Breast implant revision cosmetic surgery is often more complicated than the original breast enhancement. For this reason, it is vital for patients to identify a highly skilled and experienced breast surgeon for this procedure. A woman can accomplish a higher sense of self-esteem and confidence with well-proportioned and enhanced breasts. 

However, in the hands of an inexperienced cosmetic surgeon, a patient faces the chances of adverse results, which can be disappointing. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides breast implant revision to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Customization

The primary goal of the surgeon in a procedure such as a breast implant revision should be to cause minimal tissue trauma, develop firm and shapely breasts through small and discreetly made incisions, and help the patient accomplish optimal outcomes with minimal downtime and discomfort.

Dr. McCluskey achieves these goals for his patients by creating and implementing a customized surgical plan that accounts for the patient’s concerns with her breast implants, her unique breast structure, and her personal cosmetic goals.  

Reviewing the Surgeon’s Website

Patients should review the surgeon’s site prior to their pre-op consultation. The website serves as a primary source of information about the surgeon’s background and practice. This allows for a more productive consultation. The patient should unhesitatingly ask questions or express doubts during the consultation. A responsible surgeon will clarify all concerns about the procedure enabling the patient to make a judicious decision.

Personal Rapport and Level of Comfort

The patient should also see how the surgeon and their administrative team make her feel. There is an inherent risk of complications in any surgical procedure, and this may cause obstructions in the woman’s journey to achieve her desired breast enhancement outcomes.

She should feel entirely at ease with her cosmetic surgeon and their staff. Therefore, the patient must work with a breast surgeon whom she trusts and feels completely comfortable with. 

The patient consider the below-mentioned questions:

• How does spending time with this cosmetic surgeon make me feel?
• Do I believe that this cosmetic surgeon will offer me recommendations on safe and effective procedures?
• Do I feel comfortable enough to freely ask this surgeon any questions or express doubts that I may have through the breast implant revision plastic surgery process?
• Will I be able to comfortably reveal my medical history and lifestyle habits to this breast surgeon?

Ask Questions during the Consultation

At the time of the pre-operative consultation with the surgeon, the patient should ideally go into the meeting with a ready list of questions. The patient can include the following areas in their list of questions during the initial consultation:

• Details on the surgeon’s background and qualifications
• The surgical venue where the procedure will be undertaken (make sure the breast implant revision is performed at a hospital, a surgical center, or an accredited private surgery suite)
• Emergency protocols
• Risks and complications involved in breast implant revision surgery
• The number of breast surgery procedures that the surgeon has performed previously
• Other options for breast implant revision
• Before and after pictures of previous patients

In case the patient feels that the surgeon is not forthcoming and transparent in offering her the required information on these facets, she should reconsider her choice of a cosmetic surgeon for her breast implant revision surgery. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for breast implant revision.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Patients seeking breast implant revision plastic surgery must consider the recovery process involved in the procedure. By avoiding any aggressive activities and following the surgeon’s instructions in a dedicated manner, patients can reduce the recovery duration involved in the procedure.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides breast implant revision to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities.

Post-Operative Recovery 

Surgeons typically direct their patients to limit their movement and get adequate rest following breast implant revision surgery. Patients should not lift, bend, or strain the incision sites since this can lead to slow recovery and increased discomfort. 

Patients who do not have to perform aggressive physical activities at work may return to their workplace in a week. However, if the patient’s work commitments are likely to cause excessive physical pressure, they may need to spend more time healing at home prior to resuming work. The surgeon can recommend a suitable time for the patient to restart her work safely.

The recovery duration may vary on the basis of whether the surgeon removes or replaces a breast implant in the revision procedure. In case the surgeon removes an implant, they will likely need to undertake a breast lift procedure as a part of the breast enhancement revision surgery, which may slightly prolong the healing process. 

The surgeon will provide the patient with special instructions to help them reduce the breast augmentation recovery duration as well as make it as comfortable as possible for the patient. If the patient follows the surgeon’s guidelines in a diligent manner, she can enjoy her breast enhancement revision surgery for many years to come.

The First Two Weeks

After the breast implant revision cosmetic surgery, the patient may experience discomfort for the first 24 to 48 hours. Patients typically report breast pain and fatigue during this time. 

The surgeon may prescribe pain medications to control the patient’s pain, but the state of tiredness and low energy may persist. Patients should ideally have a family member, friend, or professional caregiver assist them during this stage of their recovery.

The surgeon will apply gauze dressing to the patient’s breasts immediately after the surgery and remove the dressing after some days, replacing it with a surgical bra. If the surgeon uses sutures, they will remove these between seven to ten days after the procedure.

The Initial Few Months

The breasts will feel very sensitive for the first few days after breast enhancement revision surgery. The patient may experience swelling for up to five weeks. She should avoid any physical contact in the breast region until the sensitivity resolves to reduce the risk of injury and a prolonged recovery. Moreover, patients should engage in aggressive activities or exercise only after a month following the surgery.

