Dual-plane breast augmentation refers to the placement of a breast implant in a specific anatomic position — partly behind the pectoralis muscle, and partly behind breast tissue. The layers of the breast, from external to internal, are skin, breast tissue, pectoralis muscle and ribs.  Plastic surgeons have debated the best plane for implant placement over many decades — some preferring placement between the breast tissue and the muscle (the “subglandular plane”), and others preferring placement between the muscle and the chest wall (the “submuscular plane”). 

There are advantages and disadvantages to each.  The “dual plane” was first described by Dr. John Tebbets in 2001 as a way to combine the advantages of both.

A Closer Look At The Dual-Plane Breast Augmentation Process

In the dual plane approach, the lower origin of the pectoralis muscle is detached from the chest wall and separated from the lower part of the breast tissue.  This allows the muscle to slide upward slightly.  When the implant is placed, the upper portion is covered by muscle and breast tissue, while the lower portion is covered by breast tissue alone.  The upper muscle coverage of the implant reduces the risk of rippling and implant visibility in the upper part of the breast, capsular contracture, and disruption of cleavage (synmastia), while improving mammography accuracy. 

At the same time, the lower part of the breast implant that is covered by breast tissue benefits from a smoother implant-breast transition, enhanced shape, and a more natural look and feel.

Dual Plane Breast Augmentation Benefits

This technique comes in very handy in cases of breast deflation with ptosis (sagging), which occurs after having children, breastfeeding, losing weight, or naturally with time.  In these cases, a dual plane allows the implant to be placed slightly lower to fill the lower pole of the breast and give a lifted appearance during breast augmentation.  This does not replace the need for breast lifting (mastopexy) in moderate to severe cases, but it does occasionally prevent the need for lifting in more mild cases.

 

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Why We Use This Method At Donaldson Plastic Surgery

Drs. Donaldson and Sieffert prefer dual-plane breast augmentation for all of the benefits mentioned here.  At Donaldson Plastic Surgery, our patients consistently comment on how proportionate and natural their results look, and how quickly they recover with minimal pain.  We’ve used the dual-plane approach to help over a thousand patients achieve their goals — safely, predictably and beautifully!

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About The Author

Jeffrey Donaldson, MD is a board-certified breast augmentation surgeon who uniquely specializes in the dual-plane method. Throughout his 20+ years, he has successfully performed this surgery on countless satisfied patients. He is dedicated to sharing insights about these advanced techniques as he constantly works to hone his craft.

Author: Dr. Michelle Sieffert

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1) Wrinkle Relaxers & Botox

Neurotoxin injections (such as Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, Jeuveau, etc.) are used to treat wrinkles caused by muscle activity—most commonly in the forehead and around the eyes.  They can also be used for prevention if you are only just starting to see wrinkles surface!  The injections are relatively painless, only take a few moments to complete, and only need to be repeated roughly every 3-4 months (so you may be starting to see those fine lines and wrinkles return while on quarantine). My single rule for neurotoxin injections is simple: no exercise for 24 hours afterward. 

We offer complimentary make-up touch-ups after any injectable procedure, so you can get back to your life without anyone being the wiser!

2) Facial Fillers

Filler is a substance made of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a naturally occurring substance in your skin. It is used to plump areas of the face and body that have experienced volume loss, or to shape areas of the face like the nose, chin, and jawline. Different fillers (Ultra and Ultra Plus, Voluma, Vollure, Volbella, Restylane, Radiesse, etc.) are designed with different measures of thickness and longevity; they can last anywhere from 1-2 years depending on the product used and the location injected. Some of my favorite locations for filler are the lips, cheeks, jawline, temples, and nasolabial folds. The treatment generally lasts 30 minutes (most of that time is spent discussing your needs and desires), and you can expect mild, but not unbearable, discomfort. 

I suggest planning filler injections at least a week ahead of any major event, as swelling and bruising is a possibility with any filler injection.  As mentioned above, we offer complimentary make-up touch-ups after your injectable visit, so you can leave our office looking and feeling like you!

