What Are the Risks with Flying with Saline Breast Implants?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Saline Breast Implants:

What Are the Risks with Flying with Saline Breast Implants?

I am a black female in Germany due to military reasons. I will be returning to the states in about 10 months. I am having a tummy tuck and breast implants done in May. I have not decided which type implant im going to go with because I am afraid of silicone and the horrors stories Ive heard of people’s immune systems being compromised. My doctor prefers I use silicone but he says it up to me. He said something I never heard, he said that the valve in the implant can open while flying. Info PLEASE

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Both Saline and Silicone Implants are Safe

Both saline and silicone implants have been thoroughly studied and demonstrated in multiple studies to be safe. Despite the scares or a few years ago, they have not been linked to any diseases. The valve on a saline implant will not open up in flight and is not something to worry about. Saline implants have air dissolved in the saline and I have seen a few patients who have had some of the air come out of solution causing temporary sloshing when traveling from sea level to the mountains. This resolves with time and does not cause any long lasting problems. That said, I far prefer silicone to saline implants for their more natural feel, lower chance of rippling and lower rupture rate.

What is Minimum Recovery Time for Breast Lift with Augmentation?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Breast Lift with Augmentation:

I am planning a vacation to Aruba in June and wondering if 2 months is long enough time to recovery properly so I can enjoy myself. Also, I am working on losing my last 10 lbs before I schedule surgery. If I am 10 lbs from my goal weight will that make a huge difference?

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Quick Recovery After Breast Augmentation

With the precision of current minimal trauma techniques of breast augmentation, recovery is very quick and there is usually minimal swelling. 2 months should be plenty of time to recover from breast augmentation and lift. A small weight loss prior to surgery should not make any difference in your result.

What Are Some Ways to Reduce Fat Absorbtion After a Brazilian Butt Lift?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Brazillian Butt Lift:

I’m having surgery in May and am trying to prepare for surgery. I’m wondering what ways I can assure that as little fat will be absorbed as possible! Thanx

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Optimal results in fat grafting require good technique in both harvesting the fat and injection techniques. To preserve maximal viability of the fat cells, they must be harvested in the least traumatic fashion possible. This means harvesting with low suction techniques and avoidance of ultrasonic techniques which can kill the fat cells. Multiple plane micro-grafting techniques will maximize the fat take and your results.

I Want to Get a Brazilian Butt Lift but I Heard It Goes Away in Time, Is This True?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Brazillian Butt Lift:

I Want to Get a Brazilian Butt Lift but I Heard It Goes Away in Time, Is This True?

I wanted to get it but can I work out and stuff and still have my butt not go down, I want to have a nice slimmer body with a ounder buttÉ what would be my options?

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Fat Grafting Gives Long Lasting Brazilian Butt Lift Results

It is expected and normal that some of the fat injected will resorb over the first 6 months. In my experience, the amount that resorbs is 20% – 30%. The remainder should be long lasting. That is why we try to overcorrect at the time of initail fat grafting.

Can the Brazilian Butt Lift Help Fix Two Asymmetrical Dents on Butt Cheek?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Brazillian Butt Lift:

I have one asymmetrical dent on each side of my butt cheeks that I got from injections that was given to me when I as really young. I would like, more than anything in the world at the moment, to get rid of them. Will a Brazilian butt lift help fix the problem? If not, what are my other options? I am 22 years old.

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Fat grafting will likely improve your buttocks

The indentions are likely caused by bands of scar tissue attaching your skin to the deeper tissues. Fat grafting alone will fail if the scar bands are not released at the same time. A series of releases / fat grafts may be necessary.

Is Power Assisted Lipo Good for Brazilian Butt Lifts?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Brazillian Butt Lifts:

Can PAL produce an equivalent amount of good fat for BBL? Are the recovery time and negative side effects reduced with PAL, compared to tumescent lipo?

