by Terrye Tebbetts

Question ~

My boobs are set wide natrually. I know that implants wont change that, but I wonder if overs or unders are better at all for cleavage…..even just a little? Any advice will help!!

Answer ~

The pocket location, or “overs” vs “unders”, is all about soft tissue coverage in the upper portion of the breast. By the High Five System, if you have less than 2 cm of soft tissue coverage in the upper pole, then you need to put the implant under more of you to avoid seeing implant edges and any wrinkling or folding of the implant.  There is also a school of thought that says mammograms will be easier if the implant is partial sub pec.  There are different ways to place the implant under more coverage – traditional PRP, sub facial and Dual Plane are the most common.

If you need more coverage – you need it – but for the reasons I mentioned, not because you hope it might create cleavage or support an implant long term or any of the other mythical things associated with pocket location.

The distance between your breasts, the intermammary distance, is a very sacred place of skin over sternum – - when toyed with, either by over dissection or by an implant that is too large and too wide for the breast, a condition called symmastia – or Uni-Boob, is created and it is VERY difficult to fix.

Breast implants do not create cleavage – they were never meant to create cleavage and when used to do so, they can create problems!  Bras create cleavage.  So if you are wide set now, then that distance will always be the same, but when the breast is full with implant, then at least you will have something to push up into that space.

I hope this helps shed some light on an often misunderstood concept of breast implants!  The bottom line is, everything gets better when the breast is full and firm, even if the space between them cannot be changed!

Attention women everywhere!

Do you want larger, natural breasts? Want the appearance and fullness you had at 18? Want to increase your breasts, organically, while also slimming your stomach and/or hips? Want to not look like Pamela Anderson ? Well, if this sounds appealing … “Fat Graft” breast enhancement may be for you!

Okay, this is an exaggeration, but a new medical procedure called “Fat Graft” breast enhancement, also known as “Autologous Fat Transfer” or “Natural Breast Enhancement,” may provide women with a more natural, realistic breast augmentation option.

So what is fat graft breast enhancement, and who is it for?

Well, in fat graft breast enhancement, essentially, fat cells are removed from other areas of the body and injected into the breast. Because the breast is, essentially, comprised of fat, this procedure offers a more organic, aesthetically realistic result. Fat cells are removed from various areas of the body (normally the mid-section/torso) through specialized liposuction – completed carefully, because unlike traditional liposuction, fat cells must remain intact and healthy-, purified, and placed into a series of syringes.

Injection sites are carefully marked on the breasts, after which, the surgeon injects the syringes of prepared fat into the appropriate breast sites. This results in a larger, natural bust, which most cosmetic physicians claim heals in around 6-8 weeks (the same time as a standard silicone or saline implant). The procedure enhances natural breasts, but can also soften the often unnatural appearance of standard silicone/saline implants.

So, a natural, realistic, less invasive breast enhancement and liposuction procedure, performed with organic material from one’s own body, resulting in no (foreseen) scarring?? Sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, like everything in medicine, pros, cons, and differing outcomes exist. What are the shortcomings of “Fat Graft” breast enhancement?

1. In most cases, enhancement of only one cup size (ie: B to C) is probable. Unfortunately, this does exclude the candidates seeking the “A to DD” look (sorry Dr. Rey … kidding, sort of). However, many cosmetic surgeons site cases of multiple cup enhancement (such as this doctor – here).

2. A 2007 study by the American Society for Plastic Surgery claims fat graft enhancement is medically sound, but still evolving and may not produce optimal results (compared to traditional saline/silicone implants), especially in cases of reconstruction and lifts.

3. Some skeptics claim fat injections can calcify, or harden, and interfere with traditional mammograms and breast cancer screenings.

4. Others imply the volume of injected fat diminishes overtime. However, surgeons performing the procedure claim injections are essentially permanent, and rarely need touch-up procedures (it should be noted most surgeons recommend replacing saline/silicone implants every 10 years).

So, who is the ideal candidate for fat injection breast enhancement? Well, in my opinion:

1. Women looking to increase the fullness/size of their breasts no more than 1 (maybe 2) cup sizes.

2. Women who do not require a breast lift in conjunction with augmentation.

3. Women with an adequate supply of excess body fat (don’t ask your significant other if he thinks you have enough excess body fat … ).

4. Women with saline/silicone implants looking to soften the existing work.

5. Women who do not require breast reconstruction.

Surgeons performing the procedure report significant results and very satisfied patients. I believe this technology will continue to advance, and more women will turn to fat injection as a means of breast enhancement. If you’re interested, check out this doctor and/or this doctor.

(Images via PicApp. Deep links are not my property, nor are they to be used or assumed as such.)

Miami is a city full of beauty and glamour…this being said, teenage girls are being faced with more and more pressure to look “sexy” than ever before. This trend has increased the number of adolescent patients visiting my office requesting breast augmentation surgery. Recently, I was interviewed on “Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste” for Telemundo where we discussed this growing trend.

