Your Questions

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff online regarding abdominal and pectoral etching that brings out the corresponding muscles.  Is this something you can do along with the liposuction/gynecomastia procedure I am undergoing?  Thanks.

A: Pectoral and abdominal liposculpture (to be differentiated from volumetric liposuction reduction) are fine cannula liposuction techniques that can be done as a stand alone procedure or combined with overall chest and abdominal liposuction. They are designed to try and highlight the natural underlying musculature which everyone has. In the abdomen it is known as etching where linear liposuction is done along the linea alba vertically and horizontally along the tendinous inscription lines to hopefully create more of a six- or eight-pack look. In the chest, the lateral pectoral triangle is aggressively reduced along the lateral pectoral muscle border up into the axilla as well as fat injections done into the lower pectoral muscle border hopefully creating a more defined pectoral outline. The success of these manuevers is highly dependent on the patient’s natural fat anatomy and work best in individuals that are already somewhat thinner.

What done as a stand alone procedure in already thin patients who do not require much volume reduction, they produce the best results. When done as part of an overall gynecomastia and abdominal reduction in someone who is not heavy or grossly overweight (you) usually modest definition is achieved. In  heavier patients or patients with thicker abdominal fat and fuller gynecomastia problems, these are not good techniques as the results will simply not be very visible.

In short, these liposculpture techniques can be applied at the time of your gynecomastia and abdomninal liposuction procedure. They add a little more time to the procedure as they involve etching manuevers after the gross fat removal is done. They key about them is that patients need to have realistic expectations as how visible the muscular outlines will be and that it usually takes up to 3 months to see the fine details of the result.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have consulted with various surgeons regarding my Medpor orbital rim implants as I would like to have them removed. However, these surgeons seem divided in thought – with some claiming that it’s impossible to remove as it causes too much damage, while others said that it would be possible but difficult. This has left me slightly confused as to what the actuality of Medpor removal is. Based on your experiences, do you think removing these Medpor implants with minimal soft tissue damage would be possible if the surgeon were meticulous about it?

A: In short, the removal of Medpor implants can be safely done. I have removed numerous Medpor implants over the years from the chin, jaw angles, cheeks and orbital rims. While it is true that there are much more adherent than silicone (which isn’t at all), there are far from impossible to remove. I have yet to see a Medpor implant that has any bone ingrowth for which they are touted to have. One very interesting feature about Medpor implant removal is that they are less hard after they have been implanted in the body and have had tissue ingrowth than when they are initially put in. This is undoubtably due to water absorption into the interstices of the implant.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a buried penis problem and was wondering if liposuction of the pubic mound would help. I have always been obese, my last 12 yrs I have been morbidly obese. I remember my penis has always been small I have had sex many times but is very uncomfortable. Normally I have to choose an small lady, but I can remember seeing it better when I was not as obese as I am now. I can feel the erections coming from way inside under the fat and if I push the fat back the penis will pop out .. I can only push so much that I am able to grab it with a full fist not including the head. But if I was to push more I can see that I have an average penis and of course if I don’t push that fat back it goes all the way in and can’t be seen.

A:  The buried penis problem is usually multifactorial in what causes it. Certainly a large suprapubic fat pad is one easily identifiable cause and in the obese male can be the major factor. The shape of the suprapubic mound must be looked at carefully to see whether loose skin hanging down may also be a cause in addition to the fat content of the mound. These helps makes the determination as to whether liposuction alone or liposuction combined with a pubic lift may be needed. The other factor in the buried penis is that the penis itself may be part of the problem as well. It may be naturally small or may be tethered down by fibrosis. It may need to be released as well.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have reads that some doctors offer pain-free breast augmentations. How does that work and why isn’t that done for every braest augmentation surgery. Who would not want it?

A: The idea of a pain-free breast augmentation is more of a marketing concept that a reality. It is simply an impossibility to lift up the chest muscle (pectoralis muscle) and put an implant underneath it that is without pain anymore than it is to tear a muscle without any discomfort. What this so-called ‘pain-free’ procedures are is that they incorporate a new long-lasting local anesthetic. This new type of local numbing medicine, known as Exparel or Depofoam Bupivicaine, has been specifically studied in breast augmentations (as well as other plastic surgery procedures) and has shown showed good results with no complications. This local anesthetic when injected into the muscle during the breast augmentation does reduce pain after the procedure that has a lasting effect upt o three days afster surgery. While pain may be reduced, no study has ever shown that any method of breast augmentation can result in a ‘pain-free breast augmentation’. It may reduce the pain one may feel after surgery but will not eliminate it completely.

