Clarius is the brand name of the hand held ultrasound we have in our office. We love the Clarius. It is an in office ultrasound which hooks up to our IPad to see video of what is going on inside. You get to see it as well. Clarius has great tech support, and the software has an AI visual which helps really delineate the layers. (If you have ever seen an ultrasound it is a bit like reading tea leaves for those of us who are not trained radiologists).
This is gold. When you have surgery where we are creating a flap- facelift, breast lift, breast reduction, and tummy tuck- there is a “space” internally. This space can fill with fluid. If that fluid is serous fluid (which looks yellow or light pink), it is called a seroma. If the space fills with blood, it is a hematoma. This is not common, but can happen.
We can feel a lot of fluid collections by simple physical exam. In the past, when I felt fluid, I could simply drain it by using a syringe/needle and sucking out the fluid. But exactly where is that fluid? how much? And sometimes I wasn’t sure if there was fluid, so I would try to drain it to confirm if there was fluid.
Now I can assess if there is fluid by ultrasound. If there is fluid, I can drain the fluid more exactly due to the Clarius ultrasound. I can see my needle as I drain the fluid, which insures I drain all of it and lets me target small collections.
Silicone implants can leak. Many times this leak is “silent.” It is recommended that you image silicone implants that are more than 5 years old. For my patients with implants that are more than 10 years old, I strongly recommend you image the implant to check for shell integrity. (When saline implants leak it is noticeable- the saline is absorbed, so the implant will decrease in size. Silicone implants do not do that.)
Hand held ultrasounds have made it more convenient to check for implant shell integrity. This is a simple procedure done in the office. We apply gel to your skin and then use the Clarius ultrasound to scan, following along the shell to check for leakage. This is not a perfect process, and I am not a boarded ultrasound tech. But it is a good data point in trying to assess the integrity of your implant.
If your implant has leaked your implant should be removed. This usually involves a capsulectomy (to remove the scar tissue your body formed around the breast implant) with the implant inside. Then you can decide what you want to do- change the implant size? type? no new implant? breast lift? Please see my page on breast revisions BREAST REVISION and breast implant removal EXPLANT
I love it. I think having more tools to be more scientific and exact is awesome. This is a great, noninvasive tool which gives a lot of information. With advances in software, I think it will only get better.
If you have an older silicone implant (ie > 10 years old), IMAGE YOUR IMPLANT. I am seeing a stream of implants that are 15-20 years old where the implants have leaked. It is ideal to replace the implant before it leaks. So if you have a Style 10, Style 15, or Style 20 implant, please come in.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider for any questions regarding your health or medical condition.