Although there is no legal regulation prohibiting adolescents from undergoing breast augmentation surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommend that individuals be at least 18 years old for augmentation with saline implants and 22 years old for augmentation with silicone implants. This is a recommendation I follow and support as I feel the decision for breast augmentation surgery is one that will affect the rest of your life and it is important to make this decision as an adult once you’ve fully completed your physical growth and development.

If you’re considering breast augmentation surgery, I would be happy to meet with you to discuss all of your options and assist you in making the best decision to fit your needs. Please contact my office at inquiries@drjsalomon.com or at 305.270.1361.

¿Demasiado jóvenes para implantes de senos?

My experience at the Cadogan Clinic as a whole has been nothing but short of wonderful.  The service I received from Rosa Guthrie has been excellent and as she was my first point of contact at the clinic it was an important factor in my decision too.  I would recommend Dr Jian Farhadi without a second thought.  His advice has been invaluable and really has helped me make the right decision when I was faced with a range of options which quite frankly I found a little daunting at first! He helped me clarify and prioritise my thoughts on what to expect from the surgery.  He is honest and sets your expectations from early on and to top these qualities he is extremely personable and easy to get along with.  After extensive online research I planned to visit a number of surgeons to get different opinions but never pursued that plan as I didn’t feel it was necessary.  Mr Farhadi in my opinion is as good a surgeon you will find for breast augmentation surgeries.  His team are equally as friendly and professional and although I was anxious before the operation I felt I was in really good hands and any worries evaporated the morning I walked into the clinic!
The operation itself went very well and the whole recovery process has been painless (although this may be subjective) and much easier than I would have ever anticipated.  I felt that sticking to the post-operative advice really helped.  As a whole my experience has been fantastic, I am extremely happy with the results.  My breasts look amazing and I love them.  If I were to consider another enlargement operation I would only consider going back to Mr Farhadi.

by Terrye Tebbetts     

I found this commnet on a discussion board and wanted to share it.  Since so many comments and questions are negative or problematic, it is nice to read about a success story for a change…..

Question/Statement ~ 

One year to the day….and ladies…I just couldn’t be happier! I had an amazing surgeon with amazing results. I am blessed and lucky – so many times we hear about the bad stories so I’m here to share a positive one. Scars are barely visible, the gummy bears which take longer to settle in and soften feel/look natural and most importantly I actually LOVE my breasts – something I NEVER thought I’d feel, say or believe. My self-esteem is 500% improved and I feel sexy and womanly.

Do I have a little boob greed? OF COURSE – I think all of us do. But when my surgeon told me today the next size up is 25cc which isn’t worth the risk and that the next size after that is 375 cc’s which would be huge on me…I finally let it go. The bottom line is I’ve got way more than I ever dreamed, I had a pitch perfect surgery/recovery/result and I feel marvelous about myself. I really hope it doesn’t sound like I’m bragging – simply just so so so so VERY grateful.

I want to thank Patty and the rest of the women on here for being such a tremendous resource. Just knowing there are others going through what you are/what you did/what you will is so comforting.

If I can ever be of help on the gummy bear implants from the Allergan trial study don’t hesitate to let me know.

Thank you all for your support – this is an amazing community of women.

 Answer/comment ~

I am so happy and pleased to welcome you to the gummy bear sorority!  I am an 8 year alum with mine and feel the same way about mine 8 years out – that you feel about yours at 1 year!

Congratulations!  And the next time you see your ps, give him or her a big hug for laying out the reality about size for you – - they obviously had your health and well-being at the top of the priority list!

Today’s cosmetic surgery rumor is brought to you by Gossip Girl star Blake Lively.

Blake is an up and coming young actress. Not only is she the star of a hit TV show (note: I’ve never seen an episode of Gossip Girl, so I can only assume it’s a hit, and Lively is the star), but she’s also featured in some big films, such as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (missed this one too, damn!), and is slated to appear alongside Ryan Reynolds in 2011’s Green Lantern (I’ll see this one).

With such a bright, budding career, one would assume Lively’s acting work is the focus of public interest. However, most of the “gossip” surrounding Lively focuses not on her expanding theatrical talents, but instead on her expanding chest. I’m referring, of course, to the rumors concerning Blake Lively and a breast augmentation surgery (ie: did Blake Lively undergo breast augmentation).

So, do I believe Blake Lively underwent a breast enhancement operation? Simply put … yes (but continue reading).

Now, let me explain my case, and state why Lively went about augmentation in a (fairly) smart manner.

1. Lively’s breasts defy gravity.

Now, Lively is a tall girl – between 5′ 9″ and 5′ 10″ depending on the source. This means that naturally large breasts are not out of the question, or even unreasonable. However, if you look at the (above) profile shot of Lively, her “large” breasts do not seem to naturally sag, despite any real, visual support. Even though she is young, breasts that large (remember she’s tall) would simply rest/sag downward, and Lively’s breasts do not. They’re too erect, which is usually a dead, implant giveaway, and contradicts Newton and all his work with apples (I’ll keep the focus on Lively’s apples though, much more interesting).

