Lu-Jean Feng, M.D.
Medical Director, Founder Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
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Lymph Nodes
Dr. Lu-Jean Feng has performed extensive research on silicone lymphadenopathy over the last 20 years as a result of breast augmentation. As a result of this research, she has published a peer-reviewed paper with scientists from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C. as well as from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The study concluded that silicone in the lymph nodes can be diagnosed by ultrasound and localized by needle localization for precise removal. The polyurethane covered gel filled breast implants are associated with extensive silicone lymphadenopathy in the axilla, retropectoral, internal mammary, and sometimes neck nodes, but never in nodes below the diaphragm. The saline implants are never associated with silicone lymphadenopathy. Ruptured gel implants are only sometimes associated with silicone lymphadenopathy.
Silicone-laden lymph nodes, if they need to be removed, should only be removed after needle localization by a radiologist experienced with the technique. Dr. Feng has removed many silicone laden lymph nodes after needle localization in the past, but experience has shown that the removal makes little difference in patient’s recovery from implant illness. In addition, there are always risks of lymphedema of the arm, numbness in the arm, and seroma in the axilla. If a lymph node is to be removed, the silicone in the lymph node first has to be detected by ultrasound, which has a very specific signal.
According to Dr. Feng, the majority of silicone that she sees in lymph nodes is very small and not always accessible. Silicone laden lymph nodes could be located behind the ribs and close to the lungs. The only way to access these lymph nodes is to remove a portion of the rib. Some silicone laden lymph nodes are located very high up in the chest near the axillary vessels.
As Dr. Feng states in her webinar BI:II, “Yes, you can remove the lymph nodes, but which ones are you going to take? Are you going to take them all or are you going to take a few? If the lymph node is enlarged, if the lymph node is painful, if the lymph nodes can be localized, then these are all the conditions in which you could take out the lymph node. Otherwise if it is too small, too inaccessible, you can’t get to it. The most important thing is how it got there. It is more important to remove the implant and capsules than to remove the secondary effect of the implantation.”
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Patient Testimonials
- “I believe she is the best in the country at what she does. Instantly I noticed my neck and shoulder pain was gone and I could breathe much better” – Crystal Hefner
- "When it comes to explant surgery I think Dr. Feng is the best doctor in the world. She’s done more studies, she’s testified in trials, the whole spectrum of anything to do with explant surgery she’s done it.”
- Yolanda Hadid (Foster), Real Housewives of Beverly Hills - “Every communication I had with their office was so professional, and they were so kind and accommodating.”
- "Dr. Feng is not all about cosmetic surgery…she is about getting healthy and giving her patients the tools to stay that way!”
- "Went from being overweight, to physically fit and ready for a marathon within 7 months of my surgery. You are in the best of care at her surgical center.”
- "I was thrilled to have NO PAIN from my procedure! Almost 9 hours of surgery and I awoke with NO nausea, no pain. I was afraid after the nerve block wore off I would have pain…but NO!"
- "She took a good long time talking with me and my husband, so if there was a time when I had to wait, I figured she was giving someone else her undivided attention…I felt totally taken care of"
- "Dr. Feng is an expert in her field… [attended] Yale at 16… She has perfected the anesthesia so that nausea can be avoided and she uses nerve blocks to make sure that you aren’t in pain after the procedure"
- "Dr. Feng removed my ruptured breast implants as well as the inflamed capsules and sent them to her pathologist, which was instrumental in getting my health insurer to cover the surgery, which she also appealed on my behalf"
- "Words cannot begin to capture the gratitude that I would like to express to you right now. Without your talent, vision and perfectionism my breasts, my health and probably my outlook on life would have been very unhealthy"
- "I am cured! Those were (my doctor’s) exact words…If it wasn’t for your kindness, your tremendous talent and of course your outstanding staff I would have never known what it feels like to have a normal life again"
- "I get a comment from every doctor I see about my fabulous scar. I almost have nothing to be seen. Everyone thinks it looks awesome!"
- "She explanted my 7 year old implants for me and gave me a lolipop lift. She is extremely talented. She made my breast look better than they did with implants"
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