While intensifying your routine is one option, you can also try amplifying the effects of exercise by tweaking other habits. In fact, two recent studies suggest that simply changing the timing of your coffee and breakfast can have a big influence on the efficiency of your workout. Here’s what you need to know.

Have your morning coffee before your workout.

Studies have already established that caffeine is helpful for your exercise performance, helping you run for a longer time and do more reps in the weight room. But researchers recently looked at whether or not those gains in performance translate to better fat burning. Here are the major takeaways from the study:

• Study participants drank the equivalent of a “strong cup of coffee” about 30 minutes before starting their morning and afternoon workouts.
• Compared with those who drank a non-caffeinated beverage, those who had coffee before morning or afternoon workouts had more efficient workouts and burned more fat.
• If you want an even bigger difference, try drinking your coffee before an afternoon workout. Researchers found that coffee consumed before afternoon workouts made those even more efficient than the coffee-fueled morning workouts.

If you’re already drinking coffee, the tweak is easy: just treat yourself at your favorite coffee shop on the way to the gym, or make time at home to slowly enjoy your cup of joe before gym time. Just be careful with your drink selection or how much sugar you add to your cup, as too much sugar can easily sabotage your progress! Black coffee, an Americano, or a shot or two of espresso will give you these benefits with nearly zero calories.

Read more in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition »

Wait to have breakfast after the gym.

You may have heard the idea that working out on an empty stomach means you’re burning fat, but if you work out after eating, you’re just burning up that morning’s granola. Sometimes called “fasted cardio,” the idea of exercising on an empty stomach means you’ll need to work out pretty much first thing in the morning because it’s the only time most of us haven’t eaten for 10 to 14 hours.

For those trying to make the most of their morning cardio, putting off breakfast is one meaningful tweak that’s simple to make.

Turns out that this bit of oft-repeated wisdom has merit: new research supports waiting to eat breakfast after your morning workout for more efficient exercise. Here are the major takeaways from the study:

• The study closely monitored a group of men, all overweight, who followed a moderate-intensity exercise regimen over the course of six weeks.
• Researchers found that those who waited to eat breakfast after hitting the gym had better exercise compared with those who ate breakfast before exercise. Their bodies responded to the workout as if they had performed a more rigorous workout than their breakfasting counterparts, meaning more health benefits and more progress.
• This is especially important for those moderately intense workouts that do not fall into the category of “high intensity”—the study authors note that previous studies have shown that meal timing is less important with highly rigorous workouts.

Other sources have shown that you should eat breakfast before doing an extremely rigorous or long workout—so be sure to have breakfast if you anticipate strong exertion. But for those trying to make the most of their daily cardio workout, putting off breakfast is one meaningful tweak that’s simple to make.

Read the full study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism »

Diet and exercise not getting the results you want? Visit The Swan Center for safe, expert body contouring options.

The Swan Center’s plastic surgeons are here to help you enhance your curves or tighten and tone your post-weight loss body with body contouring procedures. We offer a complete range of treatments, like tummy tuck for restoring a slim waistline and non-surgical and minimally invasive options like an injectable butt lift. To schedule your consultation, contact us online or call 770-667-0904.

Can you treat wrinkles at home?

While at-home treatments simply can’t deliver the kind of transformation that is possible with plastic surgery or injectables, certain products can help slow the signs of aging and soften fine lines. The team at MindBodyGreen recently discussed various tactics for reducing wrinkles at home; here are our favorite ideas from their list:

• SPF. You’ve surely had the importance of wearing sunscreen impressed upon you from a young age, but we’ll reiterate it here: sunscreen is one of your first and best lines of defense against wrinkles because it blocks the sun’s harmful UV rays from damaging elastin fibers in your skin.
• Smart topical products. Medical-grade skincare products can further protect your skin while providing essential nutrients such as retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids, niacinamide, anti-aging peptides, and/or growth factors. But with so many options, it’s important to consult with a medical skincare professional to help determine which products are appropriate for treating your unique skin concerns. (Working with a medical practice will also save you from wasting time and money on OTC skincare: while some products include similar nutrients, the concentrations are much lower, making it unlikely you will see any real results.) From Revision Skincare to ZO Skin Health, shop our favorite skincare products here. Our skin care specialists tailor at home regimens to fit your specific needs. We recommend a personal consultation to get you on track to proper skin health.
• Supplements. When it comes to supplements, many are not medically proven; however, one supplement long-known for its ability to support skin health is vitamin C. Vitamin C helps promote collagen production and is needed for its synthesis and maintenance. Making sure you get enough vitamin C in your diet will likely improve your skin’s overall health—just make sure to choose a high-quality, trusted supplement brand.

