Angelina Jolie Writes About Her Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Administrator

breast reconstruction angelina jolie nytimes“I hope that other women can benefit from my experience” writes Angelina Jolie in a candid New York Times column published today.

The actress and director revealed that she recently chose to have a double mastectomy after doctors told her she had the breast cancer gene BRCA1, meaning Jolie has an (estimated) 87 percent risk of getting the disease.

She decided to be “proactive” and undergo a preventive double mastectomy, followed by breast reconstruction with implants. The procedures were completed just last month.

About her reconstruction, she writes:

“Nine weeks later, the final surgery is completed with the reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful.”

Photo by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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Thumbs Up for Juvederm VOLUMA as Cheek Filler

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Sandra

Juvederm could be FDA approved for cheek augmentation later this year.

Girl in bushsesAn FDA panel has recommended approval of Juvéderm Voluma XC for cheek augmentation, which would make it the first injectable dermal filler with indications for volume restoration in the mid-face. If approval takes place – and the FDA generally follows advisory committee recommendations — it could become official later this year.

A gel composed of hyaluronic acid suspended in phosphate buffered saline with 0.3 percent Lidocaine, Juvéderm Voluma helps restore deep volume loss and smooths the mid-face, rejuvenating sunken areas around the cheeks, re-creating youthful contour and fullness in the chin. The results are instant, natural looking and can last up to 18 months. There’s little if any downtime – most people resume normal activities immediately.

Based on the clinical trial data presented, the FDA’s General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel agreed that the product is effective and safe and the benefits outweigh the risks. The most frequent common treatment site responses (CTRs) reported in the trial were tenderness, swelling, and firmness. FDA reviewers noted that the incidence of CTRs decreased for subjects receiving touch-up and repeat treatments. More than half (52.8 percent) of subjects received the optional retreatment at the end of the extended follow-up period “suggesting these subjects perceived an acceptable benefit/risk profile for [its] continued use,” the reviewers said.

An additional consensus was that Juvéderm Voluma XC fills more than cheeks, meeting the needs of what people want in plastic surgery. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), in 2012 nearly 2 million people had soft tissue filler augmentation, representing a 205 percent increase since 2000.

Photo by Alaskan Dude on Flickr

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After Mastectomy: What to Know

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Sandra

Awareness Can Help Ease Recovery

After mastectomy, you may feel overwhelmed by the physical and emotional ramifications of diagnosis, surgery and breast reconstruction. But with hospital stays averaging three checklist after mastectomy what to knowdays or less, it’s important to know what to expect. These brief checklists can help guide you through the process.

Before leaving the hospital, you’ll receive instructions on:

  • Taking pain medication
  • Caring for the bandage over your incision and, if still inserted, a surgical drain
  • Managing stitches and staples (most stitches dissolve, while staples are removed later during an office visit)
  • Recognizing signs of infection and lymphedema, the swelling of the soft tissues caused by fluid buildup
  • Wearing a prosthesis or a bra (often depends on type of surgery and time needed to heal).

When you get home:

  • Recovery times vary, depending upon the type of surgery.
  • Get plenty of rest. It’s normal to experience fatigue for several weeks after mastectomy.
  • Take pain medication only as needed
  • Take sponge baths until your doctor removes drains and/or sutures
  • Ask for help — have friends and family pitch in around the house

In the months following mastectomy:

  • As nerves regrow, you may experience phantom sensations or pain in the area around the mastectomy. Analgesics such as such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can usually take care of this.
  • Expect some fatigue, although if it persists and remains constant, consult your physician.
  • Throughout your recovery, it’s important to start exercising soon after surgery. Along with preventing arm and shoulder stiffness, exercise will keep the area limber and help initiate healing.

Your healthcare team should provide written, illustrated instructions for a routine tailored to your needs. Follow all post-operative instructions from your provider. The above checklist is for discussion only and should not replace your provider’s specific instructions for recovery after mastectomy.

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Juvederm or Restylane?

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Administrator

Comparing Today’s Smile Line Solutions

smile line treatment

Juvederm and Restylane are safe, effective, FDA-cleared treatments for facial wrinkles and folds. They’re the most popular dermal fillers available, making up the majority of treatments using injectable fillers. Both are made with hyaluronic acid, a natural component of your skin and connective tissues.

Compared to the collagen-based fillers of the past, Restylane and Juvederm represent a big step forward. They not only last longer, but you can receive treatment the same day as the consultation, with no allergy test or waiting time necessary.

Product Breakdown:

  • Lasting results: According to Allergan, Juvederm is the only hyaluronic acid filler that’s FDA approved to last one year with a single treatment. On Restylane’s website, clinical studies are cited, showing that Restylane lasts 18 months when patients returned for a touch-up treatment at 4.5 or 9 months.
  • Cost: the cost of Restylane is about the same as Juvederm. However, Juvederm is sold in a complete syringe, while Restylane is available in two sizes, which can be more economical.
  • Consistency: Juvederm injectable gel is smoother than Restylane, which does not necessarily improve the treatment or its results.
  • FDA approved indications: Both products are approved and primarily used to treat nasolabial folds, or smile lines. Restylane has an additional indication for lip augmentation.
  • Patient Rewards: Allergan offers the Brilliant Distinctions program that includes Botox, Juvederm, Latisse, and Natrelle breast implants. A less robust offering called “Restylane Rewards” is available through Medicis, the maker of Restylane.

Trust Your Plastic Surgeon to Recommend the Best Filler

Both plastic surgeons and patients have their own preferences based on past experience with each product. When it’s time to decide between them, trust your surgeon’s recommendation first, because it takes a trained hand to administer Juvederm, Restylane or any other dermal filler. These treatments provide temporary results. So if you don’t like the outcome, you can always try the other filler during your next visit.

Photo by @boetter on Flickr

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