Are silicon breast implants safe?

Mithali, a 29 year old mother of one, has always been conscious about her small breast size. She is tall, slim and good looking, but feels that she is unable to enjoy well fitted, fashionable clothes because of her relatively small breasts. She is considering breast implant surgery.

Women opt for breast augmentation (implants) for various reasons. Often, these reasons are very personal and unique to each woman. Women with smaller breast size or those who have lost their breast volume due to breastfeeding can greatly benefit from it. Women who have very small upper body relative to larger hips and lower body can balance their figure beautifully with breast implants. Size zero, which is otherwise fashionable, usually comes with the problem of flat chest. For them, breast enhancement allows to retain good body proportions by bringing the curves back.

 According to Dr. Priti Shukla, Plastic Surgeon at Ambrosia Clinic, Indian women are increasingly embracing cosmetic surgery to get beautiful curves; yet, some are doubtful about the safety and outcome of breast implants. But once they are explained the facts, they go ahead with implants  and are most satisfied with the surgery .Dr. Shukla dispels the myths that exist about this procedure and helps you understand breast augmentation surgery better to retain good body proportions by bringing the curves back.

Are silicon breast implants safe?

Yes, they are. Silicon is a high grade material used in a lot of life saving medical devices like artificial valves, joints and eye lenses. When placed in body its totally safe. It does not react with body in any way.

Can I breastfeed after having breast implants?

Yes, you can. Implants do not damage the breast. They are tucked in behind the breast . Breast implants are totally safe for your baby.

Will my breast feel heavy or unnatural?

No, they will look and feel like natural breasts. No one can tell by looking at or touching your breasts.

Are there going to be scars?

Scar of breast implants is small and well hidden in breast crease or in armpit.

Do I need to get implants replaced periodically?

Latest US FDA approved implants come with very long life, and lifetime warranty. There is no expiry date on implants. In course of lifetime, if ever implant gets damaged, you can easily have it replaced by a small surgery.

Is the surgery risky? Do I need a long time to recover?

Breast Augmentation is a day care surgery (you can return home the same day). The patient can resume work 2-3 days after the surgery, although it takes a month to return to full activities.

Breast implant surgery is the most popular cosmetic surgery for women in the world.  Safety of implant surgery, like in any other surgery depends on plastic surgeon’s experience, quality of implant and standard of operating facility.  US FDA approved implants are safe. Choosing the right implant and surgeon can help you get the best out of your breast implant surgery.

Cosmetic surgery of mind

Cosmetic plastic surgeon is  called “psychologist with  the knife”. Minor changes that plastic surgeon  makes on persons body or face  have  profound  impact on patient,’s sense of selfesteem and wellbeing.

People often are self conscious about their appearance. This self consciousness  can be minor where person tries to hide the defect by makeup, hair style or clothes.  But in  major cases person avoids meeting people and  getting photographs clicked. People with body  disfigurement- like male breast and flat chested woman  may avoid sports activity, swimming and social gatherings. In most severe cases of body dissatisfaction person may become antisocial and stop studies and work.

Self conciousness is  sometimes  grossly disproportionate to actual problem. Nose, mouth , male breasts  and female breasts are most commonly known  to cause  severe mental distress. Body image problems are also a product of  social interaction. Quest for perfect faces and bodies make more and more teenagers feel inadequate. Teasing by family members or friends aggravates the problem.

Society at times  stereotypes  obese people as lazy and not serious about work. Man with a knife mark on face may be perceived as a violent person. People with burn mark on face may  receive unwanted sympathy and pity.

In Indian scenario cosmetic surgery is  very common  around marriageable age. Arranged marriages bring out the insecurities.   College going teenagers too are prone to have inferiority complex  and fitting in  issues .  Women and men seek cosmetic surgery  during midlife crisis when women feel insecure in relationship  or if they are getting divorced and planning to turn a new leaf in their life.

Plastic surgery alone can not  take care of all the  psychological issues. Sometimes body image problems can persist even after correction of problem

Its very important that you should discuss all aspects of your surgery including its psychological effect with your plastic surgeon. This will help you get the best out of your plastic surgery .

Liposuction: myth and reality

People who have tried diet and exercise, but are still unable to lose weight often turn to plastic surgeons for liposuction. Liposuction is believed to be the the final and ultimate weapon against obesity. Liposuction is popular, fashionable and available- but does it work for everyone, and always? Lets bust some myths and find out the facts.


MYTH : Liposuction can make one lose 20-30 kilos of weight in one sitting.

