Category: Breast Reconstruction

Silicone Breast Implant Warranty Comparisons

January 28, 2019 Joseph A. Mele, MD

Every few years, the US FDA approved breast implant manufactures update their Breast Implant Warranties. They have long covered breast implant deflation; however, the latest round of updates include longer coverage for breast implant replacement and enhanced coverage for specific situations that may occur after Breast Augmentation with Silicone Gel Filled Breast Implants. Expanded coverage now includes Capsular Contracture, late seroma formation, double capsule formation and BIA-ALCL. Below I compare warranties offered by the three US breast implant makes: Allergan, Sientra and Mentor, in the three major areas of coverage: Capsular Contracture, Rupture and Seroma Formation. It is important to state that these are the current offerings, and that they may change without notification. You should check with the manufacturer directly for the latest information. Additionally, newer coverage is limited to newer implants, so you need to know the manufacturer, type of implant and the date of your surgery in order to determine which warranty applies to your implants.

Massive Gynecomastia Reductions – SF Bay Area

January 14, 2019 Joseph A. Mele, MD

These are not your typical gynecomastia reductions. Gynecomastia surgery is male breast reduction surgery. Most commonly, the outpatient procedure is a combination of liposuction to removed excess fat and direct excision of excess glandular tissue. In these cases, as is common after massive weight loss, excess skin is also a problem. Board Certified San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Joseph A. Mele, MD, FACS, discussed whaat can be done for men and women after bariatric surgery or any massive weight loss to tighten the skin and shape up the body. This segment originally aired on KRON 4’s Body Beautiful

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – SF Bay Area

October 22, 2016 Joseph A. Mele, MD

If you understand how breast cancer usually spreads, then the emphasis on early detection becomes clear. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the smaller it is and the less likely it is to have spread. Small tumors found in the breast early can often be cured by simply excising them. Larger tumors will be more likely to require a mastectomy, but once the tumor has left the breast, surgery alone is not enough. Additional treatment is needed to kill the cells that have escaped. Unfortunately, the more cells that have escaped, the harder it is to cure breast cancer. The goal of breast cancer awareness and early detection is to find more tumor when they are small are treatable and prevent the larger tumor that cannot be cured.

Mommy Makeovers SF Bay Area

May 07, 2016 Joseph A. Mele, MD

Mommy Makeovers are a combination of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that enhance, or repair, the breasts and belly. Since both areas take a hit with pregnancy, it is most commonly performed for mommies, but Mommy Makeover procedures are also performed after weight loss. Post Bariatric Surgery patients often have loose skin on their breasts and bellies, among other areas, so Mommy Makeovers are performed men too sometimes.

Fat Grafting and Breast Augmentation – Part 3 of 3

March 12, 2016 Joseph A. Mele, MD

I am very excited about how Fat Grafting is literally shaping cosmetic surgery. It is an important procedure, and there are aspects of fat grafting that make it very appealing for selective patients and selective procedure. We don’t know yet everything Fat Grafting can offer. On the other hand, it is not a panacea, and more research is needed for large volume fat grafting, especially to the breasts. Some proponents of fat grafting may read this post as negative, because I do list many of the problems with Fat Grafting. I am a fan of the cautious use of Fat Grafting, but overall, I have tried to keep objective.

Fat Grafting and Breast Augmentation – Part 2 of 3

March 06, 2016 Joseph A. Mele, MD

For routine Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants are still superior to fat grafting. Fat grafting has been an option since long before Breast Implants were invented in the early 1960’s. Did you know that the poor results achieved with previous methods of Breast Enhancement was why breast implants were invented? Over 50 years ago, breast implants quickly replaced all other techniques, because of their enhanced safety and predictability.

Fat Grafting and Breast Augmentation – Part 1 of 3

February 28, 2016 Joseph A. Mele, MD

In 1893, Gustav Adolf Neuber reported the use of small fat grafts to fill in a soft tissue depression on a 20-year-old man’s face. Neuber mentioned he had less success when he tried to use larger grafts, saying that “grafts larger than an almond would not give good results”. This is still true today, as larger fat grafts cannot establish a blood supply fast enough to survive the transplantation.

Breast Cancer Detection, Mastectomies and Amy Robach

November 23, 2013 Joseph A. Mele, MD

Amy Robach announced the results of her breast cancer surgery, and it seems she again made a wise and fortuitous decision. Amy elected to undergo bilateral mastectomies and immediate breast reconstruction to treat the breast cancer found on her very first screening mammogram performed short after her 40th birthday. As it turns out, this was not the only focus Breast Cancer in her breasts.

Amy Robach, Screening Mammograms and Breast Cancer Detection

November 15, 2013 Joseph A. Mele, MD

Amy Robach decided to have a double mastectomy to cure her Breast Cancer and to reduce the risk of developing another Breast Cancer in the future. What started as an informational segment for Good Morning America has become a life extending turning point. The importance of Screening Mammography cannot be stressed enough. I cannot say it any better than Amy Robach did. “I got lucky by catching it early. I can only hope my story will … inspire every woman who hears it to get a mammogram, to take a self exam. No excuses. It is the difference between life and death.”

Scar Treatments – Preventing Scar Revisions

June 22, 2013 Joseph A. Mele, MD

I’ve been following Angelina Jolie in the news over the past few weeks, ever since her May 14, 2013, bomb-shell New York Times Op Ed. I admire her for being able to maintain her privacy during her decision process and treatment, and even more for being able to share her decision in such an even-keeled […]

Category: Breast Reconstruction

(925) 943-6353