Exparel is a longer-acting form of an already long-acting local numbing medicine. (Bupivicaine or Marcaine) It is formulated in a liposome carrier that allows for slower absorption and lasting effects up to 3 days after surgery. This is a critical period for most cosmetic procedures as this is when the most severe discomfort occurs. This also reduces the need for oral narcotics and reduces the likelihood of nausea and vomiting and constipation, all common side effects of pain medication in women.

The one problem with Exparel injections is the cost. It adds at least $200  for the injections in a single patient, a significant expense when a patient is already paying $4,000 to $6,000 for their breast augmentation.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m a Caucasian male in my mid-twenties.  I had an unfortunate accident in my late teens in which I fractured my left parietal bone.  At the time, I wasn’t particularly concerned about it – I don’t  think I realized the severity of it.  Now, a few years down the line, I’m balding and I have a dent in my head.  Coupled with my hair-loss, it’s something that I’m very insecure about.  

One of the first things that I did after I decided that I want to do something about it was to see a neurosurgeon.  He sent me for CT scans, which showed that the parietal bone is indented and that the bone around it, towards the top of my skull, is raised.  The dent is very obvious, as is the fact that the back of my skull, on the left side, seems to protrude further outwards than the right.  I  feel that it gives my skull a lopsided appearance.  The neurosurgeon said that he could fix it, but that the scars that it would involve would not be a worthwhile trade-off; it may look just as bad, if not worse, than the dent.  I also saw a plastic/reconstructive surgeon – one of the leading craniofacial surgery specialists in my country – about the dent.  He gave me the option of injections using either fat or cosmetic fillers; neither of which would be permanent.  He also advised me against surgery, due to the scars that it would leave.  I don’t want to go the fat/filler injection route, since it is only temporary, and it will not do anything to fix the lumpy bone that surrounds the dent.

My questions, therefore, are as follows;

1.)  Is there anything that can be done that would fix both issues (dent and lump) without significant scarring?  I am hoping that one can remove some of the bone (it should be around 2 – 5 mm’s, by my estimates) to smooth out the lump and restore the normal contour of my skull.  I can imagine that this would not be trivial since it involves that back of my head where the bone “rounds” down towards both the back and the left side of my skull.

2.)  If surgery is an option, can bone by removed from the lumpy area and placed in the dent, or would a bone cement of some sort be used, regardless of whether or not bone is removed from the lumpy area?

3.)  How bad will the scarring be, in the event of surgery?  I found a blog (tracysigler . com/brain-surgery-experience / this-is-the-end) while I was doing my research.  Does that image offer a good benchmark of what a healed scar would look like?

The attached images shows my issues. 

Perhaps this question may also be of benefit to others visitors to your website.

Thank you kindly for your time.

A:  Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. While an open approach could obviously be done to create the optimal contour skull contour through a combined reduction of high areas and filling of the defect with bone cement, one has to be careful of the scar trade-off. I have done many open cranioplasty procedures through more limited incisions (5 cms.) in that very area and the scar can be acceptable. (ironically many of these have been done on men that actually shave their head. So I would not rule out that incisional approach. I think why other surgeons have not been enthusiastic is that they were envisioning a larger more traditional coronal incision which would obviously create an aesthetic trade-off that would not put you in a better position.

The other concept to consider is an injectable cranioplasty approach just for filling in the defect. Through a small 1 cm incision, the tissues can be lifted up over the defect (pocket creation) and a bone cement introduced through a tube into the defect space and molded from the outside until set. That would certainly fill in the defect in the most minimally invasive manner in regards to the scar.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 34 yrs old with a hidden penis problem I am uncircumcised too.. so I am getting a this surgery if suitable for me… please reply to me … I know below all that fat there a small but decent penis.

A: Thank you for your inquiry. Many buried penis problems are a combination of a suprapubic mound and a retracted penile length. Thus, suprapubic liposuction may not be completely effective for all buried penis patients as the penis may need to be released/lengthened as well. Do you develop a visible penis with an erection? Was the penis visible when you were younger before there was a significant suprapubic mound? To best answer your question I would need to see some pictures of the mound area, particularly from the side view to see what type of buried penis problem that it is you have.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have read a lot about the Vampre Facelift and wanted to know what you think about it. While the name sounds a little creepy, using your own blood to help make you look younger seems like it might work.