Fact: Majority of the plastic surgeons across the world agree that its safe to remove fat equal to 5-8% of body weight , in one sitting. So for a 100 kilo person 8 liters of liquid fat can be removed by liposuction in one sitting. Removing more than that is possible but not totally safe.

MYTH : Whole body can be liposuctioned at a time.

fact: Maximum of 3 body parts can be liposuctioned safely during one sitting-for example abdomen , thighs and buttocks or abdomen chest and back. Total amount of fat removal should not exceed the safe limit of 8% body weight. People usually have some body parts disproportionately bigger than others. Those parts are preferred for liposuction to get the body in proportion. Other body parts can be liposuctioned during next sitting.

MYTH: Liposuction works for everyone who has bulging tummy.

Fact: Liposuction results differ from person to person. Liposuction can do wonders for people with good skin and muscle tone and with moderate fatty deposits. If skin and muscle tone is poor, like after pregnancy abdominoplasty is required to make a difference. Some men with pot belly have fat deposits inside the abdomen, rather than under the skin . Liposuction does not help much here.

MYTH: Liposuction may cause future problems related to pregnancy in women and fertility in men.

FACT: There is no basis for this fear. Liposuction does not cause any future problem.

MYTH: Person can become more fat after liposuction.

FACT: Liposuction does not affect body’s metabolism. If one maintains healthy lifestyle results can be long lasting. On the other hand those people who are steadily gaining weight- will continue to gain weight at the same rate after liposuction- unless they reduce their intake.

MYTH: Liposuction is the best option for those who are constantly gaining weight , and have become helpless with their weight.

FACT: Liposuction is best for people who are on weight loss trend or at least maintaining weight in last 6 months.If people who can not take healthy diet or who do not have time for exercise, do liposuction results will last for a very short time.



MYTH: Liposuction is for really fat people, not for those with nearly normal weight.

Fact: A lot of normal weight people and people with few extra kilos are completely out of shape. Imagine a slim woman with narrow waist but heavy thighs or fit man with female like breasts. These people may try the best with diet and exercise but get no result. Liposuction is the only answer for their problem.

MYTH: People can always get into shape with natural methods like diet and exercise, if they try hard enough.

FACT: Natural weight loss methods can not help in certain situations and liposuction or plastic surgery may be the best option. Example- chubby cheeks may remain after weight loss. After pregnancies is hard to get abdomen and breast in shape without plastic surgery. Large female and male breasts do not respond significantly to weight loss. People mistakenly try too hard with diet to get above problems in control –but end up becoming too thin or unhealthy.

MYTH: Vaser/ Smart liposuction are best and safer liposuction techniques.

FACT: Smart marketing leads people to put too much faith in technology. In fact the surgeon behind the machine is more important for the result and safety than the machine itself. You must first choose the plastic surgeon and take advise about what will work best for you.

MYTH: Liposuction is not a surgery and is an easy procedure.

FACT: Liposuction is a plastic surgery with all associated risks and benefits . It can be very safe and gratifying surgery with permanent results . When performed on wrong patient, by inexperienced or unqualified surgeon- results can be disastrous .

Is fitness your new year resolution?

New Year often brings with it resolutions aimed at getting back into shape. Although some may start out ambitiously, following through on the promise to lose weight or get toned is often easier said than done. Getting into shape and losing weight continues to remain a challenge for majority . Lifestyles are getting busier, food tastier and clothes tighter, making it difficult for us to keep up with fitness.


Healthy diet and regular exercise remain the key to achieve and maintain your ideal weight . There are shortcuts like starvation, getting admitted into naturopathy centres, massages and such. These methods have some advantages, but only short term. Ninety five percent of so called “ diets” fail in long term. Most people who were disciplined in the naturopathy camp go into low metabolic state where body learns to sustain itself on minimum food by bringing metabolism down. Body fails to burn even the moderately excess food taken at home and weight bounces back.

And what about liposuction? This is something I specialize in and you can trust me when I say even this is not the trump card you can count on in the game of weight loss. Liposuction can not help you lose 20-30 kilos, contrary to what you may have heard or read. After liposuction if you do not maintain the healthy diet and regular exercise, you may gain the fat again. Common sense isn’t it? If you do not have time for exercising and you can not resist food then liposuction will give you only temporary result.

So get ready with your exercise gear and hit the gym , eat sensibly and aim to lose 2-4 kilos a month. Do cardio exercise like running and swimming to lose weight and weights and yoga to build tone and strength. Once you reach nearly normal weight and if still you are not in shape – be it resistant love handles, abdominal flab , saddle bags on thighs or heavy arms- you are then ready for liposuction, for those finishing touches towards the perfect figure.