Incorporating these at-home techniques should provide some noticeable wrinkle protection and modest reduction over time, but if you really want to see smoother, more youthful skin fast, it’s time to head to a true medspa.

At-home treatments simply can’t deliver the kind of transformation that is possible with plastic surgery or injectables, but certain products can help slow aging and soften fine lines.

How can a medspa treat wrinkles without injectables?

A true medical spa offers a variety of physician-supervised treatments designed to remove layers of dead skin cells, hydrate skin, and encourage collagen production. Here are a few of our favorite non-injectable medspa treatments for wrinkles and lines:

• A HydraFacial can help you achieve softer, smoother skin in a relaxing treatment that involves zero needles or downtime. The treatment utilizes a gentle, deep-cleansing jet of water infused with nourishing antioxidant serums to exfoliate, cleanse, and finally replenish your skin’s essential nutrients. For an added rejuvenating boost, your HydraFacial can be customized to include a connective tissue growth factor designed to promote natural collagen and elastin production and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Unlike some skin treatments, HydraFacial is also completely safe for patients who have darker complexions, as well as for those with skin issues such as melasma.

• Radiofrequency microneedling delivers high-intensity radiofrequency energy deep into your skin via an array of insulated needles. This warms the deep dermis to stimulate new collagen fiber growth and tighten skin, leading to visible skin improvements that improve over the following months. This hard-working treatment has been touted by celebrities for its ability to quickly diminish fine lines and other blemishes, like sunspots and acne scars.

• Laser skin resurfacing may sound intimidating, but it’s one of the most effective methods of treating wrinkles and lines on the face and body. Laser skin resurfacing utilizes focused beams of heat and light energy to encourage newer, healthier skin growth. At The Swan Center, we use the HALO Hybrid Fractional Laser because it provides the fully rejuvenating benefits of an ablative laser but with less downtime.

What’s the best way to permanently get rid of wrinkles?

Unfortunately, short of having surgical procedures at intervals, there’s really no way to permanently remove and prevent wrinkles. However, since deep lines—like nasolabial “smile” lines—are caused in part by volume loss, dermal fillers can go a long way in reducing their appearance.

We know you are probably reading this in an effort to avoid fillers, but before you write injectables off, let’s consider the main reasons people give for wanting to avoid them:

• Fear of poor results: Many people assume injectable fillers create a fake, puffy look because they have only noticed patients with poor results. Consider, however, that you’ve likely seen lots of good injectable work without realizing it—after all, most celebrities make use of them. And the truth is, retaining a completely natural look is possible: skilled injectors who understand advanced techniques consistently achieve this goal. For example, when treating the nasolabial folds, a physician who is fully versed in facial anatomy will often take an indirect approach with fillers, treating surrounding areas to naturally lift the tissues below (rather than only treating the immediate area which can lead to the “duck face” look).
• Fear of needles/pain: A skilled injector will take a number of steps to reduce pain and anxiety during treatment. If this is an issue for you, talk to your provider and consider trying a minor injectable treatment first.
• A perception that fillers can be harmful: While it is true that some unscrupulous providers have injected patients with harmful substances, legitimate filler products have a long history of safe use on millions of patients.
• A desire to avoid “unnatural” substances: It would be easy to assume injectable fillers must be made of foreign substances, but hyaluronic acid—the key ingredient in our go-to dermal filler, Restylane—is already produced naturally in your body. Fillers simply boost the amount you have, placing it right where you most want it.

We advocate for dermal fillers because they can achieve structural appearance changes that no other non-surgical option offers. For example, plumping the cheeks with fillers will not only help reduce smile lines but also give a lifted look to your entire face, reflect more light into your eyes, and enhance your face’s symmetry.

But do I need dermal fillers to get rid of wrinkles?

There are essentially three options to choose from when it comes to fighting wrinkles:

• Utilize medical-grade skincare and medspa wrinkle treatments as a way to slow aging and soften the appearance of fine lines.
• Use dermal filler injections; they are the safest, most effective way to immediately reduce the appearance of wrinkles (and you can choose a completely natural hyaluronic-acid based formula).
• Have a surgical lifting procedure; while surgery requires an investment of time and money, a skillfully performed facelift can treat deeper folds and wrinkles, turning back the clock about a decade.

