Posts Comments

You are here: Home / 2013 / Archives for May 2013

Archives for May 2013

What Is PAP Flap Reconstruction? Am I Suitable Candidate for It?

May 31, 2013 by

This week, Dr. James Craigie of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your questions.

Q:  I just heard about a PAP flap breast reconstruction?  Is it new?  How do I know if I am a suitable candidate for it?

A: The “PAP” (profunda artery perforator) is another type of muscle sparing technique to reconstruct the breast utilizing extra skin and fat taken from the back of the thigh. Dr Allen called this the “banana roll” flap. The concept is the same as the DIEP, sGAP, SIEA and others sometimes referred to as perforator flaps. There are situations when someone has extra tissue in this area but unlike the TUG flap it does not remove any important leg muscles.  Since lymphedema has been associated with the TUG flap in some published papers, the PAP breast reconstruction procedure is performed carefully and specifically to not disrupt the delicate lymph channels and nodes that if removed or damaged might lead to an increased risk for lymphedema.

James E. Craigie, MD

Read more about the “PAP” reconstruction technique here: Breast_Reconstruction_with_the_Profunda_Artery

 

Have a question about breast reconstruction you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask us!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , ,

Everyday Ways to Give Back

May 29, 2013 by

With all the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s hard to carve out the requisite time you’d need to lend a helping hand. Thankfully, living in a world of digital connectivity has its humanitarian perks!

Whether you’re online or at work, here are a few easy ways you can donate your time, cash, or skills to a good cause:

On the Web

Support the arts: Try Kickstarter.
Check out who’s looking to fund creative projects by logging in via Facebook. Then chip in for specific costs ($5 to help cover printing costs, supplies, etc.). When you see the finished product on the big screen or can hold the published anthology of short stories in your hand, you’ll feel like part of the artistic process.

Make your cause to go viral: Try HopeMob.
Register at HopeMob.org and start pushing your cause on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Then, enlist the help of your friends to give the cause a simple “up vote.”With enough votes (only about 200),your cause will hit HopeMob’s home page and stay up until you’re completely funded.

Nab some peace of mind:Try Ammado.com.
Thisfantastic humanitarian site allows you and your friends to donate to small overseas nonprofits securely. Every charity on the site is screened by an international vetting service, so you can donate without worry. Just sign up at the site or via Facebook, and search what you’re looking for by category (like arts, culture, or human rights) and country. It’s easy and rewarding!

At Work

Good with numbers?
Give others the benefit of your financial know-how by working with the United Way to teach struggling families to pay down debt and improve their credit. Simply dial 2-1-1, and sign up to learn how to lead small workshops or coach individuals on becoming financially secure.

Silver-tongued wordsmith?
Use your strong communication skills to manage—or create—a Facebook or Twitter account for a local animal shelter. The online interaction will help encourage people to adopt animals in need, donate to the cause, and support their community shelter.

What are your favorite ways to lend a helping hand?

 

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , ,

Healing Effects of Lavender

May 27, 2013 by

Turns out, lavender is more than just the scent of your favorite lotion! Discover how to use this soothing herb to calm your stomach, mind, and skin—and tap into the power of purple!

Ward off dandruff. According to Dr. Fusco, a NY-based dermatologist, lavender oil can help improve scalp conditions.For an easy, herbal remedy, wet your hair with warm water and towel dry. Next, grab a mug and mix 15 drops of lavender essential oil in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Microwave for about 10 seconds or until it feels warm. Massage the oil into your scalp, pop on a shower cap, let set for an hour, and then shampoo the solution out. Though it may take multiple treatments to see the benefits, keep with it. As an added bonus, your hair will smell lovely, too.

Bid bloating adieu. Bloating and poor digestion can result from an overgrowth of “bad” bacteria—a common symptom if you take antibiotics. Fortunately, the polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) in lavender help reduce the “bad” bacteria in your gut,according to Christine Gerbstadt, MD. To reap the benefit, sprinkle dried culinary lavender onto Greek yogurt, and enjoy!

Unwind. Research shows the scent of lavender lowers heart rate and blood pressure, putting you in a relaxed state. To set yourself up for a serious snooze, put a handful of dried lavender in a vase on your nightstand—or use a diffuser with lavender oil. But lavender alone won’t kick sleepless nights. To get the most bang for your lavender, practice other sleep-promoting habits, such asturning in at the same time every night.

