Breast Augmentation in Brookfield, WI

The breast surgery or combination of surgeries that are best for you depends on your individual goals and breast anatomy. In general, a breast lift removes excess skin and tightens tissue for sagging or drooping breasts and breast implants add volume and modify the shape of breasts. Oftentimes a combination of the two may be the best option!

When a saline implant ruptures or leaks, the saline leaves the shell of the implant and is absorbed into your body. This poses no risk or harm to your body. You will know immediately if a saline implant has ruptured because it will deflate. The surgery to exchange a saline implant is very straightforward: The old implant is removed and a new one is put into its place.

Unlike saline, when a gel implant ruptures, there is no significant change in the shape or feel of the breast. The gel is cohesive and, therefore, usually stays within the capsule of scar tissue that has formed around the implant. Nothing is absorbed into your body. Surgical exchange of a leaking gel implant may be more involved than for a saline implant as some of the leaked gel must be cleaned out. The bottom line is that gel implants are very safe and attractive, but they may require more maintenance. Be assured, however, silicone gel implants are safe and that they do not make you “sick”.

It is difficult to tell if a gel implant has ruptured because there are usually no symptoms or visible changes. Ultrasound imaging can be a good initial screening tool, especially if rupture is suspected, and can be followed by an MRI if needed. An MRI is considered the more accurate and sensitive test to help determine if a gel implant has leaked. Our Bonness Plastic Surgeons offer ultrasound imaging to examine breast implants and determine whether or not they need replacement. Ultrasound imaging is complimentary for patients with implants placed by Dr. Bonness or Dr. Rowe.

It is recommended, but not mandated, that an MRI be performed every two to three years for women with silicone gel breast implants. This is an FDA recommendation only and will be discussed with you at your consultation.

We strongly recommend keeping in touch with your surgeon. All post-operative visits are free of charge, forever! We also recommend that patients with breast implants be seen every 1-2 years AND/OR if you ever notice a change in shape, feel or size of the breast. Our surgeons offer ultrasound imaging to examine breast implants and determine whether or not they need replacement. Ultrasound imaging is complimentary for patients with implants placed by Dr. Bonness or Dr. Rowe.

Most literature will state that implants will last between 10 and 20 years. We DO NOT recommend removing the cohesive gel or saline implants just because they are old. If they are ruptured or leaking or you are having another issue, then they should be exchanged. We strongly recommend keeping in touch with your surgeon. All post-operative visits are free of charge, forever! We also recommend that patients with breast implants be seen every 1-2 years AND/OR if you ever notice a change in shape, feel or size of the breast.

Risks after breast augmentation are extremely rare. Dr. Bonness and Dr. Rowe take many purposeful steps to minimize and prevent complications. Before surgery, we explain all the risks of breast augmentation during two pre-surgery office visits. Every patient is fully informed of possible side effects of the procedure and you will have plenty of time to ask questions. Our female Plastic Surgeons want you to be completely comfortable with your decision.

When a breast implant is placed, it is normal for the body to create a layer of scar tissue around it. The same scar tissue forms around pacemakers and hip replacements. In most patients, this scar tissue remains thin, soft and pliable. In some patients, however, the scar tissue can become thick and tighten down around the implant. This is called capsular contracture. This can make the breast feel and look different. In mild cases, the implant will just feel firmer. In more severe cases, the breast will be painful, feel hard and take on a different shape. The scar tissue can squeeze down on the implant, pushing it higher up on the chest.

Capsular contracture is most common within the first year but can happen anytime after surgery, in one breast and not the other. Dr. Bonness and Dr. Rowe take very specific steps in surgery to minimize this risk. In some cases, we know the cause (infection or bleeding), but in most cases, there is no obvious reason.

Fortunately, the risk of capsular contraction is decreasing because surgical techniques have improved, more implants are being placed using the incision in the fold, and most implants are placed under the muscle. The best way to lower the risk of capsular contracture is to have the implant placed under the muscle, through an infra mammary incision by a surgeon who adheres to gentle dissection and current up-to-date surgical techniques.

The treatment of capsular contracture will depend on the severity and where the implant is currently, above or below the muscle. At this time, there is not one universally accepted treatment. The surgical options involve exchanging the implant, changing the implant's location above or below the muscle and addressing the scar tissue with either complete or partial removal.

Capsular contracture is a good example of why it is important to keep in touch with your surgeon over the years. In some cases, if it is detected early, a medication called Singulair can be used to stop and reverse the process. At your 6-month post-operative appointment, we will take the time to show you how to specifically check for this early scar tissue formation. If you notice this change, we will see you immediately to start the medication. Whether you are interested in undergoing your first breast enhancement surgery or have experienced unsatisfactory results from a previous surgery, contact Bonness Cosmetic Surgery.

BI-ALCL is Breast Implant Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. This is an extremely rare cancer that may have an association with textured breast implants. Allergan recently pulled their Biocell textured implants off the market. If you think you have these implants, call your plastic surgeon to discuss.

BI-ALCL is NOT a breast cancer. ALCL develops in the scar tissue around the implant. It will present 8-10 years after surgery as a seroma or, rarely, a mass. A seroma is fluid around the implant, making the breast appear larger. If you notice an increase in the size of the breast after surgery, or any change for that matter, you should contact your surgeon.

When detected early, the prognosis is very good and treatable with implant and scar tissue removal. If you have textured implants and do not have any symptoms, you DO NOT need to remove your implants. No matter what kind of implants you have, it is important to keep in touch with your surgeon. At Bonness Cosmetic Surgery we like to see patients every 1-2 years. We have always felt it is important to keep in touch with patients for the lifetime of their implants. There is never a charge for a postoperative visit.

The overwhelming amount of data supports that breast implants are very safe. No medical device has undergone as much scrutiny over the years as breast implants. At this time, there is no concrete peer-reviewed science to support that silicone or saline implants make you sick. However, this lack of robust epidemiologic evidence to support the association should not stop ongoing evaluation. If you are concerned at all about silicone gel making you ill, then you should choose saline implants or none at all. This debate has been going on for decades and will not be definitively answered in the next few decades to come.