2. The shape.

The shape simply doesn’t fit a girl of Lively’s height/proclivity towards larger breasts. The breasts should have much more slope, and less distinction between her torso and the bottom of her breast (meaning again, they are too erect). Her breasts are very well defined, and circular, especially because she is so thin. I personally think this shape does not match her physique, and really exaggerates the implants – too round, too abrupt towards the bottom, and too much fullness on top:

Another issue is the stereotypical “gap” between her breasts:

Not only does this picture demonstrate the shape issues, but the gap between her breasts is too large. Now, women can definitely have a naturally large(r) gap between their breasts (see my Megan Fox post for more about that), but this gap would also be accompanied by natural slope and size. However, Lively’s breasts display the gap (probably the biggest breast enhancement “tell”) + the unnatural shape + unnatural slope … definitely pretty damning evidence. Furthermore, Blake’s breasts could possess the round shape and erect posture if they were “pushed up” (which they are in that picture), but in this case, the gap between the breasts would be eliminated through the push up. However, the gap is apparent, despite the pushed up appearance, which screams implant to me.

Lively, in my opinion, is a textbook case of breast implants -excess fullness on top, exaggerated roundness, abrupt angle between the bottom of her breast and torso, large gap between the breasts, and little to no slope. However, Blake did something, which I feel is very smart … she didn’t go “too big.” Despite the stereotypical characteristics of implants, Lively kept the enhancement down to a reasonable size (especially considering her height, and potential implant volumes). Large, but not absurd, instantly recognized as fake, large. This really helps mask the procedure, and keep her surgical alterations snugly in the “did/didn’t she” pile. I know arguments against my points exist, namely one’s I use in debunking rumors quite often – lighting, growth, maturation, clothing, angles, etc -, but still, Lively is a straightforward case to me.

Does Blake Lively have breast implants? In my opinion … YES.

(Images via PicApp. Deep links are not my property, nor should they be used or assumed as such.)

Well, I really hate using this excuse, but I’m essentially unable to post ( and have been for the past 12 hours or so) due to some technically issues with WordPress. For some odd reason, I cannot edit anything I write, and links aren’t displaying properly. I’ve notified the right people, so hopefully this issue will resolve itself soon. However, in the meantime … I thought I’d divulge a little bit of what’s coming up:

1. I plan to tackle the breast augmentation rumors concerning Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively

2. I’m writing a piece about a new, very “natural looking” breast enhancement procedure using “fat grafts”

3. I’m going to discuss male, facial plastic surgery … the bad, and the ugly, and if it is ever “good.” You can expect some celebrity cameo appearances in that one (I’m looking at you Mickey Rourke).

So again, I do apologize. I really appreciate those who continue to view the blog, I enjoy doing this, and I will be fully functional as soon as possible!

by Terrye Tebbetts

Every day when I talk with patients or go on different internet forums, there is always a question about how to figure out what size implant a woman should use or choose.  They get differing opinions from the surgeons they have had consults with.  They get different advice from their friends and women who have had implants.  They are told that a certain amount of CC equals a certain cup size or that just simply bringing in a photo of what they want to look like will work.  Or my favorite method of determining size…….stuffing something into your bra – be it rice or soaked panty hose or sizers - just stuff it on in there and we will make it happen!  Then there is always putting your breasts into a computer image and just changing and morphing it all over the place while the disclaimer scrolls across the bottom of the screen “This is not a guarantee of result”. 

The problem is, as I see it, patients and surgeons have taken the surgical planning of breast augmentation so far away from the patient’s body that nothing makes sense any more.  It’s just a sea of grey that fosters confusion and often leads to unhappy patients.

Preoperative planning using measurements of the patient’s body and a scientifically published and peer-reviewed formula to decide the size of the implant (like the High Five System) puts objectivity back into the decision-making process.  It eliminates the GREY area.  No longer will a patient have to wake up at 3 am and wonder if her surgeon really, truly understood what she meant by “full C Cup” any more.  When you respect the body and the tissue you are operating on, everything gets easier — for the patient and the surgeon!

Here’s one more example…..

Im a petite girl..5′4 110 with a 34A. My doc recommended 300cc moderate silicone unders and Im concerned they are going to be too small for my liking. However, with the moderates he cant go any bigger because they will be too wide for my body. He also doesnt want to use HP’s because I have rather prominent nipples that will just project them more. What do you guys think? I would like to be a C. Will this do it for me or am I being ultra paranoid? I did the rice test (not sure how accurate it is) and they looked okay.

 Answer ~

There are 3 really good articles on how to determine size on the home page of our book website.  Just go to www.thebestbreast.com and click on the articles button.

