Complete Breast Health

Offered at our convenient location in Scottsdale, Arizona

Comprehensive Breast Care in Scottsdale, AZ

A woman with cleavage

A breast procedure can be a cosmetic or medical step to gain preventive breast care, augment or reconstruct breast tissue, or to simply achieve a healthier, more youthful aesthetic. Breast health is a crucially important facet of our long-term wellbeing, so it is important that women know how to safeguard it. 

At Wolin Plastic Surgery Center, we provide expert surgical breast services, and give our patients the most up-to-date information about the procedures and treatments available at our Scottsdale location. Andrew Wolin, M.D. is a double board-certified plastic surgeon with over thirty-five years of experience in medicine, and he is committed to helping every one of his patients reach their goals with personalized consultations, ultrasonic breast exams, and refined surgeries. To find out more information about breast procedures at Wolin Plastic Surgery Center.

Contact us today at (480) 945-8440, or fill out our convenient online form to get in touch.

Before and After Photos

Internal Mastopexy (Breast Lift) with Implant Removal Before & After Patient #3208
Internal Mastopexy (Breast Lift) with Implant Removal Before & After Patient #3208
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Before & After Patient #3053
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Before & After Patient #3053
Breast Lift with Augmentation Before & After Patient #2250
Breast Lift with Augmentation Before & After Patient #2250
View More Photos

Breast Implant Modifications

Dr. Wolin offers his skills as a plastic surgeon to help women look and feel better about their appearance. If you are dissatisfied due to poor outcomes of breast implants, or if your augmentation with implants was performed more than ten years ago, he can provide an implant revision surgery for you.

Implant Revision

Depending on the study you read, between 4.5 and 26.6% of patients who undergo breast augmentation with implants receive revision surgery. (1)  One of the leading reasons women do this is capsular contracture. This is when the body reacts to a breast implant in a way that can distort the shape of the breast and cause pain. (2) Patients’ reasons for implant revision can include:

  • Discomfort from capsular contraction
  • Concerns about implant rupture
  • Desire to change implant type or shape
  • Interest in changing breast size

Dr. Wolin offers breast implant revision with fat transfer. This is a customizable surgery that uses fat from another area of the patient’s body to add volume and definition to the breasts. After cleansing the extracted fatty tissue, he carefully re-injects it back into the body around your existing implants, adding fullness to the top of the breasts and enhancing cleavage.

Aging Implants

Research has shown that implant removal rates lie between 2.4 and 17.4%. Generally speaking, breast implants need to be replaced between ten and twenty years from the original surgery date. If you have implants that need to be replaced, or if you are experiencing capsular contracture, implant rupture, or deflation, our implant exchange procedure may be just the thing to help.

Breast Illness

Breast Cancer

Women of all ages are mindful of the risks that certain illnesses pose to their health. One of the first diseases that we think of is breast cancer. Changes in two cell types are most important to doctors and patients in this area: BRCA1 and BRCA2. The risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers of developing breast cancer by the age of 70 is 45–87%. (3) Other factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer include:

  • Being over 45 years of age
  • A history of breast lumps
  • Dense breast tissue
  • Receiving hormone treatments
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Radiation exposure (e.g. cancer treatment)

In addition to breast cancer, there are some lesser-known breast diseases that should be known to patients.

Breast Implant Illness

“Breast implant illness” (BII) is an extensive list of symptoms attributed by patients as being caused by their breast implants. (4)  It can present as a cluster of indications, which include, but are not limited to:

  • Fever or chills
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain/tingling
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Headaches
  • Ear ringing 
  • Brain fog/memory loss
  • Sensory sensitivities (light, sound, and temperature)
  • Recurrent illness and viral infections
  • GI tract inflammation

If you have concerns about your current breast implants, consider booking a personal consultation and a breast implant revision or breast implant exchange with Dr. Wolin. He conducts every ultrasound breast examination personally, and will provide sound medical advice to you and a compassionate ear to your issues.

BIA-ALCL

BIA-ALCL stands for breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. It is not breast cancer. Instead, it is a rare form of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (a cancer that begins in infection-fighting cells) that develops around implants used for breast augmentation or reconstruction. (5) BIA-ALCL involves cancer cells developing in or around a breast implant scar capsule. (6) A medical professional must differentiate these symptoms from capsular contracture for a BIA-ALCL diagnosis. They can include:

  • Changes in breast shape or implant shape
  • Increased breast asymmetry
  • Pain in and around your breasts
  • Increase in breast size
  • Change in the way your breasts feel
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Lumps on the breast or under the armpit
  • Itching, redness, or lesions on or near the breast
  • Visible fluid around the implant on imaging (ultrasound/MRI)
  • Fever, severe fatigue, and night sweats

Dr. Wolin offers implant exchange and implant revision for patients with BIA-ALCL receive professional breast care services sensitive to your needs at Wolin Plastic Surgery Center. Contact our Scottsdale offices at (480) 945-8440 or send your inquiry to our staff electronically.

Aging Breasts & Cosmetic Augmentation

Mature Breasts

Our breast tissue changes in appearance as we age, and the skin covering this area loses its elasticity over time. Both deviations of nipple shape and an increase in breast volume were age-related findings in breast studies. (7) Sagging, loose skin, and changes in both cup size and chest band size can be both frustrating, and damaging to our self-image. A mastopexy (breast lift), breast augmentation, or a breast reduction can fulfill your aesthetic requirements by creating a personalized treatment to meet your goals.