While the most ideal long-term results ultimately come from using a combination of all of the above techniques, if you want to completely avoid fillers, we suggest being extra attentive to your skincare routine, seeking regular medspa treatments, and having a surgical procedure when skin laxity becomes more apparent.

Wrinkle reduction in Atlanta

At The Swan Center in Atlanta, our board certified plastic surgeons and skilled aestheticians have the skill, experience, and technology to help you reverse and prevent the signs of aging with or without injectables. To make a skincare plan that meets your goals and comfort level, contact us today or call (770) 667-0904.

From da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine” to Thutmose’s iconic “Nefertiti Bust,” the cheeks have been celebrated by cultures around the world for the definition and structure they provide the face. Historically, plump, rosy cheeks were seen as a sign of health—and therefore, attractiveness—by European cultures. However, over the last half-century, prominent upper cheekbones and narrower cheeks have become universally favored, with more men and women seeking plastic surgery to contour their cheeks than ever before.

For those who don’t want to undergo a surgical procedure like buccal fat removal or cheek implants to get sculpted cheeks, injectable fillers are a great alternative. In this month’s post, we explain how you can get chiseled cheeks surgery-free with simple filler injections.

What are cheek fillers?

Cheek fillers are strategically-placed dermal filler injections that provide volume and structure in the area around and above the cheeks. These fillers are typically comprised of hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally-occurring molecule in the human body that is responsible for absorbing water to keep your skin supple and moist. HA-based fillers not only lift and contour the cheeks but also smooth wrinkles and fine lines in the face by hydrating the skin from within.

How do cheek fillers work?

Over time, skin loses its ability to produce collagen and elastin, which can lead to a saggy, sunken-in facial appearance. When most people age, they lose volume in their mid-face & cheeks and experience skin sagging, or “jowling,” in their lower face. When carefully injected by an expert, fillers can temporarily volumize sunken areas and create symmetry in the face.

Increasing the volume around your cheekbones can create the illusion of a more defined bone structure. A skilled surgeon can use cheek fillers to control the light and shadows on your face, highlighting certain areas and using shadows to create the appearance of natural depressions. Contoured upper cheeks can also reflect light into the eyes to help you look more refreshed and invigorated.

Another added benefit of cheek fillers is that because of the filler’s moisturizing effect, you can get away with wearing less makeup, as your cheeks will take on a natural glow you’ll want to show off.

How long do cheek fillers last?

Hyaluronic acid cheek fillers typically last between 9-12 months before maintenance treatments are needed.

Which fillers are best for cheeks?

At the Swan Center, we use the Restylane line of fillers to sculpt the cheeks. Restylane is an FDA-approved HA-based filler with a safe and effective track record. Like other HA fillers, Restylane not only firms and volumizes skin, but also hydrates it from the inside out for smoother skin with fewer wrinkles and lines. Other fillers that can be used in the cheeks include Juvéderm, Radiesse, Sculptra Aesthetic, and Bellafill.

Cheek fillers are customizable

Everyone’s facial anatomy is unique, and at The Swan Center, our goal is to bring out this individualized beauty in each of our patients. Cheek fillers are a wonderful way we are able to achieve this because they are highly customizable. Here are a few ways we can adapt cheek fillers to enhance your face.

For patients with a rounder face:

While filler can’t reduce volume in your face, it can make the lower cheeks appear slimmer by volumizing the upper cheeks. This will also elevate the mid-face for a more lifted and elongated facial appearance (think Demi Moore circa 2011).

For patients with a narrower face:

Filler injections to the mid-face and lower cheeks can help fill out the face for a healthy, youthful appearance (think Jennifer Lawrence in the first Hunger Games film).

Cheek fillers are quick and easy

Cheek fillers are done in-office in under 15 minutes. The HA begins to volumize and hydrate skin immediately, so you’ll begin to notice results as soon as you leave the office. Even better, because Restylane increases collagen and elastin production in your skin, you’ll see your skin tone improve over the following months.

Cheek fillers have zero recovery period, and, when performed with Restylane injections, last for up to 12 months.

