30 minute read
CHOW BELLA
BELLA CHOW BELLA
CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE BARS ∙ A TOAST TO THE TASTEMAKERS
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
By Kimberlee Ho of kickassbaker.com
These easy cheesecake bars come together super quickly. With a no-bake cheesecake filling, loads of sweet caramel apples on top, and a salty pretzel crust that doubles as a topping, you’ll love every bite of these sweet, salty, lusciously creamy dessert bars!
Serves: 16 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
For the Pretzel Crust: • 3 cups mini salted twist pretzels • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted • ¼ cup packed brown sugar • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the No-Bake Cheesecake Filling: • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature • 2 cups heavy whipping cream • ¼ cup granulated sugar
For the Caramel Apple Topping: • ¼ cup unsalted butter • 4 medium tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch slices • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • ¾ cup packed brown sugar • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Make the Pretzel Crust: To the bowl of a food processor, add the pretzels and pulse to make fine crumbs. (Alternatively, place pretzels in a sealed ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin.) Measure out 1½ cups. Combine pretzel crumbs, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Set aside ¼ cup of the crust. Press remaining crust evenly into the bottom of an 8x8 pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until very lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool while you prepare the cheesecake filling
3. Prepare the No-Bake Cheesecake Filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment affixed, add the softened cream cheese and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Turn the mixer off and add the heavy whipping cream and sugar. Beat until thick and smooth, about 2 minutes. Spread the cheesecake filling evenly on top of the slightly cooled pretzel crust. Place in the fridge to chill while you prepare the topping
4. Prepare the Caramel Apple Topping: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the apple slices and lemon juice. Cook, stirring constantly, for 5-7 minutes or until apples are tender. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook 2-3 minutes longer or until brown sugar is fully dissolved. Allow the apple mixture to cool slightly in the pan before topping the cheesecake bars with the apples. Carefully transfer the pan to the fridge and chill for at least 2 hours until set and firm. Cut into 16 squares and serve with pretzel crumb sprinkled on top.
NOTES: To store, cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to three days.
A Toast TO THESE Tastemakers
By Amanda Mactas
Not all food is created equal. And not all food brands are equally innovative. If you’re looking for small brands to discover and support right now, we’ve tasted endless amounts, and these are some of the tastiest, most inventive, and inspirational on the market.
THE COOKIE DEPARTMENT
Like many food companies that cater to specific dietary needs, The Cookie Department as we know it today was founded by necessity. After Elannah Resnikoff suffered a traumatic brain injury, her husband and The Cookie Department founder, Akiva Resnikoff, who originally started the company with his Awaken Baked Caffeinated Cookie, decided to refocus the purpose of his cookies after Elannah’s doctors espoused the benefits of the ketogenic diet.
On this new regimen, Elannah experienced decreased inflammation and a stabilization in her blood sugar. Coincidentally, the keto diet was growing ever more popular in the country at the same time. Akiva then decided to reformulate his line of functional cookies to a new line of keto cookies so his wife could enjoy them.
Low in carbs, gluten-free, kosher, and containing zero artificial ingredients, the cookies are not only beneficial to your body, but also cater to those with dietary restrictions. Regularly touted as the best tasting keto cookies on the market, The Cookie Department currently boasts two delicious flavors, Mint Condition (double chocolate chip + mint) and Cake Walk (birthday cake + sprinkles), now joined by the brand new Champion Chip (chocolate chip), which just launched this fall. TheCookieDepartment.com
BUNNIE CAKES
Born out of a desire to help her young son, Bunnie Cakes founder Mariana Cortez sought to bring delicious, quality, gluten-free and vegan baked goods to the market. Initially she experimented in her home kitchen, bringing mini cupcakes to local restaurants in the hopes they would sell them.
Mariana eventually quit her full-time job after supplying handfuls of restaurants every week. As her business steadily grew, she moved to a kitchen space, and from there, a storefront near the Wynwood District in Miami. Since 2013, her space has earned numerous accolades, including Best Vegan Bakery in Miami, Best Cupcake in Miami, and even a successful appearance on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.”
