Restorative Surgery Archives

Trigger Finger: What It Is and How to Treat It

Have you ever tried to bend your finger, only to feel it catch or lock in place? This common problem is called trigger finger. It happens when the tendons in your hand no longer glide smoothly. Let’s break down what’s going on, and more importantly, what you can do about it. Why Trigger Finger Happens … Read more

Can I Choose My Bra Size After a Breast Reduction?

One of the most common questions I hear is, “Can I get down to a size A or B after my breast reduction?” This is a great question, and the answer depends on your body and your goals. Let’s back up for a moment and talk about bra sizing. While there is no scientific way … Read more

Can Areolar Nipple Skin Grafts Get Rejected?

One of the most common questions I hear after nipple graft surgery is: “Can the graft get rejected?” The short answer is that while it is theoretically possible, I have never seen this happen in my patients. Let me explain why healing is usually very reliable and what you can expect during recovery. How the … Read more

A New Woman After Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery can make a huge improvement for some women—not only in the way they look, but also in their quality of life. When breasts are too large, women have a condition called macromastia. She can feel self-conscious about the way she looks even in clothes, and the heaviness of her breasts can cause an imbalance of the upper back posture as well as skin rashes and pain. In severe situations, it may be difficult to exercise or even lay down flat in bed.

Some of the Cool Things We Do with Reconstruction

People who are facing cancer or have suffered a injury may feel uncertain, stressed, and just want to get “back to normal.” Plastic surgery rises to this need and desire in a patient centered way—we try to make people feel like themselves again.

Gynecomastia Surgery

Sometimes men or teenage boys develop a condition called gynecomastia. It is the enlargement of breast tissue of the chest that can occur due to medications, hormone imbalance, or for no clear reason at all. After a thorough medical examination and possible testing rules out problems such as medications or tumor, we can plan for treatment. The psychological impact of this condition for the individual can vary. Unfortunately, it can be a source of nagging self consciousness and embarrassment.

Insurance Coverage for Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is a procedure where extra skin and fat is removed, and the nipple and skin are redraped to create a most youthful appearance. Breasts not only look better, but surgery can take that pain off the back and shoulder. The goal is for women to become pain-free, exercise, and find clothes which fit.

Race for the Cure

Help OCRC raise money for the Susan Komen foundation to support breast cancer treatment and research! About 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime.

As a plastic surgeon, I am humbled by the patients I meet who face breast cancer with courage and determination for cure. Though breast reconstruction can be an involved process, it is often an important part of recovery and rebuilding of self image and confidence.

Practice Notes in Breast Reconstruction

Reconstruction of the breast after a mastectomy can be an important part of the recovery process for women. The discussion of which type of surgery would work best for you depends on your body type and time you wish to commit to the recovery process. There are three main types of reconstruction—the abdominal flap, the back (latissimus) flap with implant, and tissue expansion with implant.

Nose Reconstruction

The nose, as the central part of a person’s face, is a crucial element of our identity and self-esteem. It can be finicky to reconstruct because it is a delicate, three dimensional structure that does not donate much extra skin. This week, I am finishing the third stage of a nose reconstruction surgery. Why does it take three surgeries?