Augmentation Options

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular female cosmetic surgeries because of its great results. The majority of patients not only are pleased with the outcome but also develop more self-esteem and confidence. (8) At Wolin Plastic Surgery Center, we offer the following restorative augmentation procedures:

Breast Health: Preventive Care

The FDA recommends that all patients with breast implants receive ongoing breast care from their healthcare providers. They also recommend MRI screening every 2 years in patients with silicone implants to detect subclinical implant leaks. (7) Preventive breast care for those with or without implants can also include: 

  • Mammograms at the appropriate age
  • Ultrasound screenings 
  • Annual physicals
  • Referrals to specialists
  • Genetic testing for BRCA1 & BRCA2

Patients with breast implants should always examine their breasts daily while in the shower or getting dressed. If there are any suspicious changes in their size or shape, or if you feel breast-related discomfort that “doesn’t feel right,” you should bring this to the attention of your surgeon and your primary healthcare provider at your earliest convenience.

Be sure to stay in-the-loop with the latest breast care and other cosmetic treatments such as regenerative medicine, fat transfer, and medspa services we offer at Wolin Plastic Surgery Center. You can also join us on Facebook and Instagram!

Attitudes to Breast Health & Implant-Related Conditions

Breast correction. Plastic surgery, isolated, white background

Today, illnesses like breast cancer are rising due to lifestyle changes and longer lifespans. (8) Therefore, doctors should continue to encourage regular check-ups and screenings. Similarly, patients who have received breast implants with unsuccessful outcomes, should know there are options to adjust or replace their old implants. In rare cases that lead to complications such as BII and BIA-ALCL, there should be readily available options for treatment. Despite the somewhat private nature of breast treatment, patients should understand that we, as professionals, are charged with providing your expert care, and that every person who comes to us is treated with respect and understanding.

Dr. Wolin and his staff provide complete breast healthcare and a range of procedures to suit the needs of every patient. Contact our friendly staff today for your treatment options at (480) 945-8440.

Cost of Breast Procedures in Scottsdale, AZ

Your breast procedure is tailored to your personal needs. Our patients come to us from diverse backgrounds with individualized goals. For further information about our pricing system, please get in touch!

FAQ

How long do silicone breast implants last?

The lifespan of breast implants varies, but they are usually designed to last for longer than a decade. Each year you have them, the chance of them rupturing increases, but most people with implants find that they can last between 10-20 years.

What are the signs of breast implant illness?

If you are experiencing the following symptoms after a breast augmentation, you may have a breast implant-associated illness: fever or chills, fatigue and muscle pain/tingling, anxiety and depression, headaches or ear ringing, brain fog/memory loss, sensory sensitivities (light, sound, temperature), recurrent illness and viral infections, GI tract inflammation, among many other harmful symptoms. Seek medical assistance immediately so these symptoms can be examined and diagnosed by a medical professional.

What does a breast augmentation procedure involve?

There are many ways to augment the breasts, but the basic procedure involves incisions in strategic places in the breast tissue, and the adding or removing implants or tissue to change the breast’s appearance. Most breast surgeries are conducted under general anesthesia, although many plastic surgeons now offer breast augmentation under local anesthesia, with or without additional sedation.

How do I know if I have breast cancer genes?

Cancer is caused by cell mutations (changes). A BRCA gene test can determine if you have DNA mutations that could cause breast cancer. The most important genes in these circumstances are BRCA1 or BRCA2. Mutations in either significantly increase your risk of getting breast cancer. Speak to your healthcare provider about preventive breast care and receiving a BRCA blood test.

References

  1. Kühn, S., Georgijewitsch, M. A., Wehle, A., Billner, M., Küenzlen, L., Rothenberger, J., & Rieger, U. M. (2021). Implant Replacement or Removal: What Happens after Capsular Contracture? A German Study Examining Breast Implant Revision Surgery and Patient Choices in 946 Cases. Breast Care, 16(4), 350–357. https://doi.org/10.1159/000509598 
  2. Capsular Contracture: Causes, Risks, Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments. (2019, April 23). Breastcancer.org. https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/corrective/capsular-contracture 
  3. Larsen, M. J., Thomassen, M., Gerdes, A.-M., & Kruse, T. A. (2014). Hereditary Breast Cancer: Clinical, Pathological and Molecular Characteristics. Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research, 8, BCBCR.S18715. https://doi.org/10.4137/bcbcr.s18715 
  4. Lee, M., Ponraja, G., McLeod, K., & Chong, S. (2020). Breast Implant Illness: A Biofilm Hypothesis. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002755 
  5. Nelson, J. A., Dabic, S., Mehrara, B. J., Cordeiro, P. G., Disa, J. J., Pusic, A. L., Matros, E., Dayan, J. H., Allen, R. J., Coriddi, M., Polanco, T. O., Shamsunder, M. G., Wiser, I., Morrow, M., Dogan, A., Cavalli, M. R., Encarnacion, E., Lee, M. E., & McCarthy, C. M. (2020). Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Incidence: Determining an Accurate Risk. Annals of Surgery, 272(3), 403–409. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000004179 
  6. About BIA-ALCL. (n.d.). BIA-ALCL | Breast Implant Associated ALCL. Retrieved January 10, 2022, from https://biaalcl.com/about-bia-alcl/ 
  7. Fardo, D., Sequeira Campos, M., & Pensler, J. M. (2021). Breast Augmentation. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482206/#:~:text=The%20risk%20of%20complications%20is 
  8. Karimi, S. E., Rafiey, H., Sajjadi, H., & Nosrati Nejad, F. (2018). Identifying the Social Determinants of Breast Health Behavior: a Qualitative Content Analysis. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP, 19(7), 1867–1877. https://doi.org/10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.7.1867