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Around the Harbor: A Guide to Experiencing Charleston by Sea

July 11, 2012 by

Charleston is our favoite place to be during the summer months, with its great beaches and waterways helping to temper the heat. If you’re looking to experience our beautiful city from another vantage point, consider taking a cruise around the Charleston Harbor. You will truly get a feel for life in this city by the sea. While you’re out there, you might even encounter some dolphins playing in your wake!

Charleston Harbor Tours

Step aboard the “Carolina Belle” and immerse yourself in the history of maritime life with Charleston Harbor Tours! This 90-minute tour comes with a well-educated tour guide who will point out some of Charleston’s most historic landmarks and tell the fascinating stories behind them. You can also purchase a carriage or plantation tour package when booking a harbor tour.

Spirit Line Cruises

Tour Ft. Sumter, have dinner, and sail around the harbor with the same cruise company! Spirit Line Cruises offers private charters, three-hour dinner cruises, and even wedding receptions. This company offers something for the history buff and socialite alike.

Charleston Dolphin and Eco Tours

Looking for something a little less historical? Grab your family and see Charleston’s watery wildlife up close and personal! Charleston Dolphin and Eco Tours offers fun for the whole family, with nature-oriented tours and harbor cruises. Choose the perfect excursion for your family, and enjoy the ride!

About Charleston:

The Charleston area is home to wonderful resources for our patients and their families. If you are traveling here for surgery, rest assured that we have world-class medical and post-operative facilities. Patients of the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction are cared for at the East Cooper Medical Center, a state-of-the-art regional hospital, located very near to our offices.

The region is also filled with hotels, villas and homes available for short- or long-term rental.

Charleston is routinely ranked one of the nation’s most beloved destinations. And we’ve also been voted most polite so often, that we’ve politely pulled out of the competition. Charleston enjoys a temperate climate, a vibrant historic district, wide beaches, majestic homes and a friendly ambiance. No matter the season, there are plenty of things to see and do here.

You can get more information about Charleston and its’ harbor tours and cruises at the Charleston Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

 

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Am I A Candidate for Natural Breast Reconstruction?

June 29, 2012 by

The below question is answered by Charleston breast surgeon Dr. James Craigie of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 at age 24 (infaltrating ductal, triple negative). I had a lumpectomy with a lymph node dissection, chemotherapy and radiation. I found out I was positive for the BRCA1 mutation in 2008 and had a myomectomy (c section cut) and subsequent full hysterectomy (via davinci) in 2010, since pathology found the mass to be Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma.

I am now considering a mastectomy to decrease my chances of reoccurrence. Would you recommend a prophylactic mastectomy? If so, what type of reconstruction can I have? I prefer natural reconstruction rather than implants, but do not know if I am eligible since I’ve had two abdominal surgeries and do not have a lot of extra tissue anywhere else.

Hi and Thank you for your question. I’m sorry you have been faced with these difficult decisions. Removing as much breast tissue as possible is the most effective thing you can do to reduce your chances of getting breast cancer. I  refer to this type of mastectomy as “risk reduction” because it does not make the chances 0 but is as close as one can get. Your previous tummy surgeries have probably not affected your ability to have natural breast reconstruction, as we have had many people who have had the same types of surgery before using the extra tummy. Even the people who have had surgeries that compromise the tummy we can almost always come up with an option for natural breast reconstruction. Many of our patients have been told they do not have enough extra to use but when we see them we can usually give them a very nice result without implants. I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

James Craigie, MD

Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

 

Would you like your breast reconstruction question answered? Just ask us!

 

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The 2012 Charleston Dragon Boat Festival

May 14, 2012 by

We at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction were thrilled to sponsor the DBC survivor team Paddles n’ Pearls at this year’s fifth annual Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, May 5th. This year’s event raised a record breaking $108,000 dollars to nurture the warrior spirit of those fighting cancer. This years goal was $75,000 and to it say it was surpassed is an understatement!

