Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Patients Honored for Giving Back

Ceremony at American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting

Seattle – An injured Iraqi citizen, a port wine stain patient, a breast reconstruction patient and a skin cancer patient will be named honorees of the Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity awards by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) at Plastic Surgery 2009, October 24, 4:30 p.m., at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle.  These unselfish individuals endured numerous reconstructive plastic surgeries and use their experiences, strength and determination to help others in need.

The Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity program is supported by Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. Continuing in the spirit of giving, Ethicon will donate, on behalf of each of the honorees, $5,000 to four non-profit organizations providing reconstructive plastic surgery services to people in need.

“ASPS Member Surgeons are humbled by the achievements of their patients,” said ASPS President John Canady, MD. “It is so impressive to see our patients doing such good things for so many people.”

Uday Hattem, New York – As a citizen of Baghdad, Iraq, Hattem signed on as a translator for the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In May, 2003, Hattem ventured out for supplies for the troops when he encountered a group of insurgents who shot him at close range in the face, neck, and arm and left him for dead. He suffered facial deformities losing his right eye, cheek, palate, and partial mandible. In a twist of fate, the founder of Global Medical Relief Fund (GMRF) met Hattem in an Iraqi hospital and sought aid from doctors in the United States. Hattem arrived in New York after receiving a Certificate of Honor for his heroism. He underwent microsurgical reconstruction of the cheek and orbit followed by facial flap rotation for soft tissue coverage. He also required bone grafts, nasal reconstruction, as well as numerous skin, cartilage, and fat grafts to improve the color and contour mismatch on his face. Grateful for all he’s been given, Hattem gives back to those in need by actively participating in the GMRF efforts to bring Iraqi children injured during war to the United States.

Abigail Hardin, Clinton, Miss. – Hardin, currently a student at the University of Alabama, was born with a right cheek capillary vascular malformation – port wine stain.  She received several laser treatments throughout her childhood to try to alleviate the malformation. Based on her life experiences, she recently published a children’s book entitled “Look at me; I’m just like you” about a hippopotamus named Lucy who has a port wine stain on her cheek. Lucy is the subject of peer ridicule and teaches her classmates to accept and respect other children with facial and functional deformities. Hardin travels to schools to read her book to school children, giving both teachers and students the opportunity to increase their awareness of the self-esteem and emotional issues facing children perceived as “different.” Hardin also started a foundation called Open My Eyes whose sole purpose is to fund projects that promote character-development in children. A percentage of the sales of her book will go to support the ongoing mission of her foundation.

Janet Smith, Canton, Ohio – Smith was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of her left breast and underwent lumpectomy. After chemo and radiation therapy, she developed inflammatory carcinoma invading the skin and lymph nodes. This was followed by 10 cycles of chemo, and she was given a poor prognosis. A latissimus dorsi flap was unsuccessful, and she was left with an extensive chest wall wound which had to be covered with skin grafts. She recently developed inflammatory disease in the right breast and underwent a right mastectomy with advancement flap for closure. Her spirits remain high throughout her numerous surgical procedures and therapies. Next to her family, music is her joy. She volunteers with the music program at McKinley Senior High School teaching children the gift of music. Smith leads the FACES of Stark County, an agency of parents who have been successful navigating the various systems for their own children and now help other parents find appropriate services for their children.

Jane Escher, Easton, Md. – Escher was diagnosed, at age 82, with an aggressive basal cell carcinoma on her nose, a cancer she successfully fought twice before. She sought the expertise of a MOHS’ surgeon, but the cancer was more widespread than initially believed, and she was left with a large nasal defect that ended up requiring a forehead flap reconstruction.  Not wanting to miss work, Escher returned to work within a week, even though her reconstruction was not completely finished.  She is an outreach nurse for the Shore Regional Breast Center giving uninsured women access to life-saving cancer screenings. Escher is an inspiration to everyone around her, especially her young cancer patients, as they are inspired seeing an elder woman tackle the difficulties of skin cancer and reconstructive surgeries. She is a senior citizen who never let cancer slow her down in her quest to care for others as a nurse at the underserved Shore Regional Breast Center.

