Breast Implant Surgery: Getting It Right the First Time

DALLAS – Many women considering breast augmentation are surprised to learn how common revision surgery is among implant patients.

In 2005, 291,000 breast augmentation surgeries were performed, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Based on current U.S. Food and Drug Administration statistics, about one in four of these women –- or nearly 73,000 — will have a second operation within five years. While some re-operations are necessitated by complications such as capsular contracture and rupture, many other revisions are performed simply because the patient isn’t satisfied with her cosmetic results.

Dr. Robert Schwartz, Dallas’ best-known plastic surgeon, has achieved a revision rate far below the national average by following a three-step process to accomplish his patients’ specific goals. Schwartz cautions that while he cannot prevent re-operations, his process is designed to minimize the chances of performing additional surgeries.

Schwartz explains: “The key to a high success rate is to focus on the human aspects of plastic surgery as much as the technical aspects. We start by making our patients feel comfortable, so they will open up about their concerns and objectives. Then, we listen to them. Together, we clarify their goals – which gives us the best chance of getting it right the first time.”

Schwartz’ process consists of the following steps:

Step One — Detailed Measurement

During the initial visit, a comprehensive series of measurements is taken of the patient’s breasts and chest area. These measurements define the types and sizes of implants that best match a patient’s physique. Implants that might produce less-than-optimal results are eliminated from consideration.

Step Two — Real Women, Not Models

Schwartz asks patients to review dozens of before-and-after pictures to select the ones that most closely match the results they are seeking. The pictures are of actual breast augmentation patients — not magazine models, as are often used in such consultations. By discussing the photos and the patient’s desires at length, Schwartz gains a precise understanding of the woman’s objectives and can choose the best implants to achieve them.

Said Schwartz, “Patients often describe the results they want in terms of cup size. But cup sizes are not precise measurements; rarely do the patient and surgeon have an identical image of what a C or D cup is. By reviewing the pictures together, the patient and I go to the operating room with a shared vision for the surgery.”

Step Three — A Final Test

In the operating room, Schwartz utilizes test implants to confirm the best size and shape to match the patient’s frame and achieve her aesthetic objectives. Only then is the test implant replaced with an identical permanent implant. “Using this process, we leave the operating room confident that we have chosen the best possible implant for the patient’s goals and body type,” Schwartz said.

Regardless of the surgeon or type of implant, Schwartz noted, most augmentation patients will require one or more additional surgeries over the course of their lives as their bodies change and their implants age.

About Dr. Robert Schwartz

Dr. Robert Schwartz is the best-known plastic surgeon in Dallas, considered one of the nation’s cosmetic surgery capitals. Both a highly skilled surgeon and compassionate communicator, Schwartz shares his humorous and empathetic bedside manner on “Plastic Surgery Today,” the popular weekly radio show on Live 105.3, KLLI-FM. Schwartz is licensed in Texas and California and has become known throughout the country for his natural-looking, meticulous results. A graduate of Yale and the UCLA School of Medicine, he is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. Learn more about his practice at www.RSplastic.com.