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Archives for November 2015

Ask The Doctor-Should I have DIEP after radiation?

November 27, 2015 by

lotus-1396617-1279x1138This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: Should I have DIEP, after I had radation? I had it in 2013, and now I have non-invasive in same breast. My doctors are wanting to do this.

Answer: Thanks for the question. If you have already had radiation and are going to have a mastectomy, then DIEP breast reconstruction might be your best option. You do not want to have the DIEP breast treated with radiation. Make sure you ask your doctors if you may need radiation again after your mastectomy. Implants after radiation, in general, have higher complication rates and less favorable results.

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

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A Big Thank-You from The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

November 24, 2015 by

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Before we all head out to enjoy delicious turkey and spend time with family and friends, we want to take a moment to say thank you to our amazing readers and patients.

You inspire us each and every day, and we are so incredibly grateful to be able to do what we do. Thank you all.

The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team wishes everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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Ask The Doctor-Is blue fluid a sign of infection?

November 20, 2015 by

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: On July 23, 2015, I had a mastectomy with reconstruction (DIEP flap) on my right breast. After several weeks, eschar (sp) had to be removed and under one area was a pocket of fluid (seroma). A hole was left and it is packed with gauze twice a day by my home health company. Just yesterday the fluids on the packing etc. were discolored…it appears to be a bluish color mixed in with watery blood. Is that a sign of infection? And why does it appear to be blue?

Answer: Thank you for your question! I’m sorry you are having wound problems. You should definitely ask your surgeons that question. I don’t know of any infections associated with blue colored fluid. Another possibility would be related to your mastectomy. If you had a nipple sparing mastectomy and the nipple skin developed an eschar, I’m sorry to hear that.  Sometimes the nipple is injected during surgery with a blue dye. This dye helps the breast surgeon find your sentinel lymph node. I am not sure how long that blue dye would stay in a pocket of fluid. You should definitely ask your breast surgeon about the blue dye. Many eschar wound healing problems heal just fine in the long run. I tell my patients that, if the scar is bad, we may need to revise it later. As long as the new breast has a healthy blood supply there is a lot that can be done to improve wound healing problems. Please let me know if you have other questions.

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

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Holiday Manners We Forget

November 17, 2015 by

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With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, it’s safe to say it’s holiday season!

With company events, parties, dinners, and holiday celebrations galore, there are so many fun events to attend in the coming month.

However, all of these gatherings bring up an important topic: proper holiday etiquette. We may not be Miss Manners, but it’s always great to have a reminder this time of year on how to be a fabulous guest.

Read on for 5 holiday etiquette tips!

Don’t come empty handed

Always offer to bring something to a party ahead of time. Even if in years past, the host has taken care of everything, it’s so important to call ahead of time and see if there’s anything you can bring to lighten his or her load.

If you’re already planning on bringing food, it’s gracious to call well in advance to give the host an option of telling you what would best complement the meal (and ensure no duplicates).

Bring a gift

Even if you’ve been told to not bring a thing, it’s always nice to show up with a small gift such as wine, cookies, or a decorative ornament.

If you were planning on giving the host a holiday gift, this is also a great opportunity to bring it (and avoid the extra trip!).

However, it’s inappropriate to hand out holiday gifts to more than just the host at the event, unless the party has been specifically designated as a gift exchange.

Be helpful

Don’t just offer to help; step in and start assisting. Hosts often don’t want to ask for help, and simply asking “Is there anything I can do?” sometimes just isn’t enough. If you see somewhere you can be of help—just go ahead and put yourself to work!

Thank your host

At the end of the event, make sure you thank each host. It’s also considerate the next day to call and say what a wonderful time you had and thank them again.

Send invites in advance

Of course there are etiquette rules for the host as well! You should offer plenty of advance notice of the time and date of your event. There is a lot going on during the holidays, so giving a heads-up will be helpful for your friends’ planning out their holiday calendars.

Please share your holiday etiquette tips below or on our Facebook page!

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Ask The Doctor-What is your experience in performing reconstruction of breasts?

November 13, 2015 by

pink-1411536-1279x960This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: What is your experience in performing reconstruction of breasts? Thank you!

Answer: Thank you for asking! Our practice specializes in breast reconstruction. We have special expertise in breast reconstruction using your own tissue without sacrificing your important muscles. We also perform reconstruction with implants when necessary. Since 2002, we have performed nearly 2,000 breast reconstruction surgeries. Please let me know if you have any specific questions about any aspect of breast reconstruction.

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

 

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How to Teach Your Kids to Give Thanks

November 10, 2015 by

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, this time of year serves as a reminder to express our gratitude for all of the wonderful things in our lives.

It’s also the perfect time to teach your children how to give thanks for all of their blessings, so they grow up to be adults who understand the importance of giving back to the community.

It’s easy for kids to get wrapped up in all of the hype the holidays bring.

That’s why it’s so important to remind our kids of an important aspect of this time of year: giving thanks and giving back to the community.

However, it can be hard for a child to understand the concept of gratefulness. That’s why we’re sharing 6 ways to teach your children to give thanks this season. 

Journal

A fun tradition to start during the holidays (and carry throughout the year) is to start journaling as a family. Each evening, write down what you are grateful for in a journal.

Perform random acts of kindness

Make a goal for each day to go out of your way to do something kind for someone else. When you’re journaling that evening, each family member can share his or her random acts of kindness.

Deliver cookies

Baking and delivering cookies to your local fire station, police station, or food bank is a fun activity that your kids can be actively involved in. They will feel great that they actually helped make the cookies you deliver—and handing them out to people who appreciate the gesture will teach your children how good it feels to give back to the community.

Volunteer

Donating your time is one of the biggest ways you can help others, and teaching this to your kids at an early age is so important. Try volunteering at a variety of places, such as the local senior citizens center or homeless shelter, to see what interests your child.

Share your love

Don’t forget to tell your kids how incredibly grateful you are for them! Showing them how thankful you are for the wonderful things in life is the best way to set an example.

The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team wants to give thanks to all of our amazing patients.

You inspire us each and every day, and we’re so thankful to be able to do what we love.

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Ask The Doctor-Do you have advice on the different options for breast reconstruction?

November 6, 2015 by

pink-flower-1474796-1280x960This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I had a left mastectomy in 2010 and was thinking about different options for breast reconstruction! I want something that I get done one time and don’t have to keep coming back for different procedures.

Answer: Thanks for your great question. Breast reconstruction can be performed using different techniques. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Also each person’s situation is different and factors related to whether the reconstruction is started at the time of mastectomy or later may play a part in determining what technique is best for each person.

Unfortunately, there is no one option that can routinely be performed in only one surgery. In general, breast reconstruction with your own natural tissue (fatty tissue and skin) gives results that when complete are more likely permanent and as time goes by tend to get more natural and don’t deteriorate. Reconstruction with implants may require less time to recover but as time goes by the results tend to deteriorate and more often require revisions from year to year. Unfortunately, both approaches may require (almost always) more than one step. If you have had radiation, then using your own tissue is usually the best option. Therefore if you are looking for a permanent result that does not need to be redone later, then using your own tissue without sacrificing important muscles may be a good option for you. Let me know if you have more questions.

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

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How to Keep the Weight Off During the Holidays

November 3, 2015 by

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Do you hear that?

The holiday season is officially upon us, and with the holidays come the sugar and fat!

This time of year brings so many good things: time with family and friends, fun events, and time off from work and school.

Unfortunately, this time of year can bring some less pleasant things, such as a few unwanted pounds.

With so much food temptation surrounding us this time of year, it can be difficult not to indulge and pack on weight as a result.

In this post, we’re sharing a few tips to help you keep the weight off this holiday season, despite the temptations that lurk around the corner.

Eat before you go to parties

Fill up on healthy snacks before you head to holiday parties, and vow to skip the calorie-ridden appetizers. When your stomach is growling, it’s more difficult to keep yourself from making poor food choices.

Bring a dish

If it’s a potluck holiday meal, bring a healthy option that you can enjoy minus the guilt. This way, you know there will be at least be one thing you can enjoy—and we bet the other guests will be happy about being offered a healthy alternative as well!

Be the host

If you’re really trying to prevent holiday weight gain, the best way to take control of the food options is to host the party.

There are so many healthy twists to your favorite holiday recipes. Just a few substitutions can make a huge difference! The dishes are still so delicious, but won’t set you back a few pounds.

Fill up on protein and veggies

When it comes to filling up your plate with delicious holiday food, opt to first fill up the majority of your plate with protein and vegetables. Next, you can add small portions of other less-healthy dishes.

Indulge a little

It’s the holidays! Some of these amazing foods only come around once a year. Figure out which food choice you would be disappointed not to enjoy, and allow yourself to enjoy it at your holiday feast.

Send home the leftovers

Especially at Thanksgiving, the majority of the weight-gain damage doesn’t happen the day of—it’s eating all of the leftovers the following week! Send those leftovers home with family and friends to avoid the temptation.

Have more ideas for keeping the weight off during the holidays?

We’d love to hear in the comments below!

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