Best wishes for a healthy and fit new year 2011.

Is fitness your new year resolution?

New Year often brings with it resolutions aimed at getting back into shape. Although some may start out ambitiously, following through on the promise to lose weight or get toned is often easier said than done. Getting into shape and losing weight continues to remain a challenge for majority . Lifestyles are getting busier, food tastier and clothes tighter, making it difficult for us to keep up with fitness.


Healthy diet and regular exercise remain the key to achieve and maintain your ideal weight . There are shortcuts like starvation, getting admitted into naturopathy centres, massages and such. These methods have some advantages, but only short term. Ninety five percent of so called “ diets” fail in long term. Most people who were disciplined in the naturopathy camp go into low metabolic state where body learns to sustain itself on minimum food by bringing metabolism down. Body fails to burn even the moderately excess food taken at home and weight bounces back.

And what about liposuction? This is something I specialize in and you can trust me when I say even this is not the trump card you can count on in the game of weight loss. Liposuction can not help you lose 20-30 kilos, contrary to what you may have heard or read. After liposuction if you do not maintain the healthy diet and regular exercise, you may gain the fat again. Common sense isn’t it? If you do not have time for exercising and you can not resist food then liposuction will give you only temporary result.

So get ready with your exercise gear and hit the gym , eat sensibly and aim to lose 2-4 kilos a month. Do cardio exercise like running and swimming to lose weight and weights and yoga to build tone and strength. Once you reach nearly normal weight and if still you are not in shape – be it resistant love handles, abdominal flab , saddle bags on thighs or heavy arms- you are then ready for liposuction, for those finishing touches towards the perfect figure.

Best wishes for a healthy and fit new year 2011.

Latest methods of fat removal- fad or fact?

A lot of people are trying to lose weight and get into shape. Some of them are grossly obese and as a result suffer from physical effects like joint pain, reduced mobility, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension etc. . These people are looking to lose weight in tune of 20-40 kilos or more. Some others are moderately overweight and want to have good figure by losing 5-7 kilos. Some others are not overweight but have problem areas like bulging tummy , flabby arms or heavy thighs. They want to lose weight specifically in some parts. Then there are those who are very fit, hit the gym and take healthy diet- but still do not have enviable muscular physique. And last but not the least are women who are unable to get into their favorite clothes, after having a baby.



There is no one weight loss solution for all these people . Most commonly people try dieting and exercise half heartedly, do not get the desired result and lose hope. Some blame the genetics, long working hours or hormonal problems and give up. But being overweight affects their self esteem, confidence and health. This is when they start looking for options where they can lose weight without any effort from their side.

Various options are available in market for weight loss and inch loss. But actually there are very few that really work or can be proven scientifically. Lets go through each of them and find out the truth.



1. Massages and steam: Neither massage nor can steam help you melt fat. Only one to lose weight is the masseur.



2. Heating pads and vibrating belts: There is no scientific basis in these methods. Application of heat to skin may increase the blood circulation to the part or may make you sweat and get dehydrated and thus lose few hundred grams of weight( water). But it certainly not known to reduce fat or increase metabolism.





3. External ultrasound or radiofrequency application to the skin: This is a nonsurgical technology wherein ultrasound energy is applied to fatty area . These waves can penetrate upto 1 cm below the skin level and are said to break down fat under the skin. It has not been proven what really happens to the fat .Are the cells broken down permanently or the cells are intact and only the fat come out of the cell. Where does the fat go then? Is it not absorbed back by the body? There is no study to prove that blood levels of fat increase after this procedure, which should happen if fat is really being broken down and then being carried to liver for metabolism.The waves penetrate to just below the skin –so obviously they can not work when the fatty layer is several cms thick .These technologies are classic examples of manufacturing companies’ eagerness to hype and sell a product without proper research .



4. Liposuction: Liposuction and its various avatars like VASER and smartlipo are surgical techniques to remove fat from localized body parts. This is done under general or local anaesthesia and fat is actually taken out of body with a suction machine. Moderate amount of liposuction upto 5-7% of body weight ( 7 kilos in hundred kilo person) from 1-3 selected body parts in a sitting is safe and scientifically proven to be effective. But does it benefit everybody? The answer is no. Liposuction works best and is permanent for those people who are determined to maintain their weight with healthy diet and exercise. Even though the fat cells are removed from liposuctioned part , the remaining fat cells of the area and other body parts can store fat if lifestyle is not changed. Very obese( 30-50 kgs overweight) can not lose all the weight by liposuction alone. Without balanced diet and exercise the fat lost by liposuction may come back in next couple of months. If one is trying to lose weight for health reason like blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems liposuction is not the ideal solution. Unless one makes appropriate lifestyle changes, he/she does not get health benefits of weight loss. Liposuction is ideal for those who are already on balanced diet and exercise program , but are stuck with resistant areas of fat like love handles, double chin , tummy, hip etc. Liposuction in moderation is great and permanent but expecting 20-50 kilos of weight- all by liposuction alone- is unrealistic and impractical.



