1. What does board certified mean?
It means that the physician has completed all requirements in his
specialty established by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
There are 24 individual specialty boards established by the
American Board of Medical Specialties. The American Board of
Plastic Surgery within the American Board of Medical Specialties is
the only board that certifies physicians in plastic surgery.

2. Are you board certified? Yes!
A. That means I am a graduate of an accredited medical school.
B. That I have completed a year of internship and at least 3 years
in an accredited surgery program and at least 2 to 3 more years in
an accredited plastic surgery residency program.
C. That I have then passed a comprehensive written and then oral
examination.

3. Do you have hospital privileges to perform Breast Augmentation,
Breast lift, Breast reduction and Breast reconstruction procedures?
Yes! My past experiences and training in plastic surgery has allowed
me to obtain privileges in my specialty at all hospitals that I am on
staff.

4. How many breast procedures do you perform in a year?
I average approximately 400-500 breast procedures a year.

5. What implants do you use?
We use Mentor and McGhan (Inamed) implants.

6. Do the implants have a warranty?
Yes! McGhan and Mentor, the 2 companies with FDA approved implants,
do warranty their product.

7. What are saline implants?
A saline implant is a silicone bag filled with salt water. They can
be round or anatomically shaped, smooth or textured surfaces.

8. What are silicone implants?
A silicone implant is a silicone bag filled with silicone gel. They
can be round or anatomically shaped, smooth or textured shaped.

9. What is a smooth surfaced implant?
The implant's outer surface is smooth.

10. What is a textured surfaced implant?
The implant's outer surface is rough. This was developed to
decrease the incidence of capsular contracture associated with
breast augmentation. Texturing does appear to decrease the
incidence of capsular contracture when the implants are placed
in front of the pectoralis major muscle. This implant may also
be used with lifts as well.

11. Will I get to choose my implant size?
Yes! We have patient's put implants in a one size fits all bra
prior to surgery so they get a very good idea of what the surgery
might look like after with various sized implants. The actual size
then chosen is that which the patient wants given that this
surgeon feels it is safe for her.

12. Where will my surgery be performed?
In an accredited surgery center or hospital.

13. Who will administer my anesthesia?
A board certified anesthesiologist. (We only use medical Doctors
for anesthesia)

14. Where will my incision be?
The site of the incision will be determined at your consultation.
The surgery can be performed through a small incision underneath
the armpit (the axillary approach), next to the nipple (the
peri-areola approach), under the breast (the inframammary
approach) or next to the belly button (the TUBA or transumbilical
approach).

15. Will I have a scar?
Through whichever approach is used there will be a scar but
scarring is usually minimal.

16. Will I have bruises?
Bruising is usually minimal but varies from patient to patient.
Obviously we recommend that you stop aspirin products and
ibuprofens prior to surgery and also recommend increasing
Vitamin C and adding the herbs Arnica and Bromelain to your diet.

17. When do the stitches come out?
Usually all of the stitches are buried so none need to be
removed. The incisions are covered with a steri-strip which
is replaced at your first post-operative visit 5 to 7 days
post-operative. I usually remove them 5 to 7 days after surgery.

18. Do you recommend massage techniques after a breast
augmentation?
Yes! The specific techniques will be explained at your post-operative
visits. I cannot guarantee to you that these techniques will prevent
capsular contracture but they may help to prevent it.

19. When can I return to work?
That is a function of the type of work that you do and how much pain
you are experiencing. Usually patient's are able to return to work by
4 days post-operative. Obviously I would not want them to return to
work that soon in jobs that require a lot of manual labor. This will
be discussed in detail before surgery.

20. When can I drive?
When you are off pain medication and have sufficient pain free use
of your arms to drive a car. That is usually within 4 to 5 days after
breast surgery though everyone's experience is different.

21. When can I exercise?
I generally tell patient's to let discretion be their guide. If it hurts,
don't do it. You can start with lower body at about 2 weeks post-
operative and progress to upper body at about 3 weeks to a month
post-operative.

22. Can I breast feed with implants?
Augmentation mammoplasty should not affect your ability to breast
feed but there are no guarantees that you would be able to breast
feed even without surgery.