3) Spa Facials & Chemical Peels

Perhaps you’ve been experimenting with making your own facials at home to keep your skin healthy and glowing, but need a little something extra to brighten or moisturize as you’re getting back to work.   In my opinion, nobody performs a more relaxing and effective facial than our Lead Medical Aesthetician, Tatjana! 

Tatjana offers 45 minute to 1 hour-long facials and peels, targeted to your specific skin type and individual skin concerns.  Come in to see Tatjana to discuss any medspa skin service you might be interested in, including brightening your skin, controlling acne, hydrating dry skin, improving fine lines, and calming irritated and inflamed skin. 

4) CoolSculpting for Rapid Bodyfat Removal

Everyone has that “one area” that, no matter how hard you exercise and diet, never seems to go away; this is where CoolSculpting is of benefit! The advanced CoolSculpting technology freezes localized areas of fat, causing damage and, ultimately, death, of the fat cell itself.  Over the ensuing 2 to 3 months, the body removes the damaged fat cells from the area, causing a reduction of up to 25% of the fat present in the treatment area. 

Each CoolSculpting treatment, or “cycle”, lasts 1 hour.  You can expect mild discomfort and tingling as the treatment begins and ends (as the skin cools and re-warms), and an area of numbness that returns to normal between 2 days and 3 weeks afterwards.  As with any minimally invasive body contouring technology, multiple treatments in the same area are required to get a great result. 

5) CoolTone for Body Contouring

CoolTone is the newest non-invasive body contouring tool at our practice and one that I am personally pretty excited about!  It uses electromagnetic stimulation to give your abdominal, gluteal, or thigh muscles (other treatment areas coming soon) an intense 30-minute workout, with the result being visible toning and strengthening.  This is a perfect solution for anyone who wants firmer abs, tighter glutes, or more defined thighs! 

 

In my many years as a fitness competitor, I always had trouble with my abdominal region, and I can honestly say after my first series of four treatments I have never seen my midsection look better.  I am a strong believer in CoolTone’s technology!

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Ready To Become the Best Version Of You? We’re Open to Help!

That wraps up my top 5 suggestions for coming out of quarantine!  Wrinkle relaxers, fillers, facials & peels, CoolSculpting, and CoolTone are among our most popular services, and are here to help you continue your efforts to help you feel your best every day! 

Call 614-442-7610 or submit a request on our website to schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic professionals to find out if any of these treatments are right for you.

We can’t wait to help you become your very best version of you!

We know that the pandemic caused by COVID-19 is taking its toll, especially when it comes to maintaining our regular routines. As priorities shift, skin care can feel like one more thing on the to-do list. This is why the aesthetic professionals at Donaldson Plastic Surgery have decided to remove this stressor with a series of 6 specially designed, medical-grade skin care kits from Environ. It is our hope that these kits make self-care a little bit easier for our patients during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis.

Below, you will find the list of pre-made kits available for purchase. Of the 6, each one is designed to address a unique skin care concern, and each has a complimentary DermaConcepts Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber included!

Kits only available during the month of April!

To order your kit with your complimentary scrubber, email Lead Medical Aesthetician Tatjana Dzamov at [email protected].

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Basic Supply Kits

Both kits provide essential products from the Youth EssentiA and Skin EssentiA lines. If you are concerned with maintaining youthful skin or have used medical-grade skin care products before, we recommend the Basic Youth EssentiA kit. If you are new to medical-grade skin care, we recommend starting with the Basic Skin EssentiA kit.

With the purchase of either Basic kit, you will receive a complimentary DermaConcepts Ultrasonic Skin Scruber and 10% off of any C-Quence Moisturizing Serum (from the Youth EssentiA line) or 10% off of any AVST Moisturizer (from the Skin EssentiA line)!

