Implants No Impediment to Breastfeeding, New Study Finds

"Will I be able to breastfeed?" This is one of the most common questions we are asked by prospective breast augmentation patients.

For women considering breast enlargement before they have completed their families, it is naturally a concern that implants could prevent them from being able to feed their babies.

However, a new study shows that they have little need to worry. The study, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, was carried out in Argentina and involved 100 pregnant women with breast implants, as well as 100 pregnant women with natural breasts. The participants were an equal split of first time mums and women who already had children.

When the women gave birth, they measured their ability to breastfeed (exclusively or partially) after 24 hours, 48 hours and 30 days. A majority of women with silicone gel breast implants were able to successfully establish breastfeeding – 93%.

The figure was only slightly below the group of women without breast implants, who achieved a 99% success rate.

After 30 days, a higher number of mothers with breast implants decided not to continue breastfeeding than those without; seven mothers with implants stopped, while only one mother with natural breasts did the same. The mothers with natural breasts were also more likely to breastfeed exclusively.

However there are many reasons why a mother may decide to stop breastfeeding or choose to feed a combination of breast milk and formula, which must be taken into consideration when reviewing this study.

Crucially, the study demonstrated no physical impediment to establishing breastfeeding in mothers with implants, for the vast majority of patients. What’s more, the researchers found no difference in the ability to feed between patients whose implants had been inserted via a submammary (under the breast) or areolar (around the nipple) incision.

This will come as welcome news for younger women considering breast implants planning to have children in the future. For extra reassurance you can discuss your intention to breastfeed with your surgeon. He or she can advise you regarding the best placement site, implant volume and surgical technique to minimise damage to milk ducts.

Although this will ensure your chances of being able to successfully breastfeed are not impaired, it is still advisable to wait 12 to 18 months before becoming pregnant following a breast enlargement. This allows for healing of scars and breast tissue and the full return of nipple sensitivity.

For more information about breast augmentation at Ocean Clinic Marbella contact (+34) 951 775 518.

Designing the Perfect Smile at Ocean Clinic Marbella

If you are not happy with your teeth, you might think fixing your smile will be a big, expensive job, but oftentimes simply making a small change can have dramatic results.

Transformation with just four veneers

Our resident dentist Dr. Paul Arts frequently performs smile makeovers using just four veneers and/or teeth contouring.

“Although people are familiar with veneers, which are placed over a tooth to give it a different shape or size, they are often not aware of the results that can be achieved via contouring,” says Dr. Arts.

An example of contouring

“Contouring is about filing and shaping the edges of the teeth to achieve a more harmonious and smooth line. The effect can be amazing, with minimal treatment, and especially in combination with whitening.”

When patients come to see Dr. Arts, he uses specialist computer software to help him assess what treatment is needed to improve their smiles. The program measures the size of the teeth and shows their proportion in relation to each other. Each individual tooth can then easily be scaled up or down or a new tooth shape can be superimposed. Teeth can also be mirrored to simulate symmetry and their shade can be adjusted to simulate whitening.

“The simulation not only lets me create a treatment plan for my patients, it enables them to see what is achievable,” explains Dr. Arts. “I am able to show them the before and after comparison immediately on the screen and more easily explain the proposed treatment.”

He adds: “It also allows the patient to be more involved in their smile design. Once satisfied with the virtual design it can than be copied into their mouth.”

Where veneers are required, Dr. Arts offers two varieties – traditional porcelain, and more affordable composites. Porcelain veneers (and also the ultra thin Lumineers) are the best long lasting solution. Composite veneers are made from special tooth coloured dental filling and offer a quicker solution, but with an equally impressive aesthetic result.

Composite veneers are shaped around the tooth in the chair and can be done in one session, whereas porcelain veneers take two to four sessions as they are made in the dental laboratory. Because they are less labour intensive, composite veneers are around 65% cheaper than porcelain veneers, meaning a dazzling smile is within your reach.

For a smile assessment and tailored quote make an appointment with Dr. Paul Arts on (0034) 951 775 518.

7 Unusual Cosmetic Treatments From Around the World

While liposuction, facelifts and breast augmentations number among the most popular cosmetic procedures in Europe, around the world some rather more unusual treatments are in demand.

Although they might sound strange to us, these cosmetic procedures help the recipients achieve the standards of beauty most sought after in their country and culture. 

1. Dimple creation surgery

In Asia, cheek dimples are considered a good omen, indicating fortune and fertility, which is one of the reasons dimple creation surgery is so popular there. However, dimples are also considered cute and youthful and this procedure is now gaining popularity in the west too.

Taiwanese celebrity Jasper Liu displays both
enviable dimples and aegyo sal. Credit: 白卡玲

Around 20% of the population have natural dimples, which are actually a birth defect resulting from a shortened facial muscle. Dimple creation surgery is minimally invasive, performed under local anaesthetic and involves a stich being placed inside the cheek.

2. Aegyo sal surgery

Aegyo sal is a Korean term for the small pocket of fat directly beneath the eye. It is distinct from eye bags and usually seen in children. Koreans believe aegyo sal to be highly desirable, giving a youthful and cute appearance.

Aegyo sal can be achieved in two ways, either by inserting a strip of surgical fabric under the skin’s surface through two small incisions or using facial filler (a temporary option, lasting around six months). You can also buy transparent sticky tape to place under the eye for a DIY solution!

3. Double eyelid surgery

A Korean woman with 'monolid' eyelids typical
in Asian people. Credit: Petar Milošević

Double eyelid surgery is a procedure designed to give East Asian patients a Caucasian style eyelid crease. Western celebrity culture has led to this treatment becoming hugely popular across China, Korea and Japan, where people commonly have a ‘monolid’ (single, crease-free eyelid).

