The shape and size of things to come

Breast Implants

Bigger is not always better

By Elise Brooks, Nip Tuck News Staff Writer

July 1, 2007

One very popular question patients ask the breast expert Dr. Corbin is, "Can I chose the shape and size I want my breasts to be?" One of the worlds leading manufacturers of breast implants is The Mentor Corporation. They offer a variety of breast implant shapes and sizes. Based on what each patients measurements are will determine what style and size breast implants will look the best on the individual.

According to Dr. Fred Corbin, A patient can vary the shape of their natural breasts slightly with a shaped breast implant. Although what over 20 years experience has taught this busy Beverly Hills plastic surgeon is that the biggest factor in determining the final shape of a patients breasts after a breast augmentation alone is the shape of their natural breasts, skin tone, rib cage and also their natural anatomy.

Dr. Frederic Corbin does let his breast surgery patients seeking an enlargement to try on different implant sizers to help them select a breast size they will be happy with. According to Dr. C, "Most women tend to select breast implants that are in proportion to the rest of their body, however, once in a while I will see a patient who has very small breasts with tight skin and she will want a breast implant size that is totally unrealistic.  As a patient advocate it is my responsibility to inform a patient like this about all the increased risks involved. In most cases, I will not perform a first time breast augmentation using huge implants on a patient who has very small firm breasts with tight skin."

There is only so far you can push the human anatomy without causing permanent damage or a deformity of some type. In order to avoid complications Dr. Corbin screens his patients for realistic expectation. "If I have a patient who chooses to go against my medical advice this is a red flag for me, says Dr. Corbin. When advising a patient on what breast shape and size they can expect after a breast augmentation I treat them with the same care, concern and respect I would want for my wife, daughter, sister or mother."

There are some patients who have had pregnancies; weight loss or more relaxed skin texture who may be able to go with larger implants sizes their first surgery. If I feel medically a patient's body cannot accept a larger size breast implant the first surgery, I will suggest they let the skin and breasts adjust to the first set of implants and gradually have another surgery and at this time increase the breast implant size. Some women wanting larger breast implants may also put the breast implants sub mammary instead of submuscular. The increased risks associated with this breast implant placement is rippling and capsular contracture.

In some patients I may use an adjustable breast implant. These are saline and silicone breast implants that can be increased in size gradually over a 6 month period.
One major risk Dr. Fred Corbin warns women wanting huge size breast implants about is having a very experienced plastic surgeon perform the surgery. Dr. Corbin corrects deformities on many patients from other surgeons who chose breast implants that were too large and ended up with Synmastia. (Uniboob)

 Dr. Corbin has recently been featured on the entertainment television show, "the Insider" because of his extensive knowledge and expertise in the corrective revisions of breast deformities. "Once a patient has had previous breast surgery that has caused an unpleasant appearance or deformity of the breasts it is very difficult to correct some of these complications. It is best if the patient is educated the first time around and makes an informed and safe breast implant selection right from the start.

Sometimes bigger is not always better. With breast surgery you can compromise pretty shaped breasts by selecting implants that are too large.              

For Frederic H.Corbin M.D., Being a good plastic surgeon is not always about saying yes to whatever the patient wants. "In addition to the upside, I must educate my patients on the downside of surgery. There are times because of my honesty and safety concerns I lose patients who go to other surgeons who will perform the surgery they want. After evaluating each patients needs my goal is safety first, and a beautiful surgical result second. If I can accomplish this I have succeeded and the patients and I will both be happy."