Archive for the ‘Breast Reduction’ Category
What Is a Laser Bra?
One of the top questions among breast lift and breast reduction patients in Los Angeles and across the U.S. is, “How long will results last?” I developed The Stevens Laser-assisted Internal Fabrication Technique (LIFT), which utilizes The Stevens Laser Bra, to address this concern.
During a breast enhancement procedure, I use a laser to preserve the base of breast tissue that supports the nipple. I then use the patient’s own breast tissue to create an internal support structure known as a Laser Bra. The tissue, which can’t be felt under the skin, is attached to the chest wall.
The Laser Bra extends results of popular breast procedures and minimizes the possibility of “fallout” of the breast. It also reduces the amount of scarring, blood loss, bruising, and time under anesthesia. Because the nipple is never detached, the majority of patients maintain sensation and the ability to breastfeed.
New Breast Reduction Options – With Lasers!
Why be stuck in the past with overly large breasts that can weigh you down, hurt your neck and back, and restrict you from the active life you want? With laser technology, our surgeons perform breast reduction at our Los Angeles practice in less time than required with tradition methods.
Breast reduction has a very high patient satisfaction rating, and now there are new ways to resize and reshape the breasts for beautiful, long-lasting results. I use laser technology to increase the level of precision I can reach during surgery, which means less bleeding and time spent under anesthesia for our patients. Lasers also help make patients’ skin stronger and tighter, which extends the duration of results.
One of the most exciting innovations in breast reduction is The Stevens Laser Bra, which I developed and which creates an internal support system using a patient’s own breast tissue. During the procedure, a CO2 laser prepares the tissue, which is then attached from the base of the breast to the upper chest wall. The Laser Bra can’t be felt through the skin, but patients can enjoy the benefits for many years.
Why Women Love the Laser Bra
As a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills and Marina del Rey, I have consulted with many women who were bothered by large, sagging breasts. Fortunately, these women have benefited from my innovative approach to breast reduction surgery in Los Angeles. It’s called the Stevens Laser Bra.
I had seen the tightening and firming benefits that lasers can achieve during facelift surgery. So, I applied those principles to breast enhancement and have been performing laser-assisted breast enhancements since 1996. The results have been remarkable.
A Better Breast Enhancement
The Laser Bra technique is performed in conjunction with traditional breast enhancement procedures. Using laser technology to prepare breast tissue that might normally be removed during traditional breast reduction or breast lift surgery, I create an internal brassiere that shapes and supports the breast but can’t be seen or felt after healing. The results are long-lasting and appear youthful and natural.
The Stevens Laser Bra offers the following advantages:
- Improved internal support
- Minimal bleeding
- Minimal swelling
- Faster recovery for some women
- Better shape retention for long-lasting results
- No risk of rejection by the body
For more about the Stevens Laser Bra procedure and how you can achieve the confidence that comes with enhanced breast shape, visit www.laserbra.com.
Picture This: Your New Breasts
Whether you’re considering breast reduction or breast augmentation in Los Angeles, the VECTRA® 3-D imaging system can help you get an idea of what your results will look like in advance. This technology creates lifelike images of your new body by incorporating your physical measurements and photographs of your body into a computer system. The three-dimensional images that are created can be viewed from various angles and modified to show the range of possible results. This allows for a more in-depth discussion of my patients’ expectations and enables me to create a surgical plan that matches their goals.
Benefits of VECTRA
At my practice, I’ve found VECTRA to be extremely beneficial to help set realistic expectations with my clients. Viewing simulated before-and-after photos provides my patients with clarity about their treatment objectives and gives them more confidence going into surgery. It also allows them to be more involved in the surgical planning process by enabling them to make better decisions regarding their breast implant style, size and placement. With VECTRA, I am able to:
- Create side-by-side comparisons of pre- and post-surgical photos
- Show multi-angle views of the breasts with a variety of implant shapes and sizes
- Demonstrate the effects of complementary procedures such as liposuction or a tummy tuck
VECTRA Uses
VECTRA can be used for breast, body and facial surgery. I also use VECTRA to show the results from procedures such as:
- Rhinoplasty
- Tummy tuck
- Facelift
- Injectable fillers
What is Liposuction Breast Reduction?
Women who have overly large breasts often find that everyday activities can be uncomfortable, or even painful. Often, these women turn to breast reduction in Los Angeles to remove excess skin, fat and tissue for an enhanced appearance and a more comfortable lifestyle.
Patients interested in a breast reduction have many options for personalizing this procedure. Understanding these options can help achieve beautifully shaped breasts.
Liposuction is a simple yet effective breast-reduction technique for women who don’t need a lift but desire the physical benefits a reduction can provide. Since this procedure is not as extensive, many patients are able to return to work and other activities sooner.
I perform liposuction breast reduction starting with a 5 millimeter incision under each breast. This scar is minimal, and most patients are able to hide it easily. From here, I use a thin tube called a cannula to remove enough fat to provide the desired reduction while making sure not to compromise the breast shape. Partial results are immediate, but I advise patients to wait several months for swelling to disappear completely.
Liposuction breast reduction can also be performed in conjunction with more traditional techniques, and I recommend speaking with an experienced surgeon to discover how this treatment can be customized to meet your needs.