Pay real close attention to the illustration where Dr. Tebbetts is pouring water into the breast with a funnel.  This is a simply illustration but it really says it all – - if you don’t put enough fill or volume in a breast then it sits in the bottom of the breast like a rock in a sock – in other words, its ugly!  But if you exceed the amount of stretch or room in the breast – the volume has nowhere to go so it bulges at the top and instantly becomes a “Boob Job”.  So if you want a natural, proportionate breast, you have to figure out just want the empty room or space is in each patient.  We use the High Five Measurement system to figure out what the Ideal amount of fill for each woman is.  Because when you measure – you know what the limits are and when you simply fill a breast – it is a pretty breast that is least likely to cause you a problem long-term.

Balancing what you want with what your body can realistically and safely have is the key to a really good result and a really pretty breast!

People love to hate Heidi Montag (or Heidi Pratt since she is married to the most hated reality TV villain, Spencer Pratt). She’s been the butt of many cruel jokes revolving the staged ‘candid’ shots of the couple hamming it up for the paparazzi and her failed attempt at a music career. When she went under the knife, it only added fuel to the fire.

The Hills star has transformed before our very eyes. In season one, she looked sweet, bubbly, happy, and natural. Then a few seasons later, she opted for a nose job and breast implants. Then in November, she went through 10 plastic-surgery procedures in a single day and came out looking like this. (Watch the Access Hollywood interview to hear Heidi Montag speak out about her experience.)

I actually thought Heidi looked gorgeous before her surgery – she had this sparkle in her eyes that I can’t quite describe. When she smiled, her whole face smiled.

I’m also not against plastic surgery. I’ve fantasized about having breast implants someday, but threw that dream out the window because I always come back to the same conclusion: I don’t want to rely on surgery to make me happy. I want to become stronger from within and learn to accept myself as is. That is what a real feminist does – deal with hard problems instead of resorting to quick fixes. And I never want to define my happiness solely on the size of my boobs. That would just make me depressed.

Heidi Montag’s plastic surgery got me thinking about how closely a woman’s self esteem is tied to her looks. There’s a suffocating amount of pressure on us to look a certain way – fake.

Even though we know that the photos of those models have been airbrushed and even if we know that there’s nothing real about that woman, we still think, “Wow, she’s beautiful” and then pulled out the mental yardstick as we compare our physical ‘failings’ with her positive attributes. It is this process by which we gradually loathe ourselves and make it our goal to look like someone entirely different.

You could say that we learn to disrespect ourselves.

But it was something Heidi Montag said in the January 25, 2010 issue of People magazine that pissed me off and made me pity her. When asked if it worries her that people will fixate on her large breasts, she replied:

“I hope so. They better! That’s kind of the point. Sex appeal is really important and it’s not saying that you’re only sexy if you have big boobs. That’s not true at all, and honestly the way I got Spencer, I had no surgery. It was my inner beauty that he loved.”

So she wants people now to notice her because of her boobs. Lovely. So many women have fought so that we could come as far as we did since getting the right to vote. But now ignorant statements like this throw the stick in the bicycle’s spokes.

And she claims that Spencer Pratt loved her inner beauty, and that’s what he fell in love with. Well, what about Heidi? Does she also not love herself for her inner beauty? Apparently not since she was quoted as telling someone during an interview that she’d rather die than to be flat-chested. Nice.

Things like this bother me because it’s proof that women still have such problems linking their self worth with how others perceive them. Instead of being happy, you’re happy because someone else is happy.

by Terrye Tebbetts

We had the pleasure of operating on this really nice lady, who just happens to be a physician too, in January of this year.  She traveled from the West Coast to use Dr. Tebbetts and experience a true 24 Hour Recovery.  I just received this note from her this week and she was kind enough to give me her permission to share it with you…….

Dear Terrye, 

Everything is going well and I feel great. Things are going exactly as you predicted. 

Since I came back after surgery I have been trying to find words to describe my experience with Dr. Tebbets. All I can say is that your team does ordinarily what is considered extraordinary and even impossible by some plastic surgeons. As a doctor and as a patient I am still amazed!! I have experienced in person 24 hour recovery after breast augmentation. I am one of many living proof that 24 hours recovery does exist! I was able to shower, raise my arms, go out for dinner the night of your surgery, with minimal disconfort just taking 800 mg ibuprofen. I hope I can find some way to thank you all.

Thank you,

Traveling Doc

Every time I watch Mad Men, I get floored by Christina Hendricks. She captures the vavoom esthetics of the late 50’s and 60’s as personified by Sophia Loren. The standards of beauty shift and change over time, but the large mammaries and the male obsession with them are unique to humans among terrestrial mammals.

Neolithic hunter-gatherers, when they figured out how to shape stone into figurines, created an industry around figures of women with curves.

Breast augmentation is a large industry driven by not only popular tastes but probably something innate in our psyche. When I was an intern, the plastic surgery clinic was an eye opener, with perfectly healthy patients willing to undergo an operation at some risk to their health to sculpt themselves.