Bunnie Cakes Studio, which was built next to her storefront, is the first cupcake and cake decorating studio in Miami, where customers can book parties and learn top tips and tricks to doing-it-yourself, Bunnie Cakes-style.
While this bakery definitely caters to a specific group of eaters, don’t cross it off your list if you’re not gluten-free or vegan—their treats are insanely delicious! And best of all, they recently launched nationwide shipping so now you can enjoy your Bunnie Cakes no matter where you reside. BunnieCakes.com
MOM IN THE MAIL
When her eldest son headed off to college, Sharon Graves received a brochure for an automated care package company, and that’s when her idea for Mom in the Mail planted its seed. If you’re going to send a care package, it needs to be packaged with love and care, she thought. The award-winning baker and owner of LA’s BLVD Kitchen (a community-based cooking school, shop, and catering company) began sending care packages to her son in college and started receiving countless requests from friends and neighbors to send packages to their own children.
Now, whether you’re a baker or not, or you’re strapped for time, you can send (or receive) a thoughtfully curated box of goodies all made from scratch. Each Mom in the Mail box comes with your choice of mom-made treats, a DIY thank-you card, a greeting card, and the option to include a note from you, too. Plus, customers have the choice to throw in some extra goodies for birthday celebrations, stressful days, or whatever occasion may arise. You won’t want to pass up on the opportunity to try these out-of-this-world cookies. MomInTheMail.com 107
Savory Snacks
SABOR MEXICANO
Ayeshah Abuelhiga grew up enjoying the comfort food at her parent’s soul food carry-out restaurant in Maryland. She first began missing that down home comfort food when she went away to college, and could only find what she was looking for in unhealthy, processed fast food chains. Fast forward to today and Ayeshah is the founder of Mason Dixie Foods, her answer to fresh, natural, and delightful comfort food that can be enjoyed easily at home. Her frozen line of ready-to-bake goods includes biscuits, scones, and rolls that lock in the freshness without adding any preservatives. Made from scratch and using all real ingredients that you can pronounce are ready to eat in just 20 minutes and will give you all the comfort of a warm hug or cozy blanket that you didn’t know you needed until you were wrapped in it. MasonDixieFoods.com Authentic, fresh products are the backbone of Jorge Saldana’s many food ventures. Growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, Jorge sought to bring the flavors and traditions he enjoyed growing up to California, where he owns two restaurants—Cancún Sabor Mexicano and Tlaloc Sabor Mexicano—which both utilize local ingredients for fresh farm-to-table Mexican cuisine.
Following the success of his restaurants, Jorge noticed that his customers had a growing interest in bringing home his delicious chips and salsas. It was then that he created the Sabor Mexicano Foods line, which makes authentic, all-natural Mexican products, all by hand. The difference between their chips and your typical Tostitos is like night and day. Created using ingredients from Jorge’s Sonoma County farmhouse, Sabor Mexicano products are fresh, farm-quality thanks to careful growing and cultivation that’s free from pesticides, harmful chemicals, and GMOs. Not only are the company’s products simple, fresh, flavorful, and healthy, but they can leave you feeling good about their impact on the environment, too.
