Orange County Plastic Surgery

04/20/2026

Breast Implant Replacement: When Is It Time?
By Dr. Deborah Ekstrom
Orange County Plastic Surgery, Corona del Mar/Newport Beach

Most modern silicone breast implants—such as those made by Mentor and Allergan—are designed to be very durable and usually last 15 to 20 years or longer. However, they are not considered lifetime devices.

Recently, we have treated several patients whose implants had been in place for 30 or even 40 years. By that point, rupture is quite common, even if the patient feels perfectly fine. In many cases, the rupture is discovered only during routine imaging.
While modern implants are excellent, the shell naturally weakens over time. For this reason, we often recommend considering implant exchange somewhere in the 15-to-20-year range, even if there are no obvious symptoms. Preventive replacement can avoid complications and allows us to restore the breast pocket with the newest generation of implants.
One of the most common questions patients ask is: “What happens if my implant ruptures?”
Fortunately, with silicone implants, rupture is usually not dangerous. Most ruptures are what we call “silent ruptures,” meaning there is no pain and often no visible change in appearance. The silicone gel in today’s implants is cohesive—it tends to stay within the scar capsule that naturally forms around the implant rather than spreading throughout the body.
Diagnosis is often made with ultrasound, mammography, or MRI. Occasionally, patients notice subtle firmness, shape changes, or asymmetry, but most have no symptoms at all.
Even when rupture occurs, most patients do not suffer any harm. Treatment typically involves removing the old implant, performing a capsulectomy (removing the scar tissue pocket), and replacing it with a new modern implant. Once this is done, integrity is restored and patients usually recover beautifully.
We do occasionally see ruptures in implants less than 15 years old, but this is uncommon. More often, problems arise simply because implants have exceeded their natural lifespan.
The most important takeaway is this: breast implant replacement is not something to fear. With proper monitoring and timely exchange, patients can maintain both safety and excellent cosmetic results for decades.

Do you have or know someone who has twenty-year-old breast implants in place? Come and see us to go over your options!

Call now to connect with business.

04/18/2026

Anesthesia fear is common, but not all anesthesia is the same.

Many procedures use a lighter, more controlled approach designed for comfort, quicker recovery, and fewer side effects. At Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare, patient care is built around clarity, safety, and making sure you feel informed every step of the way.

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

04/17/2026

Comfort and safety, every second!✨

From the moment you walk in, every detail is designed to help you feel at ease, cared for, and confident in your experience at Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare.

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

04/16/2026

Anesthesia is designed to keep you safe, comfortable, and pain free during your procedure.

At Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare, every step is carefully managed with advanced monitoring and modern techniques to minimize risk, reduce side effects, and support a smooth recovery.

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

04/15/2026

In this video, we explain how a lip flip works and why it’s a popular option for patients who want the upper lip to show more when they smile.

A lip flip uses a small amount of Botox to gently relax the muscles around the upper lip, helping prevent it from flattening inward during smiling.

👉 Learn more about our lip lift procedure here: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/procedures/lip-lift/

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

04/14/2026

Those small lines on the sides of your nose? They’re called bunny lines and they’re easier to treat than you think.

At Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare, Dr. Ekstrom and Dr. Bunkis take a precise, personalized approach to Botox, targeting subtle areas that can make a big difference in how smooth and refreshed your face looks.

Quick, non-surgical, and tailored to you. This is how natural results are done.

Curious if Botox for bunny lines is right for you? Let’s take a closer look together.

👉 Learn more about our clinic here: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/procedures/ #

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

04/13/2026

When Aesthetic Surgery Needs a Second Chance: How Revision Procedures Restore Form and Confidence
By Dr. Deborah Ekstrom
Orange County Plastic Surgery, Corona del Mar/Newport Beach