Soothe itchy skin.Whether it’s bug bites or dry skin[http://breastreconstructionnetwork.com/10-winter-skincare-tips/], lavender is a natural anti-inflammatory, so it helps reduce itching, swelling, and redness. Dab a drop or two of lavender essential oil on the afflicted area, and wait about 15 minutes for it to seep in. Apply as needed every six to eight hours for the next 24 hours.

Infuse your meal.Add lavender’s healthy phytonutrientsto any meal by using herbes de Provence. Sprinkle the lavender-based spice blend onto sautéed or grilled vegetables, poultry, and whole grains such as couscous, quinoa, or brown rice. Delicious and nutritious!

 

Have you used lavender as an herbal remedy before? Share your tips in the comments below!

 

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , ,

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

May 24, 2013 by

Thank you, friends and clients, for your support and love! We hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Have a question about breast reconstruction you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask us!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: ,

Meditation 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Clearing the Mind

May 22, 2013 by

Have you ever meditated? Those who practice meditation regularly say that it keeps them grounded, helps them focus and stay calm, and clears their minds. Others use it as a deep spiritual practice.

There is no wrong way to learn how to meditate, but for those who would like some guidance to start, here are a few ideas to get the maximum meditation benefits.

Decide why you want to meditate.

If you have a particular goal for your meditation practice, you’ll find your ideal way of clearing your mind. Do you wish to stop your day and give back to yourself? Is stress relief an objective? Have you felt the need to connect with yourself or the universe? Your reason for meditating does not need to be complex; it simply needs to resonate deeply with you.

Choose your time and place.

You want a meditation space that is yours and that you can visit regularly. Many beginning meditators make the mistake of trying to center themselves in a noisy area of their homes during a busy time for their families. It may be that you’ll need to wake up early or go to bed late to create the time to for your meditation practice.

Make the effort to be as still and silent as possible during your practice. Later, you’ll want to add some distraction to your safe place to help you get used to controlling your mind during meditation.

Be sure you are as alert as possible.

Meditation is relaxing, and it’s not always necessary for you to stay awake during your practice time, but you want to be as alert as you can be when you begin. Alcohol and medication may not be the best aids for you when meditating, but it’s even more important that you establish a regular habit, even if you’re not in an ideal place to do it.

Simply sit.

The easiest way to start meditating is to become at ease with yourself in the silence. While wearing something comfortable, go to your meditation space with a candle. Light the candle, sit in a comfortable position (but not so comfortable that you go to sleep) on the floor or in a chair, and concentrate on the flame. Try to clear your mind. You’ll find that the most powerful yet relaxing meditation occurs in the space between thoughts.

Mind your breath.

Breathe from your stomach (diaphragm), not your lungs. Inhale and exhale fully and deeply. Notice as much as you can about where you are. What scents do you detect while breathing? What does the air feel like as it enters your body? Any time you feel your thoughts wandering, and they will while meditating, come back to your breath, and focus on it.

There is no perfect way to meditate. It doesn’t matter what you wear, what you think about, or what you tell yourself. What matters is that your mind is calm and rested and you feel centered and more alive.

 

Have you ever done meditation for beginners?

What was your main reason for starting your practice?

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , ,

Cardio: 3 New Workouts for Heart Health

May 20, 2013 by

You know that doing cardio is vital for good health, weight loss, and fitness, but let’s face it—walking a treadmill for an hour isn’t the most enjoyable thing you can do. However, we have some good news for you: research shows that those who do 30 minutes of cardio at least three days a week get the same fitness results as those who do 60 minutes.

We looked for some new ideas for cardio routines, and here is what we found. Hopefully, these will give you some variety and fun!

Try a new way to kickbox.

The owners of Barre Bee Fit gyms in Illinois, Ariana Chernin and Jillian Lorenz, created a new version of their Barre Brawl kickboxing class.

Warm up with a one-minute jog in place, and then go into a squat position. Alternate boxing moves for 30 seconds, and then run in place for thirty seconds with knees high. Repeat cycle once.

Stand with feet wide and knees relaxed. Hop in place and punch overhead for 30 seconds. Then plant your feet and punch high and low for 30 seconds. Do not repeat.

Kick to the front with right foot, and then do two jumping jacks. Shuffle to the right and throw a right jab. Repeat on left side and continue for two minutes.