A:Platelets are ubiquitous cellular fragments in the blood stream that is most known for helping blood clot. But platelets also make a major contribution to wound healing as they contain a multitude of growth factors which are well known to help repair and regenerate connective tissues. Application of these growth factors in high concentrations through platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used as an adjunct to wound healing for almost 20 years.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is blood plasma that has a high concentration of platelets due to processing techniques. A small amount of blood can be drawn from the patient and the platelets removed from it by centrifugation. This creates a platelet concentrate gel that can be added to a variety of plastic surgery procedures such as facelifts and fat grafts to theoretically improve their results through the delivery of its growth factors.

While PRP can be used alone, a variety of aesthetic facial procedures have been developed that combine it with different types of injectable fillers. Marketed brand names such as Selphyl and the Vampire Facelift create either a platelet-rich fibrin matrix or are used in conjunction with other well known fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane. The benefits of PRP in these facial rejuvenation techniques, while theoretically appealing, has not been fully substantiated in widespread clinical use and ongoing patient studies continue to evaluate this autologous therapy in aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have read a lot recently about stem cells and their potential rejuvenative properties. It seems logical that if our body is full of them that they can be used to treat a lot of problems including the negative effects of aging. I see some plastic surgeons offer a stem cell facelift. Does this really work and, if not, how come some doctors do it?

A: The use of adult stem cells for their potential cosmetic and anti-aging effects is very controversial at present. While our fat is a large reservoir of stem cells (300X to 500X more than bone marrow), that does not necessarily mean that they work as we would like or hope. The popularity of stem cells is largely because of the ability to harvest fat through liposuction as a source for stem cells,. It is fairly easy to ‘recycle’ the liposuctioned fat and put it back into the patient as an injection with the assumption that tissues of the face can be rejuvenated, Numerous anectodal claims are made about such injections as creating youthfulness, adding permanent volume and improving the appearance of the skin. This has led to a number of touted procedures carrying such names as the stem cell facelifts. Despite their appeal, there is no medical evidence by published clinical studies that proves that it actually works.

Most of the time, such stem cell injections are really nothing more than fat injections that unavoidably contain some stem cells. It is the fat that creates any volumetric or lifting effect and not the stem cells that it may contain. While such ‘stem cell’ injections are unlikely to be harmful, they have not been proven to have anti-aging effects. But the hope that they might, and the lack of any adverse effects, provides plenty of motivation for marketing hype.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I want to have the flat spot on the back of my head built up. I understand that various materials can be used to do it but don’t know which one would be better. What are my options?

A: Bone cements in cranioplasty can be either polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or various calcium-containing materials. All of these materials are joint powders and liquids that are mixed in surgery to create a self-curing putty that offers enough set times to create the desired shape on the bone. The most ‘natural’ bone cement is that of the synthetic calcium compositions, of which the most common ones used are calcium phosphate-based also known as hydroxyapatites. (HA) They are natural to the bone because the inorganic mineral content of human bone is hydroxyapatite. Another calcium-containing bone cement is that of calcium carbonate, known commercially as Kryptonite. It offers superior biomechanical properties (less prone to fracture) than the calcium phosphate-based masterials but is no longer commercially available. Whether PMMA or HA is better for any cranioplasty is based on a variety of factors (cost, inlay vs onlay, size of incision) and not necessarily because one is more natural or more synthetic. There are different material properties for each type of bone cement and these must be considered also.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am inquiring about getting liposuction.  I am in the Military and am curious about the Patriot Plastic Surgery Program.  Quick bit about me, I was injured a little bit ago, and was pretty much unable to work out for a little over a year; where I gained weight and loss quite a bit of muscle mass as well.  I would like to get my abdomen and love handles sized down as much as possible (or that is possible).

