As you may have heard, Allergan very recently chose to recall all of their BIOCELL textured breast implants at the request of the FDA—a decision made in an attempt to improve patient safety while investigation of the association between textured breast implants and BIA-ALCL continues. This news has been understandably alarming for many women with…
Washington NBC4 recently covered the growing number of women who report experiencing inflammatory symptoms they associate with their breast implants—also known as Breast Implant Illness (BII). They asked Dr. Hess to weigh in on the condition as well as options for breast implant removal (explantation surgery). Dr. Hess understands how frustrating it can be to…
The first known case of gluteal implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (GIA-ALCL) was reported earlier this year, and unfortunately, the disease claimed the life of a patient. The 49-year-old patient developed symptoms including fluid accumulation and abdominal pain one year after having textured silicone gluteal implants placed and was diagnosed with ALCL shortly thereafter….
As a board certified plastic surgeon with many years of experience removing breast implants, I consult with numerous women who hope to have their implants removed or are concerned about changes to their health. Whether your desire to have your breast implants removed is connected with breast implant illness, BIA-ALCL, an implant-related complication, or a…
While non-surgical procedures continue to rise in popularity, they typically can’t provide the dramatic results of surgical lifting procedures. One irreplaceable procedure is abdominoplasty, colloquially known as a tummy tuck. For decades, tummy tuck surgery has topped the popularity charts, helping millions feel more comfortable and confident after weight loss, pregnancy, or the natural aging…
One of the top complaints I hear from my patients is that despite seeing a lower number on the scale, their weight is not coming off in the places they’d hoped. Most of us are genetically predisposed to store fat in certain areas, such as the belly, hips, thighs, and chin, and this fat will…
Breast augmentation. At first thought, it sounds pretty self-explanatory: the goal is to get larger breasts. This is true, but if my Fairfax breast augmentation patients are any indication, I’d say there’s a 100% chance that your true goal is to get breasts you love. Ensuring you love your breast augmentation results first requires choosing…
File this one under “WTF.” Sometimes the stories are really scary. A surgeon in Houston put these breast implants with no serial number or manufacturer on them in a patient decades ago, and was sued for malpractice many times before losing his medical license in 2001. The surgeon died in 2011, but many patients are…
Remember the show ‘Bridalplasty’? According to this recent news story, about 10% of brides see a plastic surgeon before their wedding. If you’re thinking about having surgery before your own wedding, timing is the most important consideration. You want to be finished healing long before the big day. But you also want to choose your…
This family shared their story about their daughter’s struggle with her ears. For much of elementary and middle school, Samantha was taunted and bullied about the shape of her ears. She finally decided she’d had enough and went to see a plastic surgeon about an otoplasty. Plastic surgery isn’t always about face lifts and breast…