Episode 68: Navigating Breast Implant Surgery Risks with Dr. Thomas Chung

05/30/24 • 32 min

Breast implants are said to be a transformative solution for individuals seeking aesthetic enhancement or breast reconstruction. However, beneath their promise of confidence and beauty lie potential risks that are often overlooked. Breast Implant Illness (BII) underscores the importance of thorough patient education and informed consent, highlighting the complexities and implications associated with implants. That is why there is a need for us to raise more awareness about the realities of breast implant surgery, ensuring that patients are fully informed about the risks and potential consequences.

I'm thrilled to introduce our guest for today's episode – Dr. Thomas Chung. We share a similar background in terms of experience and training, which initially intrigued me since he has a clear and insightful understanding of breast implant illness, and we'll delve into that throughout this episode.

Plastic surgery career, including microsurgery and breast reconstruction

What struck me about Dr. Chung is his extensive experience in microsurgery, a field in which we've both worked. Dr. Chung's journey began with his training in the Navy, where he completed his internship and general surgery residency at Walter Reed, then part of the National Naval Medical Center consortium in DC. During his residency, he managed numerous casualties from conflicts like Fallujah, serving as chief of the trauma service with a daily census of 30 to 40 injured veterans. After finishing his general surgery training, he pursued a fellowship at Johns Hopkins, launching his plastic surgery career before returning to Walter Reed to handle more trauma cases.

His work involved extensive microsurgery, such as reconstructing an entire abdominal wall for a survivor of a suicide bombing and performing numerous extremity-free flaps and breast reconstructions using deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps. Over the first seven to eight years, Dr. Chung climbed the Navy's ranks, taking on leadership roles like Chief of Surgery, Chair of the Medical Executive Committee, and ultimately Chief Medical Officer for the San Diego region.

Dr. Chung remains passionate about plastic and aesthetic surgery despite his executive responsibilities. Notably, he performs many explant surgeries for patients experiencing issues after long-term breast implant use.

Immunosuppression in organ transplants and chronic inflammation

In my previous episodes, I've extensively discussed breast implant illness and Dr. Chung agrees that implants may cause more than just localized pain or discomfort. He believes there's something inherently toxic about implants that science can explain and this understanding aligns with groundbreaking surgical advancements by the Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Joseph Murray. Dr. Murray's work on organ transplants demonstrates the need for immunosuppression to prevent rejection.
In transplants, immunosuppression is crucial to avoid rejection, but this concept can also apply to implants. Patients often react negatively to treatments like steroids or methotrexate, fearing the medications rather than understanding their role in managing symptoms.

We see chronic inflammation in patients with implants, similar to organ rejection. In both scenarios, if the initial post-surgery period goes well, complications are less likely. However, issues during this time can lead to significant problems. For cancer patients undergoing reconstruction, immunosuppression can exacerbate complications, demonstrating the delicate balance required to manage immune responses.

Transplant rejection and the use of splint analogy to explain the concept

Using analogies from organ transplants helps patients understand that their bodies might be "rejecting" implants, causing chronic inflammation. This perspective can help them grasp the need for proper management and treatment strategies, even if those include higher doses of immunosuppressants like prednisone to manage their symptoms effectively.

When it comes to resolving issues with breast implants, focusing on the concept of explants and the importance of addressing capsules surrounding the implants is vital. We use the splinter analogy to explain the body's reaction to foreign objects. Just as a splinter in your finger causes pain and inflammation until it's removed, so does the body react to implants, leading to discomfort and potential toxicity. Removing the splinter provides immediate relief, compared to the relief patients might experience after explant surgery.

Dr. Chung appreciates the simplicity of this analogy, which helps patients understand the body's rejection response. He relates it to his experience on transplant rotations, where managing immune responses to transplanted organs was crucial. He emphasizes the importance of detailed procedures in removing implants, akin to meticulous methods used in cancer surgeries ...

Plastic surgery career, including microsurgery and breast reconstruction

Immunosuppression in organ transplants and chronic inflammation

Transplant rejection and the use of splint analogy to explain the concept

Previous Episode

Episode 67: Hydrogen’s Healing Powers: Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation with Dr. Paul Barattiero

Hydrogen plays a crucial role not just in managing oxidative stress and inflammation but also in supporting overall cellular health and enhancing various bodily functions. Beyond its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it has been shown to offer several additional benefits that contribute to overall well-being.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Paul Barattiero, a renowned expert who has lectured worldwide for over 22 years, focusing on the benefits of hydrogen gas in water. This aims to raise awareness of how molecular hydrogen can reduce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

Water quality, filtration, and health benefits

I met Dr. Paul Barattiero in September 2022 at a collaborative meeting where I was left impressed with his presentation of scientific literature and the development of his water filtration system. Dr. Paul’s journey began with his wife, who was ill for the first 10 years of their marriage, suffering from anemia, thyroid issues, and gynecological problems. In his commitment to help her, he discovered the benefits of hydrogen-enriched water, which significantly improved her health. This experience led him to create the Echo Water System, aiming to help others facing similar challenges.