A: The Patriot Plastic Surgery program offers some reduction in fees for any cosmetic surgery for those who are in or have been in military service. While I have no idea as to what your body looks like, you are obviously a young man who is probably in reasonable physical condition. (not obese) Because you are a male your abdominal and flank skin is likely in good condition (no stretch marks) and can shrink down nicely after the fat is extracted. Reducing your abdomen and flanks should, therefore, provide an effective and visible improvement with liposuction.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, What’s the recovery time for a rhinoplasty? How soon could I return to work and look somewhat “normal”

A: The recovery time for a rhinoplasty is usually no more than 10 to 14 days at worst. This is not the total time that it takes for the nose to achieve its final shape, as that takes months, but until it really looks ‘non-surgical’. I have seen some patients who actually look pretty good when the tapes and splint is removed at one week but it would be safe to use the time period of 10 days for returning to work, etc. Normal is defined when one can walk around in public and not look like they have had surgery. Often the key determinant is when the bruising under the eyes will go away provided that one has had nasal bone osteotomies as part of their rhinoplasty. For those rhinoplasties in which the nasal bones do not need to be manipulated, the recovery in appearance is sooner.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, In February 2012 I had a Mitrofanoff diversion done using small intestine. (appendicovesicostomy) Cathing thru the stoma has been a problem since day one. The hole keeps shrinking. Have to “punch thru” for each cath. Usually bleeds, plus painful. One stoma revision done last summer which lasted a few weeks. The urologist has suggested plastic surgery but I am skeptical and tired or surgeries. The total problem was radiation damage from prostate cancer treatment.

A: I think in the face of radiation, it is virtually impossible to keep a stoma open by any type of ‘simple’ scar revision around the stoma. As taking the same tissue that have been exposed to radiation and asking it to heal without shrinking by scar contracture will not work. These are not normal tissues. Any hope of sustained stoma enlargement must occur by altering the involved tissues to have improved vascularity.  This could be done by injectable fat grafting around the stoma which adds healthy fat and stem cells and then secondarily performing an interpositional skin graft to the stoma opening. But this approach would be hard to get enthusiastic about when one has had repeated surgeries that did not work.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have read some articles online and some doctors said skin graft on eyelid looks horrible. Is that true? Have you done skin graft for your patients similar to my case? Will my eyes look uneven after the graft? And how to measure how much skin is needed for the graft? Will my eye shape change back to its original shape after the grafting? When the grafting is done, do I have to patch my eyes for few days? Is that mean I can’t open my eyes for few days? Do u think makeup can cover the unmatched color? I await your advice.

A: Skin grafts on the eyelids will create somewhat of a patch look as it is impossible to match the exact color of skin on the eyelids from anywhere else on the body. I would not necessarily call them horrible-looking. Generally one does skin grafting to the eyelids for a very compelling reason and not for a minor aesthetic concern. Skin grafts are covered by a small sewn-on bolster after surgery for five days which does not prevent the eyes from opening or closing nor does it occlude them. The graft does take time to blend better into the surrounding skin and makeup can be worn in the interim.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve read online that you do infraorbital rim implants. I’m really sorry to trouble you, but I have a concern regarding my upcoming procedure with these implants. Basically, my doctor has informed me that he will be using an intraoral approach for the Medpor Extended Orbital Rim implants, but every resource I’ve seen has said that the implants are placed through an eyelid incision. Do you think an intraoral approach is possible, and will the results be affected by using it? Should I at all be concerned that he isn’t going to use the eyelid incision?

A: The placement of infraorbital rim implants can be done either through an eyelid or an intraoral approach. Both are acceptable approaches and which one is done is based on surgeon preference. It is a little easier to assure good implant position on the bone from above (eyelid incision) as one does not have to work around the large infraorbital nerve. But an infraorbital implant can be effectively placed from inside the mouth, it is just a little more technically challenging to do so and the risk of some protracted lip numbness from infraorbital nerve traction will occur.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a bad scar across the back of my head from two previous hair transplants. After the first procedure the scar looked pretty good and was narrow. But after the second time it has gotten wider and more noticeble and I can not wear my hair very short anymore.  What is the nest way to improve this scar? Cab it just be cut out again and will it look better? Or should I just have hair transplants put into the scar? nd if hair transplant are done how would the grafts be taken and wouldn’t that just make another scar or risk making this on wider.

