Dr Laurence answers: Excellent results cannot be achieved in a hurried surgical setting. Our limit is three cases in a day. If you decide on a surgeon who sometimes performs four to six cases in a day, make sure you are the first case!
Dr Laurence answers: My Board Certification only guarantees a MINIMUM competency in my specialty; it does not demonstrate excellence. The way that you know your doctor is an expert in cosmetic breast surgery: How many different techniques does he routinely perform and offer to his patients? How many options did he offer YOU?! Your doctor needs to tell you which methods are good or bad for you and why a particular method should be avoided or considered. To the non-expert "one method seems best for all!" Beware of these doctors who learned only one or two techniques.
Dr Laurence answers: Does the doctor show artistic attention to details with the "before and after" pictures of his work? Keep in mind that the doctor will show his best work. Many doctors cannot show as few as five photographs of good breast augmentation results! If you search the websites of 100 breast augmentation doctors, you are likely to find only one or two sites that can demonstrate the excellent results that we have consistently achieved in our centre. If your doctor's website shows another doctor's "before and after" photos, you should be concerned.
Dr Laurence answers: No two individuals have breasts exactly alike, but your doctor should be able to give you some indication of what you are likely to look like. After your examination and after measurements are made, an experienced physician can tell you and show you your likely surgical outcome.
Dr Laurence answers: All physicians spend time on continuing education. Since my practice specializes in innovative breast techniques, I spend approximately 70 hours every two years exclusively on breast augmentation education and development. Some of this time is teaching and lecturing at national meetings. Also I am one of the few doctors in the country who has been able to become an expert on anatomical relationships through a regular cadaver dissection. Many cosmetic plastic surgeons spend less than 5 hours a year on cosmetic breast augmentation education.
Dr Laurence answers: From time to time even the best doctors will recommend a re-operation. Over the last two years my re-operation rate (within one year of original surgery) has been zero.
Dr Laurence answers: We would be delighted to contact our last three (or last ten!) patients and arrange a candid and anonymous phone or email conversation between our patient and you. You might have to overcome embarrassment to ask a doctor to do this, but it is a legitimate request. Ask the doctor to assure you that there has been no "cherry picking." It is important that you specify that you would like to talk to the last three (or more) CONSECUTIVE patients. It is very important that you record the date and time of the surgeries of these other patients! Why? Please email me or talk to me at our consultation, and I will tell you why recording this information is CRITICAL.
Dr Laurence answers: Cosmetic breast surgeons should regularly use all effective modalities in order to achieve a natural result, including: Silicone Gel and Saline; High Profile and Moderate Profile; Subglandular pocket, Subfascial pocket, Total Submuscular pocket, Subpectoral pocket, and Biplanar pocket; Belly Button approach, Breast Fold approach, Areolar approach, and Underarm approach.
Dr Laurence answers: None of these insertion sites is impossible to master. The areolar approach is the easiest. Skill is required to place the scar exactly into the under-breast fold, and error in judgment of this scar placement is common. The underarm approach may require the most surgical skill. The belly button site is perfect for some patients.
Dr Laurence answers: TV doctors do a lot to raise awareness. We think you will be impressed with our comprehensive, customized approach to breast augmentation. Maybe we are ready for PRIME TIME, too?
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