surgery – thirdAGE

Nipple-Sparing Surgery is Safe for Women with Gene Mutations

For women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, it is shocking to learn that you carry a gene mutation that dramatically increases the chance you will develop breast cancer at some point in your life. Perhaps just as shocking is learning that your best way to prevent breast cancer is to undergo a double… Continue reading Nipple-Sparing Surgery is Safe for Women with Gene Mutations

Using Fat Grafting for Breast Reconstruction

Fat grafting is an innovative form of breast reconstruction that avoids both the artificiality of breast implants and the scarring and complexities of flap surgery. A form of natural tissue breast reconstruction, fat grafting is an option for women with the time and patience to accept its limitations. The most common type of breast reconstruction… Continue reading Using Fat Grafting for Breast Reconstruction

Recovering from Surgery

Each individual’s experience and reactions to surgery is different and related to a number of variables, such as the reaction and aftereffects of anesthesia, the type and location of the surgery, and the patient’s general overall physical and mental health. With that said, I offer that all surgery is trauma to the whole body and… Continue reading Recovering from Surgery

Post Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction Basics: Understanding Your Options

Breast reconstruction has come a long way. Although breast cancer was known to the ancient Egyptians as far back as 1600 B.C., it was not until the 18th century that it was understood to be a localized disease whose spread could be contained by isolating and removing the affected cells, and it was not until… Continue reading Post Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction Basics: Understanding Your Options

Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy: How to Decide

Few fingers decorated as few person. Suitable to be used for anything about lumpectomy surgery.

While coping with the emotional turmoil that follows a breast cancer diagnosis, a woman must absorb a seemingly vast amount of information that will help her make important decisions about the treatment options available to her. Many women with early-stage cancer learn that while surgery will be needed, the decision of whether to attempt to… Continue reading Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy: How to Decide

Low Blood Pressure and Post-Op Delirium

Patients who experience low blood pressure during surgery are at increased risk for postoperative delirium, according to a large study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ annual meeting in October 202 Postoperative delirium, a change in mental function that can cause confusion after surgery, is the most common surgical complication… Continue reading Low Blood Pressure and Post-Op Delirium

What to Expect When Recovering from Breast Surgery

Hundreds of thousands of women undergo breast surgery every year. Whether these procedures are reconstructive, cosmetic, or therapeutic, surgery itself is traumatic to the body. The body’s reaction to surgery depends on many factors. Most important are the patient’s overall health, type and location of the surgery, and the aftereffects of anesthesia. Before surgery, each woman… Continue reading What to Expect When Recovering from Breast Surgery

Acupuncture and Surgery: Relieve Anxiety Before and Reduce Discomfort After

Acupuncture is part of an ancient system of Chinese medicine that has been used for more than 2,500 years to treat disease and relieve pain by restoring balance to the flow of energy (“qi”) through the body. Acupuncture theory believes that this qi moves throughout the body along twelve main channels (“meridians”) that represent the… Continue reading Acupuncture and Surgery: Relieve Anxiety Before and Reduce Discomfort After

What You Need to Know about Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is a common problem caused by noise, aging, disease, and heredity. People with hearing loss may find it hard to have conversations with friends and family. They may also have trouble understanding a doctor’s advice, responding to warnings, and hearing doorbells and alarms. According to the National Institute on Aging, approximately one in… Continue reading What You Need to Know about Hearing Loss

Less Pain, Quicker Recovery: ERAS Is All About Improving the Patient Experience

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based, patient-focused protocol that reduces hospital stays, minimizes postoperative pain, and speeds overall patient recovery after surgery. “Frankly, ERAS has transformed the mentality of many health providers who used to just accept the status quo. For breast surgery patients, my multidisciplinary team and I have implemented ERAS to… Continue reading Less Pain, Quicker Recovery: ERAS Is All About Improving the Patient Experience

The Risky Business of Medical Procedures

How cautious are you in deciding on a medical treatment? In exploring that question, a team of European researchers found that people underestimate the risks of treatments ranging from minor drugs to major and overestimate the benefits. Published in the journal Risk Analysis, the study of 376 adults was led by Professor Yaniv Hanoch from… Continue reading The Risky Business of Medical Procedures

E-Cigarettes and Skin Wounds

Here’s another reason to avoid vaping: It delays the healing of skin wounds. The study is just the latest in bad news about e-cigarettes. Investigators recently cited the addictive properties of e-cigs, especially one particular brand (See “The Most Addictive Brand of E-Cigs?”) In the newest study, conducted on animal subjects, experts led by a… Continue reading E-Cigarettes and Skin Wounds

Hip-Surgery Patients Can Suffer Severe Post-Operative Problems

Many patients who had hip surgery are reporting new health problems, including sleep disturbances and cardiovascular disease, for up to two years after their procedure, new research shows. According to a news release from Duke University Medical Center, although such problems can diminish with the return of full mobility, the findings indicate that patients and… Continue reading Hip-Surgery Patients Can Suffer Severe Post-Operative Problems

Can Plastic Surgery Make You Look Older? Yes . . .

The goal of cosmetic surgery is to make a patient look like a refreshed, enhanced version of herself. Many women seek cosmetic surgery to turn back the clock, which is a respectable, personal choice. But there is a downside: the expressionless, puffy, distorted look that makes some women appear older than they are. Here are… Continue reading Can Plastic Surgery Make You Look Older? Yes . . .

Many Cosmetic Surgery Videos Are Misleading

Most YouTube videos on plastic surgery are simply misleading marketing campaigns posted by non-qualified medical professionals, according to a new study. The millions of people who turn to YouTube as a source for education on facial plastic surgery receive a false understanding that does not include the risks or alternative options, said lead author Boris… Continue reading Many Cosmetic Surgery Videos Are Misleading

Multigene Testing Replacing BRCA Tests for Breast Cancer Risk

The use of genetic tests aimed at detecting mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in women with breast cancer is declining in favor of tests that can detect multiple cancer-associated mutations, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and five other U.S. medical centers. Some researchers had wondered whether multigene… Continue reading Multigene Testing Replacing BRCA Tests for Breast Cancer Risk

What You Need to Know about Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the eye lens gets clouded, thus leading to a loss of vision. It becomes increasingly difficult to see, since light rays from objects can’t pass through the opaque lens to focus on the retina. A comprehensive eye exam can successfully diagnose cataracts. Here are ten facts that you must know about this… Continue reading What You Need to Know about Cataracts