Cohesive gel implants (“gummy bear” implants, so called because of the implant gel’s consistency being similar to the candy) are quite popular in Europe. Natural-feeling and natural-looking, these breast implants nevertheless have not yet been approved by the FDA, and so can only be used by certain surgeons in the U.S. Dr. Steven Teitelbaum is one of these select surgeons, and has been using the cohesive gel breast implants in Los Angeles since 2000.

Choosing to have breast implants is very personal, physically as well as emotionally, and realistic expectations make an important difference. So does a doctor who will listen and understand your goals, honestly explain any limitations your own individual physiology might present, and work together with you to provide the best possible results. Dr. Teitelbaum is happy to help you prepare for your Los Angeles breast enhancement.

As time and gravity team with experiences such as pregnancy and nursing, a woman’s breasts can begin to lose their shape, volume, and firmness. Sagging breasts can be addressed with breast lift surgery in Los Angeles, where plastic surgeon Dr. Marc Mani often performs breast lifts, or mastopexy, together with breast augmentation to increase firmness and size.

As with all plastic surgery, realistic expectations and emotional stability are important. Though breasts of any size can be lifted, women with smaller breasts enjoy longer lasting results. While a breast lift will not affect your ability to nurse because ducts are left intact, pregnancy can affect your breasts in such a way that breast lift surgery should be postponed if you are planning future pregnancy. A breast lift is not a simple procedure, though it is generally safe when performed by a qualified surgeon.

Breast augmentation adds volume to the breast with a breast implant or prosthesis to increase fullness and create better balance with the rest of your figure. Your clothing options will expand tremendously, and you’ll be comfortable wearing many types of clothing you were uncomfortable wearing before.

There are different types of breast implants available, and three different approaches for augmentation. The small incision can be placed under the breast, at the edge of the nipple-areola, or in a skin fold in the armpit.

There is no single best type of implant and approach for every augmentation. Breasts are extremely different, and different approaches give the best results in certain breasts.

Prior to the development of prosthetic breast implants numerous materials were trialed for the purpose of augmenting the female breast. Up until the 1950′s materials included autogenous fat and dermal grafts, fat injections, paraffin injections, insertion of glass balls, ivory, rubber, and terylene wool.4,5 These materials frequently led to infection, tissue necrosis and firmness of the breast. The autogenous materials were uniformily troubled by resorption. The 1950-1960′s saw the use of many other products. Free injections of hydrocarbons, petroleum jelly, silicone oils, vegetable oils and bees wax were tried and led to many problems including infection, granulomas, fistulas and breast firmness.4,5 During this same time many different types of sponges were developed hoping that soft tissue ingrowth would improve the biocompatibility of these products. Polyvinyl and polyether were the most common sponge materials (figure 2) others included silastic and Teflon. Unfortunately these products were complicated by many of the same problems and were discontinued.
The development of the silicone gel prosthesis in 1962 marked a very important new era in breast surgery. Since Cronin and Gerow6 first reported its use very few other materials have been used for breast augmentation. This is partly due to the success of silicone devices and also by the subsequent FDA regulation of medical devices that was started shortly after the development of silicone gel devices.

Breast augmentation adds volume to the breast with a breast implant or prosthesis to increase fullness and create better balance with the rest of your figure. Your clothing options will expand tremendously, and you’ll be comfortable wearing many types of clothing you were uncomfortable wearing before.

There are different types of breast implants available, and three different approaches for augmentation. The small incision can be placed under the breast, at the edge of the nipple-areola, or in a skin fold in the armpit.

Breast implants can be inserted through incisions under the breast (inframammary fold), around the areola (periareolar), or through the armpit (transaxillary). The type of implant used, the placement of incision and the size of the implant are influenced by individual physical characteristics and the patient’s preference. These factors will be evaluated during your initial consultation and the information gathered will be used in choosing the optimal implant size and style for you.