The sad reality is that water quality has drastically diminished over time. Tests and laws governing water quality are outdated, and the number of chemicals and pollutants in water has increased significantly since then. In fact, even supposedly pristine wells can be contaminated by pesticides sprayed within a 300-mile radius. It is thus essential to filter out contaminants from any water source, especially municipal supplies, to prevent our bodies from becoming the filters.

When it comes to water filtration, the density and type of filter media are crucial. While the carbon filter is effective for removing organic contaminants, it is less effective against inorganic substances like pesticides, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals. As such, Dr. Paul created a filter that effectively removes contaminants because many filters on the market are inadequate. He explains that simply having carbon in a filter isn't enough; the format and amount of the media are critical.

For whole-house systems, catalytic carbon is used instead of activated carbon because it is more effective for contaminants like fluoride. For drinking water, Dr. Paul prefers reverse osmosis, which filters down to 0.0001 microns, effectively removing tiny particles such as plastics and pharmaceuticals. He designed a whole-house system that is more affordable and effective than many on the market, emphasizing the importance of proper engineering and adequate media for effective water filtration.

Hydrogen water bottles and their effectiveness

When discussing water quality with patients, I emphasize the importance of addressing oxidative stress, cellular stress, and inflammation – both acute and chronic. Many of my patients suffer from chronic inflammation, such as those with breast implant issues. Improving air, fluid, and food quality is crucial for health, especially before undergoing medical procedures.

Despite advising against using plastic bottles due to harmful phthalates, many patients still use them, particularly those who travel. The good thing is that Dr. Paul’s portable Echo Go Plus device for hydrogen water is a great solution as it is compact, free of harmful plastics, and ideal for travel. It uses purified or filtered water to generate hydrogen-rich water, which can help reduce inflammation and improve overall health.

The rise in popularity of Dr. Paul’s brand caused a significant increase in demand. However, the market has also seen a surge in counterfeit products falsely marketed which has been a challenge to address. These knockoffs often misuse Dr. Paul’s videos and endorsements, misleading consumers. Despite the legal challenges, the Echo brand remains dedicated to providing high-quality, effective hydrogen water solutions.

Hydrogen and its role in managing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body

Hydrogen is crucial for daily living and postoperative recovery as it acts as a selective antioxidant, targeting harmful reactive oxygen species without affecting beneficial radicals. It also promotes the production of nitric oxide, peptides, and collagen, essential for overall health. Its innate ability to support various physiological processes makes it a vital component for maintaining health and mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation.

I advise patients to drink filtered or hydrogen water and add electrolytes and proteins to aid in reducing tissue swelling. Proper hydration should be half your body weight in ounces of water daily. It's essential to drink pure water, as water with contaminants can be rejected by the body, leading to dehydration.

Proper hydration with high-quality water is crucial for ...

Next Episode

Episode 69: What is Breast Explant Surgery?

Breast explant surgery or breast implant removal is a surgical procedure commonly done for various reasons such as implant issues, breast reconstruction, implant rupture, dissatisfaction with the appearance of the implants, or other cosmetic purposes.

In breast explant surgery, the implants alone may be removed or the surrounding scar tissue may also be included. In some circumstances, a breast lift may be done with the explant procedure to enhance the look of the breasts.

In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss what breast explant surgery is and why people want to undergo such surgery.

What is breast explant surgery?

When we’re talking about breast explant surgery, we’re referring to the removal of breast implants and any scar tissue formed around the implants. Nowadays, many plastic surgeons do explants for various reasons.

My approach to explant surgery is to everything out in its entirety, which is why many people seek me out for that very reason. Typically, my clients are those who had a placement of a device either for cancer reconstruction or other cosmetic purposes and are experiencing symptoms associated with breast implant illness.

The most common symptoms experienced by my patients are anxiety, depression, brain fog, dry eyes, headache, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, nerve pain down their arms or legs, joint pain, and other gastrointestinal issues.

Oftentimes, patients find me through what I offer in terms of holistic rejuvenation with fat transfer. In fact, I’ve been doing fat transfer since the 2000s for cancer reconstruction and other cosmetic purposes. I'm very comfortable with doing these operations and I have already refined my process, having done over 1,500 fat transfers.

Why do I prefer fat transfer?

When it comes to breast lifts, we have different kinds of techniques such as vertical, crescent, peri-areolar, and anchor breast lifts. The patients may have a preferred kind but it actually depends on the necessity.

If the patient had a peri-areolar placement, then we try to use that scar and remove the implant intact through it. The average length of a surgery is about two and a half hours. If we add a lifting procedure, it's a little over three hours.
If I'm doing a combination procedure of fat removal to be used for fat transfer, it usually takes between four to five hours. The main reason as to why I like to use fat is because it's your own tissue. It has actually been used as a filler for over 100 years.

Besides providing or enhancing the breast volume, it also helps offset some visual changes that the patient's not happy with. This is why as much as I can, I try to help patients learn about fat transfers and make them understand from my perspective.

Doing these operations can be draining, especially mentally, so it’s best for patients to have a great support system that shows up to help them and provide much-needed support.
What I always emphasize is if you’re considering explants or doing other procedures, it’s important to find a reliable professional with whom you can communicate your concerns.You can check my website to help you along the way.