
One such complication is symmastia. Translating to “one breast,” symmastia (sometimes synmastia) occurs when a surgeon over dissects a tissue pocket for the implant and doesn’t leave enough tissue attached to the sternum to allow for a natural looking valley depression between the breasts. The result is breast implants that “kiss” or meet in the middle. While the degree of touching varies from patient to patient with symmastia, its’ presence often leaves the appearance of a “uniboob” that is far from natural looking. Symmastia is also sometimes a result of surgeons attempting to honor a patient’s request for dramatic amounts of cleavage.
While symmastia is a rare breast enhancement surgery complication, it is yet another testament to the importance of having realistic surgical expectations and selecting a qualified plastic surgeon. In an attempt to minimize the need for revisionary procedures, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Namnoum continually stresses to patients the importance of knowing your surgeon and having realistic expectations of what can and cannot be accomplished through breast surgery. If you are interested in learning more about breast augmentation or breast revision surgery contact Dr. Namnoum’s office or visit his website.
Part 4 of our series on Breast Revision Surgery-Avoiding More Surgery With Proper Aftercare
Sometimes “doctor’s orders” can ring as over-cautious nagging in patient ears; however, when it comes to breast augmentation complications, heeding your plastic surgeon’s post-surgery instructions can help you avoid complications and the need for revisionary breast surgery.
“It’s very easy for patients to adopt the it-can’t-happen-to-me mentality after breast augmentation,” shares Dr. Jim Namnoum of Atlanta Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Namnoum says it’s unfortunately an all too common occurrence to see patients for breast revision surgery to correct implants that have “bottomed out” as a result of not supporting the breast with a proper bra following surgery. Bottoming out occurs when the breast implant drops, but the nipple remains stationary creating an overall droopy appearance.
Most Plastic Surgeons, recommend wearing an adequately supportive undergarment continually, removing only for sleeping and showering, for the first 6 weeks following surgery. This allows adequate time for the body to form enough scar tissue to support the new breast implants’ lifted position. In addition to wearing a supportive undergarment, it’s imperative that patients also refrain from strenuous activities during the healing process.
Dr. Namnoum reiterates by stating, “It’s so easy for busy women, especially moms, to want to jump back into their hectic routines after surgery. It’s imperative for breast augmentation patients to remember they are recovering from major surgery, and that if they don’t allow enough healing time, they may ultimately need to undergo additional surgery to correct complications.”
If you are interested in learning more about breast revision surgery read the rest of Dr. Namnoum’s blog series on the topic. You can also learn more about the other breast procedures performed by visiting our website or contacting us today.
Part 3 of our series on Breast Revision Surgery: Picking the Right Procedure
If you’ve read any of our previous posts in our series on Breast Revision Surgery, you’ll understand the complex nature of Breast Revision Surgery and how strongly Dr. Jim Namnoum with Atlanta Plastic Surgery feels about patients doing their research before selecting a surgeon. Equally important as the aforementioned topics is the ability for surgeons to identify the correct procedure to address the concerns you have with your results from a previous cosmetic breast procedure or body changes associated with pregnancy and breast cancer treatment. Here is a list of details about the breast procedures Dr. Namnoum performs so that you, the patient, can be well educated about which procedures are typically utilized to address specific concerns.
Breast augmentation (breast enhancement) is used to enhance the size and shape of the breast. Saline or silicone breast implants are inserted, removed, or replaced using a variety of incisions (based on the patient’s body type, presence of existing scar tissue, and desired end appearance.) Often patients approach Dr. Namnoum for revisionary breast augmentation because of improper implant sizing by the original surgeon. Dr. Namnoum helps ensure a successful result and avoids further revisions by taking all the above factors into consideration as well as thoroughly evaluating each potential patient’s medical history to better predict how their body will heal and make the new implant appear.
Breast Lifts, or mastopexy, revisionary procedures help reposition the breasts higher on the chest wall to create a lifted, more youthful silhouette. This procedure is often performed in conjunction with breast augmentation to help add volume to a woman’s breast after pregnancy and breast feeding has caused their original implants to settle or drop.
The main thing to remember with revisionary breast procedures is that there is not usually one absolute solution. Many women will require a combination of breast procedure types to fully address their concerns with the size, shape, and positioning of their breasts after a previous cosmetic breast procedure. Also, Dr. Namnoum stresses the importance of being honest with your surgeon. Let them know exactly what you’d like to change and the results you desire. It’s only when your surgeon completely understands what you’re looking to accomplish that they can then tailor their surgical expertise to give you the chest that you seek and eliminate the need for any further revisions. If you would like to schedule a consultation or wish to learn more about the breast procedures offered by Dr. Namnoum call (404) 256-1311 or visit his website.
