Archives for December 2015

New Year’s Resolutions That Are FUN

December 29, 2015 by Gail

New Year’s Resolutions don’t always have to be a drag.

You shouldn’t enter the New Year full of dread and anxiety—it should be full of hope and excitement.

If vowing to lose weight this year is just not getting you excited for 2016, it’s time to rethink resolutions.

Why not make a New Year’s resolution that is fun?

If you’re looking to shake up your resolutions, we thought up some awesome (and attainable) ideas.

Plan a weekly date night

Want to keep that spark alive with your significant other for 2016? Make it a priority to have a date night each week. Sound expensive? It doesn’t have to be!

Some date nights can be simply putting your phones away, turning off the TV, lighting some candles, and enjoying dinner together at home.

Enjoy time with friends

With all the commitments of everyday life, it’s easy to let friendships take a back seat. However, friends are such important relationships to maintain—they help you relax and laugh and support you in tough times. Suggest to your friends that your group start a monthly girls’ night!

Plan an outdoor activity each week

Trying to disconnect more from technology this year? Plan an outdoor activity once a week. Fresh air and enjoying the outdoors can be incredibly beneficial for our health. Here are some ideas:

Hiking
Neighborhood walk
Outdoor picnic
Bike ride
Bonfire
Mini golf
Visiting local parks

Play with your kids

As adults, sometimes we forget just how much fun participating in kid-centric activities actually is! Get lost in your kid’s imaginary world, don’t worry about being messy during craft time, and climb in that tunnel slide with him or her!

Make a froyo bar

Make a homemade “froyo” bar once a week! Decide on a certain night of the week, and make it a tradition. Set up a different frozen yogurt flavors and toppings. What a yummy resolution!

Create a movie bucket list

Create a movie bucket list of all the films you’ve been meaning to watch. Better yet—get your friends involved and create the ultimate movie list.

Plan a trip

Make an effort to plan that trip you’ve always wanted to go on. Start saving, buy travel books, book your tickets, and make hotel reservations. Bon voyage!

What’s your New Year’s resolution? Share on our Facebook page!

Ask The Doctor-Can I have reconstruction surgery without using my muscle?

December 25, 2015 by Gail

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

Question: I had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction with breast implants in 2012, the and implants were placed in December of 2013. My current plastic surgeon has been trying to treat an infection since April, so I will be going into have implant exchanges and scar tissue removed. I’m still not happy with implants, but I really do not want to go through a major surgery where a muscle needs to be used. I had invasive lobular carcinoma. I am interested in the fat transfer. I would like to discuss this further. Please email or call me. I am willing to travel.

Answer: I hope your surgery went well and that you have no more infection problems. I understand that you would like to avoid muscle flap procedures. Fat transfer is an option if implants don’t work. We specialize in using your own fatty tissue without sacrificing your important muscles. For someone who has had implant problems, we can start over and replace the implants with their own fatty tissue. In my opinion, this is often a better option than covering an implant with an important muscle. Thanks for your question; let me know if you would like more information.

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

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

December 22, 2015 by Gail

The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team wants to wish our patients and readers Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Thank you all for making this a truly amazing year—our patients are such an inspiration to us, and we’re so grateful to be able to do what we do.

We hope everyone has a beautiful holiday, and we look forward to what the New Year has in store!

Merry Christmas,

The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team

Filed Under: Upcoming Events

Ask The Doctor- Can you make my breasts the same size?

December 18, 2015 by Gail

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

Question: In late July 2012, I had a lumpectomy for St 1 invasive ductal carcinoma and a few lymph nodes. I now have my original DD with very dense tissue, and a large C that I actually like because of the location of the tumor-it gave me a bit of a lift. Honestly, I would love to have the bigger breast reduced, as if it also had a tumor removed from the same area, so they match better. Have you ever done that? Thank you for your time.

Answer: Thank you for your question. Yes, you have a good point, and I have done that before on multiple occasions. It is much better to reduce your non cancer breast than to attempt to alter the breast that has been treated with radiation. It is very fortunate that the lumpectomy and radiation left your breast in a desirable shape and size. If you would like more information, let us know.

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

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: breast implants, breast reconstruction, breast reconstruction options, breast reconstruction surgery, Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, Charleston breast surgeons

In Her Own Words: Patti Ehrlickman

December 15, 2015 by Gail

The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team is passionate about sharing stories of amazing people who devote themselves to the breast cancer cause.

Patti Ehrlickman, a nurse who saw the daily struggle breast cancer patients, had the idea to invent a device to make the quality of life after undergoing a mastectomy just a little bit easier.

The apron-like garment, Poucharoo, holds the multiple post-mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgical drains in place to eliminate the inconvenience of dangling drains and reduce the risk of injury.

