Restore Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics in Germantown, led by Dr. Sarah Hammond, brings world-class, female-owned surgical care to Memphis. Opened in June and offering everything from facial and body surgeries to comprehensive medical spa services, Dr. Hammond’s practice provides a welcoming, all-in-one destination for aesthetic procedures.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor and surgeon from a young age,” she explains, recalling being a tactile child and competitive pianist. Witnessing a family member’s years of treatment for a cleft lip and palate solidified her passion for plastic surgery — a field where she could help men and women regain their self-confidence and functional abilities.

Among the many procedures offered at Restore Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics, breast surgeries are a specialty of hers, including augmentations, lifts, reductions, and reconstructions.

“In the last decade or so, implant technology has continuously upgraded to be more form-stable and cohesive, making a much safer implant,” Dr. Hammond comments. As a result, patient satisfaction has increased, and the recommended frequency of implant replacement has decreased over the years.

Silicone implants, once removed from the market, were redesigned and reintroduced in 2006 with enhanced safety. Now, the rupture rate is extremely low, with Dr. Hammond’s preferred implant manufacturers reporting less than 1% per year. “If they rupture, the silicone will not leak outside the capsule into the body. Newer silicone implants have a durable silicone shell filled with a highly cross-linked and cohesive gel polymer that is completely adherent to both the shell and the silicone gel,” she says.

Contrary to popular misconceptions, it is entirely possible to achieve a natural look with today’s breast implants. The wide range of implant width, projection, and volume options allows for a customized approach. While some women desire larger breasts, others want theirs to be smaller. “Breast reduction is a very common procedure,” notes Dr. Hammond. Women may seek a reduction to alleviate physical discomfort such as back pain or to address changes in breast size due to pregnancy or other hormonal shifts.

Although breast implants are significantly safer now than 20 years ago, they are not without some risks. Certain types of implants were recalled in the late 2010s due to a higher risk of Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, estimated to be 1 in 30,000. Currently, surgeons are also collecting more data about Breast Implant Illness, a collection of autoimmune-type symptoms that some women experience weeks or years after getting breast implants. “Although no clear causal link has been identified, we always err on the side of caution and remove the implants when other sources have been ruled out,” Dr. Hammond says.While some women desire larger breasts, others want theirs to be smaller. “Breast reduction is a very common procedure,” notes Dr. Hammond. Women may seek a reduction to alleviate physical discomfort such as back pain or to address changes in breast size due to pregnancy or other hormonal shifts.

Another popular procedure is the breast lift, often part of a ‘mommy makeover’ — a surgery that lifts and reshapes the breast and surrounding tissue for a perkier look. This is a good choice for women who have breastfed or experienced significant weight changes that can result in a deflated or sagging appearance of the breasts.

Finally, for patients who have undergone surgery due to breast cancer, breast reconstruction can restore breast shape and symmetry. Depending on whether a partial or complete mastectomy was performed, surgeons can rearrange the remaining breast tissue or reconstruct the entire breast with implants or the patient’s own tissue.

“Having a practice space owned and operated by women truly makes a difference. We want our female patients to feel comfortable from the moment they walk in,” Dr. Hammond shares, reflecting on her practice’s success in Memphis. “There is no need for them to feel self-conscious —our office is a completely judgment-free zone.”

As someone who provides both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures, and has over nine years of experience specializing in soft tissue surgeries, she finds incredible fulfillment in offering a space where “patients receive the highest level of care, feel completely comfortable and informed in their decisions, and have peace of mind about the results.”

By Shlomit Ovadia