Breastfeeding after Implants?

When women visit me for a private consultation in my Delaware plastic surgery office, they often ask whether or not they will be able to breastfeed after breast implants, ie, whether breast implants will inhibit breastfeeding in any way.

Before I get into the details, here are some basic facts:

·       Not every woman can breastfeed successfully, whether or not she has breast implants;

·       An implant itself doesn’t interfere with breastfeeding;

·       What can affect breastfeeding is the location of the incisions used to insert the implants.

For example, an incision for placement of a breast implant can be made in one of three places: (A) under the fold of the breast (called the inframammary fold); (B) under the armpit (called a transaxillary incision) or (C) around the areola.

Incisions under the armpit or under the breast should pose no challenge to breastfeeding. An incision around the areola shouldn’t pose a challenge either, so long as neither the milk ducts nor the nerves are damaged or severed.

The nerves nearest the areola control two hormones that trigger the brain to produce milk; those hormones are oxytocin and prolactin. If those nerves are damaged, the brain may not receive the “signal” to make milk, or perhaps will make some milk, but not enough, in which case the woman must use a breast pump between feedings to provide enough breast milk for her baby.

I always advise women who have not yet had children to opt for the inframammary fold or the transaxillary incision, so as not to worry at all about any impact upon breastfeeding. I haven’t accidentally dissected any milk ducts or nerves, but it does make these women feel more at ease knowing it’s fairly impossible to have breastfeeding problems with either an inframammary or transaxillary incision.

There are a couple other caveats to getting breast implants prior to having children. One is that, after pregnancy or breastfeeding, the breasts may sag. An implant won’t prevent this sagging. The woman may need a breast lift following pregnancy and breastfeeding if the sagging concerns her. Further, if an implant patient should develop a nipple infection or mastitis while nursing, these infections can spread to the pocket under the breast wall that “houses” the implant and infect that pocket. This can lead to implant problems and perhaps even a need to remove the implants.

If you haven’t had children yet and are considering implants, be sure that you discuss these issues with me at your consultation to make sure both of us are in complete agreement about the location of your incisions.

Oh, and BTW, there’s a rumor that silicone leaking from breast implants could “spoil” the milk. There is no evidence that silicone could leak into breast milk in the first place, but even if it did, it probably wouldn’t harm the baby, as silicone is quite similar to a substance used to treat babies’ stomach gas.

So, the bottom line is that breast implants should not affect the ability to breastfeed or produce milk so long as the incision doesn’t nick or damage the nerves or milk ducts. Another reason to choose a plastic surgeon with a great deal of experience!

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Joe Danyo

FDA Intends to Speed Up Approval of Medical Devices

The FDA conducts studies and grants approvals for innovative medical devices in much the same fashion as it does for new drugs. Although the approval process for a new drug can take up to 12 years in research and development and cost well over a billion dollars before the FDA gives its approval, the approval process for devices used for cosmetic enhancements like liposuction technology, lasers and the like, tends to be even longer, requiring at least 10 months just for the first round of investigation by the FDA, that of confirming that the device is a “first-of-a-kind,” and not just a slightly-altered version of another device.  

An article in Bloomberg Businessweek reported on a new system at the FDA, called the Innovation Pathway, that intends to shorten the time for first-of-a-kind devices from 10 months to 5 months. The first product assigned to this new system is a brain-controlled, prosthetic arm created by the military.

Alhough th US is considered a powerhouse in the development of new drugs and other technologies, our country is the 7^th slowest nation when it comes to approving medical devices, lagging way behind Israel, India and European countries like France and Germany. Unlike the US, most European countries’ regulatory processes are much more supportive of innovation, while still ensuring consumers that what they approve meets the tests of safety and effectiveness. The Innovation Pathway program is the first attempt in 35 years to shorten the approval time for devices.

Technology will continue to move as quickly as the FDA will allow it, bringing us newer and better devices for liposuction, breast reconstruction and breast enhancements, and all kinds of laser skin treatments. I’m delighted that the FDA has taken this step and look forward to faster approvals for medical devices of all kinds, both for reconstruction and for cosmeteic purposes. It’s a needed step in the right direction.

To your health & beauty,
Dr. Joe Danyo

Supplements for Thinning Hair

Hair loss sufferers are in the millions here in the US. About 35% of men and 21% of women suffer with hair loss including thinning and balding. The topic was discussed recently on The Doctors in which they aired a show featuring Jon Lovitz, the comic. The Doctors physicians offered these lifestyle changes to boost hair retention and quality:

• Eat More Protein because like your bones your hair is primarily composed of protein. The suggestion is to eat more beef, chicken and eggs to help boost protein levels. For vegetarians and vegans, vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, as well as beans, nuts, seeds, and grains like quinoa, are good sources of protein.

• Get enough Iron and Zinc, because these two minerals are needed for hair follicles to produce new hair. Red meat and green leafy vegetables are high in iron and zinc, as are avocadoes and most berries. To increase your absorption of iron, it’s suggested to eat foods rich in vitamin C when eating iron-rich foods, and to avoid taking iron supplements and vitamin E at the same time. Fact: The tannins in regular teas (ie, non-herbal) can dampen iron absorption.

• A mineral known as Silica assists the body to digest nutrients needed for great hair. Silica is founding abundance in cabbage, bell peppers, rice, bean sprouts, and onions, and often thought to be the reason that Asian women have such thick, beauatiful hair, as those foods are big ingredients in Asian cuisine. Asparagus, oatmeal, cucumbers, lettuce, potatoes, sunflower seeds and strawberries also contain ample amounts of silica.

• One more rep: Because exercise stimulates circulation and blood flow, it may stimulate more hair growth.

Dr. Ordon from The Doctors also recommends Propecia and Rogaine to fight against hair loss. For those with balding, there are technologies for hair replacement available today that are superior to the old-fashioned, visible hair plugs, and certainly are a better solution than toupees, wigs or hair extensions.  

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Joe Danyo

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SILICONE?

The news has revealed many of the disastrous results of silicone injections. Remember Priscilla Presley’s beautiful face? It was literally ruined by lowgrade silicone injections that her doctor told her were “better than Botox”. You can see the unfortunate results at left. Once injected, silicone is “forever” and can onlybe surgically removed, leading to the potential for some very nasty scarring.

Although it’s true that there is no FDA approval for using silicone for cosmetic purposes, I’m betting if you did a poll of your friends, most of them would think that it’s currently being injected into lips, buttocks, breasts and faces all over America. That’s because most people aren’t aware of the dangers. 

Back in the 1950’s and 60’s, silicone was used for breast enlargement. Unfortunately,  this led to lumps, bumps, injections and deformities and was banned. You probably recall that the original silicone breast implants were also recalled for similar concerns as well as concerns that leaked silicone led to auto-immune problems.

Please be sure that you and your friends are aware of the dangers of silicone injections, and the fact that they are not approved by the FDA. No reputable plastic surgeon would ever use them. Here at our Delaware plastic surgery office, we have multiple filler options that are safe and effective. Come in to see us and learn which might be right for your particular needs.

By the way, did you know that Botox has a treatment visualizer? It’s fun and effective, and a great way to see, in the privacy of your home, how you might look.

To your health & beauty,

Dr. Joe Danyo