46 teams made up of 20 people each, on colorful boats, competed in a 250 meter race across the Ashley River.   Some of the team members partaking in the race are supporting the cause, other having previously battled cancer, while some are even currently undergoing treatment.  The spirit of this event is to unleash your inner warrior. The fight against cancer should not be something a cancer warrior fights alone, however  it should be fought with a team—made up of loved ones supporting you and helping you navigate along the way.

The crowd ranges from college students to those in their 80’s and 90’s and a great time is had by all. This year the weather was perfect and we couldn’t have thought of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon. We can already say that we are looking forward to next year and hope to see you there!

Check out our Facebook page to see all the fun our team had while sponsoring this year’s event!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Water Soluble Vitamins: What Do They Do and How Do You Get Them?

April 30, 2012 by

vitaminsVitamins are either fat soluble (stored in fat) or water soluble, which means they dissolve in water and must be replenished daily. The fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K, and the B complex and C vitamins are water soluble.

Vitamin B Complex

The B vitamins, also known as the B complex, are a group of eight vitamins that perform a variety of functions in the body. They help your body’s cell division and metabolism perform at peak efficiency, aid your immune system’s function, and promote healthy hair and skin.

The main sources of the B vitamins are whole grains, beans and legumes (including peanuts), animal products, yeast, and green or cruciferous vegetables. The vitamins are listed below along with their common names and prime sources:

B1: Also known as thiamine, B1 is found in whole grains, cruciferous vegetables, and animal products.

B2: Called riboflavin, this B vitamin is found in dairy products and green vegetables.

B3: Food sources high in niacin include meat, fish, and vegetables.

B5: Find pantothenic acid in animal products and green vegetables. Women may recognize this as an ingredient in beauty products.

B6: Also called pyridoxine, eat plenty of veggies and meat to get your B6.

B7: Biotin (also an ingredient you might recognize from beauty products) is found in animal products and peanuts.

B9: Folic acid is a vital nutrient for a healthy pregnancy and is found in grains and leafy vegetables.

B12: This vitamin, cyanocobalamin, presents challenges to vegetarians and vegans because it is found only in animal products.

Vitamin C

Known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C aids metabolism, fights infections and acts as an antioxidant. It also promotes healing, such as from breast reconstruction surgery,  so we always suggest you ensure you’re getting enough. It’s found primarily in fruits and vegetables, as well as some meats such as liver. Sources high in vitamin C include peppers, berries, rose hips, and parsley.

The water-soluble vitamins are easily supplemented if the diet is deficient, though natural sources are always the best way to ingest them. These vitamins degrade when cooked, so raw foods are preferred. The important thing is that you’re receiving at least the reference daily intake (RDA) each day, as excess B and C vitamins are excreted in the urine.

 

 

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Upcoming Webinar: “Is Natural Breast Reconstruction Right for Me?”

April 2, 2012 by

NBR WebinarWe at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction are excited to announce our upcoming webinar, Is Natural Breast Reconstruction Right for Me?, happening Thursday, April 12, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern / 4:00 p.m. Pacific.

Intended for anyone who has been affected by breast cancer (including those who have been recently diagnosed, those currently in treatment, those currently in remission, and family and friends of those with cancer), the no-cost webinar will provide information about women’s options for natural breast reconstruction

Unlike other types of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, natural breast reconstruction uses tissues from a woman’s body to create natural looking and feeling breasts. The webinar will be hosted by The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction’s Dr. James Craigie and Dr. Richard M. Kline, Jr.,MD, both of whom specialize in natural breast reconstruction surgery.

During the hour-long event, the surgeons will educate attendees about…

  • Exactly what natural breast reconstruction entails and who is eligible for this type of surgery.
  • The language and shorthand of natural breast reconstruction, defining and explaining what all the natural reconstruction acronyms (including DIEP, GAP, TUG, and SIEA) mean.
  • What patients can expect in terms of hospital stays, recovery time, and scarring.
  • How The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction handles insurance and what types of insurance we accept.