Return to the squat position and cross punch for thirty seconds. Move into a plank position and hold, and then hop feet out and back together. Repeat once, and then repeat sequence four times.

Cool down with a one-minute jog.

To read more about this cardio workout, go to http://www.self.com/fitness/workouts/2013/03/new-ways-to-do-cardio-slideshow?slide=2#slide=3.

Switch up your current cardio workout.

If you enjoy what you’re currently doing but would like a little variety, just add something new. For example, if you jog for 30 minutes, try running for five minutes after every 10 minutes of jogging, or take a rope with you and jump for 5 or 10 minutes in the middle of your workout. If you walk a treadmill, add an incline, or speed it up to a slow jog.

Adding new cardio routines keeps you from getting bored or avoiding your workouts. Just make sure you enjoy what you’re adding, or you won’t want to do it.

Try the battle of the ropes!

Battling ropes are just what they sound like—long ropes that you have fun with and try to beat. Check out this video . . . looks fun!

 

What do you do when you need a change in your cardio routine?

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , ,

Ask the Doctor Special Edition: BRCA+ and Preventive Mastectomies

May 17, 2013 by

This week, The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction was flooded with calls and inquiries regarding the BRCA+ gene and questions regarding preventive mastectomies. Angelina Jolie’s moving op-ed in the New York Times highlighted her choice to have a double mastectomy.

For those of you who are considering this procedure, or simply want to find out more about the BRCA+ gene and whether a mastectomy is right for you, we’ve rounded up the best of our Ask the Doctor posts to help you move toward an informed decision. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact our office.

 

Should I Have a Preventive Mastecomy?
Who Can Have a Skin-Sparing and Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Why?
Will My Insurance Company Pay for My Mastectomy to Reduce My Risk of Breast Cancer?
What is a BRCA Test and Do I Need One?
Improving Your Self Esteem After a Mastectomy
The Latest Technology in Preventative Mastectomy Procedures
One Woman’s Journey to DO Something About Her BRCA Status

 

Have a question about breast reconstruction you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask us!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor

Haunted Charleston: Where Ghosts Abound

May 15, 2013 by

From its founding,Charleston has been a favorite setting for ghoulish tales and has more than its share of haunted buildings. Because Charleston has a history full of bloody battles and sordid scandal, spirits abound, and tourists are always keen to see ghosts.

Charleston’s Civil War history means that plenty of soldiers’ ghosts can be found near historic monuments and important war landmarks. Folly Island is popular for war ghost sightings as well as an apparition of the pirate Blackbeard. The Battery Carriage House has its share of ghosts, such as a headless torso wearing an overcoat and a male apparition (the “gentleman ghost”) that tries to get in bed with women and hug them. The old city jail is considered one of the most haunted spots in Charleston, and visitors regularly take photos of ghosts and orbs.

Possibly the most often seen ghost in the city is Zoe St. Amand, who haunts Poogan’s Porch on Queen Street. A spinster schoolteacher, Zoe used to room in the building with her sister. She passed away in the 1950s, but her ghost has been seen over 200 times, sometimes in broad daylight. Customers at Poogan’s often say they feel a presence who sits with them for dinner, and other patrons have noted that place settings were moved on tables.

Dock Street Theatre has an interesting ghost many have never heard of, but they know his son. The ghost of John Wilkes Booth’s father, Junius Brutus Booth, has walked the theater for centuries.

If you’d like to visit popular ghost hangouts, try a tour to the seamy underside of Charleston’s ghost haunts. Tour guides take you through cemeteries, dark buildings, and churches to show you the areas the ghosts frequent. You’ll hear about grisly murders, local legends, and voodoo curses. The ghost hunts and ghost tours travel to places such as the Provost Dungeon, St. Philip’s Graveyard, and the Exchange Building.

Known as Charleston’s premier walking tour company, Bulldog Tours offers a series of ghost tours, including the Haunted Pub Crawl, Ghost and Graveyard, and the Haunted Jail Tour. Another tour, the Dark Side of Charleston, takes an uncensored look at the city’s history of brothels, crime, and scandal.

If you were to take a ghost tour, what would you like to see? Graveyards, old jails, haunted theaters, or perhaps Civil War landmarks?

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , ,

Houseplants: Your Key to a Stress-Free Home

May 13, 2013 by

HouseplanHouse plants for a stress-free homets are not merely a pretty addition to your home; they can promote good health and stress reduction. As you’ll see, there is much more to these humble, lovely plants than meets the eye.

