An estimated 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. While treatment options have improved and survival rates have dramatically increased, many patients still require invasive surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation, which can have unpleasant side effects. As a plastic surgeon who regularly performs breast reconstruction, I have seen first-hand…
Plastic surgery can be truly amazing. For a Michigan girl who was mauled by a raccoon as a tiny baby, a plastic surgeon has created a new ear by taking rib cartilage, then implanting it in her arm to allow skin to grow. When Charlotte Ponce was a baby, a pet raccoon attacked her, destroying…
According to the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, not only are more women opting for immediate breast reconstruction, but more are using breast implants rather than autologous (using the woman’s own tissue) procedures, such as the DIEP or TRAM flap reconstruction. Using a national database, researchers assessed trends in breast reconstruction from 1998-2008. The…
In London’s Hunterian Musem, a collection of medical archives is being gathered from World War I. “They are powerful testimony to the advances made by modern surgeons in the past 100 years,” writes Helen Briggs for the BBC, who recently posted a compelling article about the Gillies Archive and the ways in which war has…
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons presents Patients of Courage 2011. The stories documented here recognize four inspirational people whose lives have been changed by reconstructive surgery. They are now working to help others in need. During the ASPS meeting in in Denver this year, they were recognized and served as ambassadors for all Patients…
Nipple sparing mastectomy, a technique that preserves the nipple and surrounding tissues, is an effective technique for breast reconstruction. According to a study by plastic surgeons at Georgetown University Hospital, there’s no evidence that the procedure increases risk of cancer recurrence. In nipple-sparing mastectomy, the nipple and surrounding tissues are preserved for use in breast…
A recent study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal shows a low rate of complications in breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a new white paper about silicone implant safety. Now available on the FDA website, you can download the full white paper or the executive summary and read findings from the latest research. For patients and consumers, the most pertinent aspects of the document include the “Summary of…
Fat grafting during breast surgery doesn’t interfere with mammograms, according to a new study. “Radiographic follow-up of breasts treated with fat grafting is not problematic and should not be a hindrance to the procedure,” concludes study author Dr. Michaël Veber, of University of Lyon-Léon Bérard Cancer Center in France An article about this research was…
It isn’t difficult to understand why the skills of a plastic surgeon would be valuable in the ER. Many board certified plastic surgeons today have training in complex techniques like microsurgery, wound care, hand surgery and facial reconstruction. According to a new study out of Istanbul, Turkey, the role of a plastic surgeon is becoming…