MASON DIXIE FOODS
SaborMexicano.com
BELLA MIND & BODY
FITNESS FASHION ∙ SNACK ATTACK ∙ CHANGE YOUR MINDSET WITH NADIA MURDOCK 8 THINGS YOU'LL LOVE ABOUT F45 ∙ SCENTS “DOWN THERE” ∙ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BREAST IMPLANTS
GLAMOURINA Glamourina is the go-to activewear apparel brand for culturally conscious women. Co-owners Kia Phillips and Nekol Gaskins are working moms who share a passion to design fashionable clothing that inspires and uplifts women. “Our mission is to encourage all women to live healthy active lifestyles by providing cultural and unique activewear for all body types.” $30-$90, Glamourina.com
ROAM LOUD Toyin Omisore, “Wanderer in Chief,” created Roam Loud in 2018. She is a Liberian-Nigerian American, born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. Toyin wanted to unapologetically create a lifestyle where brown skin is at the forefront and not an ELEVEN BY VENUS WILLIAMS Founded by tennis champion Venus Williams, EleVen was developed with the dream of creating a community to help empower women to feel and do their best on and off the court. EleVen is a fashion-forward activewear brand that creates tennis and everyday apparel for every life moment. Every collection is designed to make women feel like an 11 out of 10 when wearing the pieces, so they feel confident and empowered to push the limits in their own lives. $36 - $170, EleVenByVenusWilliams.com GEAR THAT MAKES US WANT TO MOVE LOVE LAUGH AMAZE Taking the quarantine and making it beautiful! Liz Chan, a designer by trade, used this time to tap into her creative, design, and marketing background. Inspired by artist Akeem David Berry’s paintings, she wanted to bring his colorful graphics to life, and the brand was born. The colors and designs of this fun athleisure line are so soft and pretty, and there are even some great choices for men. MIRAME SWIM Mirame is a collection of swimwear that seamlessly slips into a woman’s wardrobe. The suits are made in New York of upcycled fabrics. For the active woman who takes her workouts to the water, this is the ultimate swimwear collection that’s full of sleek and stylish choices. Noteworthy: Mirame is a direct translation from Spanish that means “Look at Me.” Founder Melinda Huff chose this name, she says, because it is confident, powerful, and sexy. $59-$179, MirameSwim.com afterthought. “There are so many women just like myself By Jennifer Walsh $24 -$55, LoveLaughAmaze.com that hold a high importance How we work and dress for work has drastically changed over the course of to health and wellness in their the past seven months. Not only are many of us not dressing up day to day, lives,” she explains. “So why not a but we’ve also been (not so) secretly wearing the same athleisure standard brand that supports that journey through premium pieces where we are seen and celebrated?!” $36- $70, RoamLoud.com of black or blue leggings for working out and our Zoom calls. It felt like the days just blended together, and gone were the days of going to the gym or working out anywhere with friends. Why care, right?!
This season we are reclaiming color and want to make sure we separate our workout wear from our actual workday clothing—even if we are still working from home. Thankfully, there are some bright stars in the fitness category that have all of us taking another look. These finds are so fun and functional, they’re making us here at BELLA want to get up and move more! Better yet, all of the brands we discovered truly want to empower and lift women up, which we couldn’t love more.
KIMMIE VINCENT
Kimmie Smith is best known for being the co-founder/creative and style director of Athleisure
Mag and the co-executive producer and host of its companion podcast network, Athleisure Studio.
When it comes to fitness wear and gear, she has seen it all. When COVID-19 hit, Kimmie didn’t wait for someone else to make a sports-centric mask, so she went out and created one that was nonexistent at the time. The colors are not only cool and beautiful but a few of the pieces even have SPF—so brilliant! $30, KimmieVincent.com 113
Love to Nibble? No Problem!
By Jennifer Walsh
If eating healthy is a part of your plan for fall, we’re right there with you. All of this time at home, accompanied by quite a bit of uncertainty, has led to overeating across the board. It’s been a nerve-wracking time for many, so don’t feel bad if you’ve found yourself spending more time snacking than Zooming. (Maybe we are snacking because of all of the Zooming!)
It’s no surprise that many Americans have admitted to gaining 15 pounds over the past six months, giving rise to the term “Quarantine 15.” Dr. John Morton, medical director of bariatric surgery at Yale New Haven Health System, has seen patients in telehealth appointments who have gained five, 10, and even 30 pounds.
While many of us are continuing to work and school from home, it’s important to get the constant “bad” snacking under control. That means filling our pantries with great, good-for-you goodies that can help fulfill our cravings while also making them delicious and guilt-free.