A: When it comes to hair transplant scalp scars, there are three approaches to consider. The first, as you have mentioned, is to simply re-excise the scar and reclose it. (scar revision) Whether this would make a successful improvement depends on how loose or lax your scalp  now is. Given that you have had two hair transplants with the strip method, it is likely your scalp has lost much of its elasticity or natural stretch. Wide scalp undermining would need to be done from above but how successful that would be at reducing tension on the scar revision closure is unpredictable. Another scar revision approach would be to first do a few weeks of scalp tissue expansion. Going through the scar scar in a first stage, a small tissue expander is placed above the scar and expanded every few days for a few weeks. Then the scar revision is done and it could then be assured that there would be no tension on the wound closure and a very fine line scar achieved. The third approach would be hair transplantation. But this would not be done using a strip method. Rather a follicular unit extraction (FUE) method would be done using the Neograft system. This method harvests the hair (follicular units) by using 1mm punches spaced out over the occipital and temporal donor area. These small extraction sites heal imperceptibly and the hairs are then transplanted into the scar.

Whether a scar revision or hair transplantation approach is best for your strip scar would depend on how much laxity your scalp has (or doesn’t have), the width and location of the scar and what your hair donor site look like.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a very deep cleft on my chin. A surgeon suggested dermal filler, saying that a chin implant would move because (he said) the dimple was too small. But my cleft chin is very deep and I am very unhappy with it. A doctor injected a syringe of hyaluronic acid into last year but with no visible improvement. I have placed a link to an image of my chin cleft here.

A: Very deep chin clefts in men are not usually the result of any underlying bone deficiency but are rooted in the soft tissue with a lack of tissue between the skin and the underlying muscle. Often the mentalis muscle is clefted as well. In addition the skin is very indented almost like a scar band. Thus a chin implant on the bone is likely to be of little benefit as pushing out from the bone will make little change in the depth of the cleft. Injectable fillers, as has been demonstrated by your experience, do not have enough stiffness and volumetric push to change the cleft. The viable treatment options would be either fat injections done with a subcision release of the vertical skin indentation or an open approach using a dermal-fat graft. In some cases the placement of a small implant in a midline bony groove can be of adjunctive benefit if it exists.

When it comes to chin cleft surgery, it is best to think of it as a reduction rather than a complete removal.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had Medpor jaw angle implants placed a year ago, but they did not provide sufficient lateral and vertical augmentation. I have been told that it would not be possible to replace the existing jaw angle implants due to Medpor’s tissue adherence, which is why I am thinking of getting a Medpor square chin implant with longer width to provide that augmentation.

That being said, I would very much prefer to get the Medpor jaw angle implants replaced, but I’m unsure if that’s possible. Do you think its removal would prove too difficult to be worth the risk? If not, could I replace it with another Medpor jaw angle implant at the same time?

A: If the proper jaw angle implant style is not used, the vertical elongation of the jaw angle area that many patients really need will not be achieved. While Medpor facial implants are harder to remove than silicone, it is not true that it is impossible to remove them. I have removed and replaced numerous Medpor chin and jaw angle implants. If you are still focused on using Medpor jaw angle implants then it would need to be the RZ style of either a 7 or 11mm width. Removal and replacement of jaw angle implants is done at the same time as that would be the most convenient and efficient way to do it.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have decided I am done having children and am considering a breast lift with implants. Two children and nursing have taken quite a toll of my breasts. They are just two sacks of hanging skin now. What type of implant or lift I need? I don’t want to look completely fake, but a more perky and fuller breasts would be a big improvement. Is this even achievable after having nursed two kids? How soon before surgery do I need to stop breastfeeding?

A: The ‘two sacks of skin’ breast look is very common after multiple pregnancies, particularly in women who have small to  moderately-sized breasts beforehand. When the breast tissue involutes (shrinks) after pregnancy, the stretched out skin collapses and falls over the inframammary crease. (lower breast fold) In each of these cases of breast sagging (with little to no breast volume), a combined breast implant and lift is needed. Usually either a vertical (lollipop) or combined vertical and horizontal (anchor) breast lift is needed and the resultant scar trade-off is unavoidable. A breast implant, regardless of size, adds volume but in and of itself will not lift the sagging nipple back up to a satisfactory position. You will need to stop breastfeeding three months before undergoing breast lift and implant surgery to give the engorged breasts time to fully ‘deflate’.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve had a considerably flat occiput since infancy as I’ve noticed in pictures from that time.  The vertex of my skull also slopes downwards towards the frontal lobe.  This gives a “cone-shaped” appearance to my head when my hair is cut short. This has never been a concern to me, but in recent years I have began to develop male pattern baldness.  Although I am currently taking drugs to hopefully slow its onset, I must be mindful of my skull shape should the treatment be ineffective.  Having spent a considerable amount of time browsing your website, I’ve determined I may benefit from an implant to the occiput of my skull.