Cheek fillers are a worry-free procedure. If for any reason you aren’t completely satisfied with your results, your surgeon can inject hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down HA, to reverse your filler. Or, if you’ve had a less-than-ideal filler experience elsewhere, our expert plastic surgeons can use hyaluronidase to return your face to its natural state and work with you on achieving the results you want.

How can I enhance my cheek fillers?

Looking to highlight your newly-enhanced cheeks? Here are a few of our favorite methods.

• Dermal fillers in other parts of the face. Adding a few filler injections to other areas of the face can create symmetry and full-facial rejuvenation while drawing attention to your cheeks. Lip fillers can provide a subtle enhancement to the natural shape of the lips and smooth their texture; jawline fillers can make the jaw appear stronger, thinner, and more angled; under-eye fillers can fill in the sunken hollows between the cheeks and eyes for a more alert appearance.
• Botox & Dysport injections. Neurotoxin injections like Botox and Dysport can fix a gummy smile, create a subtle lip flip, and soften the brow. When paired with cheek filler, well-placed neurotoxin injections can improve your appearance by helping you look more relaxed and refreshed.
• HydraFacial. HydraFacial is one of our most popular skincare treatments. It uses a patented medical-grade hydradermabrasion device to cleanse, exfoliate, and hydrate the face with protective serums. HydraFacial treats acne, sun damage, dark spots, and even fine lines. A HydraFacial can help to perfect your complexion to highlight your chiseled cheeks.

• Laser peel. For those looking to treat skin at a deeper level, a laser peel allows us to treat wrinkles, scars, and lesions while tightening skin for glowing results after just one treatment.

Book your cheek filler consultation with our expert injectors in Atlanta

At The Swan Center, all of our cosmetic injections are performed under the direction of board certified plastic surgeons and highly-trained master nurse injectors, which means you’ll get the highest standard of care, results, and safety. If you’d like to learn more about cheek fillers, contact us online or give us a call at (770) 667-0904.

What is RF microneedling?

RF microneedling has all the skin resurfacing benefits of traditional microneedling, but with the added technology of insulated needles that deliver RF energy to the skin, creating new microchannels linking your skin’s layers. While the microneedles create tiny wounds in your skin to prompt your body to replace old skin cells with healthy new ones, the RF energy heats deep layers of your dermis to encourage collagen growth and tissue tightening, leading to visibly healthier skin that continues to improve over the following months.

RF microneedling can be used to address:

• Uneven skin tone & texture
• Fine lines & wrinkles
• Large pores
• Facial skin laxity
• Stretch marks
• Hyperpigmentation

What is radiofrequency? Is it safe?

Radiofrequency is a type of energy on the electromagnetic spectrum that is measured in “frequency,” or wavelengths per second. Though it may sound intimidating, RF energy is actually on the slow end of the RF range—about 100 million times slower than visible light, and over 1 billion times slower than an X-ray. RF also uses lower-frequency electromagnetic waves (the waves that make up light) than lasers, which allows it to target deeper layers of the skin.

If you’re thinking that the RF used in microneedling is the same that’s used in your smartphone or microwave, don’t worry—the RF used in non-surgical skin tightening treatments is much more controlled than other forms of RF. Numerous studies, like this one from the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, have touted the safety and efficacy of RF for non-surgical skin tightening. At The Swan Center, we use the FDA-cleared Lutronic Aesthetic’s Genius because it allows us to monitor and carefully control RF during treatment to ensure that targeted tissues reach the optimal temperature to induce new collagen production and cell regeneration without overheating skin cells.

What are the advantages of using RF in microneedling?

Microneedling is a powerful treatment on its own, but the addition of RF takes it to the next level in terms of skin rejuvenation. Some of the benefits of using RF with microneedling include:

• Faster cell turnover means quicker results than traditional microneedling
• Recovery time is much shorter compared to traditional microneedling, laser resurfacing treatments, and chemical peels
• RF helps break down scar tissue
• RF accelerates collagen production and skin tightening
• With the Genius machine, treatment can be customized for each patient thanks to its variety of needle tips
• Unlike some skin rejuvenation treatments, RF microneedling is safe for all skin types and tones
• Treatment can be performed on almost any area of the body that has wrinkles, discoloration, or acne scarring

How many treatments will I need?

Most of our patients notice significantly smoother, more even skin after just 1 RF microneedling treatment, however, we find that 3 is the optimal amount of treatments to see major skin tone & texture improvements. And since RF microneedling encourages your skin to produce collagen and elastin after it’s treated, you can enjoy results that will continue to improve for months.