23. Will I lose sensation after surgery?
Though it is certainly possible to lose sensation following
augmentation mammoplasty, this is an unusual complication of the
procedure. Most sensory changes that do occur with the surgery (and
that can include increased sensation) usually revert to normal with
time.

24. Are there any products that help to reduce scarring?
There are but they rarely need to be used as the amount of scarring
following an augmentation mammoplasty is minimal. I have found
that by just leaving the steri-strip in place for a prolonged period of
time makes the scars almost invisible.

25. Before and after surgery, can I take aspirin for a headache?
It is not recommended to take aspirin products at all prior to surgery
and immediately afterward. One can take tylenol, however.

26. What can I do to help my breast implants settle into place?
Don't wear push up bras and in some instances it is recommended to
wear an ace wrap or bra pulled up above the breasts at night to push
downward on the implants. The breast exercises also help. For most
patients no underwire bras are recommended immediately following
surgery.

27. When will I be able to wear an underwire bra?
I don't like underwire bras but they can be worn once the implants
have dropped into position. I feel before that they may inhibit the
implants from dropping.

28. Will a breast augmentation lift my nipples?
No! The implants do not lift anything. They do make the breasts
appear fuller and in so doing may make it look as if the nipples
have been lifted but an augmentation is just that and a breast
lift or mastopexy is the operation that truly raises the nipples.

29. If one of my breasts is lower then the other will this change
with a breast augmentation?
No! The implants will make your natural shape larger. They do
not lift the breasts. Putting in two different sized implants will help
a size difference but does not lift the breasts. The operation to lift
the breasts is a Mastopexy or Breast lift.

30. What happens if I develop capsular contracture?
There are several different approaches that can be used to correct
capsular contracture. What approach would be best in any individual
patient would depend on the type of augmentation mammoplasty
initially performed and the type of implant used. The important thing
to realize is that this condition does not occur commonly and there are
options should it occur.

31. What are some of the common side effects after breast surgery?
Immediately following surgery there is pain and a variable amount of
swelling. The implants may initially be high and need time to drop.
After that there are usually no problems unless you develop a longer
term complication such as rippling or capsular contracture. Most patients
following this operation are extremely happy with the results of their
surgery. Of course there are horror stories but, these are rare. That is
why this operation is so popular and patients are so happy with it.

32. Can you add/recontruct a nipple if implants(silicon) are already in, and have you done a procedure like that and cost???

Dear Marlene, Yes nipple reconstruction can be performed with Silicone breast implants present. After breast reconstruction following breast cancer, I generally do the nipple and areolar reconstruction last. It is like the icing on the cake. I have been performing breast reconstruction surgery for over 20 years. For surgery fees contact Dee (714) 671-3033 and she will assist you. Sincerely, Frederic H. Corbin M.D.

33. Hi Dr. Corbin. I'm contemplating breast augmentation for the near future, and wanted to ask about sizing. For women with barely/no breast tissue, (and under muscle placement is used), would the breast seem to increase or decrease once the implants drop/fluff? And if so, how much? I'm just trying to see how many cc's I want (doing the "rice test"). Your advice/opinion would be greatly valued. Thank-you in advance.

A. Thank you Carol for contacting my office. We place breast implants in a bra in the office to size patients and to get an idea of how large they would like to be following breast augmentation surgery. I generally tell them that the breast implants look larger in the bra then they will look placed sub muscular after the surgery so I generally recommend an implant 25cc's larger then the one they have picked during sizing. That is a general statement though and in many patients who desire larger implants then I feel their frame and general tissue coverage will handle I will recommend smaller implants. In my office the patients choose their breast implant size and I will educate them on whether or not I can do the surgery successfully with the size they chose. I hope this helps you - the bottom line is that the best way to make a decision is to come in for a consultation and try breast implant sizers on and become fully informed as to what is the best implant and approach for you. Dr. Corbin

34. PS- I just left you a message regarding my depressed acne scars. I looked at your website a bit and I want to tell you how wonderful you are to do charity work for those children who were born with the facial deformities. I don't think too many plastic surgeons are so kind hearted. God will bless you for what you are doing. I have a ten year old son who is going blind from RP. www.caringbridge.org/ca/coltonmeyer I am so self conscious of my depressed acne scars and have been for years... but now I feel so selfish for even worrying about my own facial problems. Thank you, Laura

Dear Laura, Thanks for your E-mail. Sorry to hear about your son. As far as my surgical charitable contribution worldwide, I can share with you that it is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Have a good day. Frederic H. Corbin M.D.