It was a time of transition away from silicone implants which were popularly (and erroneously) believed to cause autoimmune disease, to saline implants, and the quintessential moment for me was in filling what were plastic bags to the “correct” volume which was a subjective process. The whole OR got to voice their opinion with the surgeon having veto power.

With the recent red carpet productions, Christina Hendricks came up and it hit me that she looked different from when she was on Firefly, my favorite cancelled science fiction series. In it, she is incredible as an interplanetary highway robber and grifter. Five years later, she presents an entirely different profile.

At first, I thought she achieved her transformation with girdles and a few extra doughnuts a day, but the picture at the very top convinced me that some augmentation has occurred. When I mentioned this among my Facebook friends, TW, an old buddy from high school and a physician, categorically felt that these were real.

After intensive research, I would have to disagree. The tipoff are the bald men hiding in her dress. The placement of prosthetics causes a lifting of the skin and sometimes muscle which changes the profile from the “natural” which in profile looks like a nice sledding hill to the “augmented” which looks like a bald pate. This convexity is a giveaway, and with the lift and separate presentation bras, this convexity is enhanced. Gravity flattens this top area with time and no convexity is seen in latter day images of the all natural Sophia Loren who looks like she underwent some reduction.

That said, Hendricks is amazing in bringing her character to life, a Sad Woman among Mad Men.

by Terrye Tebbetts

Question ~

Hello, I will be 29 this month; 5′8″, 122 lbs. I was a B cup, went to a C while breastfreeding for a year, then down to an A after having to stop nursing suddenly following an appendectomy. I am simply looking to return to a full B or small C; I am wondering if anyone has advice on whether saline or silicone is better in this case? Thank you!

Answer ~

Please remember, your end result is not just the device or the implant.  It is how the device is used that makes you a really pretty breast that will cause you the least amount of risk long term.

You have so many decisions when thinking about BA for the first time.  Incision, pocket location, how to determine size, the style and type of implant and the filler and then how is the surgery done and what kind of recovery can you expect.

All of these questions and more are answered in our book, The Best Breast 2.  You can read most all of it on line at www.thebestbreast.com    – I know it will help you feel more confident as you research and make decisions and interview surgeons – you always feel better with more knowledge!

As for your specific Saline vs Silicone question – I have a spreadsheet that Dr. Tebbetts put together that compares all the available information on implants from the FDA’s site in a very easy to read format.  Just email me at TTebbetts@plastic-surgery.com and I will be happy to send you a copy.  It will let you compare CC rates, deflation rates, rupture issues – all on one sheet.

Here’s some uplifting news for women who hate the way their breasts look but don\’t want traditional implants.

Doctors have developed a new surgical technique that acts like a support bra that you wear under your skin, reports The Daily Mail.

Conceived by South African plastic surgeons and currently being performed in Europe, the Internal Bra System is a breast-lift operation that places a mesh-like material inside the breast to support the new shape.

The cone-shaped material, named Breform, is similar to what is used in hernia operations. It’s meant to take the strain off the skin, which after a traditional breast lift can begin to stretch and sag in three years, according to The Daily Mail.

“Breform is like a bra cup without the straps,” plastic surgeon Dalvi Humzah told The Daily Mail. “Over time, the mesh gets incorporated into the breast as the body produces a fibrous tissue that holds the structure in place – like a permanent bra under the skin.”

Ok….but isn’t it cheaper to just get a good bra?

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/02/04/2010-02-04_internal_bra_system__bralike_contraption_placed_beneath_skin__is_latest_trend_in.html#ixzz0eb4xFHJT

Breast enlargement surgery, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), was the fourth most popular invasive surgical procedure among cosmetic plastic surgeries performed in 2000. In a press release dated July 12, 2001, the ASPS says that breast augmentation was performed on 212,500 women last year.

Meanwhile, millions of women have been subjected to the ill effects of these modern day vanity contraptions that were bought in good faith.

Remember!!

Silicone gel implants were banned in 1992 by FDA.

If you have (or had) a ruptured silicone breast implant, you will be denied Health Insurance Coverage.

Saline-filled implants tend to have a higher rate of leaking and deflation than silicone gel implants, which means more frequent surgery to replace them.

In a study published in the Lancet medical journal, Dr Lori Brown of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says: “There is emerging consensus that both the incidence and prevalence of breast-implant rupture are much higher than previously suspected.”

21% overall increase in cancers for women with implants, compared to women of the same age in the general population.

Implant patients were three times as likely to die from lung cancer, emphysema and pneumonia as other plastic surgery patients.The study is based on medical records and death certificates of almost 8,000 women with breast implants, including silicone gel implants and saline implants, and more than 2,000 other plastic surgery patients. ( National Cancer Institute (NCI), Boston University, Abt Associates, and the Food and Drug Administration, with Dr. Louise Brinton from NCI as lead author. )

 More information:

http://4u2bn.com/lp33

The news has been full of reports of Heidi Montag-Pratt and her claim to have undergone 10 separate plastic surgery procedures in one day.  That includes rhinoplasty (a nose job), breast augmentation, lip collagen injections, chin reduction, and god only knows what else.