Can I combine RF microneedling with other procedures?

Because the RF used in RF microneedling creates microchannels between your superficial and deep skin layers, your skin will be significantly more receptive to other facial rejuvenation treatments in the months following your RF microneedling treatment. To maximize your results, we recommend following up your treatment with a light chemical peel, HydraFacial, and/or BOTOX or dermal filler injection. We also recommend grabbing some quality skincare products, like those from ZO or SkinMedica, to indulge your newly rejuvenated skin.

Schedule your complimentary Atlanta skincare consultation

At The Swan Center, our goal is to help you love the skin you’re in. We invite you to schedule a consultation with one of our skin care specialists to learn more about how RF microneedling can help you achieve the healthy, glowing skin you deserve. Contact us online or call (770) 667-0904 today.

Read on for our Atlanta breast augmentation experts’ advice for three small procedures that can help enhance your breast implant surgery results, maximize the benefits of augmentation, and complete your transformation.

Banish the Bra Roll

While breast enhancement patients are typically focused on improving their front and profile views, we advise women wanting the most perfect results to take a 360° approach and consider all sides of the torso.

If you’re tired of fighting bothersome back fat with specialized bras, liposuction can banish the bra roll for good.

Women often develop stubborn pockets of fat in the mid- and upper back region, as well as on the sides of the torso. While you can fight bothersome bulges that show underneath form-fitting clothing with specialized undergarments, if you want to banish the bra roll for good, liposuction can do the trick! “Bra bulge” liposuction can be performed in an hour or two under local anesthesia, and the results are lasting, provided you maintain a stable weight.

Touch Up the Teacups

Once your breasts are the size and shape you’ve always wanted, you’re surely ready to rock a strapless dress—if only there weren’t those small pillows of fat underneath your armpits, a.k.a. the teacup area. Hello, liposuction!

This procedure removes fat pockets in the area right above your breast, near your armpit and shoulder, to create an appealing “frame” for the breasts and a smoother appearance in strapless dresses and tops. But there’s an even bigger added bonus: reducing the fat near your breasts will visually enhance the shape of your breasts, making them appear larger.

As an added bonus, reducing the fat near your breasts will enhance and draw attention to their new shape, making them appear larger.

This add-on procedure is an especially great choice for women who are on the fence about exactly what size of breast implants to choose. You may be satisfied with a smaller number of ccs if you can add visual oomph to the final result with liposuction.

Rounding it Out

Did you know that you can inject fat into the upper portion of your breasts to create a fuller shape? In a body sculpting procedure (a.k.a. fat transfer), we can remove unwanted fat from areas where you have an excess of fat cells (often the abdomen, flanks, or hips) and inject it into the area of your breast known as the upper pole. This helps to create round, curvy cleavage and natural-looking fullness in the upper breast, further enhancing your breast augmentation results.

Let the Swan Center team help you optimize your breast augmentation results

For the plastic surgeons and expert aesthetic staff at The Swan Center Atlanta, your safety and satisfaction are of the utmost importance. If you’re looking to enhance your breast augmentation—or get gorgeous breast implant results in the first place—we invite you to start the conversation with a virtual or in-office consultation. Learn more about our surgeons here, or call us at (770) 667-0904 to make an appointment!

At The Swan Center, helping people feel amazing is what we love most about our jobs. We also pride ourselves on prioritizing our patients’ safety, health, and happiness, and believe in discussing the potential risks of any cosmetic procedure openly and honestly.

Today we want to talk about a phenomenon called breast implant illness. Several high profile patients have spoken out about health problems they have experienced after undergoing breast augmentation, and many more women across the U.S. have joined the conversation on social media, sharing concerns about symptoms ranging from headaches to hair loss, which they believe may be related to their implants.

As physicians, we believe it’s our duty to help answer your questions and discuss the issue frankly and fairly. Below, we’ve addressed the top questions about breast implant illness, based on the current information we have.

• What is breast implant illness?
• What are the symptoms of breast implant illness?
• How common is breast implant illness?
• Have breast implants been linked to chronic inflammatory symptoms?
• What should I do if I think I have breast implant illness?
• Should I have my breast implants removed?
• Is en bloc capsulectomy the best implant removal option?

What is breast implant illness?