Patti’s goal is to make the difficult recovery after break surgery more manageable and comfortable.

To see the impact she’s made on the recovery process for many patients, watch this video.

Poucharoo is a medical support device that is comprised of two pockets and three detachable belts. It comes with a Poucharoo tote bag, and is made of washable poly-cotton that is soft and breathable. This device is worn around the waist and supports 1-4 drains—without the use of safety pins.

Not only does a portion of the profits go to FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered), Patti also takes the time to send a personal email to each woman.

We’re proud to share her story, her product, and her passion for helping women with breast cancer.

For more information about Poucharoo, visit the website.

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Awareness, In Her Words Tagged With: breast cancer, In her words, Patti Ehrlickman, post mastectomy, post surgical care, Poucharoo

Ask The Doctor-How should I proceed with breast reconstruction?

December 11, 2015 by Gail

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

Question: Hi doc, I want to undergo breast reconstruction. Would you please inform me on how I should proceed?

Answer: Thank you for your question. If you have had or are planning to have mastectomy surgery, then chances are that you can have breast reconstruction. There are different approaches and procedures. The best option for you depends on the specifics of your situation, such as previous surgery, medical history, and expectations. If you would like to know more, we would need to get some information about your situation. Just let us know we can contact you for the details.

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

14 Holiday Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank

December 8, 2015 by Gail

During the holidays, there’s a lot of pressure to give your loved ones the perfect gift.

However, on your quest to finding the best presents, you may find yourself with an empty wallet.

Starting off the New Year with maxed-out credit cards and a load of stress isn’t a great way to start 2016.

The holiday season doesn’t mean you have to overstretch your means—it just takes a little creativity and harnessing your talents.

Take advantage of these 14 easy and low-cost ways to spread the holiday cheer without running up your credit lines:

Bake and decorate some holiday treats.

Knit or crochet a scarf, mittens, or hat.

Scrapbook a photo album with special memories of you and your loved one.

Are you a painter? Paint a picture that would fit well in their home.

Make an epic playlist.

Paint wine glasses or coffee mugs with cute sayings.

Decorate ornaments.

Gift homemade soap.

Make chocolate-covered strawberries or pretzels.

Fill mason jars with the recipient’s favorite bite-sized treats.

Make a pedicure kit with a mini nail polish bottle, nail file, and buffer.

Create a bath basket—with soap, a loofah, and crystals from the dollar store.

Put a DVD or $10 movie gift certificate in a popcorn bucket.

Frame a favorite picture.

We’d love to hear your holiday budget-saving tips below!

Filed Under: Upcoming Events Tagged With: cheap holiday gifts, holiday gift ideas, holiday gifts, inexpensive holiday gifts

Ask The Doctor-What’s different about your methods?

December 4, 2015 by Gail

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

Question: I’ve already had transflap and gluteal flap surgeries. Both failed. What’s different about your methods? Would I be a candidate?

Answer: I’m sorry to hear that you have had problems with your reconstruction. I can’t tell you how our approaches are different than what you have already tried without knowing all the details. I will say that our specialty is using your own fatty tissue without ever sacrificing your important muscles. Our overall success rate for these procedures, in over 1,500 breast reconstructions, is 98.5%.

We do not do the tram procedure, but we prefer the DIEP procedure that uses your tummy fatty tissue without sacrificing the tummy muscle. We also use fatty tissue from the buttock and that approach is called the sGAP procedure.

For patients who have more fatty tissue in their thighs, we can perform the same type of reconstruction using the thigh tissue. If you have not had radiation, there are techniques that require implants and fat injections that could be an option. In that situation, small amounts of fat are taken from multiple areas using techniques similar to liposuction. The fat can then be combined, prepared, and then injected around an implant or alone to perform breast reconstruction. This approach requires multiple procedures with repeat injections of small amounts of fat and when used with an implant is best when no radiation is needed.

I would be interested to know more about your situation. Did you require one breast or two reconstructed? Did you need radiation? What were the circumstances that led to the previous surgeries failing? Were the blood vessels of your chest used to connect to the new breast tissue? Using the buttock tissue is not performed many places and is not always available. I would be interested to know where you had that procedure done. Please 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!

Charleston Holiday Events

December 1, 2015 by Gail

The holidays are such a special time of year in Charleston—there’s just that feeling of indescribable magic in the air.

The beautiful Christmas lights, lit menorahs, and festive store displays—the holidays brings so much joy and fun.

We’ve compiled a list of holiday events in the Charleston area to get you and your loved ones in the spirit.

December 2—Historic Holiday Event at The Charleston Museum

The Charleston Museum is hosting their annual Holiday Workshop. Children can sip on hot chocolate and cookies, while they decorate the exhibit and create decorations to bring home.

This event is free for members and only $5 for non-members.