“I’m beyond obsessed,” is the frequently cited quote.

It certainly sounds like it.

The death of Michael Jackson also put plastic surgery into the news this winter.  Fans – and others – pored over photographs documenting the strange transformation that rendered him unrecognizable from his early days as a child star.

The question, amid all this hullaballoo, is whether there’s anything really wrong with plastic surgery.

A person clearly has a right to alter his appearance, and if he thinks the results are beautiful, that’s his business.  Plenty of people choose to cover themselves with tattoos, or get a multitude of piercings.  There isn’t much difference between that and having your nose straightened or your chin or breasts made larger or smaller – is there?

Not really.

We all have the right to look however we want to look, and I’m fine with plastic surgery – unless it becomes an addiction.  That’s when it stops being about controlling your appearance and making yourself happy, and starts to become a compulsion that can make you miserable.

The definition of an addiction is simple:

1) you no longer receive the same pleasure from the activity; and

2) you lose control over it.

That’s where the trouble starts.

It can feel very good to have plastic surgery.  If there’s some funny little quirk of your appearance that bothers you, and you finally get it addressed, it can be immensely liberating.  Several of my patients have had “boob jobs” and they might laugh about it, but say in all seriousness that it made them feel more confident and that they’re happy with the results.  One of my patients had a face lift, and was similarly pleased with how it made her feel – more youthful, less wrinkly, more confident.

The problem is that something that feels very good can become addictive if you become fascinated with that good feeling and try to recreate it again and again.

Along the way, you can ignore underlying problems.

There is a tendency, when you don’t feel good about yourself, to locate what bothers you in one particular physical feature.  That bump on your nose, or smallish bosom, which others hardly notice, might be inflated to enormous significance to you – until you become convinced that you would feel entirely better if you could just correct that one problem.

Initially, it might work.  At last – bigger breasts.  Or a smaller chin.  Or fewer wrinkles.  Or whatever.  Other people might not notice, or vaguely think you look better.  But to you – it’s a vast relief.

Then you go back to do it again.

One of my patients had her nose done, and was happy with it – even if other people didn’t much notice.  That’s when she decided to have her chin done, too.  And then get it re-done, to get it just right.  And then a piece of bone came loose, and she had to repeat that surgery.

That’s when she realized the chin surgery was probably a mistake all along.  Instead of getting the same good feeling after each surgery, she only felt worse.

She realized it was becoming an addiction, and that she needed to stop using plastic surgery to escape doubts about herself, and her ability to find love.  There was nothing more that a scalpel could do for her.  She needed to find out why she didn’t like who she was – and address it in therapy.

It is impossible to say whether Heidi and Michael are examples of addiction, or just people who enjoyed altering their appearance to suit their own tastes.  But the signs – chiefly the sheer number of surgeries – are there.

Plastic surgery tends to have diminishing returns.  You can only operate on your body so many times before features scar up or grow distorted.  There’s also the issue of losing what makes your appearance special in the process.  The “ideal” features produced by plastic surgery tend to have a certain blandness.  The goal of plastic surgery, in most instances, seems to be making someone look more like everyone else, instead of making him look more himself.

If you’re considering plastic surgery, ask yourself whether you are really addressing a simple matter of a physical quirk, or whether there’s more going on that you need to stop and examine.  If the insecurity seems to involve more than just a bump or a wrinkle, it might be time to look deeper, and ask yourself what’s wrong with accepting yourself just as you are.

by Terrye Tebbetts

Yes, it is true!  In the February issue of Allure magazine you will find both my dear hubby, John Tebbetts AND Beyonce!  Our 11 year old thinks this is just about the coolest thing Dad has ever done!!  Granted, Beyonce is on the cover and the breast implant article is back on page 108 – but they still in the same issue!

The implant article is called Implant Nation and discusses the issues of breast implants and how main stream they seem to have become.  Even sites college seniors getting breast implants from their parents as graduation gifts!  The author, Joan Kron, explores Dr. Tebbetts’ new innovations for advancing  surgical techniques in breast augmentation and developing amazing 24 Hour Recovery practices that allow patients to be up - returning to normal activity like showering, shopping and going out to dinner the night of surgery.  The story also challenges conventional decision making practices and looks at the future of measuring the breast.  But then, as most media pieces about breast implants do, the story delves into the world of obnoxiously large implants and women that wear double K bras – go figure!  There has to be some hype and sensationalism somewhere to make it interesting, right? 

That is ok – because we know the breast augmentation patients of today are doing their research and trying to make better decisions.  The very fact that a national magazine is helping point out the advances in breast implants and breast augmentation recovery is a true sign that there is something really new and different here that is worth talking about and that patients need to know about.