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“Roll Away The Years” Kits

Both kits include a collagen-induction therapy (CIT) roller and a complimentary DermaConcepts Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber, Environ bag and headband! Watch the Roll Away The Years How-To Video to learn how to properly use your roller.

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Specialized Kits

Both kits include products that are combined for their anti-aging and moisturizing properties. Complimentary with either Specialized kit is the DermaConcepts Ultrasonic Skin Scrubber!

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So, you have reached out and scheduled a virtual consultation with Dr. Donaldson or Dr. Sieffert. What else do you have to do to get ready? Firstly, we ask that you fill out our standard medical intake forms as instructed in your welcome email (be as thorough as possible). Secondly, you will submit a series of photographs to help your Donaldson Plastic Surgery provider create an individualized plan just for you!

 To ensure that your consultation goes smoothly, we ask that you submit your photos through our HIPAA-compliant platform, TouchMD. Soon after scheduling, you will receive a welcome email from TouchMD which includes a link to create a profile, and instructions to download the MyTouchMD application.  This will enable you to submit the photos used for your appointment. The photo submission button can be found by clicking the menu button on the top right of the MyTouchMD app. We ask that you complete these submissions 48 hours in advance so that we have time to prepare for your consultation.

 

Plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Sieffert has created this handy photo guide to assist you in taking quality photographs for your virtual consultation. These photos are best captured using your smart phone or digital camera.

How to Take Your Photos:

1. Find a place in your home that is well-lit with either direct or indirect sunlight.
2. Find a place in your home with a plain background (no wallpaper or props).
3. Set your camera or phone up about 3 feet away from you.
4. Set your camera at the same vertical level as the body part you are photographing.
5. Use your camera’s “timer mode”, OR have a friend or family member help take your photos.
6. Ensure the body part(s) in question are fully exposed and visible.  You may keep adjacent body parts covered.
7. Make sure your photographs are well-centered and well-lit, are not blurry, and capture the appropriate body part(s) fully. 
8. Take a series of photos from the following angles, based on which parts of the body you intend to discuss:

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Face, Eyelids, Nose, and Neck

Use these angles if you are discussing any of the following treatments: facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, chin surgery, otoplasty, earlobe repair, fat transfer to the face, brow lift, rhinoplasty, laser treatments, Botox, fillers, Kybella, facial reconstruction, or any other treatment related to the face or neck.

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Breast and Abdomen

Use these angles if you are discussing any of the following treatments: breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, inverted nipple surgery, nipple reduction, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, liposuction, body lift, gynecomastia surgery, male breast reduction, CoolSculpting, CoolTone, or any other treatment related to the breast or body.

Please Note:

While the example model in these photos is wearing clothes, we require the treatment areas you wish to discuss to be fully visible.

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Arms

Use these angles if you are discussing any of the following treatments: arm lift, liposuction, laser treatments, CoolSculpting, or any other treatment related to the arms and upper back.

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Thighs and Buttocks

Use these angles if you are discussing any of the following treatments: thigh lift, liposuction, labiaplasty, spider vein removal, CoolSculpting, CoolTone, laser hair removal, or any other treatment related to the thighs or buttocks.

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How to submit your photos:

The photo submission button can be found by clicking the menu button on the top right of the MyTouchMD app. We ask that you complete these submissions 48 hours in advance so that we have time to prepare for your consultation.

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Have questions?

We are here for you! The team at Donaldson Plastic Surgery is just one quick phone call or email away. You can call 614-442-7610 or email [email protected] to speak to our dedicated staff about any questions you may have leading up to your virtual consult.

We look forward to helping you become the very best version of you!

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About The Author

Dr. Michelle Sieffert is a board-certified plastic surgeon at Donaldson Plastic Surgery. She specializes in facial, breast and body procedures and has helped thousands of individuals feel more comfortable in their own skin through cosmetic surgery intervention. Throughout her 10+ year career, she has worked tirelessly to perfect her craft – starting from education and initial consultation, to surgery, to aftercare and beyond.