Tag Archives: breast surgery

Breast Implants Costs – Newport Beach or Orange County, CA

Breast Implants Costs - Newport Beach or Orange County, CAThe cosmetic surgery method of enhancing a woman’s breasts by way of implants is called breast augmentation and has come as a huge boon for those with serious self-esteem issues. Choosing the breast implant that suits you most requires an understanding of the anatomy of your breast, your skin and your medical history including records of previous surgeries, if any. You can consult reputed cosmetic surgeon of Newport Plastic, Dr Hisham Seify before you take a call on the right implant. So, if you live in Newport Beach or Orange County, CA areas, pay a visit to the plastic surgeon to understand the costs involved and the procedures. There are two types of breast implants used during plastic surgery – saline and silicone implants. Saline implants use saltwater that has been sterilized while silicone ones have a gel that lends the feel of natural tissue. Gummy bear implant, which is a new generation of silicone implants are made of a denser gel – all these implants are FDA approved.

Costs involved

The cost of cosmetic surgery to insert breast implants depends on various factors – your plastic surgeon’s fee being one of them. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery figures for 2011 show that the national average fee charged by a  cosmetic surgeon for surgery with silicone gel implants was $3,694 while the fee for saline implant insertion was $3,308. The costs of plastic surgery vary from state to state and facility to facility – check with the office of Dr Hisham Seify at his Newport Plastic facility if you live either in Orange County, CA or Newport Beach. Cosmetic surgery costs also vary, depending on the implant that is being used – saline implants are the cheapest, while new generation silicone ones are more expensive, often double the cost of saline implants. The other factors that affect cost are anesthesia fees before cosmetic surgery, the medication, post-surgical accessories such as compresses and medical bras, follow-up tests and consultations. The operating room expenses could vary from one medical facility to another, as also the charges for outpatient and inpatient facilities. Sometimes, costs for the various amenities are included in the overall package, while sometimes they are charged separately.

Warranties, insurance & financing

Have you checked if your breast implants come with a warranty? Ask your plastic surgeon for the brochure to understand what you stand to get from the manufacturer in case of faulty implants. The other aspect that you need to check before you get your cosmetic surgery done is that of insurance. The cost of breast implants are not covered under insurance if your surgery is for aesthetic reasons, but if you are getting a breast reconstruction done post cancer surgery, then, you could claim insurance. There are financing programs that offer credit cards for healthcare, and your plastic surgeon’s office often has a tie-up with one such program. However,ensure that you make monthly payments on time or you will end up paying greater interest rates. See more procedures and treatments by plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify in Newport Beach | Orange County

Breast Augmentation Newport Beach | Orange County

Breast Augmentation Newport Beach | Orange CountyDr. Hisham Seify, a board certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, CA, is an expert in various reconstructive and cosmetic surgery procedures for the breast, body, and face. Apart from leading his independent practice as a cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Seify also serves the cause of the community as a lecturer and educator. He is also associated with a number of leading hospitals in Orange County to provide his services. Patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA and nearby areas have an opportunity to receive terrific, salient, and cutting edge plastic surgery procedures from Dr. Seify.

What is Breast Augmentation with a Lift?

Breast augmentation and breast lift are cosmetic surgery procedures designed to enhance the size, shape and firmness of female breasts. Breast augmentation procedure involves the surgical placement of saline or silicone gel based breast implants to increase the size, fullness and volume of breasts. Breast lift surgery is aimed at raising the sagging breasts to a more youthful position and excising loose skin to provide the breasts with a tighter and smoother shape and contour. Breast augmentation may sometimes also be performed as a reconstructive plastic surgery procedure. In some cases, the breasts may have lost volume following a pregnancy or major weight loss, or the breasts may be naturally small in size. If such a condition is accompanied by severely drooping breasts due to excess loose skin, the cosmetic surgeon may recommend a combination procedure called breast augmentation with lift. This is a comprehensive single procedure that combines surgical placement of breast implants along with skin and muscle tightening to lift and reposition the breasts, nipples and areolas to a more youthful level.

