The Las Vegas plastic surgeons at Anson, Edwards & Higgins say their patients are on board with trends of implant size and shape outlined in a recent study.

Online PR News � 05-June-2016 � At Anson, Edwards & Higgins (www.plasticsurgeryvegas.com), a group practice in Las Vegas with 3 of the top plastic surgeons and a dermatologist, the physicians say their patients' preferences for breast implants align with the findings of a recent nationwide survey.

The survey results, which appeared in the April issue of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, asked 1,067 surgeons across the country to report on trends in breast augmentation through a 35-item questionnaire.

Like the majority of respondents in the survey, the surgeons at Anson, Edwards & Higgins prefer to do thorough preoperative sizing and have a majority of patients who choose inframammary incisions (below the breasts), partial submuscular placement of breast implants, and smooth silicone implants larger than 300 cubic centimeters for their breast augmentation surgeries.

"It's no surprise that other surgeons like to plan ahead," says Las Vegas' Dr. Michael Edwards, double board-certified plastic surgeon and past president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. "Taking the time to prepare ourselves for these details is so important in delivering high-quality results. Many of our patients choose silicone implants and inframammary incisions, which create a very natural look and discreet scars, and I'm glad to see patients elsewhere are getting the benefits of those choices, too."

Respondents reported mixed opinions on anatomically shaped implants: 50% never use them, and 42% use them less than half the time. These implants are supposed to mimic the shape of natural breast tissue, with more volume on the bottom. They have been popular in Europe for years, and new styles have recently entered the U.S. market.

When it comes to implant selection, the practice says the patient is the guiding factor.
According to Dr. Terrence Higgins, another of the board-certified plastic surgeons at the practice, "We find that providing every available option and explaining the pros and cons of each is the best way to make a patient happy. We talk through each choice -- round versus shaped, textured versus smooth, silicone versus saline. This often opens up a deeper conversation about what the patient is truly looking for."

The national survey also asked surgeons to describe their preferences for autologous fat transfer, or the process of extracting a patient's fat from one area of the body and using it to enhance the breasts. While it's not often used as the primary method of augmentation, surgeons did report using the technique to enhance the results provided by breast implants or with other revision breast surgery to enhance results. Anson, Edwards & Higgins surgeons use the plastic surgery technique in both circumstances for their Las Vegas patients.

Unlike many of the surgeons in the survey, the practice also uses 3-dimensional imaging to preview results for patients. Whereas 85% of surgeons do not use the technology, it's a common part of the preoperative process at Anson, Edwards & Higgins, the doctors say.

"We find that our patients enjoy being able to visualize their results beforehand," Dr. Higgins says. "It makes the techniques we discuss in the consultation more tangible."

The survey also found that about half of the respondents use insertion funnels for breast implants. Anson, Edwards & Higgins surgeons do use this device, called the Keller Funnel, for a number of benefits, including a reduction in the risk of capsular contracture (hardening of scar tissue) as outlined in a recent study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

"It's a choice we make on behalf of our patients' safety, as well as their cosmetic results," Dr. Edwards says. "The funnels also allow smaller scars, in addition to reducing the risk of capsular contracture. "

Overall, the surgeons say that while it's encouraging to see that many of their practices align with the work of other surgeons, what matters most to them is individualized patient care.
"There's nothing one-size-fits-all about what we do," Dr. Edwards says. "We take pride in fulfilling the patient's customized goals for breast enhancement, and we happily adjust our approach to suit any patient's needs."

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Anson, Edwards & Higgins Plastic Surgery Associates (www.plasticsurgeryvegas.com) is made up of a highly skilled multispecialty team that includes board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Goesel Anson, Dr. Michael Edwards, and Dr. Terrence Higgins, along with a board-certified dermatologist, 2 nurse injectors, and a trained staff of skin care professionals. It is one of the premier plastic surgery practices in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Anson is a facial rejuvenation specialist who was awarded Allergan Black Diamond status as one of the elite BOTOX Cosmetic and filler injectors in the U.S. Dr. Edwards is past president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and is nationally recognized for his expertise in breast enhancement and revision breast augmentation procedures. Dr. Higgins is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and specializes in facial plastic surgery and mommy makeover procedures such as breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and liposuction. Dr. Higgins was also awarded Allergan Black Diamond status as one of the elite BOTOX Cosmetic and filler injectors in the U.S.