It is important for the patient to allow her body to heal prior to resuming their regular physical activity level. If the patient does not allow herself adequate time to heal, it can damage the breasts, causing an even more prolonged recovery phase. 

These injuries can adversely affect the results of the surgery. Women considering breast enhancement revision should have an in-depth discussion on the recovery stage with their surgeon to gather a detailed comprehension of the time that they would need to invest in this procedure. 

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for breast implant revision.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Breast implant revision surgery is meant to replace or remove breast implants in order to treat any complications associated with the original breast augmentation plastic surgery procedure. 

A major complication of breast enhancement surgery is capsular contracture, which typically necessitates breast implant revision to remove or replace damaged, distorted, leaking, or malpositioned implants. 

Breast implant revision surgery will be more complex in many cases in comparison to the primary procedure. In particular, breast implant removal may be accompanied by a breast lift to restore a youthful breast appearance. At the time of the pre-op consultation, the surgeon will explain the breast implant revision surgery steps to the patient. 

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides breast implant revision to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Saline Implants Removal

In breast implant revision surgery, the patient will typically have a choice to remove the implants or replace them with new ones. If saline implants are being removed, the surgeon will initially deflate the implant prior to removing it. Saline solution does not cause any harm to the body, which enables the surgeon to undertake this technique for less invasive implant removal. 

The surgeon will typically remove scar tissue along with the breast implant. The placement of new implants or breast lift surgery will be undertaken simultaneously after the primary implants have been removed. The revision surgery may be undertaken using general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and may take around one hour to complete.

Silicone Implants Removal

The surgeon will evaluate the silicone implant for any indications of damage before removing it. The objective is to prevent silicone gel leakage and minimize the risk. In case the breast implants are textured, their removal may be slightly more complicated. Sometimes, the tissue and muscle around the implant may also need to be removed. 

Breast lift, scar tissue removal, or implant replacement procedures will be undertaken at the same time following breast implant removal. The time taken to complete the procedure may differ depending on the type of procedures undertaken.

Replacement of Implants 

Breast implant replacement is quite similar to the original breast enhancement cosmetic surgery. Implant replacement options will be assessed after understanding the type of complications that may have occurred due to the primary implants. The original implant shape, size, positioning, or texture may have led to complications. 

Only after reviewing all facets, the surgeon will prepare a breast implant replacement plan. In case the patient was unhappy with the cosmetic results of the primary implants, the surgeon will typically recommend a different type and size of implant for the replacement surgery. The patient should evaluate the advantages and limitations of each implant option as well as consider the advanced ultra cohesive silicone implant options.

Recovery 

The recovery will be quicker and simpler in case of implant replacement, where the primary incisions are used to replace a similar size and type of implants. Implant removal may involve a more prolonged downtime as it may have to be undertaken in combination with breast lift surgery. A majority of women can expect to resume their routine activities in one to two weeks after the revision procedure.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for breast implant revision.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

For people with lipedema, it is vital to avoid substantial weight gain, and obesity as putting on weight will worsen the fatty inflammation. 

Some people find compression tights useful in this condition as they support the fatty swelling and may decrease the pain.

Lipedema does not have any single effective treatment. Symptom alleviation and prevention of the progression of the condition involves diet and nutrition, exercise, emotional support, and management of co-existing medical issues that may cause swelling in the legs.

The primary conservative treatment is complete decongestive therapy (also known as complex decongestive therapy, or CDT). CDT is a combination of various techniques, such as manual lymph drainage (a message technique), physical mobilization, and compression therapy. 

If conservative and support therapies are not effective, surgery may be considered. Surgical options may include liposuction using specialized approaches for lipedema (such as water jet-assisted liposuction) and excision (surgical elimination of large deposits of impacted tissue).

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides safe and proven treatments for lipedema to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities. 

Tumescent Liposuction

The only treatment that seems to be effective in reducing the accumulation of fatty tissue associated with lipedema is a plastic surgery procedure known as tumescent liposuction.

Tumescent liposuction involves suctioning out the undesirable fat through a tube. A liquid solution if initially injected into the legs to numb the site and reduce blood loss. 

The procedure can be effective and have good outcomes. However, multiple operations may be necessary to eliminate the fat from various areas of the body. Fatty swelling of the legs may recur after having the procedure if the patient gains weight. 

In addition, non-surgical treatments may be necessary for a long duration following tumescent liposuction. For instance, the patient will need to wear compression garments post-surgery to prevent complications, such as lymphedema.

Treatments to Prevent Lymphedema

At times, non-surgical treatments help improve tenderness and pain, reduce or prevent lymphedema, and improve the shape of impacted limbs. But they typically have little effect on the fatty tissue. 