Some Top Benefits of a Combined Surgical Procedure

When breast augmentation surgery is performed in concert with breast lift, it offers certain inherent advantages compared to a situation involving two separate surgeries performed at different occasions. As an experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Seify explains the benefits of breast augmentation with lift to his patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA and surrounding communities in order to help them make an informed decision about the choice of treatment. If the patient is a fit candidate for a combined procedure, Dr. Seify will apprise her about the various benefits of a combined surgery. The most important benefit in case of breast augmentation with lift as a combined surgery is that the surgeon is in a position to make a comprehensive and efficient treatment plan for an optimal outcome. Secondly, since the procedure is performed as a single surgery, it requires the patient to undergo general anesthesia or IV sedation just once. The consultation and preparation prior to the surgery is required only once. The patient has to undergo the recovery period also once, and post-surgical discomfort is not repeated twice. The combined procedure becomes more conservative because the patient is exposed to the standard risks and complications of a typical surgery only once. From a cost-effectiveness point of view as well, a combined procedure is usually more economical compared to two separate surgeries because the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia and operating room costs are incurred just once.

Surgical Procedure

Breast augmentation with lift plastic surgery procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia. As per the treatment plan decided in advance, the surgeon will make the pre-determined incision in a discreet manner to ensure that scars remain hidden as far as possible. Breast implant will be inserted through the incision and placed in the breast tissue in a position decided in advance in accordance with the patient’s breast anatomy and aesthetic goals. Breast lift surgery begins with an incision that may be made around the areola or an additional incision going vertically down the breast fold and horizontally along the breast fold. Through the incision, the surgeon will lift and reshape underlying breast tissue and reduce the excess skin to achieve a tighter and firmer breast contour. Nipples and areolas may also be lifted to a more youthful position. Dr. Seify makes sure that the patient is consulted closely to arrive at the best decisions regarding the choice of implants, the type of incision and the placement position of the implants, as well as the repositioning and tightening of breasts. Patients in and around Newport Beach and Orange County, CA can seek answers to all their concerns and queries with regard to a combined cosmetic surgery during the initial consultation.

Recovery

The outcome of breast augmentation with lift can be seen immediately after the surgery. Soreness and pain the treated area will be felt for the first few days, and the surgeon may prescribe pain relieving medication. Most patients can resume regular physical activity within one to two weeks. See more procedures and treatments by plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify in Newport Beach | Orange County
PR Web did a feature on surgical garment manufacturer, Nouvelle Compression Wear. Since breast augmentation is one of the most popular among plastic surgery procedures, they introduced their top bras for optimal healing following breast augmentation surgery. The main factor in these bras is comfort and quality construction in order to achieve optimal surgical results and fast healing. These bras are designed to “protect and stabilize breasts following surgical procedures such as breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty), breast lift (mastopexy), breast implants (augmentation mammoplasty), mastectomy, and breast reconstruction following mastectomy.”
The bras can be worn 24 hours a day and seven days a week to “ensure surgical sites, stitches, and drains are comfortably protected and secure.”

Different Styles of Bras

The article also listed the types of bras and their functions.
“Bra Bands – Bra Bands are durable, flexible cotton bands that provide support and stability after having breast surgery. They can also be worn underneath your regular bra, but not an underwired bra. Ideal for the patient recovering from a breast lift (mastopexy).
Bras with Cups – Compression bras with cups are designed to provide support and stability after having breast surgery. These bras have no underwiring and will enhance the results of a breast augmentation or mastectomy.
Bras with Sleeves – Bras with Sleeves are designed to provide compression in the upper torso and arms. They enhance the recovery of an armlift, liposuction, breast surgery or lymphederma.
Bras without Cups – Bras without Cups provide maximum compression and stability with flat fronts. These bras are designed to offer complete support (vertically and laterally), protection, and enhance the patient’s ability to return to an active lifestyle.
Cotton Bras – Cotton Bras are also made with flexible nylon to produce the optimal compression necessary for recovering from breast surgeries such as: breast implants, breast reconstructions, mastectomies, and mastopexies.”