Here are a few of our favorite finds…
UNITE FOOD
Based in Southern California, UNiTE is the world’s first globally inspired protein bar. UNiTE Food was born to shake up the run-of-the-mill bar aisle, inviting customers to discover and taste the delicious diversity of flavors from around the world—no passport required! Each UNiTE bar is made with wholesome, nutritious, real food ingredients and packed with nut butters, hemp seeds, and prebiotic fiber. Offering 10 grams of protein each, UNiTE bars are gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free. $29/12-pack, UniteFood.com
PIPCORN Jen Martin, her brother, Jeff, and his wife, Teresa, built Pipcorn from the ground up in Brooklyn, actively pioneering for more diversity in the natural foods space. Pipcorn reimagines snacks with heirloom corn to create better-for-everyone, modern favorites, and offers four lines: Heirloom Popcorn, Heirloom
Cheese Balls, Heirloom Corn Dippers, and Heirloom
Crackers. Pipcorn recently donated 50% of website sales for a weekend to the George Floyd Memorial Fund, and banded together with other brands to spearhead a month-long Pride initiative in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. All proceeds from this benefited The Okra Project, a collective organization that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people. $3.99 - $4.79, PipSnacks.com
PARTAKE FOODS Denise Woodard, founder of Partake Foods, is a food-allergy-mom-turnedchampion-for-better-options. She was frustrated with the taste and nutritional profile of the existing snacks in the allergy space, so she worked to create a brand that made delicious products with ingredients you can feel good about sharing with your family. These bite-sized cookies are just the things you need when you’re hungry to indulge without the guilt. $14.99 - $24.99, PartakeFoods.com
BITSY’S This organic food brand was founded with a mighty mission to give families a smarter, happier way to snack by offering healthy cookies and crackers for kids. The three founders of Bitsy’s—all moms (one of whom is actress Gabrielle Union)—were keenly aware of how access to food varies dramatically, particularly across socio-economic lines. They recognized the importance of creating products that address the inequity in access and affordability of wholesome, kid-focused snacks and food. In response to the coronavirus, Bitsy’s donated snacks to the Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as WIN (Women in Need), the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for New York City’s homeless families. $24/case (6 boxes), Bitsys.com
NATURE’S GARDEN Nature’s Garden is an innovative snack food brand that believes in creating delicious and functional products that not only curb hunger but also promote heart health and digestive wellness. They have a big selection of dried fruits, trail mixes, and nuts and seeds. One of their most popular items is the Keto Snack Mix, a heavenly handful of mixed nuts and probiotic cheese balls that aligns with the low-carb, high-fat Keto diet. No other snack food on the market contains a naturally occurring strain of probiotic that is microencapsulated to ensure the bacteria in your gut is healthy and balanced. The probiotic also helps to shed belly fat and improve overall digestive health. $13-$15, NaturesGarden.net
SNACK MAGIC SnackMagic was founded by STADIUM, the popular, New York-based group lunch delivery service that was a daily part of office culture for hundreds of businesses prior to COVID-19. Once work from home became the norm, founder Shaunak Amin switched things up to keep people happily fed even though they were no longer working in their offices. Shaunak’s SnackMagic is now a national snack delivery service that allows anyone to create or gift a customizable snack box. It’s perfect for individuals who want to add new snack options to their home pantry, as well as for businesses to keep their employees motivated while working remotely. SnackMagic offers 500 products from more than 200+ brands, most of which are new or emerging, so it’s the perfect place to discover new favorites. Starts at $45, SnackMagic.com
Change Your
Mindset, Change Your Body with Nadia Murdock
Nadia Murdock, a nationally recognized fitness coach, published author and regular on-air fitness expert, has been on a mission to help women feel powerful and strong in the skin they’re in. Once you meet Nadia, you feel like you have known her your entire life—she’s that kind of woman. Kindness shines from her eyes and her heart is as big as her smile. Her relatable way of how she conducts her business— she specializes in Pilates and Barre classes—makes her workouts feel more accessible and possible.
Nadia refers to herself as a mindset and movement expert that helps women get out their heads and into their bodies. She also focuses on helping women of color move and meditate. Her weekly virtual classes have received amazing feedback on how these express workouts have helped so many women align their mind and body. Paired with short meditations at the end of each session, students new and old are discovering the importance of mindfulness when it comes to creating a complete wellness journey.