Breast implant illness is a term used to describe systematic symptoms that a patient believes relate to her breast implants. If this sounds like a vague definition, that’s because defining breast implant illness is challenging.

Unlike many diseases, such as chicken pox or diabetes, breast implant illness does not have consistent symptoms or a certain known cause. The common denominator is that the patients have breast implants, they have developed one or more symptoms after having implants placed, and they feel their symptoms are linked to their breast implants.

It’s worth noting that breast implant illness is not the same as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), which is a specific, very rare, and treatable cancer that has been determined to be linked to breast implants. (You can learn more about BIA-ALCL on this post from our plastic surgeons.)

What are the symptoms of breast implant illness?

Patients have reported a wide variety of symptoms they believe are associated with breast implant illness. These include: headaches, chronic fatigue, body aches, generalized pain, hair loss, increased sensitivity to light, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, rashes, unusual body odor, and more.

These symptoms are also commonly experienced by men and women who have never had breast implants, which makes it difficult to narrow down breast implants as the definitive source or cause of the symptoms in a specific patient. However, we must consider the possibility that any of these symptoms could be related to the breast implants.

At the Swan Center, we continue to keep close tabs on all research and testing related to breast implants (as we have since our founding), and detail all scientifically proven risks in our patient materials.

If you are concerned that your breast implants may be causing symptoms, share your concerns with your doctor and your plastic surgeon. Your doctor can suggest testing or treatment and, if desired, your plastic surgeon can detail your breast implant removal options.

How common is breast implant illness?

Breast implant illness is a relatively new concept in the medical community. We have witnessed an increase in patients reporting suspected breast implant illness symptoms in recent years, in large part thanks to social media groups, which have raised awareness of the concept of breast implant illness, as well as provided a platform for patients to report and discuss their symptoms. We don’t point this out to diminish concerns, but rather to help explain what may seem like a sudden increase in patients asking if symptoms they experience could be related to their breast implants.

Because symptoms are subjective and vary widely, and there has yet to be consensus in the medical community that breast implant illness is a definable condition, we cannot specify the exact risk of developing symptoms after breast augmentation. Moreover, there is no existing means to test specifically for and definitively diagnose breast implant illness. Plastic surgery societies such as The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) have begun initiatives to better track and examine reports of breast implant illness, including a scientific study and surveys to help plastic surgeons and patients document any symptoms.

Our plastic surgeons believe the women who are reporting symptoms and pledge to help each woman who visits our practice consider all possible sources and solutions (including the possibility of implant removal), to help them find the best course of treatment to feel better. In short, we support each individual woman’s personal choice, whether it is to keep or remove her implants for any reason.

Have breast implants been linked to chronic inflammatory symptoms?

Earlier we mentioned BIA-ALCL, which is thought to result from chronic inflammation in the biofilm, or natural microbial layer, surrounding a breast implant. However, the scientific studies we have to date show that this is only a factor in BIA-ALCL, and the symptoms have only been linked to textured implants, which have a greater surface area on which microbes can gather. Symptomatically, this inflammatory response usually presents as seroma (fluid buildup) and/or pain that is isolated to the breast.

To date, there is no known link between systemic inflammatory symptoms (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue, digestive problems, etc.) and breast implants, although many women with such symptoms suspect their implants play a role. As mentioned earlier, patient/doctor survey initiatives and further scientific research are currently underway to help identify any possible patterns.

What should I do if I think I have breast implant illness?

If you are experiencing symptoms that concern you, see your primary care physician or other appropriate specialist. Your doctor may recommend further tests to identify or rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, and they can help you manage your symptoms while you consider options.

If you believe your breast implants are a contributing factor, share your concerns with your doctor and with your plastic surgeon. While there isn’t yet means to medically confirm or disprove a specific association, they can share their professional knowledge and help you understand your options if you wish to pursue breast implant removal.

Because there is no way to confirm that symptoms are related to breast implants, there is no guarantee that breast implant removal surgery will relieve symptoms.

Should I have my breast implants removed?

With some complications, such as capsular contracture, undergoing breast implant removal and/or replacement is a clear option and path to relief. However, it’s not so cut-and-dried with breast implant illness.

First, because there is no way to confirm that symptoms are related to breast implants, there is no guarantee that breast implant removal surgery, or explantation, will relieve symptoms for an individual woman. The patient must undergo surgery and see if her symptoms are relieved afterward, knowing that the additional surgery also carries some risks and requires recovery time. That said, in the hands of an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon, risks are low and many women who have had implants removed are glad to eliminate them as a source of concern, even if they continue to experience symptoms.