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

In my opinion, fat harvesting techniques that minimize trauma to the fat will give the best results. Traditional liposuction and power assisted liposuction should both work well. I would avoid harvesting techniques that may damage the fat cells such as laser or ultrasonic techniques.

Should I Worry About Flying Post Brazillian Butt Augmentation?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Brazillian Butt Augmentation:

Will a 90 minute flight 9-10 days post op compromise my results (reduce fat cell viability rate)? My doctor says I can fly after 7 days but everything I read is different.

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Prolonged sitting right after Brazilian Butt Lift may not be the best idea, but there is nothing about flying itself that should hurt your results. In a pressurized cabin, your oxygen saturation should be plenty high for optimal fat survival.

Can a “Brazilian Butt Lift” by Fat Transfer Be Performed at the Same Time As Butt Implants?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Brazillian Butt Lift:

I would like a to add a large amount of enhancement to my buttocks. Can both implants and fat transfer be performed at the same time?

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Fat Grafting and Buttock Implants can be done at same time.

Generally, most people have enough fat to allow buttock augmentation with fat grafting alone. If there is not enough fat, buttock implants are an option. I see no reason why fat grafting could not be added to the implant procedure.

What is Recovery Time like with a Mommy Makeover?

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Mommy Makeover:

What is recovery like with a mommy makeover?

What is recovery like with a mommy makeover? I have scheduled both a breast augmentation with lift and a tummy tuck and am pretty scared. I am worried that the pain will be unbearable.

I know medication will be provided but I do not want to be comatose. I have 2 small children and a wonderful husband that will be taking 100% care of all 3 of us but I also want to be coherent. Will I be alert and will I be in so much pain as to scare my children? I have had 2 c sections and the pain was completely bearable.

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

New techniques make Mommy Makeover recovery quicker.

The Mommy Makeover consists of abdominoplasty, breast lift and frequently breast augmentation. These procedures used to require several weeks of downtime. Modern surgical techniques have reduced the recovery significantly. Care is taken during the surgery to cause minimal trauma to the tissue. Long-lasting local anesthesia is injected at the time of surgery and pain pumps are used. If these techniques are used, most people are back to desk work within 5-7 days and are feeling good by 2 weeks. Traditional teaching limited people to lifting no more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks. With current techniques of muscle repair, I allow patients to lift up to 25 pounds starting at one week and have had no difficulties.

What Can I Do to Get The Waist I Had Before Children? I Don’t Want a Tummy Tuck, But My Muscles Feel Loose.

Question for Denver Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Squires about Loose Skin.

What Can I Do to Get The Waist I Had Before Children? I Don’t Want a Tummy Tuck, But My Muscles Feel Loose.

If I get lipo on my back and tummy will I look ok (not saggy)? I have 1 11mo son. I began 140-150 and was 216 when pregnant and down to about 180-185 now, I fluctuate back and forth when bloated. I am not sure the reason my belly feels loose. Might have separation in muscles? I definantly would love to avoid a TT (tummy tuck). I love my curves and dont want to be super skinny. I wouldn’t mind losing 20 lbs because its hard to find jeans however. I just want that tiny waist I had before the baby.

Answer from Dr. John Squires:

Liposuction can help with isolated areas of accumulated fat, but cannot fix the damage that has occurred from pregnancy. Most women who have had a pregnancy have stretched out muscles and frequently separation of the rectus muscles called diastasis. This cannot be fixed by exercise and abdominoplasty is the best treatment. Loose skin and stretch marks can also only be removed by surgery. There are several varieties of abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) depending on how much loose skin needs to be removed. The standard abdominoplasty removes the most skin and involves an incision from flank to flank and an incision around the umbilicus. Lesser amounts of loose skin can be removed by what is called a modified abdominoplasty where there is a much shorter incision and no incision around the belly button. The mini tummy tuck is good for tightening loose muscle but does not remove a significant amount of loose skin. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help you understand all the options available.