A Chest You Can be Proud Of: Dr. Namnoum Offers Male Breast Reduction Surgery
You have heard it comically referred to as “man boobs”, “moobs”, “man cans” and a plethora of other equally creative and equally insulting names. But the fact is that enlarged breasts in males, known medically as gynecomastia, is a very real, very common condition that can occur in males of any age. The condition is not only embarrassing for the men affected, but can also cause discomfort during certain physical activities.
Luckily, there is a simple solution: male breast reduction. Male breast reduction surgery involves the surgical removal of excess fat and glandular breast tissue from the chest through targeted liposuction and other surgical means. The remaining tissue is then lifted and tightened to create a more masculine and proportional chest wall. Male breast reduction is often performed in conjunction with nipple revision surgery, to correct enlarged or misshapen areolas (the dark area around the nipple). In this procedure the surgeon reshapes and resizes a more proportional nipple to match the newly augmented breasts.
The biggest falsity that persists about enlarged breasts in males is that it only occurs in males who are overweight. But it does not matter if a person is an athlete or in the best shape of their life, other factors such as genetics and hormones can cause gynecomastia in men of all shapes and sizes.
If you are a man who is embarrassed by their gynecomastia and is considering male breast reduction, schedule a consultation with Dr. Namnoum. His specialized training and expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery of the breasts will aid him in helping to give you a chest you can be proud of.
Dr. Namnoum Featured as Expert on Plastic Surgery Channel to Debunk Hype Surrounding AWAKE Breast Augmentation Surgery
When the Plastic Surgery Channel was looking for an expert to discuss AWAKE breast augmentation surgery as a trending topic, they turned to Atlanta Plastic Surgery’s very own Dr. Namnoum. Featured on a new segment on called PSC Hot Topics, where experts weigh in on plastic surgery hot topics, Dr. Namnoum debunked some of the hype surrounding the recent NY Times Article on AWAKE breast augmentations: a breast implant procedure performed under local anesthesia while the patient is awake.
The AWAKE breast augmentation proponents in the article claim that, because general anesthesia is not needed, the procedure is actually safer than the traditional alternative. Dr. Namnoum is quick to disagree; noting that the risks of general anesthesia for patients in relatively good health are less than even driving to the grocery store!
He also states that surgery under local anesthesia is much more difficult than general anesthesia, and consequently requires an extremely experienced surgeon to correctly and safely perform. But as stated in the article, many of the physicians touting AWAKE breast augmentations have NO specific plastic surgery training and have learned the procedure after attending a “weekend course” – making it a very unsafe alternative to surgery from a board certified plastic surgeon.
Proponents in the article also say that an advantage to AWAKE surgery is that the patients can participate in implant sizing and other decisions during the procedure. Dr. Namnoum however, points out that this is unrealistic: on sedatives, a person is not able to make sound, rational decisions and won’t even remember the decisions after the effects of the medication have worn off.
Dr. Namnoum believes that careful planning and precise execution are key to a successful breast augmentation, a decision and procedure that should not be taken casually. If you would like more information on breast augmentation or breast revision surgery (if you are unhappy with previously results from a less qualified surgeon), schedule a consultation today.
Click here to view The Plastic Surgery Channel segment featuring Dr. Namnoum: http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/psc-hot-topics/awake-breast-augmentation-dr-namnoum_atlanta/
Part 2 of Dr. Namnoums Breast Revision Surgery Blog: Why Your Surgeon Should Get to Know You
As you may have read in part 1 of our series on Breast Revision Surgery, there are many factors that can drive individuals to pursue breast revision surgery. One of those factors is improper pre-surgery analysis by the original surgeon. Improper analysis can result in unrealistic expectations by the patient, or worse, pursuing a procedure that won’t fully correct the patient’s problems.
While there is no way for a surgeon to predict exactly what the outcome of a surgery will be, there are some telling variables that can dictate a good bit about surgical results (i.e.- skin elasticity will tell how skin might appear post-surgery, genetics will dictate how skin is likely to appear as it ages, and any future plans for pregnancy could potentially dictate the type of breast procedure recommended.) The mood of your consultation should be your first indicator as to whether a Plastic Surgeon does a satisfactory job of examining you and addressing your needs- an interview for a Surgeon if you will.
The consultation should act as a planning session. Dr. Namnoum spends time with every patient to address any concerns or reservations about a procedure. He also takes the time to discuss proper aftercare measures in an effort to avoid any complications (i.e.- capsular contracture, bottoming out, etc.) You should feel comfortable asking your surgeon questions. Any surgical procedure is just that, surgery, and should not be taken without due consideration. If you would like to schedule a consultation or wish to learn more about the Breast procedures offered by Dr. Namnoum call (404) 256-1311 or visit his website.