Leaning Toward Laser Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction can be an extremely effective procedure to help women relieve a burden that is often both physically and emotionally painful. Recently, more women are turning to laser assisted breast reduction in Los Angeles because of advances that make results better and surgery shorter.
When I work with lasers, I find my results are more precise than when I work with more traditional methods. This precision enables me to complete the procedure more quickly while minimizing the amount of bleeding. I am able to cut down on the overall surgery time, which means the patient spends less time under anesthesia.
I developed a special Laser Bra procedure to help women achieve a more natural breast appearance and additional support following breast enhancement surgery. This procedure uses your own breast tissue to create internal support for your breasts, and it is a natural internal bra.
When combined with a breast reduction, a Laser Bra can help counteract the effects of gravity and greatly reduces sagging. After removing excess fat, skin and tissue, I use the Laser Bra to create an elegant appearance. The laser helps prepare and treat the tissue, which I then suture to the chest wall.
If you’ve experienced physical pain or are uncomfortable with the size of your breasts and feel that a breast reduction could help you, I highly recommend speaking to a qualified plastic surgeon. Laser technology has helped advance many cosmetic procedures, so achieving your ideal body could be easier than you think.
Teen Breast Reduction
Patients often come to my practice for not only an aesthetic enhancement: many of them also want to alleviate physical pain. For example, women with overly large breasts may experience pain in their necks and shoulders, which often can be relieved by breast reduction in Los Angeles. For young women, particularly teenagers, however, it’s important to make sure it’s the right choice for them.
Here’s my advice for teens considering breast reduction surgery:
- Talk with your parents honestly about your reasoning behind wanting surgery. That will help them understand your motivations. For example, sometimes girls feel limited by their exercise options, and vigorous activities such as jogging may be painful or embarrassing for them due to their breast size.
- Think about your future and how your surgery might affect your body.
- Ask your parents for help in choosing an experienced board-certified surgeon in your area that can assist you in getting the information you need. That professional can help you determine if the procedure is right for you, as well as evaluate whether your breasts have fully developed.
- After speaking with a qualified surgeon, make a decision with your family that you feel confident about.
By following these steps, you can make sure that breast reduction is right for you.
The Benefits of Breast Reduction
When a woman’s breasts are too large to be supported by the body frame, the results can be uncomfortable, embarrassing, and inconvenient. A significant number of women turn to breast reduction surgery to improve their physical appearance, and to alleviate the physical pain caused by uncomfortably large breasts.
There are a number of breast reduction options available to women, including laser-assisted breast reduction and the Laser Bra procedure. These options are easily personalized to fit the desires and goals of each woman.
After surgery, women report not only a surge in confidence, but also an ability to lead a more active lifestyle. Simple activities such as running errands are no longer physically draining, and working out is no longer impossible. Women have also commented that shopping has become fun again, with a greater selection of styles and sizes to choose from.
Understanding Anesthesia Options
Anesthesia options depend on which procedure you are considering, your age, and your health. At my practice, we offer different types, including:
- General anesthesia- Under this type of anesthesia, the patient is unconscious. The anesthesia is provided either by a mask, through intravenous line hooked up to the arm or hand, or through a breathing tube. At my practice, we use general anesthesia for breast reduction surgery in Los Angeles.
- Regional anesthesia- The patient receives a shot of local anesthesia to the nerves of the specific area to be treated. This type of anesthesia is used when large areas of the body need numbing, such as the leg or arm.
- Local anesthesia- Local anesthesia numbs a small area of skin where an incision will be made. This type of anesthesia can be administered as a shot or applied as an ointment spray. When applied to the skin, it is often called a topical anesthetic and is used for smaller outpatient procedures.
- Twilight anesthesia- Also known as conscious sedation, this anesthesia uses sedatives to lower your awareness without the completely unconscious state achieved with general anesthesia. Regional anesthetics are sometimes combined with twilight.
As noted, the type of anesthetic used depends on which procedure is performed as well as other factors, such as your health. Your surgeon will determine which type of anesthesia is right for you.
Breast Lift after Changing Implants
Now that silicone gel breast implants have been available in the United States for several years, many women with saline breast implants are opting to switch to the newer silicone gel implants for an improved feel and appearance.
Many of my patients who are considering an implant “redo” also ask me about a breast lift, particularly if they are planning to go for a smaller size with their new implants. Over time, implants, just like natural breast tissue, will cause the breasts to sit lower on the chest. Often women will want to improve both the size and shape of their implants when having a secondary breast augmentation, and I will often recommend a breast lift to correct ptosis (sagging) that has occurred since the initial procedure.
While more and more women having breast augmentation also have a lift procedure, the most common breast enhancement procedure combined with a breast lift is breast reduction in Los Angeles. It makes sense that heavier breasts also will experience greater ptosis over time, so that reducing the breast size and improve the breast position are both important goals for surgery.
If you are considering breast enhancement in your 30s, 40s or 50s, be sure to find a plastic surgeon who has experience in a range of breast procedures and can create a natural-looking result.
Dr. Grant Stevens
I am a board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience researching and implementing new approaches to plastic surgery. At Plastic Surgery Insider, you get the benefit of my experience and authority when you read my perspectives on the latest news and procedures in plastic surgery.
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