For our patients who are unhappy with their implants for any reason, we offer explantation surgery as an option. If both the patient and the plastic surgeon believe the potential benefits of removing breast implants (whether for health, lifestyle, or aesthetic reasons) outweigh the risks, that is what truly matters.

Is en bloc capsulectomy the best implant removal option?

Many breast implant illness websites and social media forums advocate for en bloc capsulectomy—an explantation technique that removes the breast implant and surrounding scar tissue capsule in one single unit. It is thought by some doctors and patients that leaving the breast implant “sealed” inside the capsule most effectively removes all the matter that may be causing symptoms.

Indeed, for some patients, en bloc capsulectomy is the right approach; for example, if a known complication or disease such as BIA-ALCL is suspected. However, en bloc capsulectomy has some drawbacks to be aware of. First, the incisions required to remove an implant en bloc are usually much longer than those required for other types of breast surgery, and this results in additional scarring in most cases. Additionally, if there is not enough natural tissue between the capsule and the surrounding muscles, rib cage, or other vital organs, en bloc capsulectomy cannot be performed safely.

If you are considering en bloc capsulectomy, make sure the plastic surgeon you choose is highly experienced in the technique and that you fully understand the incision plan, risks, and differences in results vs standard breast implant explantation before moving forward.

We welcome your questions about breast implant illness

At The Swan Center, we remain dedicated to providing the highest standard of safety and care. Whether you are considering your options for Atlanta breast implants and want to be sure you are making the right choice for yourself, or you are concerned about the possibility of breast implant illness, we are here to listen and help you make safe, considered choices. Please call us at 770-667-0904 or contact us online anytime.

Drains. There’s just nothing sexy about them. Even the word has a bit of an ick factor—especially when you’re talking about the drains some patients need for a week or two after a tummy tuck.

Wait, did you say “drains”? Why do you need drains after a tummy tuck?

If you’re not yet acquainted with the concept of drains, they are small pouches that are attached (temporarily) to the body after surgery via a thin tube and secured with sutures. Drains allow fluid that would otherwise accumulate at the surgery site to drain into the pouch.

Drains can help prevent seroma after a tummy tuck, but they can also be uncomfortable and inconvenient for patients…

Traditional tummy tuck techniques separate the overlying skin and fat layer from the abdominal muscles, tighten the muscles, and then pull the skin/fat layer down, removing the excess tissue and suturing the results in place at the incision site. This creates a space that, until healed, can allow fluid to enter and result in a complication called seroma—a buildup of fluid that can elevate infection risk and compromise your results. For years, plastic surgeons have used drains to help reduce seroma risk after a tummy tuck.

No doubt, drains serve a good purpose, but they can also be uncomfortable for patients, not to mention…kind of gross. Drains must be emptied periodically, which is not difficult, but may be the last thing you want to worry about during the early days of your tummy tuck recovery. Additionally, showering is not allowed while drains are in, which many patients find to be the worst thing about them.

If you’re among the many who dread dealing with drains, we’ve got good news…

Our plastic surgeons can use special techniques to reduce or even eliminate the need for drains following tummy tuck surgery

The technique is called “progressive tension suturing.” Instead of relying on the sutures in the lower belly, near the incision site, to hold the newly tightened abdominal skin in place while you heal, our surgeons will place a series of internal sutures between the skin/fat layer and the muscle wall. This provides more even tension along the remodeled tissues and closes the space between the skin/fat layer and the abdominal muscles. You might think of it like having an invisible quilt beneath the skin, versus a plain blanket pulled tight.

Drain-free tummy tuck surgery is our Atlanta plastic surgeons’ preferred method. Not only is recovery more pleasant for patients, but we can often achieve better-looking results with this technique.

Closing this space prevents excess fluid from building up and dramatically reduces risk for seroma according to peer-reviewed study—this means no drains are needed to collect fluid.

