Breast augmentation, more commonly known as breast implants, is a common plastic surgery procedure that increases the size and improves the shape of your breasts. The first successful breast augmentation procedure was performed in 1962, and over the years has been perfected to make the process as easy and painless as possible. It has helped millions of women feel more comfortable and confident with the size and shape of their breasts, and while there are many possibilities to the shape and sizes available, the decision is a very personal one and should be given careful consideration.
The procedure itself is quite simple, although it does require the patient to receive general anesthesia. Breast implants contain either saline or silicone gel and can be inserted through the crease below the breast or the armpit. This is done after a small incision is made in either one of those places. Depending on the type of implant used and the size, the prosthesis will be placed under the pectoral muscle or behind the breast tissue (but over the pec muscle). Your surgeon will discuss all available options they feel are right for you.
The Breast Lift Procedure
The breast lift is another common procedure that helps to improve the shape of the breasts. During the operation, the breast tissue is reshaped to give it a more perky appearance. The firmness of the breasts can reduce over time for various reasons (age, pregnancy), which is why a lift is a perfect solution to reshape your breasts and restore them to their youthful form.
Breast implants and lifts are commonly performed together and after the procedure, you may experience some swelling and pain for two weeks. It’s important to reduce any strenuous activity and follow your surgeon’s directions regarding post-op care.
We all want to feel more confident about our bodies, even though the physical changes we experience over time due to age and other life choices often make it difficult to do so. If you’re considering a breast augmentation/lift, you can rest assured knowing the professionals at Napa Solano Plastic Surgery are ready to help you restore your breasts to their youthful form with years of experience behind, above and beyond patient care, and state of the art technology.
*Disclaimer: Image is representation of model and not actual patient
Are you frustrated because certain areas of stubborn body fat are not responding to strict dieting and excruciating workouts? Don’t worry, you are not alone. In fact, this is a very common problem with many men and women trying to get in shape; and it is the main reason that liposuction is the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure across the entire United States.
Also referred to as lipo-sculpting, liposuction is a light procedure that removes pockets of stubborn body fat that cause your physique to look disproportionate and less aesthetic. There are common areas on the body like “love handles”, double chins, and the lower belly area that tend to build up this fat for various reasons (age, poor lifestyle choices, physical changes due to pregnancy, etc). These parts of the body don’t respond well to diet and exercise the way other areas of the body do and are the likely candidates for liposuction.
The Procedure
With a small incision on the desired area, a thin tube is inserted and gently moved back and forth to loosen the fat. Once the fat is loosened, it’s sucked out of the patient’s body with a surgical vacuum (or a syringe can also be used) attached to a cannula. Liposuction patients are administered anesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable. After the procedure has finished, patients can expect some swelling and soreness for up to 72 hours after the liposuction has been performed. Once the swelling begins to subside, patients will notice the results and change in their body contour.
Is Liposuction For You?
You can rest assured that the professionals at Napo Solano plastic surgery will make the entire experience as comfortable for you as possible while achieving the results you desire. Renowned plastic surgeons Dr. Brian Klink and Dr. William McClure have over 30 years of plastic surgery experience which has helped changed the lives of thousands of satisfied patients. You’ll be advised in advance if the procedure is right for you and if it is, the team at Napo Solano Plastic Surgery will provide you with the best patient care from start to finish.
*Disclaimer: Image is representation of model and not actual patient
Napa Solano Plastic Surgery offers a wide range of cosmetic procedures performed by board certified plastic surgeons. Each procedure’s goal is to refresh and rejuvenate with natural-looking results. Patients will be pleased to find face procedures, body procedures, skin procedures, hair procedures, and medical spa treatments. Dr. William J. McClure and Dr. Brian K. Klink provide patients with the latest in plastic surgery technology and compassionate care. Their excellent staff and state of the art facilities means patients feel safe and comfortable when undergoing these procedures.
Facial cosmetic surgery procedures include facelift, necklift, browlift, eyelid procedure, neck liposuction, rhinoplasty, otoplasty, facial implants, chemical peels, and midface lift. Ideal for those looking to rejuvenate, facial procedures at Napa Solano plastic surgery result in natural appearances.
Body procedures available include abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, body lift, CoolSculpting, vaginal tightening, mommy makeover, and liposuction. Body procedures are never a replacement to for healthy lifestyle changes but they are good options for improving parts of the body that don’t respond well to these changes.
Skin cosmetic procedures offered are Botox, Fillers, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, “Facetite”, “Bodytite”, spider vein treatments, and photo rejuvenation. Using the latest tech we are also able to provide amazing results with minimally invasive procedures.
Patients will be happy to know that we offer hair restoration as well as laser hair removal. Our medical spa offers these and more.