My questions are: what is the cost of such a surgery?  Is there anything that can be done to flatten the vertex of my skull, or would an implant to the occipital lobe just exaggerate the slope?  Would surgery require me to shave my head?  Best and worse case scenarios, how big is the scar post-op? 

I appreciate your time and consideration.

A: It is always more effective to augment the occiput than it is to reduce the vertex. While some bone reduction can be done, there is a limit based on the thickness of the skull to around 5 to 7mms of reducytiopn. The augmentation of the occiput can be as much as 15 mms. But put together a significant change can occur.

For skull reshaping surgery we do not shave any hair although we always appreciate any patients who would like to do so. As a ballpark figure the total cost of this surgery is in the range of $9500.

While all of these issues are relevant, none are more significant than the consideration of a scalp scar in a male. That is the key issue of whether this may be a good procedure for any patient but particularly in men who may have less hair to camouflage it. The scar is placed more to the back of the head keeping it within the stable hairline of most balding men. It is a long scar (12 to 14 cms) but thin.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m looking at augmentation the jaw angles to the side of my chin to make it more horizontal and masculine looking. Would it at all be possible to get a Medpor square chin implant, and angle the wings down a little to achieve that effect, or will I require a customized chin implant for this kind of augmentation?

A: Your question has me a bit confused. A square chin implant does not reach the whole way back to the jaw angles. There are specific jaw angle implants to achieve that area of mandibular augmentation that are different from  chin implants. They are two completely different mandibular (jaw) implant styles. In some cases, a custom jawline implant can be made  that wraps around the jawline and goes from angle to angle including the chin.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I believe that one of my breast implants is leaking. I have saline, below the muscle and I have had them about 13 1/2 yrs. The size is fine 38D. I know I need to replace the leaking one  but is there some reason why I should mess with the left one, because it is the right that is leaking. And I don’t think I want to switch to silicone, because I heard they are not good for you if they burst and  I don’t think they feel as soft. Is the saline leak harmful?

A: Th saline leak is not physically harmful. While you can just exchange the  deflating breast implant alone, most patients choose to do both sides as they fear that the other side will soon develop a leak also. That is just a personal choice one of surgical opportunity and preventative maintenance.

Your perceptions about silicone implants is not accurate. They are perfectly safe, they can’t burst or deflate and actually feel more natural than saline as they don’t have of the rippling effect that many saline implants do. While silicone implants can develop a rupture, they are composed of very cohesive gels that act more like solids than liquids. Thus the concept of a leaking silicone breast implant is not accurate, it is a rubbery formed jelly that just sits there inside the surrounding capsule that you body naturally forms. This is why silicone breast implants do not deflate.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am having quite a bit of dental surgery in my mouth, two 2 dental implants were put in this past April.. Hopefully, I will be having the customized permanent titanium abutments put in next month.  After that I will be having permanent crowns put on these abutments.  When these crowns are finished, I will then be having another crown put on another tooth unrelated to my dental implants.  I am concerned about having any eyelid lift surgery so soon after my dental work.  Should I be worried?  Should I space several months in between the time I have my last dental work and my cosmetic surgery? Should I be taking an antibiotic before each the above dental procedures? How can I prevent any chance of infection from occurring in my eyes? I would so appreciate your input regarding this matter.

A: There is no solid scientific or medical evidence that would link the bacteremia that may emanate from skin surgery to causing infection around osseo-integrated dental implants, particularly when the placement of the implants were put into the bones months before. Or in reverse. I think it is unnecessary to take antibiotics before your dental procedures but that is a decision between you and your dentist. I see no connection between any of this or your family history to any risk of infectivity from having eyelid or blepharoplasty surgery, particularly since antibiotics are given during this surgery anyway.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had liposuction in buttock area  which was a big mistake and it has sagged and become loose. The lower crease has gone down and is asymetrical. I am not a big person and the amount should not be that much. I am interested in a buttock wedge excision. I have several questions:

1)) Does this require general anesthesia or can it be done just by local? Is IV sedation needed and can that make it riskier? I had general for the surgery initially and did not like it at all.

2) When the tuck is done can I still run and do aggressive exercises?

3) How permanent is the result? I want to make sure if I stay within 5 pounds of current weight the results don’t evaporate over time and follow up procedures are needed.