One of the most important messages we share with our patients is this: most aesthetic surgery problems can be improved, and many can be dramatically corrected.
Every surgeon who performs operations long enough will eventually encounter a complication, an unexpected healing issue, or a result that simply does not mature as hoped. This is true even when the preoperative workup is thorough, the surgical plan is appropriate, patient safety is prioritized, and the technical ex*****on is excellent.
Biology is never entirely predictable.
Scar tissue can heal aggressively. Swelling may settle unevenly. Skin can contract in ways we do not fully anticipate. Implant pockets can shift. Excess scar tissue can form around implants. Tissue necrosis may occur. Eyelids may heal with tension. These realities are part of the normal surgical risks every patient accepts when choosing aesthetic surgery.
What matters most is how these issues are managed.
Over the years, we have helped many patients who came to us with difficult problems from prior surgery. Some of the most gratifying cases involve severe lower eyelid ectropion, where the lower lid pulls downward, exposing too much of the eye and creating both aesthetic and functional concerns.
These cases can often be beautifully rescued using a combination of midface lifting, canthopexy, and microfat grafting. By restoring support to the cheek, tightening the lateral eyelid, and improving soft tissue volume, we are often able to restore both natural eyelid position and facial harmony.
We will be sharing some of these remarkable before-and-after photographs in this newsletter.
We also frequently help patients with breast deformities after previous surgery, including implant malposition, asymmetry, capsular contracture, visible rippling, tissue necrosis or distorted shape after prior lifts or augmentations.
These problems can be emotionally distressing, but the reassuring truth is that revision breast surgery can often restore beautiful shape, softness, and symmetry. Sometimes this requires implant repositioning, pocket repair, capsule work, skin grafting or fat grafting to camouflage irregularities and rebuild natural contours.
The larger point is an important one: a complication is not the end of the story.
With careful analysis, good judgment, and advanced revision techniques, many disappointing outcomes can be transformed into excellent ones.
That possibility—restoration, correction, and renewed confidence—is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do. Having a combined 80 years of surgical experience certainly adds to what we can offer a patient with a complication.
If you have any issues with the results of a prior procedure, we invite you to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Ekstrom to discuss whether a surgical correction is right for you.
Orange County Plastic Surgery
Corona del Mar / Newport Beach
Natural results. Thoughtful care. Private consultations.

04/11/2026

Before. After. Confidence restored.

This lip lift result highlights how a subtle adjustment can enhance lip shape, improve proportions, and create a naturally refreshed look. Performed at Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare.

👉 Learn more about our lip lift procedure here: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/procedures/lip-lift/

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625"

04/09/2026

A subtle lift. A noticeable difference.

This lip lift transformation shows how refining the upper lip can enhance shape, improve balance, and create a more youthful, defined smile. Performed with precision at Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare.

Thinking about a natural-looking lip enhancement? Let’s explore your options.

👉 Learn more about our lip lift procedure here: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/procedures/lip-lift/

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

04/08/2026

A lip lift can enhance the shape of your upper lip, create better balance, and give a naturally refreshed look without overfilling. Performed with precision at Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare, it’s a subtle change that makes a lasting difference.

Curious if it’s right for you? Let’s talk

👉 Learn more about our lip lift procedure here: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/procedures/lip-lift/

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/contact/
📞 (949) 888-9700
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

04/07/2026

Spring Is Breast Augmentation Season: 5 Things to Avoid Before Choosing Your Surgeon

By Dr. Deborah Ekstrom
Orange County Plastic Surgery, Corona del Mar/Newport Beach

Spring is one of the busiest seasons for breast augmentation consultations. Many women plan surgery now so they are fully healed and confident for summer vacations, weddings, and swim season. While breast augmentation remains one of the most rewarding procedures we perform, choosing the right surgeon and plan is everything.

Here are five things to avoid when considering breast augmentation:

1. Avoid a surgeon without proper board certification.
Your surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, ensuring extensive training in both aesthetic surgery and patient safety.

2. Avoid surgeons who skip a full medical evaluation.
A proper history, physical examination, medication review, and appropriate pre-operative labs are essential. Safe surgery starts well before the operating room.

3. Avoid bargain implants and corner-cutting protocols.
Quality implants, sterile operating conditions, board-certified anesthesia professionals, and IV antibiotics during surgery are non-negotiable for optimal outcomes and safety.

4. Avoid anyone who talks you into surgery.
The best consultation is a collaborative conversation. Surgery should be your decision, based on your goals—not sales pressure.

5. Avoid implants that are too large for your frame.
Beautiful breast augmentation is about proportion, balance, and long-term elegance. Oversized implants can stretch tissues and age poorly over time.

The best results come from thoughtful planning, beautiful proportionality, and a surgeon who prioritizes your safety as much as your aesthetic outcome.
Spring is the season of renewal—and for many women, it is the perfect time to feel refreshed, confident, and ready for summer.

View Before & After Photos
Dr. Ekstrom’s breast augmentation photo gallery can be viewed here:
https://gallery.orangecountyplasticsurgery.com/photos/breastaugmentation/

If you have considered breast augmentation, we invite you to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Ekstrom to discuss whether breast augmentation is right for you.

Orange County Plastic Surgery
Corona del Mar / Newport Beach
Natural results. Thoughtful care. Private consultations.

04/05/2026

A fresh start. A renewed glow.

This Easter Sunday is a reminder that small changes can lead to meaningful transformation. Feeling more confident, refreshed, and fully yourself starts with one decision.

Dr. Bunkis and Dr. Ekstrom wish you a beautiful Easter filled with renewal, hope, and light ✨

Start your journey toward a refreshed you at orangecountyplasticsurgery.com

📅 Schedule your consultation: https://orangecountyplasticsurgery.com
📍 1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625