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Plastic Surgeon in St. Louis Discusses Silicone Breast Implant Popularity
According to a recent survey by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the majority of patients undergoing breast augmentation prefer silicone breast implants over saline implants. The study reports that 62% of breast augmentations used silicone implants whereas only 38% used saline. However, Dr. Jeffrey Copeland, a board-certified plastic surgeon in St. Louis, says while many patients are undergoing breast augmentation procedures at his practice, the majority of patients choose saline implants.
According to the latest study by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), breast augmentation was the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2010, with more than 318,000 performed. The ASAPS statistics also state that 62% of those procedures used silicone breast implants as opposed to saline implants. At his St. Louis plastic surgery practice, Dr. Jeffrey Copeland says breast augmentation is also one of the most popular procedures; however, he adds that a majority of his patients choose saline implants. “I discuss the differences between the two types with each prospective patient and leave the decision to them. If the person places more emphasis on the way the breasts are likely to feel after the operation, they often choose gel implants. I have noticed that Midwestern women are generally rather conservative and seek what they feel are more time-tested and “safer” implants. Also, it is easier to identify an implant failure when, on the rare occasion, that occurs.”
After declaring a moratorium on silicone breast implants in 1992, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration re-approved their use in 2006, following extensive research and study on their safety. The approval extends to breast augmentation patients age 22 and over, and breast reconstruction patients of any age. Also, Dr. Copeland says because of recent advancements in technology and techniques, the silicone and saline breast implants of today are offering patients considerable aesthetic benefits with more efficiency and safety. He adds that patients undergoing breast augmentation, regardless of their implant choice, are now electing to take advantage of the latest innovations in state-of-the-art plastic surgery procedures.
As breast augmentation in St. Louis continues to rise in popularity, Dr. Copeland says patient safety and satisfaction remain as top priorities. He adds that a customizable treatment plan with a board-certified plastic surgeon can help to ensure patients make the right decision concerning their procedure and increases the chances of achieving the best results possible. “The most important thing for a patient to think about before augmentation is what their goal is, whether it is their body image, the way clothing fits or making areas of the body proportional to the whole. This guides the whole process and makes decisions about details much easier.”
About Jeffrey G. Copeland, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Copeland received his undergraduate degree, medical degree, and residency training in general and plastic surgery from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He also completed a fellowship in microvascular surgery from the same institution. Dr. Copeland is a current member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the Missouri State Medical Association. He has served as the president of the St. Charles-Lincoln County Medical Society and as the president of Plastic Surgery Consultants, Ltd., among other distinctions.
Located at #2 Richmond Center Court in St. Peters, MO, Copeland Cosmetic Surgery can be reached at (866) 377-0288). It can also be contacted online via the website copelandcosmeticsurgery.com or facebook.com/copelandcosmeticsurgery.
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I enjoy what I do and I enjoy talking about it in this space, but once in a while it is fun to talk about something unrelated.
Today I want to write about my musical and live performance experiences over the past several months. Most years, I will see a concert or 2. Over the past several months, I have been really lucky to have seen a great collection of live music and a little live comedy.
It started when I was in Boston at an the Aesthetic Surgery meeting. I have a classmate who invited me to see an outrageous comedienne, Chelsea Handler. My friend had gotten a last minute ticket for me, which turned out to be front row center. It had been since college when I saw Steve Goodman from the second row in Jesse Hall.
So… the year progressed. I saw the amazing Randy Newman, 67 and one of the most versatile, often cynical, song writers I listen to, at the Sheldon. We had to leave partway through to be with a friend who had an acute health situation. Mr. Newman said, in classic style: “you can leave, but you can’t get your money back”.
Also at the Sheldon I saw a great bluegrass artist with his band, Sam Bush. I had not heard him before, but he has been on many other musician’s albums. His band was very versatile. He also wore a Cardinals shirt during the concert that said “Go Crazy, Folks” on the front and featured Ozzie on the back. The concert was taking place during the playoffs for the wild card slot and he stopped playing the regular set to do “Take me out to the Ballgame” and “Hey Ozzie”. He plays mandolin and at the end of the show pulled out an electric mandolin and did some major rock n’ roll. Great show.
There is a family in Clayton that hosts shows at their home. A friend told me about it and I was lucky enough to get tickets to see John McEuen from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, again partly bluegrass but great storytelling and music in a very intimate setting. Later, in the same place, I saw Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, the former an original member of the Byrds from the late 60′s. Chris Hillman plays mandolin also, and had great vocal harmony with Pedersen. The do a lot of traditional music and gospel. We sat in the second row, in the living room.