4) What are the risks involved? Since it is in the legs is it more riskier to get embolisms? Can this be fatal?

5) How long is the recovery? If out of town how long do i need to stay there and any flight restrictions?

6) I did check here locally and they told me the total procedure is 1 hour with Local and IV sedation. I was interested as you have more experience and they have not done it before and how long does it take?

7) If i am out of town how are complications handled if any?

Thank you a ton, and look forward to your response!

A: I am not a fan of liposuction to the buttocks and your outcome is exactly why. A lower buttock lift, what you call a wedge excision, can be a very effective solution ot ptosis or sagging of the lower buttocks. In answer to your questions:

1) It could be done under IV sedation. While it could be done under local anesthesia that is not how I would have it done.

2) You can return to all forms of exercise but you should wait 4 to 6 weeks before doing so.

3) It is a permanent result.

4) Embolisms are not a concern with lower buttock lifts.

5) You could fly home the next day or two.

6) I have done many lower buttock lifts over the years and I find the results very effective and satisfying in the properly selected patient. The procedure will take one hour to do.

7) The biggest ‘complication’ in buttock lifts is suture extrusions or small openings…all self-resolving problems. If any questions, send pictures of concerns by e-mail. That is how we handle all postoperative concerns from afar.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley,  I am looking into getting a breast lift and possibly an implant. Does you do the breast lift with a vertical incision under  the nipple down?

A: There are four basic types of breast lifts which differ in the amount of lift and length of scars that are created. As a general statement, when breast lifts are done in conjunction with an implant, the most common type of lift performed is the vertical type. (lollipop) The breast implant also helps in creating somewhat of a lifting effect as well. When a breast lift is done without an implant, the most common lifting technique is the anchor or inverted T scar pattern where there is a combined vertical and horizontal scar. Without an implant more of a lifting effect is usually needed and that must come from the amount of skin removed and tightened.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in undergoing hair transplantation but do not want the scar across the back of my head. I have read about the ‘follicular unit extraction’ technique that can be done without having the scar. How does this work and does it produce good results?

A: Follicular unit extraction, known as FUE, is a minimally invasive technique for hair transplantation. It enables the surgeon to extract single follicular units which contains the hair follicles, sebaceous glands, muscle and very small pieces of skin and fat. Within each follicular unit, there may be 3 to 4 hair follicles. These units are extracted individually from the donor scalp areas without a scalpel. This also means there will be no stitches or a linear scar. The FUE extractions sites will heal quickly within a few days, leaving no visible scars and with the donor area looking normal again after a week from the procedure.  One of the most exciting things about FUE is what it offers for men with very short hair in which a linear scar may create another aesthetic scalp concern.

The FUE technique has become more efficient with a breakthrough mechanical device introduced in 2008 called NeoGraft. NeoGraft is a powered suction device that works like an extension of the human hand to help harvest hair follicles efficiently from the scalp at a rate of speed that is significantly faster than manual extraction. The Neograft hair restoration system is the state-of-thepart approach to FUE today.

In skilled hands, the FUE technique yields hair graft survival rates that are similar to that of the linear strip harvest methods. Both techniques yield follicular unit grafts that have similar survival after being transplanted.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, my question is can I have calf augmentation implants because I have polio since 10 years old from feet to my knee. My right leg is really thin and my left leg is normal. Thank you!

A: There are many causes of calf asymmetry in which one calf is smaller due to gastrocnemius muscle atrophy or lack of development. Club foot and polio would be two examples that can result in smaller heads of this calf muscle. There is no reason why you could not get a calf implant into the affected leg. The question is how small or tight is the skin on that leg. In cases of severe muscle atrophy the enveloping skin may be very tight. This will control or limit whether a calf implant can be inserted and be big enough to  make a visible difference. When using implants for correction of calf asymmetries, the question is never whether one can make the affected calf normal in size (because you can’t) but how much improvement can be obtained.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a revision rhinoplasty several weeks ago. My first rhinoplasty left me with an obvious silicone nose with a dropping tip and big flare nostrils since I am Asian. At that time I was concerned about the bridge only. After the revision (they used rib), it looks natural and even a bit slimmer since they did fracture it as well. But somehow I feel it was shorter than my silicone nose. I asked my surgeon about this and he told me that my skin is so thin that it would look fake if they put something in to increase the height of the bridge. He even said he had to dice the rib bcause of this. I just wanna know is there still any hope to make it higher without being unnatural because of this thin skin. Thank you.