We’ll also open the phone lines to a live Q&A session with the surgeons and our insurance specialist so attendees can get answers to all their questions related to natural breast reconstruction.

To join us for the webinar, register here.

Note: if you are busy on April 12, register today, and we’ll send you a link to the replay, which you can watch at your convenience.

 

 

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If I Have Had Natural Breast Reconstruction Do I Need To Have A Yearly Mammogram?

March 23, 2012 by

diep and mammogramThe below question is answered by Charleston breast surgeon, Dr. James E. Craigie. of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction:

After having breast reconstruction using the DIEP method do I need to have yearly mammogram?  If so, can the pressure from the procedure cause any damage to the tissue or blood vessels used in the reconstruction?

First of all, following mastectomy and reconstruction with your own tissues, a mammogram is routinely not needed on a regular screening basis.  Screening mammograms are only helpful for normal breast tissue; therefore, in our patients we do not recommend that they have regular screening mammograms.  From time to time, people will be seen in follow up for examination and have areas of the breast feel firm or hard and sometimes the oncologist or other physicians will order mammograms to investigate a specific finding.  This would normally be performed after the first and second stages of the reconstruction process were completed and therefore should pose no risk of injury to the blood vessels that were connected to the breast.

-James E. Craigie, M.D.

Do you have a question about breast implants or natural breast reconstruction? Ask the doctor by submitting your questions here.

 

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Your DIEP Reconstruction Recovery Process Question Answered

March 16, 2012 by

diep questionsThe below question is answered by Charleston breast surgeon, Dr. James E. Craigie. of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction:

I still feel tightness in my chest and stomach after DIEP reconstruction, when can I expect that to improve?

Tightness in the donor site area or tummy depends on how much tissue was taken to rebuild the breast and how much loose tissue was there to begin with.  The scar that results after the healing process can take approximately 6 months to relax and mature.  Therefore, during recovery, the tissues will be stiff for approximately 3 months and as you begin to do more and exercise more, the areas should slowly become less tight, less swollen, and more natural.  Regarding tightness in your chest, it would be unusual for tightness to exist for very long after having reconstruction with your own tissue.  Usually a new healthy breast made from your own tissue will improve tightness or scarring particularly if someone has had reconstruction with implants prior to using their own tissue.  However, if you have had radiation, those changes can be permanent and there may be residual stiffness, but it is very unusual for people in our practice to complain of tightness in the chest area once everything has healed approximately 3 to 6 months after surgery.

-Dr. James E. Craigie

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Your Questions about Natural Breast Reconstruction and Implants Answered

March 9, 2012 by

implantsThe following submission below is answered by Dr. James E. Craigie, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction.

I had breast reconstruction in 2009 with implants and am unhappy with the result.  How hard is it to go back and do reconstruction with your own tissue?  What is the recovery time and does insurance give you a hard time if you need to do this?

Sorry that you are having so many problems with your implants, here are several things you need to know.  First of all, if someone required a mastectomy and their insurance company offers coverage for mastectomy; there is a federal law that mandates that insurance company to cover breast reconstruction.  If one technique did not work for you or failed, you are still eligible for another technique.  In our practice, 30% of our patients who undergo reconstruction with their own tissue have had failed implants.  Implant failure can be many different things.  Some people lose their implants because of infection; some have had radiation effects that contributed to rejection of the implant or hardness, while others simply have a result that is not satisfactory to them.  Other factors such as problems with implant itself or leakage can be reasons for implant failure as well.  Depending on exactly what your situation and original surgery was, the challenges of reconstruction following implants can include repair of the chest muscle, removal of leaking silicone, or removal of Alloderm if that product had been used during the initial reconstruction.  All of these things do make the reconstruction more challenging, but certainly our most successful technique to solve this problem is to remove the implants, any leaking implant material, the Alloderm, and the hard capsule that had formed around the implant and replace all of this with your own healthy living tissue.   Our preferred way to do this utilizes muscle-sparing techniques such as the DIEP or GAP, using just your fatty tissue to replace the implants.  Compared to someone who has not had failed implants, you may require an additional one or two revision stages of surgery and may require more time to allow the results to settle and overcome the effects of the previous surgeries.  These issues do make the process more complex, but the success rate among our patients is very high and the completed result is permanent and natural feeling which our patients who have had implant failures report to be their main goal. The recovery time for these types of surgeries is always patient dependent and generally longer than surgeries utilizing implants but our patients are usually back to work anywhere between 4 to 6 weeks.  I hope this has answered your questions and if you have any others I can answer, please feel free to forward them to us.