Interested in learning more? Set up a consultation with one of our doctors in Napa or Vacaville. You can browse before and after photos on our gallery pages and explore reviews of our doctors.
Local Happenings Magazine: Plastic Surgeons for the Greater Good
A local plastic surgeon takes his skills overseas
Recently, Matt Larson of Local Happenings Magazine interviewed Dr. William McClure on his overseas work and his plastic surgery practice in Napa Valley. Read Larson’s article below.
When it comes to something as involved as plastic surgery, what’s most important is that whoever is providing the procedure is safe, professional, and passionate about doing good work. We spoke with Dr. William McClure of Napa Valley Plastic Surgery, who explained to us how his practice consists of much more than meets the eye.
“Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have attracted a loyal following of patients who trust me, and continue to refer new patients,” he said, noting that it couldn’t be done without his manager and staff who are equally devoted to the care and comfort of their patients. “On my part, I strive to keep up to date on all advances in plastic surgery and continue to innovate.”
McClure completed his plastic surgery training at Stanford in 1984, shortly before being offered a position here in Napa by his senior partners, Jeff Reichel and John Zimmerman. “I was attracted by the fact that they were both excellent surgeons who had also trained at Stanford,” he said. “And a big enticement was that they offered me the opportunity to continue doing yearly overseas volunteer work.”
At this writing, Dr. McClure has completed 86 surgical missions spanning 16 countries. The majority of these missions he covers out of pocket and/or brings his own supplies, but donations and fundraisers also play a major role. If you’re able to contribute to the cause, the work he’s doing overseas is truly changing lives for the better.
“Children with congenital deformities, such as cleft lips, and those with traumatic deformities, such as burn scars,” receive much of his focus, he explained. “My proudest accomplishment had been in 1989, which was starting a plastic surgical teaching program in Vietnam. The program is thriving today.” He began a similar training program in Cuba in 2016.
“We are the only American program accepted by the Cuban government,” McClure stated. “As in Vietnam, it is humanitarian partnerships such as these that bring hostile countries together.” The Cuba program, by the way, is being completely funded by donors in the Napa Valley.
“Napa has never let us down,” McClure added. “Whether for hurricane relief in Honduras, a health clinic in central Africa, a mentoring program for at-risk youths—the citizens of Napa have consistently opened their hearts and their wallets.”
Wineries and local restaurants have donated to many of their fundraisers, some of which were held by the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, as well as some local churches. “One long-time Napa resident [who prefers to remain anonymous] has personally donated and raised over $850,000!” McClure exclaimed. It’s as if the support from the community fuels his passion to make a difference even more.
“If plastic surgery was a hobby, I would do it on the weekends!” he said. Now at 35 years in the business after completing his training at Stanford, he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. “I enjoy my patients too much, and I love operating.”
Looking forward, McClure plans to bring on younger associates, which will allow him to devote even more time to his overseas work, as well as volunteer projects closer to home.
To any readers who have previous experience with Napa Valley Plastic Surgery, Dr. McClure delivered the sad news to us that his partner of 25 years, Dr. Rebecca Jackson, suffered a devastating injury at the end of last year that may prevent her from ever returning to plastic surgery again.
“She is currently in a rehabilitation program and gradually improving,” McClure said. Her specialty was teaching microsurgery. “She has already donated her specialized microsurgical instruments to a volunteer organization which will continue the work that Becky held so dear … The outpouring of support from her patients and colleagues has been heartwarming.”
In 1998, Dr. Jackson helped to create Taboo Tattoo, a volunteer, community-based program that helps former gang members move on with their lives by removing any gang-related tattoos they may have. Since then, they’ve removed tattoos from hundreds of people seeking a better life for themselves.
From tattoo removal to traumatic deformities, McClure’s specialties run across the board, but he does have one particular skill that is rare among many plastic surgeons. “It may surprise readers to know that many plastic surgeons don’t do rhinoplasties [nose jobs],” he said. “These operations require a high skill level and a degree of artistic creativity.” That being said, rhinoplasties are McClure’s favorite cosmetic operation to work on. Always up for a challenge, he pursued this skillset early in his career.
“Early on in my training I became attracted to this operation and sought out extra training with two of the nation’s most renowned rhinoplasty experts,” he recalled. “I do many of those both at home and abroad. Doing rhinoplasties is as fun for me as carving wood or shaping surfboards, both hobbies of mine.”
“We are also available to see patients in the emergency room for treatment of lacerations, burns, dog bites, and other traumas requiring repair or reconstruction,” McClure confirmed.