In St. Charles we saw a blues show with Jimmy Vaughan, Jonny Lang and Buddy Guy, the latter now 75 and a great, steamy showman. We also saw Chris Isaak in the same venue do a slick show.
The Pageant brought Lucinda Williams, who fascinates me with her lyrics and style and her really good band, especially her guitarist. We also saw Chickenfoot, a true supergroup with Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani (a guitarist with pyrotechnical technique), Michael Anthony, also from Van Halen and Chad Smith, who is the drummer from Red Hot Chili Peppers. Seeing/hearing a major group in a small venue is delectable.
As if that were not enough, and it is, a very good friend invited me to the newly refurbished Peabody Opera House to see Roger Daltry of The Who. The musicians he brought were superb and played Tommy note for note from start to finish, with great skill and energy. He said that he is doing songs he has not done for years because he now has people who can handle the harmonies. He did several Who songs and even some Johnny Cash tunes “to loosen up his vocal cords”. at the recommendation of his voice doctor. My friend had 2nd row seats in the orchestra pit right in front of the guitar player. Spectacular.
There it is. I missed a few, like Paul Simon and John Prine that I would have liked to see, but it has been a great year. If next year is half that good, I will be happy.
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Plastic Surgeon in St. Louis Discusses Recent ASAPS Breast Augmentation Stats
Dr. Jeffrey Copeland, a plastic surgeon in St. Louis, MO, says that breast augmentation is one of the most popular surgical procedures at his practice, a statistic reflected nationally by the latest survey from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The recent study reports there were 318,123 breast augmentation procedures in 2010. Dr. Copeland discusses the popularity of this procedure and the overall rise in cosmetic enhancements.
According to the most recent study by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), cosmetic surgical procedures increased almost 9% in 2010 to over 1.6 million total. The survey shows 318,123 breast augmentation procedures were performed, making it the most popular surgical enhancement. The study also reports almost 9.5 million total surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed, an increase of 155% since statistical reports were first conducted. At his St. Louis plastic surgery practice, Dr. Jeffrey Copeland says he has seen a similar increase in the total number of procedures. He adds that as the economy begins to show signs of recovery, people are beginning to desire procedures that will enhance their physical appearance, such as breast augmentation in St. Louis.
Dr. Copeland says the breast augmentation procedure has grown in popularity with both younger women who are looking for a procedure to give them a more shapely aesthetic appearance and body contour, as well as women who may have had children and are looking for a lift and/or augmentation to restore the firmness, fullness and shape they once had. As the number of procedures increases, Dr. Copeland also adds that innovations in techniques and implant types will continue to develop. He says consulting an experienced surgeon whom remains dedicated to continuing education and is up-to-date with the latest advancements is crucial to receiving the best results.
Dr. Copeland says the increase in breast augmentation and other surgical procedures including eyelid surgery in St. Louis has been constant at his practice since he first started tracking cosmetic enhancement statistics. Dr. Copeland adds that he believes the level of care and quality of results will only continue to increase as breast augmentation procedures become more and more popular. “Our society puts a premium on the appearance of the female breast, so it is a pleasure to be able to provide effective, safe procedures that allow women more control over that part of their appearance. Fuller breast contours can make clothing and swimwear options easier and more satisfying. We are also seeing an upward shift in the average age of our augmentation patients as well, reflecting the progressive attitude of American females to continue to look fit and youthful as they mature. They wish to look as vital and young as they feel.”
About Jeffrey G. Copeland, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Copeland graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he completed his undergraduate degree in premedical science, his Medical degree, residencies in General and Plastic Surgery, and a fellowship in microvascular surgery. Dr. Copeland has served as chief resident in both general surgery and plastic surgery, the board chairman of Primaris, the Missouri Medicare quality improvement organization, and the president of the Missouri Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. He has been Chief of Staff at both Saint Joseph Health Center/Hospital West and Barnes Jewish Saint Peters Hospital in Saint Charles County, Missouri
Located at #2 Richmond Center Court in St. Peters, MO, Copeland Cosmetic Surgery can be reached at (866) 377-0288. The practice can also be contacted online via their website copelandcosmeticsurgery.com or facebook.com/copelandcosmeticsurgery.
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One of the things that Plastic surgeons do on a regular basis, and something that our professional societies, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) require is practical, continuing education which now includes patient safety. Each year, we are required (and most of us want to) complete at least 50 hours of continuing education. This can take the form of review of journal articles or other written material with testing, attendance at regional or national specialty society meetings or completion of online courses.