Do you have a question about breast implants or natural breast reconstruction? Submit your questions here to be answered by our team!

 

 

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Tips for Improving Recovery and Healing Time

March 2, 2012 by

Healing TimeOn the last edition of Ask the Doctor, we provided you with steps for the most optimal surgical experience. This week we are sharing with you some steps we have to help our patients improve their post surgery recovery and healing time !

After Surgery

Family members will receive periodic updates during your surgery.

Following the procedure, you will be moved to a special unit in the hospital where you will be connected to monitoring equipment. There, nurses trained in post operative care of breast reconstruction will monitor you at all times.  Family members can see you during visiting hours.

You will also receive an informative sheet that discusses your specific information and post-operative care.  This likely will include information concerning drain care; it is very important to monitor flow from the drains in a 24-hour period. This guides us on when to remove them.  You will also have a kind of thermometer on your chest, which monitors the flap.  Other specifics and information will be provided in your post-operative packets.

As You Heal

Family and Friends:
Support from loved ones is very helpful. But understand that comments they may make during your recovery can cause you concern. Remember this: We will tell you honestly how you are doing and what we expect your result will be.  Please trust in our knowledge and experience when we discuss your progress with you.

Healing:
You will heal! How quickly depends on factors your genetic background, your overall health and your lifestyle (exercise, smoking, drinking, etc.). Many people believe the surgeon “heals” the patient.  No person can make another heal. Dr Craigie and Dr Kline can facilitate, but not accelerate, the healing process.  But you play the starring role, so your cooperation is key.

Swelling:
You may find swelling of your new breast and abdomen (DIEP) or buttock (GAP) to be troublesome and your clothes may not fit.  Be patient, this swelling will gradually subside and you will feel better in a few weeks.  There will be a certain amount of tightness in the area where the flap was taken from.  This will slowly relax in a few months.

Following Instructions:
Another way to improve healing is by following the instructions given by Dr. Craigie and Dr. Kline’s staff.  We believe “the difference is in the details” and strive to achieve the best possible results for you.  It is imperative that you act as a partner in this process — not a passive participant.  The instructions are designed to give you the best opportunity for healing without delay or surprise.

Click here for a complete list of post surgery healing and recovery tips and instructions.

Have questions for the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction’s team? Send them on over, we’d love to hear from you!

 

 

 


 

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Change is in the Air!

February 29, 2012 by

Goodbyes are often bittersweet. While we are sad to see Christina Hobgood Naugle PA-C leave our team, we are proud to welcome a new team member, Kim Kay PA-C! Please take a moment to read the special message from Christina below.

“I am very happy to introduce to you all, Kim Kay PA-C.  Kim will be taking my place at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction starting in March.  My husband and I have a good opportunity in South Florida, so I will be returning to my home town.  Kim was a student with Drs Craigie and Kline a couple years ago, so she is a familiar face to The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team.  I am very sorry that I am unable to hug each one of you prior to my move, but I could not leave without telling you all “Thank you”.  Thank you for the friendships, and thank you for the life lessons that each of you have provided in the past 3 ½ years.  This experience has been invaluable and the strength I have seen inspiring.  I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, and check in with Drs. Craigie and Kline occasionally.

I am leaving confident that Kim will be an excellent addition to The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction family!
All my best!”

Christina Hobgood Naugle PA-C

Christina,  we wish you the best of luck in South Florida!

 

 

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