You can read the article on-line at our book site www.thebestbreast.com  ~ enjoy!

All I have to say is ….. “Why,”….. The dreaded task we all lovingly know as work is trampled upon on a daily basis….  I don’t know why,  I just know… we were getting ready to playing bridge once ( I know, I know… a lot of people laugh at that and …let’s see what expression should I attribute to this statement … Oh I know.. ) EXCLAIM “I didn’t know people play that anymore.” UGH…. YEAH!” Apparently I do… along with 3 other women… NO… You may not ask why… which brings me to the airheaded bimbo who lives behind me … lets call her “The Intruder,” who decided to attempt to take my place at bridge. When she asked where I was (the only fateful afternoon I was late)…and one of my partners replied “work”…. she countered with a “WHY,” accompanied with a look of dismay…. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you but my neighbors are snobby rich bitches who worry more about their manicures than the possibility of global warming, nuclear meltdown, the end of the world as we know it, and the near extinction of man (give you some insight as to my neighbors?), not that you couldn’t figure it out by now.

Three Women: AKA bridge partners:

1. Who spends most of her day on the phone with her neighbor across the street talking about the rest of us…, Mildred.

2. Our plastic surgery dictionary…. Ruby… (Ex stripper who married the club-owner, divorced him for her first plastic surgeon), she’s had five kids, six tummy tucks, 3 breast augmentations, Jose the Gardner, one nose job, Pierre the Caterer, 2 cheek implants, Dennis the tennis pro,  a chin, Bob the Golf Pro, and laser hair- removal all over her body ( she makes Mr. Bigglesworth , Dr. Evil’s Cat, look Hairy).

3. Dolores, Happy Homemaker (x-prom queen), room mother, sagging breast, who currently has an appointment with Ruby’s hubby (Dr. Tips) to fix them.

So When I arrived “The Intruder” looked miffed she’d be out of a bridge match and suggested we get another group of four women to join in …. “We could rotate tables, and play matches against each other!” ….. To which I replied, “WHY?”

YES, we’re a bunch of bitches,  and proud of it!

©copyright, 2009, Confessions of a Mad Country Club Housewife, all rights reserved.            ©countryclubhousewife, “Confessions of a Mad Country Club Housewife” and www.countryclubhousewife.com, 2009.Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Countryclubhousewife and Confessions of a Mad Country Club Housewife with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Women who choose to have breast implants for breast enlargement surgery do so for a number of reasons. They may be unhappy with the size of their breasts and with having a ‘flat’ chest. Or they are women who have had a baby and breastfed, and have found their breasts have lost shape and volume. The majority of women are either seeking to enhance or restore their breast volume and shape.

Breast augmentation surgery should be performed by a certified Cosmetic Surgeon. Initial consultations are critical for discussion with your Cosmetic Surgeon as to your expectations and what surgery can achieve. Consultations should include discussion of your medical history, what you are seeking to achieve, and the Cosmetic Surgeon’s recommendations for your options.

Usually you are able to ‘try’ some breast implants to get an idea of the size and shape achievable if you decide to proceed with a Breast Augmentation. To help this process it is helpful to wear a well fitting bra (the breast implants are placed inside your bra) and a fitted t-shirt.

The Cosmetic Surgeon will discuss your options with regard to the breast implant size and shape. This can depend on your chest size and shape, the characteristics of your skin and the naturalness of the result you are seeking. Many women seek a breast implant size that produces a natural looking result – they don’t want to advertise that they have had breast implants.

Breast Augmentation should attempt to produce an aesthetic and natural result. Unfortunately some Cosmetic Surgeons will recommend a very large breast implant that may result in an ‘implanted unnatural look’.

Usually breast augmentation surgery takes between 1 and 2 hours and can be done under sedation or general anaesthetic. Most women take up to 2 weeks off work following surgery. Some women can return to work earlier so long as they are not required to bend and lift heavy objects. Most women have usually recovered by 6 weeks. The experience of pain depends on the individual, but most women do not find pain after the operation to be an issue and this is easily addressed by mild pain relief such as paracetamol.

Typically following breast augmentation women describe feeling more confident about their feminine figure and shape. Often they can wear clothes and styles that they previously wouldn’t have considered.

Source:  ArticleBase – Benard Worseley

Information on the web can prove valuable

Technology has allowed us to surf the web in hopes of finding everything from products to services to pen pals to love. The Los Angeles times reported that people who surf the web for happiness are often disappointed. Surfing the internet for long periods of time can actually lead to depression according ton the article. It is rather easy to get caught in the allure of the internet. Information is delivered instantly and knowledge gives the illusion of power.  Surfing the internet for plastic surgery information has quickly become the method of choice.  

Dr Kim receives most of his new patients by referral, yet many prospective patients will review Dr Kim’s website to gather more information. Dr Kim’s website provides detailed information about many procedures like breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominolasty, facelifts, and more. Dr Kim advises  patients to review websites carefully but to be careful not to review so many at one time that the information becomes blurred and confusing. Most importantly, it is the in person consultation that matters the most.  