Throughout his career, McClure has been honored by the ReSurge International Foundation, he received the Sister Ann McGuinn Award for Justice from Queen of the Valley Medical Center, and was recognized by the Dalai Lama himself in 2005 as “an unsung hero of compassion” when they met each other at a special ceremony in San Francisco.
With more than three decades of experience, and consistently voted as one of the best plastic surgeons in the region, consider Dr. McClure and Napa Valley Plastic Surgery if you find yourselves or your loved ones in need of their services.
Keeping It Natural – “I Don’t Want to Look Like Joan Rivers”
When contemplating elective cosmetic surgery, one is expected to be anxious. I spend considerable time with my patients before surgery to put them at ease. Though I reassure patients that the procedures are extremely safe, most patients are more worried about looking “unnatural.” They are nervous that they will not look like themselves, that they will have an artificial look. Their fears are not unreasonable. If you Google “Celebrity Cosmetic Surgery,” you’ll see galleries full of scary results. Celebrities are notorious for getting bad plastic surgery.
Giving patients a natural look is an important principle of rejuvenation surgery that I follow, but unfortunately many surgeons don’t. I show prospective patients before and after photos of our patients to reassure them that they will have a natural look, whether they choose a face-lift, neck-lift, or any other procedure. A natural looking result is not a random occurrence. Specific steps are taken to insure a natural look. I’ve had patients ask me,
“Please don’t do too much. I want to look natural.”
Actually, the surgeon must do more work, not less, to ensure a natural result. Take the face-lift/neck-lift as an example. This is the most common operation that I do. The goal is to smooth the neck and give patients back their chin/neckline, as well as contour the jawline taking away jowls. Traditionally this was done by tightening the skin alone. In attempting to achieve the goals, the skin was many times pulled unnaturally tight, and pulled in unnatural directions. This could result in the Joan Rivers/Kenny Rogers look.
To ensure a natural look we leave behind the traditional operation to do the “modern” face-lift/neck-lift. This is also known as the deep plane or layered approach. In this operation the underlying muscles of the neck and face are tightened and repositioned to produce the desired contour. The overlying skin can then be re-draped in its natural position without tension to achieve a more natural, less artificial look. Thus, it requires more work rather than less to give patients the natural results that they desire.
Similarly, for the eyelids, brows, and upper face, the same plastic surgery principles are followed. Attention is paid to the different layers, and tissue is re-draped in a natural manner. No “deer in the headlights” look.
Facial rejuvenation operations done by experienced board-certified plastic surgeons are common and safe. Find a surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation surgery and ask to see before and after photos of typical patients. The plastic surgery operations, such as face-lift or neck-lift, are performed in a comfortable outpatient setting usually using sedation and local anesthesia to provide a peaceful anxiety free experience. Recuperation is quick, and pain during recovery is not an issue. Patients are happy.
Don’t let that image of Joan Rivers keep you from exploring the options of facial rejuvenation. There are experienced board-certified plastic surgeons out there who can give you the pleasing natural results that you desire.
Dr. McClure (on the right) representing the Stanford contribution to the Unit
Napa Valley Plastic surgeon Dr. William McClure recently returned from Saigon, Vietnam where he represented Stanford Medical School in a special 50 year wartime anniversary hosted by the Vietnamese government. It was fifty years ago at the height of the Vietnam War that an American plastic surgeon and an American lawyer established a surgical unit in the heart of Saigon to care for children gravely injured during this tragic war. The unit was staffed by intrepid surgeon volunteers. Three of these surgeons, now deceased, haled from Stanford Medical School. These were the surgeons who inspired Dr. McClure to return to Vietnam in 1989 to continue helping children in need of reconstructive surgery.
Named after the founder, renown Manhattan plastic surgeon, Dr. Arthur Barsky, Jr, the Barsky Unit was the inspiration of Oakland, California attorney Thomas Miller, who in 1966 was a recent Harvard Law school graduate and former Peace Corps volunteer. Poised to begin what would have been a successful and lucrative Manhattan law practice, Mr. Miller read a series of articles in the Manchester Guardian by legendary American war correspondent Martha Gellhorn who reported on the plight of Vietnamese civilians, especially children. In a bold move that changed the trajectory of his life, Mr. Miller decided to help these children. He sought out Dr. Barsky, who by his middle age was a respected New York City plastic surgeon and University professor. Mr. Miller, like many, knew of the doctor’s reputation for helping the under represented. Dr. Barsky had gained fame and notoriety in his younger years when in the late 1930’s he and his brother established a medical aid unit in Spain during the horrendous civil war. The unit served the volunteer American fighters of the famed Abraham Lincoln Brigade who fought the Nazi supported Spanish fascist. In the late 1940’s he brought to New York City a group of young women survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb attack. Called the “Hiroshima Maidens,” he performed reconstructive surgery to repair their burn scar deformities.