We Believe in Looking Out for Our Patients’ Comfort After Plastic Surgery

Products like the ones mentioned in the above article are a great way to make the plastic surgery experience more comfortable. Experiences like a breast augmentation can be difficult to endure post-surgery and it is important to have a speedy and stress free recovery. All of us at Dr. Seify’s practice advocate taking great care of yourself post-surgery and looking into products that help you have a comfortable recovery. If you are ready to make that plastic surgery commitment, give Dr. Seify’s office a call to schedule a consultation. Dr H.S. Seify
plastic surgery newport beachIn 2010, a woman from Staten Island, New York sued her plastic surgeon for claiming the breast implant plastic surgery he did gave her “four breasts.” The surgery took place in 2003 which she paid $7000 and, instead of “two symmetrical C cups,” she ended up with “four round lumps.” The article from ABC News further elaborates that she “came out of that operation with essentially four breasts,” the Staten Island Advance reports her attorney, Michael J. Kuharski, told jurors during the March 1 opening arguments.”

Causes for Breast Implants Risk and How to Avoid It

What occurred is not uncommon and is nicknamed by plastic surgeons as the “double bubble” effect and most women don’t know about the risk. The risk is low, but it can be caused by “negligence or just bad luck.” To minimize risk, it all has to do with positioning and size. The implant has to sit at the base of the breast and the breast is positioned over on top of the implant correctly. The size of the implant is important also, because “if the implant is too wide, a patient might get a double bubble right after surgery. But if the implant is too heavy, a double bubble can develop over time as the heavy implant sinks below the crease where the natural breast meets the chest.” The shape of the patient’s breast is also a factor such as “some women have what we call a constricted breast – the base maybe too narrow, or the distance from the nipple and the crease is very short.” And, it also depends on the patient’s age and how many children she has had as “surgery becomes more complicated if breast tissue has sagged below the inframammary fold, where the lower breast meets the chest.” Also an implant and lift technique can reduce risk as well as proper screening and careful placement of the implant.

