Controversial Breast Augmentation Technique by Northern Virginia Plastic Surgeon George Bitar Yields Excellent Results

(PRWEB) November 14, 2007 -- The article written by Northern Virginia plastic surgeon (http://www.drbitar.com), Dr. George Bitar entitled: "Breast Augmentation: The Axillary Approach" was published in the October issue of Plastic Surgery Products Magazine. The article focuses on performing breast augmentation by inserting a saline implant through a small armpit incision behind the muscle without the use of any endoscopic equipment.

While this technique is considered controversial by many, Bitar, who has performed over 200 such breast augmentations, argues that his results are excellent.

"There were no implant infections, high-riding implants, double-bubble signs (implant bulging below the breast), pneumothoraces (lung deflation), cases of inability to breast-feed, permanent losses of nipple sensation, major medical complications, or deaths," he states. "My rate of capsular contracture (a condition where scar tissue accumulation around the implant hardens the breast causing an unnatural look) is 1%," he adds.

Prospective studies of saline-filled breast implants approved by FDA in May 2000 showed rates of significant capsular contracture of 9% at 3 years and 10-11% at 5 years for augmentation patients. The general consensus is that infection with breast augmentation occurs in about 1-2% of patients.

While Bitar's technique yields many advantages including shorter intra-operative time, minimal bleeding, less trauma, scarring, pain, and bruising; and a shorter recovery time with minimal complications, his technique has a few minor disadvantages. These include: an evident 2 cm scar under the armpit for the first few months after surgery before it fades, inability to remove the implant through the same axillary incision in case future surgery is required, and finally, the risk of loss of sensation in a small area of the axilla if a nerve is injured.

Multiple before and after pictures of patients who underwent axillary breast augmentation (http://www.drbitar.com/breast-augmentation.php) along with the complete version of the article can be found on Dr. Bitar's website at www.DrBitar.com.

George Bitar, MD (http://www.drbitar.com/meet-dr-bitar.php) is a board certified plastic surgeon and medical director of the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute, a multi-location institute in Northern Virginia. The article was co-written by Mr. Vinod Chopra, a medical student at the George Washington University who interned at the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute.

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