Dr. Barsky
Mr. Miller & Dr. Mills (with beard)
Mr. Miller and Dr. Barsky travelled to Vietnam. This was not an easy feat in a country torn by violent war. With persistence and dogged determination, this unlikely pair overcame logistical and bureaucratic obstacles to establish and fund the unit. They recruited an international team of surgeons, anesthesiologist, nurses and technicians to work together with their Vietnamese counterparts. At considerable financial and physical risk, these volunteers left their comfortable lives to help the innocent victims of war. Among the American volunteers were four San Francisco Bay Area plastic surgeons, three of whom served as clinical professors on the Stanford Medical School faculty. Two of these surgeons were Dr. McClure’s mentors when he was a young surgical resident training at Stanford in the 80’s. One of them, Dr. Robert Mills, was so captivated by the plight of these Vietnamese children that he gave up his San Francisco practice to work at the Barsky Unit indefinitely. In 1975 he was forced to leave and return to Stanford when the Communist forces prevailed and took over Saigon.
Dr. McClure’s other mentor, San Francisco surgeon Dr. Mark Gorney, become one of the most preeminent plastic surgeons of his generation. He too had left his comfortable life to volunteer. His most famous patient was Miss Phan Thi Kim Phúc. She was the 9 year old girl with the horrendous napalm burns who was memorialized in one of the Vietnam War’s most iconic photographs.
June 8, 1972, 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc, Photo: Associated Press photographer Nick Ut
With the imminent Communist takeover of the western backed South Vietnamese government the clinic was forced to close down. Patients were transferred, the local staff re-located, and the remaining western volunteers, including Dr. Mills, escaped on the last planes out, two days before Saigon’s fall.
Darkness descended over Saigon and there was no news on the fate of the Barsky Unit. The United States had no diplomatic relations with Communist Vietnam. In 1989 Dr. McClure, one of the earliest Americans to return to Saigon, (now called Ho Chi Minh City), had heard that the Communist Vietnamese government had re-opened the clinic in the late 1970’s. In the 1990’s an Australian dental/surgical team began working in Ho Chi Minh City at the site of the Barsky Clinic. One volunteer was Melbourne, Australia based surgeon Dr. Rowan Story. After many yearly volunteer visits to Vietnam, Dr. Story, who was unaware of the history of the unit, began to investigate the origins of the unit. He found Dr. Barsky’s son, a physician from Boston, and attorney Tom Miller, now living in Berkeley. Mr. Miller who had become a friend of Dr. McClure had put Dr. Story in touch with the Napa surgeon. This was the beginning of a deep friendship between the two volunteer surgeons. Dr. McClure told Dr. Story about Stanford’s contribution to the Barsky Unit. As an aside, Dr. Story was a guest of Dr. McClure and his family during the horrendous Napa fire in 2017, and helped them evacuate in the middle of the night.
The two surgeons shared three visits to Vietnam with their respective teams combining their expertise to teach the Vietnamese surgeons. To their surprise, the Vietnamese Health Ministry representing the Communist government that was once locked in brutal warfare with the United States, announced they wanted to stage a 50th Anniversary Celebration of founding of the Barsky Unit! They wanted to call attention to the American and international volunteers who came to the aid of Vietnamese children during this dark period in Vietnam’s history. Life had come a full circle. Former enemies were now celebrating each other as friends.
Unfortunately the three Stanford surgeons had passed away before the anniversary, but Dr. McClure invited Mrs. Gerri Gorney widow of Dr. Mark Gorney to represent her husband at the celebration. Dr. McClure’s wife, sister, and two of his four children attended. A large contingent of Tom Miller’s family came. Dr. Arthur Barsky III, the founder’s son attended with his wife Susan, as did Dr. Rowan Story with his family and many fellow Australian volunteers. The Vietnamese hosts include retired Vietnamese surgeons who had worked tirelessly during the war. The big surprise was meeting a handful of the Vietnamese nurses and technicians who had staffed the Barsky Unit. They shared their fond memories of the American and international volunteers. Especially gratifying to Dr. McClure was hearing the story of his mentors.
It was tragedy that brought these doctors and volunteers together. But it was medicine, the gift of healing, and a heart for people, that kept these former enemies together in each other’s hearts over the years. The wonderful anniversary celebration to honor them will be remembered for many years to come.
Below are pictures of the anniversary event as well as the nurses that used to work at the clinic being honored. They stand next to old photos of themselves.
Then and Now. Barsky Unit nurses 50 years later
Then and Now. Miss Lien Huong, former head nurse of the Barsky unit