How Dr. Seify Can Help with Breast Augmentation drseify-whitecoat

The above story is very unfortunate and the risk is there, but at Dr. Seify’s practice, we have the expertise to achieve beautiful, natural looking breasts. Even with all the careful planning and a successful surgery, changes can still occur. At our practice, if a patient should experience the “double bubble,” a next step she should consider is a Breast Revision surgery or a Breast Implant Exchange surgery. If you feel your existing breast implants are going through changes, give Dr. Seify’s office a call to schedule a consultation for a breast augmentation.
Breast cancer undoubtedly has one of the best awareness programs of all the cancers. The branding of the pink ribbon has allowed the majority of adults globally to associate the pink ribbon with breast cancer awareness. Less has been done to help women to become knowledgeable concerning breast reconstruction and the options available to them once they have been diagnosed with breast cancer. In New York, a law has been enacted that requires breast cancer patients to be provided a consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss breast reconstruction options prior to their breast cancer surgery and treatment. Unfortunately, this law does not exist in California… Yet. Dr. Seify is passionate concerning research and development of new techniques and methods for creating better options for breast reconstruction. Dr. Seify is involved in multiple clinical trials that are designed to improve patient satisfaction and results following breast reconstruction. The clinical trials include everything from stem cell and fat transfer to different options and methods for reducing the negative effects of radiation following breast reconstruction. Dr. Seify encourages patients to seek breast reconstruction options early in their cancer diagnosis. In the best situations Dr. Seify is involved at the beginning when the breast cancer diagnosis is made. Dr. Seify works closely with other participating physicians including the oncologist, radiologist, and general surgeon. Patients at this point are given multiple options to consider including whether or not to proceed with breast reconstruction at all. In general, the earlier patients seek breast reconstruction options the more choices they will have. Patients can also choose their breast reconstructive surgeon, provided their insurance allows them to choose outside of their network. For some patients, this may seem awkward; however, it is important that patients remember that it is ultimately their decision and their body. Dr. Seify is sensitive to the overwhelming nature of a breast cancer diagnosis and deciding which direction to take as it relates to breast reconstruction. His staff is experienced and trained in working with not only a wide range of insurance companies, but also helping patients to navigate the process. Breast cancer is not a choice for any woman; however, it is important to remember that there are choices that can be made once she is given the diagnosis. Patients who are considering breast reconstruction are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation.
The decision to have plastic surgery is a personal one. For many patients it is the biggest decision they’ve ever made for themselves. Often it is also the most money they had ever invested for the sole purpose of their appearance. Due to the nature of the decision and the finances related to it is easy for patients to minimize the responsibility they harbor in assuring a satisfying and acceptable patient experience. First, it is critical that patients research and investigate the skills and credentials of the plastic surgeon they choose to perform their surgery. Dr. Seify is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. His certification is from the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is the only certifying body for plastic surgery that is recognized by the American Medical Association. Plastic surgeons with this distinction may also be certified by other associations with the underlying requirement of the board certification by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This certification allows patients to trust that their plastic surgeon has participated in not only the initial educational and review requirements of the certifying body but also that they participate in continuing ongoing education. Also, patients must be realistic concerning their own situation and what they “bring to the table”. A plastic surgeon cannot perform magical results that are not within the scope of his or her ability. For example, if a patient requires a breast lift in order to have a satisfying and acceptable result for their breast augmentation surgery, and the patient refuses to have a breast lift and chooses only breast implants, the plastic surgeon  may not produce a satisfying result , because the patient has chosen an alternative outside of the scope of the recommendation. Patients must also consider their health situation prior to surgery. Although the patient must be healthy to proceed with surgery, Dr. Seify may inform the patient that there may be limitations that could affect their plastic surgery experience. For example, a patient who is healthy, but is a diabetic, may have some healing issues that are due to their diabetic condition. Dr. Seify requires a preoperative visit for every patient who is considering plastic surgery. It is the patient’s responsibility within this preoperative appointment to review all informed consent paperwork prior to signing the consents. Dr. Seify allows time for patients to have their questions answered and strives to address any remaining concerns prior to surgery. The overwhelming majority of patients have a positive plastic surgery experience. The more patients are prepared and except their responsibility within the plastic surgery experience, the more likely patients are to have their expectations exceeded. Patients who are considering plastic surgery are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a complimentary consultation.
For the month of May the breaking Angelina Jolie breast cancer story was one of the most popular stories of the year. According to Jolie in an article published in the opinion section of Tuesday’s New York Times, she underwent a preventative double mastectomy after being that her chance of developing breast cancer was 87% combined with a 50% risk of ovarian cancer was an important one made after watching her mother’s long fight against cancer. Her mother died in 2007 at the age of 56. Jolie claims that it was her hope that other woman would find encouragement from her story. Jolie said “I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer,” Jolie said in the Times article. “It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.”  Jolie explained that she carries the BRCA1 cancer gene that is believed to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Jolie explained that after her double mastectomy she elected for reconstructive surgery which took three months to complete. Although there have been other famous celebrities who also reported carrying the BRCA1 gene, Jolie is undoubtedly one of the most famous. This story proposes many topics for conversation. At the very least it allows the dialogue between women and their physicians to determine if genetic testing for breast cancer is right for them. Dr. Seify continues to work in the forefront of breast cancer reconstruction research and the available options for women. Undoubtedly, as women become more aware of the option to choose elective mastectomy there will be an increase in patients choosing breast reconstruction following their surgery. Dr. Seify encourages patients to consider breast reconstruction options at the onset of their diagnosis for breast cancer. In the case of an elective double mastectomy it is critical that patients consider the breast reconstruction options available to them prior to making the decision to proceed with surgery. Dr. Seify is experienced in many different methods of breast reconstruction including both traditional methods including tram flap and more innovative techniques using fat transfer and stem cells. Every patient is different and insurance companies vary greatly, so patients should consult with Dr. Seify to see if in fact there insurance will cover breast reconstruction following an elective mastectomy. Patients are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a medical consultation.