Various treatments are meant to enhance the flow and drainage of fluid in the tissues, such as:

• Compression therapy: This involves wearing garments or bandages that squeeze the impacted limbs.
• Exercise: Typically low-impact exercises, such as cycling or swimming.
• Massage: Techniques that encourage the flow of fluid through the body.

Treatments that Do Not Work

The treatments used for certain types of tissue inflammation are usually unhelpful in the case of lipedema.

Lipedema does not respond to:

• Raising the legs
• Diuretics: Tablets to eliminate excess fluid
• Dieting: This tends to cause fat loss from areas unaffected by lipedema, with little effect on the impacted sites

Lipoedema or Lymphedema?

These two conditions can appear very similar. However, there are vital differences. Lymphedema refers to swelling beneath the skin due to an accumulation of fluid in the lymphatic system, the network of vessels that remove excess fluid from body tissue. 

Upon being pressed, the skin which is swollen due to lymphedema will indent or pit. However, this does not occur in cases of lipedema. 

If the accumulation of fat impacts the lymphatic drainage, a person with lipedema may eventually develop lymphedema as well. The combination of these two conditions is called lipo-lymphedema.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for lipedema treatment.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Lipedema refers to a condition that causes excess fat to accumulate in the lower areas of the body. Lipedema usually involves the thighs, calves, and buttocks. 

In some cases, the upper arms may also be affected. The condition does not impact the feet or hands. 

Lipedema is a condition that causes excess fat to accumulate in the lower part of the body. Lipedema most often involves the buttocks, thighs, and calves. The upper arms can also be affected. The condition does not affect the hands or feet.

Lipedema may be mistaken for lymphedema, but both of these are different conditions. However, lipedema can develop into lymphedema. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides safe and proven treatments for lipedema to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

What causes Lipedema?

The precise reason for the development of lipedema is not known. However, the condition runs in families and may be genetic. Lipedema develops almost always in women. It typically initiates or becomes worse at the time of puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. Due to this, there may be a possible connection to hormones. 

Lipedema may not occur due to obesity, but over half the patients with this condition are obese or overweight. Dieting can cause a person to lose weight in the upper body without leading to changes in the regions impacted by lipedema.

Lipedema symptoms may include the following:

• Fat accumulation in the calves, thighs, buttocks, and sometimes in the upper arms. 
• Diuretics, raising the legs and support stockings do not help the impacted sites.
• There is usually no inflammation in hands or feet unless the patient has lymphedema or chronic venous insufficiency.

• Pain.

Upon worsening, lipedema can impact a person’s ability to walk. Many people with lipedema have emotional symptoms, such as feeling embarrassed, depressed, or anxious as the lower region of their body becomes enlarged. 

As more fat builds up over time, it can obstruct the lymphatic pathway. This can lead to an accumulation of fluid known as lymph. The condition is called lipo-lymphedema or secondary lymphedema.

Diagnosis

It is challenging to assess and diagnose lipedema. It is best undertaken by a medical practitioner with experience in the condition. Imaging tests, such as MRI, ultrasound, lymphangiogram, and/or lymphoscintigraphy, may be helpful in the diagnosis of lipedema. However, the test results may be ‘normal’ in the initial stages of the disorder. 

It is vital to differentiate lipedema from other similar condition, including but not limited to the following: lipohypertrophy (a condition with similar signs and symptoms, but no edema and pain), obesity, and lymphedema (inflammation due to an abnormal build-up of fluids). 

Advanced cases should be evaluated for other causes of classic edema of the lower legs, such as idiopathic edema, chronic venous insufficiency (the veins have issues in sending blood from the legs back to the heart), postural edema (accumulation of fluid in the ankles and feet after standing for a long time), and edema due to internal disease.

The conventional guidelines for diagnosing lipedema include the following criteria:

• Bilateral and symmetrical presentation with minimal involvement of the feet
• Minimal pitting edema, tenderness, pain and easy bruising
• Persistent inflammation of lower extremities despite elevation or weight loss

Updated guidelines propose a lipedema diagnosis with the criteria as classically defined in addition to symptoms of the upper leg(s) and arm(s), such as a circularly thickened layer of fat impacting the skin. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for lipedema treatment.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Signs and symptoms of lipedema typically appear during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. These symptoms differ between people, but often include abnormal pockets of body fat in both legs, going from the buttocks to the ankles. 

This is typically a painful condition which gradually worsens. But some people may develop minor lipedema that stabilizes. In the initial stages of lipedema, most people have a normal appearance above their waist. However, as the disorder progresses, the torso, chest, upper extremities, and abdomen may become enlarged as well. 

The skin overlying the impacted sites typically appears normal, although it may become less elastic. Individuals with lipedema are prone to bruising easily, likely due to the increased fragility of tiny blood vessels in the fat tissue. 