A: I believe what you refer to as a ‘shorter nose’ really refers to the height of the dorsum rather than the actual length of your nose. By your description, your silicone implant was bigger than the rib graft that replaced it. This is particularly evident as the rib graft was diced, most likely done because the harvested rib was not straight and dicing it ensured that the risk of warping after surgery was eliminated. Large silicone implants do tend to thin the overlying nasal skin due to pressure and the lack of an underlying vascularized surface doing the outward push. When replacing such an implant one certainly doesn’t want to place a bigger implant or even one that is exactly as big in height. (implant thickness) But in using rib grafts in rhinoplasty, particularly in a diced form, the graft size could have a good height as this more natural material allows blood vessels to grow through it. This rduces the risk of further thinning of the skin or skin compromise.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like a nipple reduction and have it lifted as the same time. What are my options for having this done? I have attached some pictures of my nipple concerns.

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. In my experience, there are two basic types of elongated nipple deformities. The first type has a narrow base and the nipple length is usually 3x to 5x longer than the base width which is why it hangs down like a willow tree branch. This is the easiest and most successful nipple reduction result as shortening the nipple length immediately lifts the nipple back to its base level. The second type of elongated nipple has a very wide base and the nipple length is only 2x or so of its base width. It is heavy and the entire nipple base sags due to its weight. This is a bit more challenging to get an optimal result as shortening the nipple length with such a side base can lead to a potential ‘pinched’ nipple look. Based on your pictures, you have a type 2 elongated nipples

In addition, there are two types of nipple reduction techniques. The first is a wedge reduction technique where the nipple is bivalved at the desired level and sewn back together. This places the fine suture line across the top of the nipple. This may reduce nipple sensation. This is the best technique for a type 1 elongated nipple. The second nipple reduction technique is a base circumferential (donut) reduction method where a ring of nipple tissue is removed from around the nipple where it joins the areola. A central core of nipple tissue is preserved and the remaining outer nipple is then pulled back and sewn to the areola. This places the suture line around the base of the nipple and preserves nipple sensation. This is often more appropriate for a type 2 elongated nipple though the amount if nipple reduction and lift is less.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a 42 year old female who is 5’ 3” and weighs 122lbs. I had liposuction done several years ago to remove some fat but now I have loose skin. I would love to have a very flat and tight stomach with a six-pack look. I think I need a tummy tuck to get there but the scar and the shapes of the bellybuttons I have seen scare me. I don’t know if my tummy is bad enough for a full tummy tuck, maybe just a mini-tummy tuck will do. I want a very low and thin beautiful scar and a small almond-shaped belly buttons. I would like to be able to bend over and not grab a handful of stomach skin.

A: To get the flattest and tightest result you need a full tummy tuck. A mini-tummy tuck will make some improvement but will not meet the muster of the flattest and tightest abdominal result. Keeping the scar low as one would like depends on how much loose skin one has. Scars from tummy tucks are influenced largely by how the patient heals not necessarily by the plastic surgeon who makes them. A full tummy tuck will not get you a six-pack, only a flat tight stomach. The shape of the belly button, like the scars, is highly influenced by how you heal and your natural belly button shape. A tummy tuck does something that no amount of diet and exercising can do but getting one involves trade-offs and realistic expectations. Bending over and expecting there will be no skin to grab is one of those not realistic expectations

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana

Q: Dr. Eppley, I know that a lot of plastic surgeons use computer imaging for facial surgery. What I don’t understand is how do they know what is really going to happen since surgery and healing doesn’t work like a computer. How do I know I will get what the doctor has shown me by imaging?

A: From my perspective, the role of computer imaging in plastic surgery is different than how you are interpreting its use. It is mainly a communication tool to see if the direction of the various changes are what the patient sees as beneficial. It does necessarily guarantee any result  nor the magnitude of the changes that may occur. (lesser or greater) This is why I am always going to image conservative changes or the very minimum that I believe that can be accomplished. I want patients going into surgery knowing that they will at the very least see these changes. More change may likely happen but it would not be very fair or ethical to show dramatic imaging if that is not what is surgically possible. Anything can be done on the computer but it is up to the plastic surgeon to not overpromise what can be accomplished.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana