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Archives for May 2014

Is There a Time Limit on my Breast Reconstruction Options?

May 9, 2014 by

1418214_blue_flowerThis week, Dr. James Craigie of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your questions.

Q: I had a right mastectomy in May 1995 with 12 nodes removed at age 42. Then I received chemo for 3 months. Can I still have a reconstruction done at this point? How long is the recovery time? I work as a nurse on a cruise ship and am often 3-4 months away from home with varying times home (anywhere from 10 days to 3 months).

A: Thank you for your question. There is no time limit for breast reconstruction after having a mastectomy. The recovery depends in general on what type of reconstruction you had. If you did not have radiation you may have the option of implant reconstruction or reconstruction with your own tissue. Recovery from using your own tissue in general in longer and for our patients 8 weeks after stage one is typical. With more info I could be more specific. Let us know we could contact you for more details.

Q: I had a flap with reconstruction about 17 years ago. The right side is smaller than the left, and I would like to get them back to the same size, as well as get my nipple finished on the reconstruction. Is this still possible?

A: You can always have your reconstruction completed. There is no time limit in general. In order to proceed, we need to know what type of breast reconstruction you received 17 years ago (for instance, implant or using your own tissue). If you contact our office with more details, but we’re happy to discuss your options.  Thanks for your question!

Dr. James Craigie

Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

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

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , ,

Charleston Events for May: Roundup

May 7, 2014 by

<img src="filename.gif" alt="Musical Notes">We love Charleston because so many fun and exciting events happen every month, and we like to let you know about those you might enjoy. From the Charleston Convention and Visitors’ Bureau website, here are some highlights for May.

May 9
2014 Movies in Marion Square
Charleston City Paper is excited for this year’s Movies in the Park in Marion Square!

On May 9, join us for a previously unreleased movie (Yes, it’s a surprise!) Local vendors, such as Cory’s Grilled Cheese, Roti Rolls, The Orange Spot, and T&T Kettle Korn supply the refreshments. Admission is free, and has been for the past 11 years.

For additional information, please visit the Charleston City Paper website.

Every Saturday in May
Special $5 Pancake Breakfast at Southerly
Set your alarms for Southerly’s $5 Pancake Breakfast every Saturday from 7:30-10 a.m.

Each week features a “Pancake of the Week,” with classics like Apple Cinnamon or fun new dishes like Peanut Butter & Jelly!

Kids six and under eat free (offer valid with an adult purchase; offer limited to two children).

To learn more, visit the Southern Season website.

May 16, 17, and 19
Explore Bulls Island—Multi-Day Adventure with Coastal Expeditions
Offered only eight times each year, don’t miss your chance to spend the night in a National Wildlife Refuge.

All meals are included, as are transportation to the island, accommodations, and guide service. Each day, your guide will take you around the beach and its trails as they share the history of the refuge, help you to spy wildlife, pick up shells along the shoreline, and leave you with an appreciation the refuge’s importance. This trip is ideal for all nature lovers.

Remaining 2014 trip dates:
October 17–19
November 14–16
December 5–7

Price: $415 per person ($200 deposit at time of booking)

For more information, visit the Bull’s Island website.

May 24
First Flush FesTEAval
The First Flush FesTEAval is a celebration of America’s own tea garden and its popular product line, American Classic Tea.

The festival name, First Flush, is defined as the growth of new leaves on the tea plants in the springtime after a winter of rest. Their “first flush” of new growth is harvested to produce what avid tea drinkers deem to be the most unique, fresh, and amazing cup of tea.

The festival is not just about tea. Residents from Charleston and all neighboring towns trek to picturesque Wadmalaw Island to enjoy music, entertainment, art, and local cuisine. Fun for the whole family!

Please visit the Charleston Tea Plantation website for more details.

May 26
Charleston Men’s Chorus to Honor Servicemen and Servicewomen at Memorial Day Concert
As part of the Piccolo Spoleto Special Events Series, the Charleston Men’s Chorus will pay tribute to veterans and armed forces members at its annual Memorial Day Concert on May 26 at noon at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.

Admission is $20 for adults, seniors, and students. For additional information and tickets, please visit the Piccolo Spoleto website.

If you know of any Charleston events, please let us know below!

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: ,

How to Lower Blood Pressure Naturally

May 5, 2014 by

<img src="filename.gif" alt="Blood pressure monitor">Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects millions of Americans every year and is one of the most frequently treated conditions. Scores of effective medications exist to treat hypertension, but we always advise that you try lowering your blood pressure naturally first. Medications have side effects, while these natural blood pressure (BP) treatments help you feel better.

Take some deep breaths.
Deep breathing helps oxygenate your blood, which keeps the heart from working too hard. Most of us breathe shallowly and don’t truly take in as much oxygen as we could. Breathe in through your nose, and try to fill your stomach with air. Exhale as much air as you possibly can. Try deep breathing at least 10 times four or five times a day. More often is even better.

Studies have also shown that stress hormones raise blood pressure, and activities such as yoga and tai chi reduce those hormones, lowering your BP.

Lose weight and exercise.
When you lose weight, your heart doesn’t have to pump as hard to send blood to your organs and limbs, which reduces your blood pressure naturally. Many people with slightly elevated BP can control it simply by keeping off extra weight. Watch what you eat (more information below) and exercise to sensibly and slowly reduce your weight and keep it off.

Exercising has been found to lower blood pressure by itself, but to sustain its effects, you need to be consistent. What you do is not as important as doing something physical that gets your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. Find something you enjoy and just do it.

Eat foods as close to nature as possible.
Processed foods should play a small role in your everyday diet. Save those for the occasional splurge and eat real, whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. When you shop, walk the perimeter of the store and buy foods as close to their natural state as possible.

Eat plenty of potassium-rich foods such as bananas, melons, and potatoes. Potassium helps keep your fluids in balance, which keeps your BP low. Aim for at least 2,000 milligrams of potassium a day.

Avoid added salt.
We need a certain amount of sodium, but most Americans eat far more than they need. It’s not the salt you add to meals that causes problems, but the salt that food companies add to their products. If you read labels, you’ll find much more salt than you want or need in those packages.

Try eating no more than 1,500 milligrams per day, and buy some salt-free seasonings—you’ll be surprised at how good they taste. You won’t miss salt as much as you think you will.

If you’ve lowered your blood pressure naturally, please share how you did it below. 

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: ,

Will Reconstruction Improve the Shape and Size After My Lumpectomy?

May 2, 2014 by

1426157_white_rose_1This week, Dr. Richard Kline of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your questions.

Q: I had a lumpectomy and radiation in 2004. The defect in my breast is increasingly more noticeable (clothed) than in the past. Now, I’m interested in reconstruction to improve shape & size of my breast. Do you have any advice?

A: Lumpectomy defects can be challenging, for several reasons. Firstly, the tissue is radiated, which of course makes ANYTHING less likely to work. Secondly, there is no really satisfactory way to reliably replace the volume that was lost, precisely where you want it. Sometimes a small implant can be helpful, but not always. If the defect is large enough,  a microvascular flap of the type we do can be used, but often this seems like overkill for the size of the defect. Free fat grafting (sucking fat from elsewhere and injecting it into the breast) might be as close to an ideal solution as possible, and some surgeons do it currently, but it has not been established with certainty that this does not increase the chance of cancer recurrence, so we are holding off on that procedure until more evidence is in.

In many lumpectomy / radiation breasts the entire breast envelope, including the skin, has shrunken significantly. This often presents the option of re-arranging (with surgery) the remaining breast tissue to improve the shape, then subsequently lifting or reducing the other side to match as closely as possible.

Hope this helps. If you’d like to send pictures, I can possibly give you more specific suggestions. If you’d to speak with our nurse Chris or PA Kim to give them more information, they’d be happy to give you a call.

Dr. Richard Kline

Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

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

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , ,
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