Reduction mammoplasty is the medical term for breast reduction: “mammo” means breast and “plasty” means to change the form of a body part. Insurers use the term because breast reduction is often medically necessary for pain, rashes and activity limits. OCRC offers both insurance and self-pay options.

Oregon has expanded insurance coverage, more trained providers and stronger legal protections for transgender patients, and care usually follows a team approach of counseling, hormone therapy and surgery. At OCRC, Dr. Jenq offers mastectomy with or without nipple reconstruction, breast reduction and breast augmentation. Patients traveling for surgery should plan to stay in town at least 2 weeks after surgery, with 4 weeks being ideal.

Hypertrophic scars stay within the original wound boundaries and may improve over time, while keloids grow beyond the original injury and have a higher risk of coming back after treatment. Dr. Jenq usually starts with steroid injections and silicone, and considers surgical excision when a scar is large, tight, highly visible or has not responded. After surgery she uses prevention such as silicone, steroid injections, CO2 laser and, for true keloids, low-dose radiation.

As a plastic surgeon at Oregon Cosmetic and Reconstructive Clinic, I have seen patients after a finger cut who are surprised by how much function they’ve lost. At first, the injury may look small. However, if a tendon is involved, the impact can be significant. To understand why, it helps to know the difference between … View Full Article Here

Targeted nipple-areola complex (NAC) reinnervation is a surgical add-on for patients having chest surgery with free nipple grafts. Dr. Jenq preserves intercostal sensory nerves and brings their ends to where the nipple grafts are placed, giving sensation a clearer path to return. About 80% regain sensation with the technique; in Dr. Jenq’s practice, about 60% regain some touch sensation without it, though erogenous sensation is lost.

A mastectomy for cancer aims to remove as much breast tissue as possible, so contour is secondary. Gender-affirming top surgery aims to create a natural, affirming chest, often leaving a carefully controlled amount of tissue for a smooth slope and pectoral definition. Dr. Jenq chooses double incision, lower elliptical or keyhole technique based on tissue, skin quality and goals.

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve is squeezed in the wrist, causing numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger, nighttime symptoms, forearm pain and a weak grip. Dr. Jenq starts mild cases with night splinting and usually recommends surgery if symptoms continue and nerve testing shows compression. She prefers open carpal tunnel release, and many patients notice improved nighttime numbness within the first week.

A recent study in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal found no increased risk of wound complications in patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome compared with matched patients without EDS. In her own practice, Dr. Jenq does not see more wound healing problems in EDS patients when surgery is carefully planned, and she takes extra care to spread tension evenly when closing incisions.

When tissue is sent for pathology, specialists at a lab process it, stain it and examine it under a microscope. Pathologists look for normal growth, precancerous or cancerous cells and inflammation, so an underlying issue is less likely to be missed. Results are usually ready in about one week, and Dr. Jenq contacts you to discuss them.

Trigger finger treatment without surgery starts with resting the hand and applying ice to reduce swelling and calm irritation. If rest is not enough, a steroid injection can decrease inflammation; relief is noticeable in a few days but can take up to 6 weeks. After two injections, most doctors recommend surgical release to avoid the small risk of tendon rupture.