For many, working out or getting healthy is about the body, but without the mind as part of the plan, it’s hard to align for long-term success, Nadia explains. “When I graduated from college I struggled with losing weight in a healthy way and actually being able to keep it off. It wasn’t until I aligned my mind and body that I saw lasting results that truly changed my life. I was my first client.”
Nadia changed her life via her own weight loss journey. She dedicated her life to sharing that power with others through her company, Nadia Murdock Fit, which she launched in 2012. Her book, “You Can Have It All,” chronicles her personal journey to lifelong wellness. Nadia has a B.A. in psychology, is certified in Pilates and Barre, and taps into the strength and power of the mind when advising others in achieving their fitness goals. She teaches Virtual Mindset Barre classes via Zoom, which are 30-minute classes, and recently launched the 4-Week Ultimate Jump Start, which includes guided meditations and mindful Barre workouts. Her COVID Pivot Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nadia, like many others, had to find new ways to engage with customers and clients while keeping them tuned in and feeling good. She knew she had an audience; it was just about reaching them in a meaningful and as impactful way as possible in such an uncertain time.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy. “Balancing my company, pregnancy, a toddler, and my husband working from home was no easy task. At the same time, it encouraged me to explore new things, ways of life, coping mechanisms, and alternative avenues of serving others,” says Nadia. “Although we have known people who have contracted and/or passed away from COVID-19, it has truly given my family a deeper appreciation for gratitude and those that matter most.”
Her determination to help others helped her launch her own business. “For years I was merely a fitness enthusiast and eventually decided to turn my passion into a career. It was the best decision I ever made. Having the ability to influence so many women’s lives in a positive way has been such a blessing.”
Live fashionably
Holly Volpe Interior Design
www.hollyvolpeinteriordesign.com
eady for high-intensity workouts designed to get you rapid results thanks to a full array of wellness resources? Meet F45 Training, R 8 THINGS YOU'LL LOVE ABOUT F 45 If your goal is to stay active, healthy, and sane, set your sights on F45, either locally as gyms a global fitness community By Gina LaGuardia begin to re-open, or whose innovation goes well beyond the gym floor. Especially during these gym-less times, F45 has emerged as a major fitness player, enhancing its more from the comfort of your own home with their app. Need more convincing? Here are 8 than 1,700 locations worldwide with a supercharged app that additional reasons to rework your body and mind with F45: 118 offers at-home workouts, nutritional advice, and ongoing support in the way of 45-Day Challenges. I recently signed on for one and was instantly impressed by daily workouts (live and on-demand!), recipes and meal plans, helpful hints and tips, and even customized cuisine delivered right to my door. Trifecta, the nation’s largest organic meal delivery service, works in partnership with F45 and its nutritionists to deliver customized macro-balanced meals to participants interested in the ease and convenience of nobrainer nutrition (like me!). 1 F45’s functional, results-driven 45-minute workouts are doable and badass. That’s because the fitness ideology upon which it’s based merges three leading-edge training styles–high-intensity interval training (HIIT), circuit training, and functional training–into one incredible workout. You can embark on their F45 Challenge, a 45- day initiative that incorporates nutrition advice, daily meal plans, workout options (in-person and on-demand), and goal-tracking that is easy and engaging. Just download the F45 Challenge app and go! 2
They’ve made believers out of many of us. F45 is one of the fastest-growing fitness franchises in the world, and has amassed more than 1,700 fitness studios worldwide with over 800 in the US. 3 4 Top-notch inspiration is key! F45’s roster of fitness professionals and athletic directors around the world, including the “Face of F45” Cory George and F45 Sports Nutritionist Kim Bowman, are the cream of the crop.
