AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2700 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question I have had my saline implants for over 2 years and my surgeon had made
the incision through the areola. My scar had formed into keloids and were
hideous. I've tried everything from creams to silicone sheets and cortisone
shots. Well the scar had flatten just recently but the dark color was still
bad. So my dr had recommended that I went to a spa next door to get
some cream to help fade the scar. I went to the spa and the lady wanted
to see my scar so I showed her and she recommended that I do the laser
for scars to reduce the redness since the cream would irritate around my
areolas. So I went with the laser treatment and it really did help. But since
then I have noticed when I press on my nipples it leaks clear fluid. Did the
causevof the laser treatment cause leakage? or is it just discharge? I
really don't want to go through this surgery again!
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Cindy,
I'm sorry for this problem you're having.
It is, of course, impossible for me to say anything with absolute certainty, but it doesn't sound to me like it's a leak from your implants. Those are usually pretty deep, relative to the skin, and, when there is a leak, that side tends to flatten down very quickly (within a few days). So if you still have the breast mound there, and it's basically the same size it's been all along, then I don't think the leak is from the implants.
Most likely, though, is that you have an injury to your skin that is related to the laser treatment. Injuries can occur for many reasons, including thermal (heat) damage, abrasion, pressure, etc. When the skin is injured, it tends to ooze some serous fluid, which is a clear fluid similar to what it sounds like you're describing (ie, as if you'd skinned your knee).
The other possibility, since it's your breast, is that this is related to glandular tissue from within the breast. It would be unusual for it to be that if it's right below the scar that was just treated with the laser, but it's possible.
So - the most likely thing, in my opinion, is that it's related to the laser treatment, and should heal up on its own perfectly well.
However, to make sure of all of this, you should:
1) Contact your PS and let him/her look at the healing wound. There may be something that can be put on it.
2) If it doesn't stop leaking soon, see your Gyn to rule out any issue related to the actual breast tissue.