This year I have attended both the ASPS and the ASAPS meetings and have taken the annual in-service examination, a service of our societies that allows review of core Plastic Surgery information regarding cosmetic surgery, hand surgery, reconstructive surgery and breast surgery. These activities provide exposure to the best surgical thinking and to the progress that our specialty has made in the recent past. It keeps us from getting “out of date”.
Another benefit of attending meetings is that there are usually exhibits from companies that offer new technology or improved products. It is important to maintain a skeptical attitude about expensive new instruments, as the manufacturers are seeking to sell their “next big thing,” but there are occasionally some real advances and the exhibits provide exposure to those and an explanation of how they work from the people who are most familiar with them.
I did not acquire any “amazing” new devices this year, but I did add a new ultrasound machine to help with postoperative swelling and firmness that occasionally occurs after face lifts, breast surgery and other procedures that involve incisions. I also saw several interesting new skin care products that we may be trying in the next few months.
There is also an opportunity to catch up with old friends and find out what new things they are doing. This year, the biggest thing I observed was that many practices are using social media such as facebook and youtube to bring their messages to their patients and potential patients. We are looking for the best ways to use these tools to communicate with you in an efficient and useful manner. Please feel free to give us suggestions about ways to improve. You can find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/copelandcosmeticsurgery or simply send suggestions via our “Contact Us” tab on the website.
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Dr. Copeland on Difference Between Silicone and Saline Implants
According to the most recent data from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), breast augmentation was 2010’s most common surgical procedure. Of the more than 318,000 breast augmentation procedures performed, 38% used saline implants, and 62% used silicone implants. Dr. Jeffrey Copeland, a board-certified plastic surgeon in St. Louis, MO, discusses the difference between the two types of implants, and how he educates patients to ensure they make the right choice for their aesthetic expectations.
The latest study from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) reports more than 318,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed in 2010, making it the most performed procedure during that time. Of this total, 62% of the procedures utilized silicone breast implants, while 38% used saline. Dr. Jeffrey Copeland discusses the two types of implants, and how he educates patients regarding the difference in aesthetic appearance as they consider plastic surgery in St. Louis.
Whether he is performing a breast augmentation, breast lift, or liposuction, Dr. Copeland says he focuses on patient education regarding the approach, process, recovery, and results of every procedure to ensure his patients’ expectations are well developed. When his patients consider breast augmentation, he stresses the choice between saline and silicone implants relies on a patient’s aesthetic preference and cosmetic enhancement goals, which are as unique as each patient and procedure he performs. However, there are traditional concerns associated with each type of implant, which Dr. Copeland says he addresses during the consultation process.
Dr. Copeland says patients considering breast augmentation in St. Louis typically express two concerns regarding the type of implant: the safety of silicone implants, and the natural appearance of saline implants. He adds that he addresses patient anxiety first, reassuring patients of the safety of silicone implants following years of testing conducted by the FDA. When it comes to the aesthetic appearance, Dr. Copeland says he does his best to present all the facts, supported by before-and after photos, to allow his patients to make a decision they are comfortable with based on their individual aesthetic preference. The main difference between implants, Dr. Copeland says, is the gel component of silicone implants, which more closely resembles the look and feel of natural breast tissue.
Ultimately, Dr. Copeland says he strongly believes in the importance of patient education, as it further enhances his ability to meet his patients’ expectations. He adds that discussing the entire process, as well as each patient’s aesthetic enhancement goals, is the first step in maintaining safety, achieving patient satisfaction, and providing effective treatment.
About Jeffrey G. Copeland, MD
Dr. Jeffrey Copeland earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia, which is where he also completed his general and plastic surgery residencies and a fellowship in microvascular surgery. He is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the Missouri State Medical Association.
Copeland Cosmetic Surgery is located at #2 Richmond Center Court in St. Peters, MO 63376, and can be reached at (866) 377-0288, or found online at www.copelandcosmeticsurgery.com or the Copeland Cosmetic Surgery Facebook page.
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Cosmetic surgery has become more and more complicated for patients to understand because the options have increased rapidly over the past few years. There has also been a strong push for less invasive procedures (“non-surgical”- meaning “no cutting”) which is natural, as people seek less expensive ways of putting off or decreasing the effects of aging. Prominent among these new techniques are the use of Botox® and fillers. It is a common event for patients to ask for one, when their complaint(s) really would be better addressed with the other category of treatment. Both are treatments for surface wrinkles on the skin surface. They are not equivalent. Allow me to clarify.
