By Etre Vous
Breast augmentation has long topped the polls of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. However, many women are put off by the thought of unnatural-looking results and obvious scars. In fact, a survey carried out by The Plastic Surgery Group found that 63 per cent of women considering a boob job were most afraid of potential scarring.Leading cosmetic surgeons Mr Dan Marsh and Mr Mo Akhavani have travelled the world in search of the latest and most innovative techniques in aesthetic surgery to bring back to their UK practice, the Plastic Surgery Group. Their aim is to minimise both surgery time and downtime for their patients while achieving natural-looking results.
One of their most popular procedures is called Secret Breast Augmentation. So-called because of its virtually non-existent scarring, the technique uses a 'Keller Funnel' to allow the surgeons to place even the most sizeable implant through a small hole the size of two-pound coin.
“The look now is for a full but natural upper pole of the breast," says Dan Marsh. "Our short scar breast augmentation technique combines fat grafting with barely visible scars and an internal bra support. We are known for our super-natural results which is why our patients seek us out.
"The Keller Funnel allows you to do a breast augmentation through a tiny incision of three centimetres or less, which is hidden in the crease in the breast," Marsh continues. "Most incisions are between five and seven centimetres, but with this technique the scars really do fade away to almost nothing. We often combine it with internal bra and fat grafting for great custom cleavage.”
The use of the funnel is more suited to smaller, more natural looking implants, which complements the upwards trend for more natural-looking results.
“We have noticed that most of our breast augmentation patients are now preferring implants in the 250-320 cubic centimetre range," says Akhavani. "Thankfully, I think the days of 450-600 cubic centimetre implants are gone. We tend to see people asking for slightly more subtle looks. It looks full, it looks nice, but there’s that ‘has she, hasn’t she?’ aspect."
Marsh and Akhavani highly rate the procedure because it is associated with reduced risk of infection and long-term complications, such as biofilm formation which causes capsular contracture or hardening of the implant. It also reduces the risk of ALCL, a rare lymphoma associated with breast implants and possibly due to biofilm.