5. Bariatric surgery: Bariatric surgery acts on the stomach and intestines. Various types of bariatric surgery procedures are available to reduce stomach size and intestine size. After this surgery person can not eat much or absorb much and ends up losing most of extra weight in next 1-2 years. During this time he/she heeds to maintain proper nutrition under dietician’s supervision and also exercise to maintain muscle and bones. Bariatric surgery is not for moderately overweight people(BMI less than 35), because of low risk benefit ratio in this group. For people with BMI above 35 or grossly obese who suffer from other weight related health problems bariatric surgery is worthwhile . Can one gain the weight back after bariatric surgery- yes , unless one changes to healthier lifestyle.





6. Diet and exercise: This is mentioned last, because it is common sense. Everyone in their heart knows this is the healthiest , safest , permanent ,cheapest and most sure shot method of losing weight. But modern lifestyle, busy schedules and easy availability of rich food makes it very difficult . Yet there is no escape from it. One has to take limited , balanced diet and has to be physically active to maintain the result of weight loss surgeries. There are certain situations though where diet and exercise does not help. Heavy female breasts, male breasts, love handles, saddle bags and fat around the waist are commonly found even in otherwise normal weight fit individuals and in women after pregnancies. Loose skin does not go with exercise nor does exercise and diet help in spot reduction.All of these problems are beyond the scope of diet and exercise and need plastic surgical procedures for correction.

Tips for safe recovery after large volume liposuction

Liposuction of fat more than 5 percent of person’s body weight is referred to as large volume liposuction. This term is used to differentiate it from small volume liposuction which is much simpler and safer. Smaller volumes of fat can be removed under local tumescent anaesthesia , without hospitalization with minimal blood loss. Large volume liposuction on the other hand requires much more preparation, hospitalization and recovery time. If you are well prepared you can get the best out of your liposuction .

Preparation for large volume liposuction:

Healthy diet before liposuction: Your nutritional status determines the healing capacity. A lot of obese people are actually iron and vitamin deficient, especially if they have been on crash diets. You should start taking Iron and multivitamin supplementation and avoid crash diets 1-2 months before planned liposuction. Diet control should be done under supervision of qualified dietician.

See the plastic surgeon early: It helps to consult the plastic surgeon 3 months in advance. This will help in assessment of your general health. If any problem like anaemia or hypothyroidism are detected they need to be treated adequately before you can have the liposuction. This can take time- so plan in advance

Reveal your complete medical history to the plastic surgeon: For your total safety under anaesthesia it is absolutely necessary that the doctor knows about all your current or past medical and surgical history. Keeping secrets from your doctor can prove dangerous.

Discuss all your medication and supplements with doctor: Do not take any medications and supplements in the month preceding liposuction without discussing with your plastic surgeon. Certain health supplements sold in gym, weight loss medicine, birth control pills, common painkillers – all these need to be stopped 2-3 weeks before surgery. Certform also about your allerain other medicines interact with anaesthetic drugs and anaesthetist must know about them.

Prepare for 2 weeks of rest time after liposuction: After large volume liposuction, body takes a couple of weeks to recover from its effects. Giddiness , aches and pain are maximum during first week and gradually come down during second week.



Have someone to help you at home after liposuction: during first week after liposuction you will need someone to take care of your and your family’s needs.

Stage the liposuction: It makes sense to not just limit the amount of fat removal in one sitting but also the number of areas from which you get the fat removed. Try to limit the liposuctioned areas to 1 or two areas at a time. Do not push the surgeon to remove fat from all over your body. It will make your recovery too painful. Keep at least 2 months time between two sittings to recover fully.

Choose the right surgeon : An experienced plastic surgeon and anaesthetist team makes a safe large volume liposuction possible.

Choose the right hospital facility: Large volume liposuction should be performed only in hospital setting where postoperative monitoring and emergency care( I.C.U.) is available. 24 hrs availability of anaesthetist to deal with any emergency situation is mandatory.