July 31st, 2009 Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D.
NIPPLE SENSATION AFTER BREAST SURGERY IN ORANGE COUNTY
“Will my nipple sensation change after surgery?” This is a common question asked by my Orange County patients seeking breast augmentation.
Unfortunately, there is no way to know how your nipple sensitivity will change after augmentation. I tell my patients you have an equal chance of becoming more sensitive than less sensitive.
Contrary to popular belief, the addition of a breast lift does not increase the risk of nipple sensory change. In other words, the risk for nipple sensory change is the same for breast augmentation with or without a lift.
The chance of decreased or absent nipple sensation, however, will increase with a larger implant. The main nerve which gives sensation to the nipple comes from the lateral (outer) side of the chest muscle and travels under the breast until it reaches the nipple. A large implant will, therefore, have a higher chance of putting pressure and stretching this nerve. A larger than recommended breast implant may cause stretching and sagging of the skin, lead to enlargement of the areola, and increase the chance of nipple numbness.
It is important to be patient. Many of the unusual sensations in the nipple and breast will improve with time. It may take up to one year for the breast to settle and for the nerves to reach equilibrium.
Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 10 years of experience. His office is located in Santa Ana, California. To schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 714-834-0101.
Posted in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Breast Lift | No Comments »
July 21st, 2009 Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D.
ORANGE COUNTY SCARS AND ORANGE COUNTY PLASTIC SURGERY
Scars, all my Orange County plastic surgery patients are concerned about scarring after surgery.
Although the concern is understandable, having done hundreds of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures in orange county, I can confidently say the risk of undesirable scarring is low.
In order to identify an undesirable scar, one must define what a desirable scar is. A desirable scar is very thin (1/3 to 1/2 of a millimeter wide, which is about 1/50 to 1/70 of an inch). It is not raised and does not itch (after the healing process is complete). The scar, however, will be lighter than the surrounding skin. Well-healed scars do not contain melanin, which is the pigment of skin cells.
Therefore, in a darker skin individual, a desirable scar, although very thin, will be more noticeable than someone with pale skin. Undesirable scars can be categorized as wide and flat, hypertrophic, and keloid.
Wide and flat scars, as the name implies, are wide (typically 0.5cm to 1.0cm or 1/5 to 1/3 of an inch) and flat. The skin where the scar lies is thinner than the surrounding skin. This type of scar is cosmetically very similar to a stretch mark. This type of scar occurs usually because of excess tension under the skin. As the incision is healing, the excess tension pulls the skin apart and thins the skin. The treatment is excision of the scar (in more than one stage if the scar is very wide) and closure with minimal tension.
Hypertrophic scars are raised scars which are typically red and itchy. Typically these scars occur because of excess tension or movement (shoulder for example), infection during the healing process or genetics. The options for treating this type of scar is injection with a steroid, which causes thinning and flattening of the scar, excision alone, or excision with injection of steroid. The decision will be made at the time of consultation. There are patients, although rare, who genetically form hypertrophic scars.
Keloids are scars which are raised and grow outside the boundary of the incision. This is different than a hypertrophic scar, which is also raised but stays within the boundary of the incision. The causes of keloids are the same as hypertrophic scars, and the treatment options are similar. In terms of keloids, however, injection of steroid is always recommended to minimize the risk of recurrence.
Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 10 years of experience. His office is centrally located in Orange County, California. To schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 714-834-0101.
Posted in Scar Treatment | 1 Comment »
July 9th, 2009 Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D.
I watched a fascinating show on KCET this weekend called Musical Minds. It was a show about how music affects the brain, and how music can be used to control certain neurological diseases. The show discussed how music can be used to focus the mind of neurological patients. These patients cannot function normally in public and yet, when they played music, the transformation was miraculous. Oliver Sacks, the neurologist featured in the show, is also an accomplished piano player. A functional MRI of his brain was performed while he listened or imagined listening to a piece of music. The MRI showed increase blood flow to multiple areas of the brain. Increased blood flow to any organ, assuming it is not due to a disease process, will result in better oxygenation and a healthier organ.
Keeping the mind active has been shown to delay or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. It will also keep the mind “sharp” even in older age. My father, who is a retired physician, has one of the sharpest minds around. He has written two movie scripts and a book, and is looking for a publisher. He is 88 years old! His secret is keeping busy, both physically and mentally.
There is more and more evidence the brain is like a muscle. If one trains it every day, it will stay stronger. My Orange County plastic surgery patients always seek plastic surgery of the face and body. Have you ever considered plastic surgery for your brain?
Learning to play a musical instrument is a wonderful way of keeping the brain active. Learning a musical instrument will teach us patience, concentration, discipline and the joy of performing a piece of music. Every time we are learning a new piece, there are new connections forming in our brain. The brain is not a static organ, and will adapt according to the information presented to it, regardless of age (this is called plasticity in medical terms).
If you have a family, learning an instrument and playing together is a wonderful time to bond with each other. There are numerous ensemble sheet music available, covering basic to advanced musical abilities.
I hope you will consider plastic surgery for the mind as seriously as you do for your body.
Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon, with over 10 years of experience. His office is located in Santa Ana, California. To schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 714-834-0101.
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