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July Q&A #2

August 19, 2019 by

I would like to learn more about liposuction or non-surgical liposuction around my abdomen and my thighs.
– Harmony

Hey Harmony,

Depending on your personal goals, both are great options for body contouring.

Trusculpt iD is a non-invasive option that offers fat dedication and skin tightening with minimal downtime. It’s Monopolar Radio-frequency platform tailors to patients’ individual needs and features Real-Time Temperature Control for clinically proven results, safety, and patient experience. In 15 minutes, truSculpt iD treats the entire fat layer, resulting in an average of 24% fat reduction.

Surgical liposuction is a more invasive method, with 1-2 weeks of downtime. It reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits and improving your body contours and proportion. Anesthesia is required for this procedure, but it is also safe and effective.

I would like to discuss this in more detail. If you’re interested please call 843-849-8418 to schedule a consultation. I am sure we can tailor a plan to meet your specific needs.

Thank you for reaching out. Hope to hear from you soon!

Dr. Lindsey Weaver, FNP-C

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July Q&A #1

August 19, 2019 by

Q.I’m waiting to have surgery to take a cancer lump from my left breast. Then I will be taking radiation treatment. Will my breast be disfigured from this and will I be suitable to build my breast appearance with reconstruction surgery?
Judi

A.Hi Judi, Sorry you’re having to go through this. Management of a lumpectomy defect can be more complicated than reconstructing an entire breast after mastectomy. If you are sure you want to have a lumpectomy instead of mastectomy, then it may be best to have a plastic surgeon do reconstructive surgery on your breast at the same time as your general surgeon does the lumpectomy, before radiation, as the radiation will make any subsequent surgery to improve the shape of the breast much, much riskier (particularly regarding wound healing problems). If you would like to discuss your situation in more detail by phone, I would be happy to speak with you.

Richard M. Kline, Jr., MD

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Coping after surgery

August 19, 2019 by

Surgery is a common method of treating breast cancer, but it can be overwhelming. There is so much to think about and you might be feeling scared, especially about how you will handle recovery. Here are some tips that we hope will help to make your recovery easier:

Prepare: Recovering from breast surgery really begins before you even have your surgery. It will take you a few weeks to recover, at least, so take time to brainstorm everything you do on a daily and weekly basis. What can wait to do until after you’ve recovered? What do you need help with on a daily or weekly basis? You will need assistance, but before you make any arrangements, figure out exactly what those needs are. For example, do you need someone to drive the kids to activities? Take the garbage out? Cook or clean for you? Help with laundry or taking care of your bandages?

Find support: Once you know what you need, it is time to create a support system. You might need someone to help you dress, undress and bathe until your doctors remove your drain, if you’ve had a mastectomy. Ask what your spouse can help with and see where there are gaps. Perhaps your children, a few close friends or relatives can alternate times to help you. Neighbors might offer to take your children to their activities, while your mom offers to cook and do the housework for you.

Stock up: Make sure to cook and freeze a few days or weeks worth of meals before surgery, so you have easy-to-grab foods and snacks. Eating healthy is important for your recovery too, so choose low-fat, highly nutritious options. Keep fruit, vegetables and water on hand as well.

Don’t forget that you may have an issue putting on your current clothes, so consider purchasing several shirts that are a little larger than what you currently wear and that button up in the front so they are easier to get on and off and do not rub against your incision.

Don’t overdo it: Everybody wants to get back to their regular routine after surgery, but it’s important for your recovery that you don’t overdo it. Get plenty of rest and sleep, especially in the first few weeks.

Follow post-surgery care: You will be given exercises to do after surgery, information on how to care for your skin and directions on what you can and can’t do. For example, you may not be able to shower for a week or go in a pool for several weeks. Make sure to keep your follow-up appointments too. To heal properly, be sure to follow all directions that you’ve been given.

Be observant:If you have a drain, keep an eye out for any excess blood, signs of infection or other problems. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, contact your physician right away.

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Sun Safety Tips

June 3, 2019 by

 

Close up on woman applying sun cream on her arm with a spray at the beach on a warm, sunny day. Sunscreen protection, skin cancer concept

The warmer, sunnier weather is calling you to the great outdoors, but breast cancer survivors need to take extra special precautions to care for their skin. Why? Both chemotherapy and radiation treatments can make the skin more sensitive to the sun up to two years after treatment is over.

Before you head to the park or to the beach, It’s important for breast cancer patients to follow these tips to stay safe in the sun:

  1. Wait Just a Bit

If you just finished radiation therapy, give your skin a little time to heal before enjoying the sun. It is typically recommended that radiation patients wait a few weeks before venturing out. When exposed to the sun, radiation therapy can cause something called ‘radiation recall’, where the treated area will “remember” that it was exposed to radiation and become red, inflamed, and tender again.

  1. Use Sunscreen

According to the American Cancer Society, sunscreen for breast cancer survivors should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. The SPF number is the level of protection that the sunscreen provides against UVB rays. Keep in mind that no sunscreen completely protects you, so you should combine other safety tips to increase your chance of protection.

Not sure what you should use? Every breast cancer patient is different, so talk to your oncologist and your radiation oncologist to see what they want you to use. If you have already had a negative reaction to the sun or are sensitive to certain sunscreen ingredients, they may have a different product recommendation.

  1. Cover Up

The area of your breasts that received radiation therapy should be protected from the sun at all times with clothing and sunblock, especially if the area is already red or ‘burned’ because of treatments. It’s also important to keep your surgical scars covered.

  1. Sit in the Shade

Unless your doctor specifically tells you to not go out in the sun at all, you should limit your sun exposure during the times that the ultraviolet or UV rays are the strongest. This is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It’s best to enjoy the early morning or later evening sun.

  1. Protect Your Scalp

Chemotherapy causes hair loss, so if your hair is thinning or if you are completely bald, make sure you wear a hat or apply sunscreen to your scalp – and don’t forget your ears too!

  1. Don’t Get Overheated

Some chemotherapy medications can cause your body to become overheated in the sun, so consider wearing a wide brim hat or a hat that is made from natural fabrics so your scalp can ‘breathe.’

Don’t use tanning beds: They employ the same dangerous ultraviolet rays that the sun emits.

You can certainly enjoy the warm summer outdoors without baking in the sun. Remember, you just finished treatment and need to take it easy and keep your body healthy.

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