Breast cancer recurrence is one of the most feared aspects of breast cancer. According to  a recent online article breast cancer recurrence may be predictable with a simple blood test using a DNA marker down through blood test researchers in Canada were able to accurately predict which women would be more likely to see a recurrence of their breast cancer years later. Admittedly more studies are needed to confirm these findings, but they do suggest that this blood test could complement current prognosis approach to the likelihood of the recurrence of breast cancer.Sambasivarao Damaraju, a professor with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Canada’s University of Alberta, and colleagues, write about their findings in the 16 January issue of the open access online journal PLoS ONE.  Study authors conclude that current breast cancer reoccurrence prognosis use tumor-based assessments which they describe as “not optimal determinants”. DNA marker in combination with tumor-based markers is expect to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. The goal is if oncologists can determine through simple blood test if the recurrence of breast cancer is high they in turn then recommend a more aggressive therapy it may prevent the breast cancer from recurring. It is the hope of study authors that DNA predictors through blood test will see more clinical trials and then in turn be available for patients diagnosed with breast cancer very soon. Dr. Seify treats patients who are considering breast cancer reconstruction after breast cancer diagnosis. For the overwhelming majority of women the diagnosis will bring many different decisions have to be made. Dr. Seify and his staff work closely with each individual patient helping them to navigate not only the treatment decisions but also the necessary paperwork and insurance concerns that conservatives. Dr. Seify is able to offer many different breast reconstruction options to patients as a board-certified ASAP’s surgeon. Options include traditional methods including tram flap using tissue expanders as well as fat transfer and stem cell therapies. Patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify’s office and schedule a consultation.
Survival after lumpectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis continues to be promising according to a new study. According to an online article women with early breast cancers could have a better chance of survival with lumpectomy combined with radiation therapy than mastectomy alone according to a new analysis published in the Journal Cancer. It was not determined why women who had mastectomy had a higher risk of dying according to Shelley Hwang of the Duke Cancer Institute in the US. The discovery provides confidence in the effectiveness of lumpectomy treatments even for women who have aggressive early breast cancers. The study is effective because there’s been a growing tendency for women who were diagnosed with breast cancer to opt for mastectomy even if they have early and small cancers. The researchers suggest that there are specific groups of women, including those who are younger and better-off who are leaning towards mastectomy over lumpectomy to increase their chances of survival. The authors conclude that the study should reassure women in every age group and tumor types that lumpectomy continues to be a viable choice for women with small early breast cancers. For the study,Hwang and colleagues reviewed over 112,000 cases of stage I and stage II breast cancer diagnosis in California women between 1990 and 2004 who had either of mastectomy or lumpectomy combined with radiation therapy and were followed up to 2009. Over the entire study, women who had lumpectomy combined with radiation therapy were more likely to survive breast cancer than those who had a mastectomy. A major concern women have we choosing treatment options is the likelihood of recurrence of cancer. The perception is that it is less likely to recur following a mastectomy. The study proves that this is not the case. Dr. Seify encourages patients who choose lumpectomy to be encouraged concerning their options for breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction options can range from the addition of an implant all the way to that transfer. Dr. Seify will work closely with all treating physicians to help patients determine which overall treatment plans will work best for them. These decisions include not only the best treatment long-term but also the best options for breast reconstruction help patients return to as much normalcy as possible. Dr. Seify encourages patients to contact his office and schedule a consultation if they have been given a breast cancer diagnosis.
New cancer drugs continue to be on the forefront for the treatment of breast cancer. According to a recent article the newest drug consists of molecular generation designed to destroy malignant breast tumors in a targeted manner. They block characteristic molecules on the tumor cells-receptors for hormones estrogen or progesterone, or a co-receptor, known as HER2 that connects to many growth factors. However, roughly 1 in every six breast tumors does not have any of these receptors. These cancers are known as triple negative and are extremely aggressive and very difficult to treat. A few of these therapy- resistant cancers have a potential molecular target for cancer drugs, EGFR which is a growth factor receptor. EGFR blocking drugs have been ineffective in treating these types of cancers. In a study published recently in the proceedings of the National Academy of Science, Weitzman Institute researchers surmised there could be a potential solution. The goal would be to simultaneously treat triple negative breast cancer with to EGFR blocking antibodies instead of just one. In the study using mice scientist proved that specific combinations of two antibodies did prevent the growth and spread of triple negative tumors. The research team, led by Prof. Yosef Yarden of the Biological Regulation Department and Prof. Michael Sela of the Immunology Department, included Drs. Daniela Ferraro, Nade`ge Gaborit, Ruth Maron, Hadas Cohen-Dvashi, Ziv Porat, Fresia Pareja, and Sara Lavi, Dr. Moshit Lindzen and Nir Ben-Chetrit. Hopefully, this approach will be supported in further studies as soon be available as a combination chemotherapy for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer. Dr. Seify treats patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer and choose breast reconstruction following the treatment. Patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer are entitled by law to have breast reconstruction covered under their insurance. This includes all breast cancer diagnosis regardless of the type of surgical treatment chosen. Dr. Seify is involved in several clinical trials designed to be on the forefront of new technology and methods for breast cancer reconstruction. These methods include stem cell treatment options as well as fat transfer. Patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are considering breast reconstruction are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify as early as possible so that they may be able to take advantage of as many breast reconstruction options as possible.
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