35. Generally how much does this procedure cost...I'm a D cup and I want to be a C

Hi Angela, I do not handle Fee's in my office so I asked Dee my Patient care co coordinator. Depending on the size of the breast reduction it can cost from $10,000. to $25,000 USD. The fees include a medical doctor for anesthesia, an RN for recovery, an RN for circulating in the operating room, a scrub tech, accredited operating facility, supplies and My professional fee. I like to reduce the size of the breasts with the least amount of scarring on the breast so I use the latest breast reduction techniques that leave small incisions around the nipples and vertically down the breast. I don't use the old Inverted T techniques that leaves the patient with big scars in the breast creases in addition to around the nipple and down the breast. If you have questions regarding financing your breast surgery contact Dee at (714) 671-3033 and she can assist you with all your surgical and financial needs. Frederic H. Corbin M.D.

36. My girlfriend 3 months ago had a full breast lift and saline implants. We have heard that underwire bras should never be worn and we have heard that after 3 months of healing underwire bras are ok to wear. What do you recommend. Thank you for your time. Angelo

Dear Angelo, This is an opinion that varies from plastic surgeon to plastic surgeon. For my breast lift patients I am ok letting them wear under wire bras shortly after breast surgery to help the breasts scar down. For my breast augmentation patients who have not had a lift I have to see the individual patient, but generally I do not recommend under wire bras' for 3 to 6 months after their breast implant surgery. Usually I want the breast implants to drop and settle first which may take up to 6 months in some patients. Frederic H. Corbin

37. Hi Dr. Corbin, I have had my implants for over 20 years and they require replacing. The SPAIR procedure sounds to me to be the least scarring. Would my sensitivity change with this? My two biggest fears are scars and losing my sensitivity. Would you happen to have any colleagues in the Central Florida area that perform this procedure as I understand that you are in California? I appreciate any information that can be passed my way. Thank you! Freda

Dear Freda, thank you for your E-mail. I have successfully been performing the spair breast lift and the circum vertical breast lift surgery for many years. I understand your concerns over sensitivity and scarring with Breast lift surgery. With the newer breast lift surgery techniques I am performing a patient is left with much less scarring and trauma to the breast than with the old inverted T breast lift. With a circum vertical breast lift you will definitely have less scarring, but no surgeon can guarantee the sensitivity in your breasts following any breast surgery. From my years of experience with breast surgery it has been my experience that some women have a temporary loss of sensation that returns in time. If you would like to speak to some of our patients who have had the vertical mastopexy you are interested in please contact Dee at my office to arrange this at (714) 671-3033. I have a lot of patients from Florida, but I do not work with any plastic surgeons there who I could recommend. If you can't come to California, I would advise you to go to www.PlasticSurgery.org to see which board certified plastic surgeons are in your area. Sincerely, Dr. Corbin

38. Have you come across or taken out sylicone implants that have been in a 50 year old female patient for 20 years, if there no visible or obvious problems or concerns with them, is there any reason to have them remove. Beside a bit of sagging going on. thank you for your wisdom and advice. Violette

Hello Violette, thank you for contacting my office. Your question is a popular one. Because I have been performing breast surgery for over 20 years many of my own patients ask the same question. Basically, many doctors believe ,"If it ain't broken don't fix it." In other words if you are not having any problems with your old silicone breast implants why mess with them. The breast implant manufacturers, Mentor, recommend patients exchange breast implants for new ones after 10 years. To Rule out any concerns you may have about breast implant ruptures I would recommend regular mammogram's and MRI'S. The FDA now recommends that Silicone breast implants be replaced after 10 years and that MRI'S be done every 3 to 5 years. I have many patients who have had silicone breast implants for 20 or more years who are now coming in for breast implant exchanges along with a lift. If you would like me to personally examine you so I can give you my recommendations please contact Dee at (714) 671-3033 to book an appointment. Sincerely, Dr. Corbin