Helping women make smart, informed choices about breast reconstruction.
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
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!
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.
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!
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:
We’d love to hear your holiday budget-saving tips below!
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!
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.
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.
For more event information, click here.
Shopping and wine—what’s not to love?!
Stroll King Street’s unique shops offering a preferred shopping experience, and enjoy reserve wine tastings at every store—plus hors d’oeuvres from local restaurateurs.
Tickets are $50 per person.
For more event information, click here.
Be sure to attend the 35th Annual Charleston Christmas Parade! The parade will begin at 2:00 p.m. starting at Broad and Barre Street, and ends with Santa’s arrival at Marion Square on the corner of Calhoun and King Street.
For more event information, click here.
The highly anticipated Vienna Boys Choir will be coming to the Charleston Gaillard Center. This prestigious choir group was founded in 1498, and their beautiful voices are now heard around the world.
For more event information, click here.
We’re proud sponsors of Charleston County School of the Arts Vocal Department’s Sounds of the Season concert performances along with the SOA Orchestra. Each year the concerts are absolutely fantastic, and the talent is truly impressive. These performances usually sell-out both night—be sure to get your tickets early!
For more event information, click here.
Did we forget one of your favorite Charleston holiday events? Share below!
This 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!
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!
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!