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Celebrities have little to do with our plastic surgery decisions

“The Hills” Reality TV star Heidi Montag, age 24, was reportedly upset over her mothers reaction to her extreme plastic surgery makeover. She stated that her mother looked at her as if she was a “circus freak” and not her own daughter. Montag underwent 10 procedures in one day which included chin fillers, botox, breast augmentation, and liposuction. These surgeries are a follow up of her first breast augmentation procedure a few years ago.

Montag’s story seems to be one of a girl trying desperately to look like “Barbie.” It is a life fueled by unrealistic expectations, high income, and self-obsession. Most would agree that every surgery she underwent was completely unnecessary and now she is feeling the backlash from the media as well as her own family.

Most of us aren’t reality TV stars or celebrities and the only people who would take interest in our surgeries would be ourselves, our family, and our friends. It is important to note that these people do matter but the choice is ultimately our own. Dr. Angelchik never recommends “surprising” loved ones with your new look. If what your family or friends think is important to you you should discuss your desires with them and include them in your process. They can often add input and save us from doing anything to extreme.

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The bathroom scale should not measure your goals

A recent local blog posted an entry of a woman who was upset that she had not met her weight loss goals for the past seven weeks. She decided to change her perspective and not look it as a loss because she hadn’t lost weight but success because she hag not gained weight. It is always wise to trade in motivation and encouragement instead of negative self talk when it comes to meeting our goals. Often times they need to be adjusted and we need to look at the bright side when things don’t work out as planned. The blogger decided to try a variety of programs, make new weekly goals, and stick to a different diet plan each week so she would never get bored and could see her completion in weekly agreements rather than a lifetime of change.

For those who have met their weight loss goals they must realize that every day is a struggle. If you are at or near your ideal body weight you will still need to commit to living a healthy lifestyle everyday. Loosing weight and living healthy isn’t a one time thing-it’s a life of choices. Dr. Krieger offers body contoring after weight loss to help patients who are dealing with having an image that represents their new lifestyle. Often times looking great is the motivation many need to stick to their goals.

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Night club cardio a new way to excercise

The list of creative ways for people to excercise and stay in shape seems endless. It is fairly easy to become bored with routine excercise. The Los Angeles Times recently reported on a new craze called nightclub cardio. It is based on the concept that dance is excercise. The creator has found that the atmosphere of the nightclub where the classes are held helps people concentrate on the fun that they are having instead of the excercise they are doing. The environment also allows for entire families to work out in the nightclub together.

Dr Kim realizes with a practice based in Beverly Hills the importance of appearance and attire. Excercising in the nightclub will not need the same hot  and sexy outfit dancing in the nightclub will.  Nightclub attire looks best on a toned body. Nice cleavage is a nice bonus also. Dr Kim consults with patients about breast augmentation and liposuction often. If the patient is in good health these procedures can be performed together. Breast augmentation will help to create a cleavage line that will enhance the body beautifully. Liposuction of the abdomen and possibly thighs will help create a more smooth and toned body.

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Sexy style in denim requires good choices

Looking hot in a pair of jeans is the envy of most women.This means that the fit is shapely and stylish and sexy. The Orange County register published tips for buying denim in their style blog. The tips although mostly common sense made sense.  The article suggested that you  should bend over and touch your toes to be sure the butt cleavage doesn’t show when you sit down.  The suggestion was also made that you take several pairs of jeans to the fitting room as sizes vary greatly from designer to designer and even from style to style.

Dr Mowlavi reminds his patients who are seeking breast augmentation that  bra sizes are not universal and that they too vary greatly. Over the years patients have  created a size known as “full c” which the description is intended to depict a breast that is full in a “C “size bra. Dr Mowlavi cautions patients not to get too tied up in the size bra that they wear but rather how their clothes fit.  Dr Mowlavi makes an effort to help patients make the right decision about size so that a re-operation just to increase size is not desired.

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Tattoos don't have to be a lifetime reminder of a temporary feeling

Music can soothe pain, comfort babies, aid in sleeping, and make our heart rate increase or decrease. Music seems to have many benefits but a recent local article entitled “Tune up Your Health” searched to find whether or not music can improve our overall health. Your favorite song can affect your body and your mind as well as lower stress levels but the article found that there is currently limited physical data to support that music actually improves overall health and wellness.

Music is something that is felt and heard at a moment of time. The feeling it gives you can be a range of emotions and hearing that song or type of music can instantly re trigger memories both painful and joyous. We all have feelings and memories-some of which we would like to forget. Many of us have branded these feelings as permanent on ourselves in the form of tattoos.  Dr. Krieger offers laser tattoo removal for those seeking to remove temporary feelings that many have regrettably been made everlasting in the form of life-long ink on our bodies.

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