Dr. Olivia Hutchinson

Archive for the ‘Breast Implants’ Category

New Silicone Gel Breast Implants Approved

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

On March 9th, 2012 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of a new type of silicone gel filled implants manufactured by Sientra, Inc. The silicone implants will be available for use in aesthetic breast augmentation patients over 22 years of age as well as in breast reconstruction patients of all ages. These implants will provide a 3rd alternative to the silicone gel filled implants currently on the market from Allergan and Mentor.

Sientra presented data collected on almost 1800 patients over a 3 year course, which, similarly to previous data on other silicone gel filled breast implants, demonstrated the “reasonable safety and effectiveness” of the devices, as per Dr. William Maisel, deputy director of science of the FDA’s Center for Device and Radiological Health. The approval is contingent upon follow up studies to monitor the risks and complications of these breast implants over a 10 year course. Issues such as capsular contracture, infection, rupture and implant removal will be studied and reported. Data will also be collected regarding other diseases such as connective tissues and neurological disease, rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers.

Additional information as provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) is available here.

Dr. Olivia Hutchinson, a board certified female plastic surgeon in NYC, performs breast augmentation using both saline and silicone filled breast implants. Breast implants may be used in breast enhancement procedures alone or in combination with breast lift (mastopexy), liposuction or as part of a mommy makeover. Please call us at (212) 452-14oo or contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutchinson.

 

FDA: Silicone Breast Implants Are Safe

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

The chief scientist for the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices, Dr. William Maisel, stated yesterday that silicone gel filled breast implants were indeed safe: “Women should feel assured that the F.D.A. continues to believe that currently marketed silicone breast implants are safe and effective.” This came after 2 days of discussion and testimony about silicone breast implants. The known risks and complications of silicone breast implants, such as ruptures, hardening of the area around breast implants (capsular contracture), the need to remove the breast implants, scarring, pain, infection and asymmetry were once again noted.

The use of MRI to follow patients who have undergone breast augmentation with silicone breast implants was also discussed. MRI is used to evaluate breast implants for silent rupture, and current recommendations require an initial MRI at 3 years post breast augmentation surgery and every 2 years thereafter. The expert panel’s consensus was that these recommendations be removed.

Read more about this in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

If you are considering breast augmentation surgery with saline or silicone breast implants, contact us at (212) 452 1400 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Olivia Hutchinson.

 

Breast Implants and Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL)

Saturday, January 29th, 2011

On Wednesday, January 26th, 2011, the FDA announced that women with saline or silicone breast implants may incur a “very low but increased risk” of developing Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). ALCL is not breast cancer, but rather a rare malignant tumor that is a form of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It may occur in lymph nodes, skin, bones, soft tissues, liver and lung, as well as in the breast in very rare instances. The incidence of ALCL in the breast is 3 in 100,000,000 women per year in the US. There are a total of 60 reported cases of ALCL in women with breast implants, and in these patients malignant cells are found in the fluid (seroma) surrounding the implant or in the scar tissue (capsule) around the implants, rather than in the breast tissue itself. ALCL has most often been identified in patients undergoing breast implant operations and presenting with late onset, persistent seromas. Symptoms usually include persistent swelling or pain around the breast implant, a palpable mass or visible asymmetry. Often these symptoms present a long time after normal healing has occurred post-operatively.

It has not yet been determined if saline or silicone implants carry a higher risk of developing ALCL, or if smooth or textured implant surface plays a factor in developing ALCL. In asymptomatic women, breast implant removal is not recommended. In patients with symptoms such as pain, lumps, swelling or changes in the appearance or feel of their breast implants, especially if late in onset after surgery, consultation with their physician is indicated for appropriate evaluation and management. A mammogram and/or MRI may be recommended. ALCL in patients with breast implants usually follows an indolent course, and is treated with explantation of the implants and surgical capsulectomy.

The complete summary of the FDA’s findings may be found in a document titled Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) in Women with Breast Implants: Preliminary FDA Findings and Analyses.

If you are considering breast augmentation with either saline or silicone breast implants, make sure you discuss all aspects of the surgery, as well as risks and complications, with your plastic surgeon. To make an appointment with Dr. Hutchinson, please click here to contact our office or call us at (212) 452-1400.

 

The Mommy Makeover – by Dr. Olivia Hutchinson, New York City Plastic Surgeon

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

It’s September, the children have gone to school, routines are in place, and you have some extra time to focus on yourself. So you’ve been thinking about how you look, perhaps your belly just isn’t as flat as you’d like it to be, perhaps your breasts aren’t as full and perky as they used to be, perhaps you still have that flab on your hips or your thighs that just won’t go away no matter how much you diet and exercise or how many Pilates classes or crunches you do. Is there anything else that might help? Maybe a tummy tuck? Liposuction? A breast lift? Breast augmentation? All of the above?

Mommy Makeovers were designed for women just like you, who would like to improve the appearance of some part of their body after pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Each individual procedure comes in many different flavors, and allows you to customize your makeover according to your wishes. There is a distinct advantage to combining procedures, as not only do you benefit from improving different target areas all at once, you also get to undergo one surgery and anaesthesia and go home the same day.

So whether you are interested in breast enhancement with saline or silicone implants, or a breast lift with augmentation, or liposuction and abdominoplasty, the first step is to make an appointment. Dr. Olivia Hutchinson, a board certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan, specializes in cosmetic breast surgery, tummy tucks, liposuction and mommy makeovers, and in minimally invasive plastic surgery with the shortest scars possible. Call 212 452 1400 to schedule your appointment.