The benefits of a drain-free tummy tuck go beyond no drains

At the Swan Center in Atlanta, drain free tummy tuck surgery is our plastic surgeons’ preferred method for many reasons. Not only does it make recovery more pleasant for patients, but it can actually achieve better-looking results—the more even tension provided by progressive suturing helps your scar heal more finely. Additional benefits include:

• Better contouring ability. The drain-free tummy tuck technique lends itself very well to incorporating liposuction into the procedure, so we can sculpt a better overall shape, versus only firming and flattening the front of the belly.
• Less discomfort after surgery. You have no drains to carry around and no tubes causing pressure and irritation around your incision sites.
• You don’t have to deal with the hassle of emptying, measuring, and logging the amount of fluid in drains.
• You may get back to work more quickly. Drains can be difficult to hide beneath clothing—especially if you’re having a tummy tuck during the heat of summer. If you are cleared to return to work, the absence of drains may save you from using extra vacation days to keep drains under wraps.
• Fewer post-operative risks. One study showed that progressive suturing dramatically reduced seroma compared to older techniques. Without drains, we also eliminate the added risk of infection associated with drains.
• You get to shower within a few days after surgery. Enough said.

Still, having drains for a week or two is way better than having a seroma

Although our Atlanta plastic surgeons will perform a drain-free tummy tuck whenever possible, there are certain cases in which it is necessary to use drains to ensure optimal results. If it turns out that drains are the best option for you, we will teach you step-by-step how to take care of them after surgery. Typically, drains are left in place for only one to two weeks before they are removed during a brief, in-office procedure.

Also, take heart knowing that most patients who’ve had drains say the experience wasn’t nearly as bad as they expected. (A few even say it is satisfying to see would-be swelling leaving the body.)

Thinking that a drain-free tummy tuck is the way to go?

We’d love to help you learn more! All of our Swan Center Atlanta board certified plastic surgeons are very experienced with drain-free tummy tucks. During a personal consultation, they can help you determine whether you are a good candidate and what results you can expect from tummy tuck surgery. Contact us anytime.

Our very own Dr. Dean Fardo is well known in Atlanta for his wonderful bedside manner and fantastic surgical results. But were you aware that he was once an engineer or that he considered pediatrics in medical school? We sat down with Dr. Fardo to chat about everything from why he loves plastic surgery to where he spends his free time. Read on to get to know him a little better!

What drew you to the field of medicine?

I think what first drew me to the field was the challenge of medicine in general. It’s such a diverse, challenging field, and there are so many different things you can do. Obviously, the ability to help others and do something you like to do while you’re doing it made it all the more appealing.

What inspired you to pursue the plastic surgery path?

Initially I wanted to be a pediatrician. But then I was exposed to plastic surgery when I was in medical school and knew it was what I wanted to do. To be able to combine both the precision and skill of surgery with an artistic, creative touch was very appealing. With many surgical specialties, you fix a problem or remove a gallbladder; there isn’t much freedom in how you do it. In plastic surgery, however, I don’t think any two plastic surgeons do everything the same way every time.

You may not know this, but I was an engineer before I became a surgeon. I enjoyed it, so I’d probably be doing something in the construction engineering field if I weren’t a plastic surgeon. But I can’t really imagine doing anything else. I love my work—and I love being able to help patients achieve their goals and making them happy. The gratitude of patients is pretty amazing.

Can you tell us about a patient experience that touched you?

I still remember one of my most grateful patients from early in my career; it was a woman who had lost around 300 hundred pounds. Patients who lose a significant amount of weight are still left with a lot of debilitating excess skin that not only makes them feel self-conscious, but can also cause discomfort, rashes, and difficulty moving. It took us multiple surgeries and around a year and a half to do everything, but after several procedures, she was very happy with her results. I think she is probably, to this day, still the most grateful, happiest patient I’ve had. It changed her life completely.

Are there any new or upcoming technologies or treatments that you’re excited about?

Minimally invasive and non-surgical devices, particularly those for fat reduction of skin tightening, are becoming increasingly popular because they offer limited downtime and quick results. I think this type of technology is really going to change our specialty over the next few years.

When you’re not at work, where are you most likely to be found?

With my kids at their sporting events. Whether it’s chauffeuring them around or watching them play their sports and activities, I spend most of my non-working time with them.

What do you love about Atlanta?

There are many things I love about Atlanta. It’s a great food town with so many great restaurants. It’s a big city, but it has a small town feel—and there are a huge number of things you can do. You’re close to the mountains but still just a short drive from beaches and lakes. The town is incredibly diverse, which I love.

I also enjoy the weather because we get a change of seasons. Fall is my favorite season. We’re about as south as you can get, I think, and still get a nice color change.