Breathe easier and reduce stress.

We all know that plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, but did you know that more oxygen in the air you breathe reduces your stress levels? When you have more oxygen flowing through your body, you feel better and have more energy.

Plants also release water into the air and increase the humidity in the room. If you have respiratory issues, that extra moisture helps you breathe easier and reduces stress on your lungs. Eucalyptus is a natural decongestant and can help your breathing.

Enjoy pure air.

Houseplants remove toxic chemicals from the air, including VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are commonly found in furniture, paint, and carpet. Newer homes and office buildings are more airtight than older buildings are, so these toxins become trapped. The more plants, the healthier the air, which in turn reduces stress on your body because it’s not working overtime to remove pollutants from your lungs and bloodstream.

The Dutch Product Board for Horticulture found that office plants reduced illness and fatigue. A study by the Agricultural University of Norway noted that rates of illness were 60 percent lower in plant-filled offices. Not only do plants add humidity to the environment, but they also reduce dust and other airborne particles that can irritate the respiratory tract.

Recover faster.

Patients with plants in their hospital rooms recovered from surgery faster than those who did not, according to a study at Kansas State University. The patients with plants used less medication and had lower blood pressure, meaning they experienced less stress. Their hospital stays were also shorter.

If you’re considering adding plants to your home, you’ll want to decide which plants will serve your purposes. If you wish to purify the air, try a spider plant, snake plant, or philodendron. Boston ferns and bamboo palms humidify the air, and a gerbera daisy or orchid will add oxygen to the air.

You might be asking how many house or office plants you need. It depends on what you want to accomplish. A good rule of thumb is one large plant (8-inch diameter pot or larger) or two smaller plants (4-inch diameter pot) per 100 square feet.

What do you use plants for in your home?

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , ,

Can I Have an Autologous Fat Transfer After a Lumpectomy?

May 10, 2013 by

Ask the doctor May 9

This week, Dr. James Craigie of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your questions.

Q: I am a stage IV breast cancer patient looking for autologous fat transfer to fill in my left breast after a lumpectomy in 2008. Can you please let me know how to proceed regarding consultation and such?

A: I would be glad to have our PA call you for more information or phone consultation. I would also be glad to see you in person if you want to come for an office visit to Charleston. I frequently see patients with similar requests.  In my opinion,  fat injections to repair lumpectomy and radiation deformities is usually not the most effective approach. There are also concerns by experts in this specialty regarding fat injections of the breast after that breast has already developed breast cancer once.

As long as the breast tissue remains then there is a risk–although very small–for the cancer to recur. That is why you still need to monitor that breast for any suspicious changes. The fat injections could make monitoring the breast more difficult and most importantly there could possibly be (not proven definitely yet ) an increase in the risk for recurrence after fat grafting. No one knows this for sure yet, but we are always careful regarding this type of safety issue. I could be more specific and talk to you about alternatives if I had more information and especially if I saw you in person. I hope this helps! Please let us know.

—

Q: I have BRCA mutation. I am 25 years old. I want to have mastectomies with reconstruction but don’t really know which would be the right way to go.

A:  I am sorry you are facing such a difficult decision. Fortunately, breast reconstruction after preventive mastectomies allows for more planning before surgery and usually sets the stage for the best possible breast reconstruction result.  There are several reasons for this.

One reason is more of your natural tissue can be saved. It is usually possible to keep your natural nipple and all of the normal breast skin. Other problems related to possible treatments like chemo and radiation are eliminated because the mastectomies are done to remove breast tissue and prevent breast cancer.

The techniques for breast reconstruction are generally the same following preventive mastectomy and mastectomy for cancer.  Implants are used most frequently because of availability and more rapid recovery from the initial surgery. The end results with implants tend to be less natural than with your own tissue and after the process is complete there is a tendency for the results to deteriorate with implants because they are not living tissue. Your body may reject the implants or they may leak or deflate. The results with using your own tissue are generally more natural and more permanent. We specialize in breast reconstruction using your own tissue but without sacrificing your body’s important muscles.  To be more specific about recommendations for you I would need more information. I will be glad to have our office contact you for this information, just let me know.

James Craigie, MD

Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

 

Have a question about breast reconstruction you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask us!

 

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
Next Page »