5
Trifecta, the company that provides sciencebacked, customized meals for F45
Challenge participants, uses USDA organic, gluten-, dairy- and soy-free ingredients that are never frozen, and are wild caught/grass fed. All food arrives in a refrigerated case, and is vacuum-sealed and ready to heat and eat. 7
F45 Challenge Meals feature a balance of complex carbohydrates, good fats and lean protein, and are in line with F45 Training’s key pillars for optimal nutrition and health. Trifecta offers meals in six categories based on how you eat—you choose! Yep, they’ve got 6 Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Clean Eating, Classic Meal, and an A La Carte section that operates like an online grocery store deli.
Mark Wahlberg. I mean… did I mention that the company’s “Chief F45 Enthusiast” (and investor!) is my alltime favorite? Peep Mark’s F45-based fitness Instagram posts @MarkWahlberg 8 and you’ll see what I mean. They are nothing short of inspiring—and jaw-dropping!
SCENTS “DOWN THERE”
BY JENNIFER WALSH
Women have often carried shame around about their scent “down there.” As females, we all have different body scents and natural odors. However, there are many different reasons women may experience an “unpleasant” type of odor. This can be due to changes in hormonal levels, stress, diet, hygiene, sexual activity, medications, and body composition.
We turned to Casey-Ann Collins, an RN, MSN, FNP-C at Garden OB/GYN in New York City, who was recently named a Top Nurse by the International Nurse’s Association, to help us understand a few things about what’s going on down there.
Why do we have the scent we do? In my practice, the most common culprit for unpleasant odors are due to pH imbalances that often lead to bacterial and fungal infections of the vagina known as bacterial vaginosis and vaginal candidiasis, commonly known as yeast infections. While changes in vaginal scents are normal as we age, they’re also based on factors like hormones, vaginal pH, diet, and lifestyle.
A women’s body odor can definitely change for the better or for the worse. For example, a menopausal woman may find herself having more distinct odors if she struggles with urinary incontinence or has an underlying condition like Diabetes Mellitus, which will put her at increased risk for yeast infections. On the flip side to that, I find that younger patients who are sexually active with more than one partner are more likely to report experiencing fishy odors and malodorous discharge.
And what about the unending supply of washes for women on the market? Feminine washes have become quite controversial these days. I often have patients report their vaginal odor worsening after using various feminine washes. However, I do believe they have their place as far as restoring vaginal pH and thus preventing unpleasant odors. My advice to my patients is to always stay away from heavily scented soaps and washes because the perfumes and chemicals within them are more likely to either dry out or irritate the vagina. However, studies have shown that just using plain water, in addition to practicing good hygiene is enough to prevent unwanted odors.
So what can we do to freshen things up? Even with the practice of good hygiene, unpleasant odors can sometimes occur. We are not meant to smell like flowers, and we all have different scents. It is important to consider all factors, such as diet, your stress level, medications, contraceptive use, body composition, and your hormones. It is always a good idea to ensure your sexual partner and/or sexual activities do not play a negative role as well. Thus, maintaining a clean diet, staying hydrated, incorporating probiotics, keeping stress levels to a minimum and practicing good personal and sexual hygiene can be beneficial in maintaining vaginal health and preventing unwanted odors.
BREAST AUGMENTATION:
What You Need to Know hen it comes to breast augmentation surgery, getting implants is not a oneW About Your Breast Implants By Alexandra Anastasio Dr. Preminger likens getting breast implants to buying a new car. “You’re going to enjoy and-done operation. Yes, you’ll have those implants for quite some them, they’ll get you where you need to go, but they’re eventually time, but there’s going to come a point where they will most likely going to require a little maintenance,” she explains. need to be swapped out. That’s why it’s important to follow up yearly with your doctor to make sure there are no problems. Because many women have their breast implants done when they’re younger, when the time comes to have them swapped out, they may “Women need to be aware when they first get implants that at some point in the years ahead they’re going to have to get those implants redone,” says Dr. B. Aviva Preminger, a top plastic surgeon in New York City’s Upper East Side. not recall specific information pertaining to the implants which can be helpful to the surgeon. Not knowing this information, combined with implant malposition, scarring, and sagging of the breasts with time, can make revision surgery more challenging. In an in-depth conversation, BELLA sat down with Dr. Preminger After a number of years, the integrity of the implant itself, along with to learn more about breast implants, revision surgery, and why the natural changes our bodies experience as a result of aging, are maintenance is the number one piece of information she stresses to all contributing factors when it comes to having breast revision surgery. of her patients.