Botox® is a medication that acts by stopping or decreasing the function of the muscles of facial expression that are responsible for wrinkles in the skin overlying the muscle. When the individual muscle contracts, the skin that is immediately over it tends to fold, and after many repetitions of this, the fold begins to stay in the same place, and eventually deepens and shows even when the muscle is not contracted. Commonly these folds are in the area between the brows, called the glabella and in the area around the eyes where we develop “crow’s feet”, although this really happens all over the face. When Botox® is injected, the muscle stops working and the skin over the muscle begins to relax. Over the course of months, this allows the skin to smooth out and look younger. The effect typically lasts about 3-4 months and diminishes gradually. People often seek re-treatment as the effect goes away, but may go longer between treatments at their discretion. There do not appear to be any non-surgical treatments that provide the same benefits at this time. There is a competing product know as Dysport® which is another variety of the same type of chemical. It has some different characteristics and does not appear benefits beyond what are available with Botox®.
In contrast, fillers are injectable substances that actually occupy space within the tissue to build it up, plump it or fill folds, creases and/or wrinkles. The earliest commonly available was collagen which was harvested from cattle and which required double allergy testing before use. As time has gone by, numerous fillers have become available and offer options in consistency, duration of effect, cost, and biologic activity. These include, for example, Restylane® and Juvederm®, which are hyaluronic acid fillers, Cosmonderm® which is human collagen, Radiesse® which uses hydroxyapatite to stimulate tissue reaction in addition to providing mechanical filling, Sculptra® which is a synthetic polymer that stimulates new soft tissue production and is among the longest lasting product outside of “permanent’ fillers.
One’s own fat is perhaps closest to the perfect filler in terms of its behavior, but it requires a procedure to harvest the fat from one part of the body and preparation of the fat for reinjection. Once the fat is successfully grafted, however, it will persist without continuously repeating the injections. These materials each have pros and cons, so a discussion specific to the individual is necessary to select the right material and/or procedure.
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While I have been aware some of the functions of fat cells probably since High School and knew what it looked like since seeing my mother cook as a child, recent attention to fat cells has produced some great advances. We know that fat cells store energy and that they definitely take up space, but we now know that they do so much more.
First, not all fat cells are the same. There are white fat cells that are mainly storage units. These cells have one big body of lipid. The brown fat cells, in contrast, are metabolically active, contain multiple smaller fat compartments and can produce heat. The higher the percentage of cells that are brown, the less likely the person is to be overweight.
Fat also contains some “stem cells” which have the potential to develop into other types of cell. See below.
Because white fat is the variety that creates unwanted fullness in parts of the body, plastic surgeons work with fat has mostly involved removing that fat, often through liposuction. That is a safe and highly effective way to remove fat and improve body contour in the trunk, extremities and neck areas.
As time has gone by, however, surgeons have noted that some of the changes of aging, especially in the face, are related to a decrease in the fat deposits and to a change in their distribution. We have also known for a relatively long time, that fat can be grafted from one body area to another, much like skin can be grafted. This depends of moving live cells from place to place in such a way that they can re-attach to blood supply and stay alive and functional. With those two facts, plastic surgeons have been using fat as a live, permanent, self-renewing “filler” to help with facial rejuvenation. When fat grafts take, they provide volume that stays, in contrast to fillers like Restylane® or Juvederm® which are, by their nature, temporary. Fat grafting technique is routinely applied to eyelids, cheeks, lips, mouth, temporal areas and combinations of those areas.
Anecdotally, surgeons also believe that fat grafting can improve the quality of tissue, perhaps through some stem cell effect, which may have to do with improving the blood supply to the areas where they are placed. This reportedly appears as an improvement in the quality of the skin in the face. Stem cells are cells in the body that have not “differentiated” completely into one cell type or another, and they can subsequently differentiate into various cell types as necessary, with some specific limitations. Not all stem cells, including those found in fat, can differentiate into all cell types.
In other areas, especially the breast, fat cells have been used for reconstruction of smaller deformities caused by disease and treatment. In breasts where cancer has been treated with radiation, the fat cells seem to allow some recovery from the damage caused by the radiation, so the breast may regain some better blood supply, in addition to improved shape and volume. There are some surgeons who are investigating the augmentation of the breasts with fat as well, but this is not a routine procedure and merits further study.
As a cautionary note, there are advertisements on the web for “stem cell facelifts” which are not well-studied at this point. Fat unquestionably has been used to great benefit in facial rejuvenation, but the “stem cell” component of this therapy requires greater study to find out what is really happening.