The surgery pulls the eyelid back and thus makes the patients’ eyes look bigger and rounder. Non-surgical methods of achieving double eyelids are also popular including stick-on tape and eyelid glue. 

4. Cinderella Surgery

Remember how none of the Ugly Sisters could fit into Cinderella’s glass slipper? They might have been able to had they undergone this surgical procedure.

So-called Cinderella Surgery sees a patient’s feet shortened and slimmed so they can fit into high heels more comfortably and has been gaining popularity in the States. The treatment can include removal of the small toe and the shortening of toes. Fat or collagen can also be injected into the soles of the feet to make walking in stilettos less painful.   

5. Smile lift surgery

Smile lift surgery performed by
Aone Clinic in Korea

Another Korean innovation, the smile lift (also called 'Smile Lipt') is a procedure designed to lift the corners of the mouth to give the look of a smile. It is useful for patients who have naturally downturned mouths, which give them a grumpy appearance, and for those who expose too much gum when smiling.

However it is also popular with men and women in general as it allows them to look happy, friendly and confident even when they are not smiling. To achieve a permanently upturned mouth the muscles around the mouth are cut and repositioned.

6. Thigh gap surgery

Model with a prominent 'thigh gap'.
Credit: gnuckx

The ‘thigh gap’ is a body trend that has gained popularity among women and girls in the last few years following the appearance of models with very slender thighs in a Victoria’s Secret fashion show.

It is a space between the inner thighs that remains when the knees are touching – and now females in America are undergoing a cosmetic procedure to get it. The treatment is carried out using non-surgical CoolSculpting, where the fat cells are killed off over a course of two-hour sessions by exposure to cold temperatures.

7. Leg extension surgery

Leg extension surgery is not dissimilar to mediaeval torture but it is a trend in China where minimum heights are common for many careers. The procedure involves both legs being broken and then stretched on a rack.

Next, telescopic rods are inserted into the cartilage which pulls it apart very gradually, by one millimetre a day. New living bone grows along it to fill the gap, while muscles, nerves, arteries and skin also renew themselves. It takes at least three months to complete, requires gruelling physical therapy and costs around $85,000, but patients can gain up to six inches in height.

Although not as unusual as the procedures above, Ocean Clinic Marbella offers a wide range of treatments to address your body concerns. Contact us for a free consultation. 

The Science of Beauty - What Makes A Perfect Nose?

Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder and ideals of beauty differ from culture to culture. However, cosmetic surgeons generally agree on the characteristics required for an aesthetically pleasing nose.

That your nose suits your face is of course the most important thing and looking at its proportions in relation to the rest of your features is one way to assess that.

Front view

When analysing from the front, the face is divided into thirds and fifths (five equal sections vertically and three equal sections horizontally).

An ideally proportioned nose is one that takes up a single section both vertically and horizontally. If the nose extends lower than the middle third of the face then it is too long. If the nose is wider than the middle fifth of the face then it is too wide (at least in terms of ideal Caucasian facial proportions).

A nose that is too large can dominate over other attractive facial traits such as the eyes or lips. An ideally sized nose, on the other hand, is harmonious with the rest of the features as well as the face shape.

Side view

To assess if the end of the nose projects too far outwards from the face (or not far enough), a measurement is taken from the top of the nostril crease (alar crease) up to the root of the nose (radix). Another is taken from the alar crease out to the nasal tip. The horizontal measurement is then divided by the vertical measurement. The optimum range for the calculation is 0.55 to 0.60. 

Another factor determining how long or short the nose appears is the nasofrontal angle, this is the angle formed where the nose and forehead meet. The ideal angle is between 115 and 130 degrees (115-120 for men and 120-130 for women).

Septum

The septum contains bones and cartilage and runs down the middle of the nose.  Viewed in profile, If we draw a hypothetical line from nose root (radix) to nose tip, this line must have 2 mms distance from the septum in women and must match with the septum in men.

If the septum has a convex shape or hump and protrudes over this imaginary line it is an undesirable shape. Likewise, if the line of the nose is too concave and dips too far below the line, it is also displeasing.

Equally, the septum must be straight and not deviated, which creates a lopsided appearance from the front and underneath.

Columellar and nostril rim

The fleshy external end of the septum is called the columellar. Too much or too little showing is undesirable. There are three possible configurations for the columella - normal, hanging, or retracted. The nostril rim (alar rim) can also be normal, hanging or retracted.

Nasal tip

The nasal tip should be proportional in terms of size and width and not be round and bulbous. When viewed from below, the nasal tip should be triangular shaped but without sharp edges or angles (called a soft triangle).

With a nasal tip rotated at 106 degrees, Scarlett Johansson is said to have a 'perfect' nose.
Image credit: Georges Biard

The angle of rotation at the nasal tip (the amount the nose is turned up) is also important. Measured from the lip up, the ideal range of rotation is 90 to 100 degrees for men and 95 to 110 degrees for women.

A female nose that is rotated less than 90 degrees to the face looks droopy, long and masculine.

The perfect fit for you

When assessing a patient for rhinoplasty surgery, these guidelines help a surgeon determine how best to improve the appearance of the nose, however it’s not a one-size-fits all approach.

Come for a consultation at Ocean Clinic Marbella and we will consider a number of factors when making a treatment plan. We will ask you to tell us the aspects of your nose you’re unhappy with, consider the proportions of your nose in respect of your ethnic background and assess the surgical possibilities (we can only work with what you’ve got!).

‘Perfect’ proportions in noses don’t always create the most attractive face, so we always endeavour to assess your face as a whole and design a nose that’s right for you.

Contact Ocean Clinic Marbella for a free rhinoplasty consultation on (+34) 951 775518.