Lipedema develops due to the manner in which the fat (adipose tissue) is distributed underneath the skin. Fat is spread unevenly in the legs and buttocks, rather than in a normal pattern. There is usually a fatty region on the inside of the knees and the outside of the hips. 

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides safe and proven treatments for lipedema to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities. 

What happens when a Person develops Lipedema

• The legs appear symmetrically swollen: Inflammation can develop from the hips and extend down to the ankles causing the legs to appear column-like. The feet are typically not affected. 

• The impacted areas feel cool and ‘spongy,’ and the skin is often soft and subtle.

• The patient bruises easily in the impacted areas.
• They may have small spider or varicose veins in the impacted regions. 
• The legs and other affected sites are sensitive to touch. 
• The legs and other impacted sites hurt and feel uncomfortable. The inflammation may worsen in the afternoon, evening, in hot weather, or after activity.

Individuals with lipedema may find it challenging to walk or engage in exercise, physical activities, and other facets of routine life. 

The limitations on mobility may contribute to people with this condition developing low self-esteem and other issues such as anxiety, as well as limiting their social life. People with lipedema often find it challenging to buy clothes as their lower and upper body is quite different in size. 

Common Symptoms of Lipedema

Lipedema causes the buttocks, thighs, lower legs, and at times, the arms, to become enlarged due to an accumulation of abnormal fat cells. Both legs and/or the arms are typically enlarged to the same extent and at the same time. 

The hands and feet are not affected. This creates a “band-like” appearance or a “bracelet” effect right above the wrists and ankles. 

The arm and leg size can differ between people with lipedema, and the disorder can slowly worsen over time. 

Besides becoming enlarged, impacted areas of the body may:

• bruise easily
• feel soft, “doughy” and cold 
• have tiny broken veins beneath the skin
• feel painful or ache or tender

A person with lipedema may eventually develop fluid retention (lymphoedema) in their legs. This type of inflammation can become worse by the end of the day and may improve overnight. 

But the fatty inflammation of lipedema is constant. These symptoms can cause limitations on mobility and psychological problems, such as low self-esteem. 

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for lipedema treatment.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Lipedema refers to a long-term or chronic condition where there is an abnormal accumulation of fat cells in the buttocks, thighs, and legs, and at times, in the arms. While the condition typically only affects women, it can also affect men in rare instances.

Lipedema usually causes painful fat pockets that are unresponsive to exercise and changes in diet. The condition differs between women. The affected site can be tender and prone to bruise easily. Lipedema can lead to fluid retention in the affected areas over time, causing a medical condition known as lymphedema.

It has not been confirmed, but lipedema is thought to have a genetic basis, as in certain cases there is a family history of the condition. 

At times, lipedema is mistaken for weight gain, obesity, cellulite or excessive lymphedema or is assumed to develop due to lack of exercise. Lipedema can significantly impact the quality of life for a patient. 

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides safe and proven treatments for lipedema to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Staging of Lipedema

Lipedema develops in stages, and the degree of tenderness, pain, inflammation, and fat accumulation may increase over time. Various areas of the body can be affected in different ways at every stage, depending on the individual. 

Stage 1

The skin is smooth with an increase of enlarged subcutaneous fat tissue.

Stage 2

The skin appears uneven with indentations in the fat tissue and substantial mounds of fat tissue (lipomas) able to be felt and seen.

Stage 3

In this stage, the patient has large extrusion of fat tissue leading to deformations, particularly around the knees and on the thighs. 

Stage 4

This stage is characterized by the development of lipolymphedema. This is a condition in which both lipedema and lymphedema are present in the body along with substantial tissue overhangs on the legs and/or arms.

Differences between Lipedema and Lymphedema

Lipedema refers to a chronic and progressive condition. Over time, it can develop into lymphedema. This occurs as the accumulation of fat impacts the ability of the lymphatic system to drain fluids, inflammatory molecules, and cell waste products from the tissues. 

In comparison to people with lipedema, individuals with lymphedema will find that:

• their feet or hands are impacted
• the level of inflammation is not the same if both legs or both arms are impacted-one limb is more inflamed than the other
• the inflammation develops due to the build-up of fluid in the lymphatic system
• in case the lymphedema is of short duration, the inflamed skin will indent or pit, when pressed with fingers-pressure creates a temporary mark on the skin 
• there is a higher risk of infection development

Other Reasons for Inflammation

Apart from lipedema and lymphedema, there are other causes of tissue inflammation. Therefore, a differential diagnosis is crucial.  

The other causes of tissue inflammation are as follows:

• Obesity: In this case, the fat tends to be unevenly spread over the entire body.

• Phleboedema and Chronic Venous Insufficiency: In this condition, there is the presence of fluid and absence of fat.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for lipedema treatment.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.