What are the different types of breast implants? Traditionally, there are silicone and saline implants, which are basically sterile salt water. Silicone implants are pre-filled and come in specific sizes; saline are put in empty and filled up through a small tube.
The silicone implants feel more natural because they are a cohesive gel; saline is like a bag of water. Sometimes you can see more visible rippling with a saline implant than you would with silicone. And when saline ruptures, which may eventually happen since these are all man-made devices, the implant leaks with the saline becoming absorbed into the body and the implant deflates. With silicone, a leak is harder to pick up and is usually diagnosed on imaging. It’s a totally personal choice. What I
When it comes to mammograms, should women with implants proceed in the same manner as women without? I see patients afraid to go for a mammogram because of their implants, but you need to go for breast imaging the way you would if you didn’t have them. You’ll need to notify the mammographer that you have implants, and she’ll do something called an “Eklund view,” which is another way to look at the breast tissue around the implant. I put most of my implants under the pectoral muscle [implants can go above or below the muscle], which helps the mammographer as well. What does the process of swapping them out require? You can change the type of implant, and even the size. I have 3D imaging in my office, which allows me to show patients what they would look like with certain amounts of volume. They can visualize what In 1992, silicone implants were Something to also keep in mind—if you’ve taken off the market for safety lost some weight, been pregnant, or breast concerns, but the studies used to fed, that could contribute to the sagging determine that information was of the breast, so you might need a lift at the found to not be based in any real same time as the implant exchange. science. Once it was determined that they were safe, they were put back on the market in 2006. If the implants are intact, I go in, take the implant out, put a new one in, and do a lift if needed. The more complicated procedures How would you advise a patient on which implant to choose? come when they’ve had them in for a long time and there are some issues—then it becomes a different kind of operation. they’ll look like a little bigger or smaller. tell my patients is that they need to Is it a painful procedure, and what is the be able to sleep at night; if they have concerns about silicone, whether they’re actually based on science or not, they should go with a saline implant. If they’re looking for the TYPES OF BREAST IMPLANTS recovery time? It’s generally not a painful procedure. When patients first have an implant put in, there can be some discomfort from the stretching of the tissue, which resolves fairly most natural feel, a silicone implant is the better choice. How often should patients have their implants checked? Many women get them done when they’re young and forget what SILICONE: Made of a cohesive gel, this type of implant feels the most natural, like breast tissue. SALINE: quickly. If all they’re doing is swapping out the implant either for a larger or smaller one, the stretching process has already happened so it’s not a particularly painful procedure. When there is more work to be done, patients may experience a bit more discomfort post-op. they actually have in. They don’t Comprised mostly of salt water, this implant can What are your top recommendations remember the type, the size, or the be thought of as a bag filled with water. to patients who are considering breast company, so it’s very important to augmentation for the first time or looking to follow up once a year. I don’t charge my patients for the visit swap out their existing implants? because I want them to follow up. Most importantly, you want to go to a board certified surgeon. When considering revision surgery, it’s important to also go to someone with experience How long after getting breast implants should they be swapped out, and why is it important to do so? On average, breast implants last about 10-15 years, but that doing revision breast procedures. There can be cases—and I’ve had many—that are more challenging than a first time breast augmentation so you want to make sure you’re in the right hands. doesn’t mean you have to run to your surgeon at the 10-year Second, when you have breast implant surgery, the surgeon is supposed to give mark. I do think once you get past the 15-year mark there you a card containing all of the information of what they put in your body. If they is usually some disruption of the shell, and something may don’t give you one, ask for it. Down the road, if you have a revision, the surgeon need to be done. And, of course, after the breast implants are will want to know what you have inside, especially if there was ever an issue, such swapped out, you’ll still need to follow up once a year. as a device recall.