For more information about reconstructive plastic surgery do not hesitate to contact us.

Prophylactic Mastectomy: More women choosing to remove healthy breast after cancer diagnosis

A new study of New York State data finds that the number of women opting for surgery to remove the healthy breast after a cancer diagnosis in one breast is rising, despite a lack of evidence that the surgery can improve survival. The study also finds that despite extensive press coverage of women who choose to have both breasts removed because of a strong family history of cancer, the rate of this surgery is relatively low and has changed little in the last decade. The study appears in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

Prophylactic mastectomy, the removal of a noncancerous breast, is one method for reducing a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer; however, there is little information available on the prevalence of prophylactic mastectomies for preventing breast cancer among high-risk women or on the prevalence of the surgery to prevent tumors in the healthy breast among women whose cancer is limited to one breast.

Researchers led by Stephen B. Edge, M.D., FACS, of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, examined the frequency of prophylactic mastectomies in New York State between 1995 and 2005 using mandated statewide hospital discharge data combined with data from the state cancer registry. They identified 6,275 female New York residents who underwent prophylactic mastectomies. Eighty-one percent of the women had been diagnosed with cancer in one breast, while 19 percent had no personal history of breast cancer.

The researchers found that the number of prophylactic mastectomies increased during the time period, particularly among women with cancer in one breast. Over the 11-year study period, the prevalence of these contralateral mastectomies more than doubled. The prevalence of bilateral prophylactic mastectomies among women with no personal history of breast cancer increased only slightly.

“These data from New York are the only data on a large population of women that examine the use of bilateral prophylactic mastectomy,” said Dr. Edge. “These data demonstrate that prophylactic mastectomy is an uncommon procedure that is performed most commonly on women with a personal history of breast cancer. Although the total number of prophylactic mastectomies performed per year was small, it appears that the use of the surgery is increasing.” In addition, he noted that women with breast cancer should have careful counseling regarding benefits and risks before proceeding with prophylactic mastectomy of the other breast.

For more information about prophylactic mastectomy and/or breast reconstruction surgery do not hesitate to contact us.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons Hosts 78th Annual Meeting

Showcases Latest Research, Novel Procedures & Emerging Trends; Seattle, Oct. 23-27

Arlington Heights, Ill. – Whether in a quest for beauty or out of necessity, millions of Americans will have plastic surgery this year. To stay ahead of the demand, the hottest topics, technologies, and research will be presented at Plastic Surgery 2009, the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Oct. 23-27, in Seattle. The meeting, held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, will be attended by more than 5,000 doctors, medical personnel and exhibitors in the field of plastic surgery.

“Plastic Surgery 2009 is the complete plastic surgery experience featuring the latest information on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery techniques,” said ASPS President John Canady, MD. “New discoveries on facial aging, novel uses for Botox® to treat chronic pain, concerns about do-it-yourself cosmetic treatments and more will be explored. Amazing reconstructive surgery breakthroughs that will one day allow U.S. soldiers with artificial limbs to feel sensation will be revealed.”

Opening Ceremonies
Keynote speaker and accomplished teacher, writer, and orator, Atul Gawande, MD, will discuss his unique perspective on the practice of medicine and healthcare reform, during Opening Ceremonies on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The annual Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity awards honoring inspirational reconstructive plastic surgery patients who’ve overcome traumatic illness or injury will also be recognized for their courage and altruism.

Breast Reconstruction Art Exhibit
Created to raise awareness about the many forms of breast reconstruction, the Out of the Shadows…Into the Light art exhibit will be held on Sunday, Oct. 25 – Tuesday, Oct. 27. The exhibit shares the stories of breast cancer patients, through plaster sculptures of their busts, representing various stages of breast cancer. The creator will discuss how she created art from tragedy.

Special Media Event
Hot Topics in Plastic Surgery is one of the most popular panels at Plastic Surgery 2009. For the first time, ASPS is bringing Hot Topics presentations straight to the media during its Hot Topics Overview/Webinar for the Media on Monday, Oct. 26, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. During this dynamic hour, journalists can get answers to questions regarding the latest technologies and procedures and engage in conversation with the experts.

Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall, open Saturday, Oct. 24 – Monday, Oct. 26, will showcase more than 300 companies, featuring products and devices including the latest breast implants, injectable wrinkle fighters, cosmetics/skin care, and body contouring technologies. This array of exhibitors will bring plastic surgeons up-to-date on cutting-edge products and technologies to better care for patients.

Closing Ceremonies
Closing Ceremonies on Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. will feature recognized heart and lung transplant surgeon, the Honorable William H. Frist, MD, who will discuss the future of healthcare in America. He will present his vision of increased availability and affordability of quality healthcare.

Studies, panels, and courses presented at Plastic Surgery 2009 include:

* Hot Topics in Plastic Surgery
* Rejuvenation of the Upper Eyelid – Is Less Really More
* Breast Augmentation with Liposuctioned Fat: A Fifty Patient Study Over Five Years
* Achieving Predictable Outcomes in Buttock Rejuvenation
* Not All Facelifts Created Equal – New Ways to Reshape the Face
* Non-Surgical Rejuvenation – Lasers
* Facial Aging and the Mid-Facelift
* Five Year Outcome of Surgical Treatment of Migraine Headache
* Military Plastic Surgery – A Global Update
* The Efficacy of Botox in the Treatment of Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
* Composite Tissue Allotransplantation (Face Transplants) – Have We Achieved Liftoff
* The Impact of Breast Reduction on Low Back Compressive Forces and Function
* Functional and Structural Repair of Peripheral Nerve Injury by Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
* Breast Reconstruction Managing Flap Reconstruction
* Carcinoma and Hyperplasia in Breast Reduction Surgery: Increased Sampling Leads to Increased Detection
* Inter-Relationships of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Body Mass Indices in the Massive Weight Loss Population

Breast Reconstruction Procedures: Are Breast Cancer Patients Being Kept In The Dark?

Plastic Surgeons Show Support, Rally for a Woman’s Right to Choose

Arlington Heights, Ill. – Despite the increase of breast reconstruction procedures performed in 2008, nearly 70 percent of women who are eligible for the procedure are not informed of the reconstructive options available to them, according to a recently published report. Newly released statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows there were more than 79,000 breast reconstruction procedures performed in 2008 – a 39 percent increase over 2007. But in spite of this, current research suggests that many breast cancer patients are missing out on a key conversation that should take place at the time of diagnosis.

“Women need to understand all of their options to make an informed decision,” said ASPS President John Canady, MD. “Those who are diagnosed should be immediately referred to a full team of physicians that can provide breast care, and plastic surgeons need to be included as part of that treatment team.”

Taking the position that every woman deserves the right to choose which, if any reconstruction option is best for her, the ASPS is launching an ongoing effort to bring public awareness to breast reconstruction issues, including education, access, and a team approach. Because early involvement by plastic surgeons and other physicians can allow development of an optimum treatment plan for each individual patient, collaboration amongst specialties is essential. As such, ASPS suggests that primary care, general surgery, radiology, pathology, oncology, gynecology, and plastic surgery be available from the onset of treatment to ensure the greatest possible outcome for the patient.

It is also important that patients actively participate in their treatment. Though a common misconception, eligible patients should not assume that anyone other than a board-certified plastic surgeon affiliated with an accredited facility is qualified to perform breast reconstruction. While technology has made breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and reconstruction better than ever, it does not negate the need for medical expertise within each specific area of care.

Among the factors contributing to patient awareness and understanding, specific education regarding the options for breast reconstruction is often lacking. Therefore, in the coming months, ASPS will reach out to women through a variety of materials, ranging from information cards and online videos, to an ad campaign featured online and in the waiting-room publication produced by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“We know that there are many issues surrounding breast reconstruction and that addressing them all will take time, but this is a very important first step,” said Dr. Canady. “Our goal is to make sure that those women who are not getting breast reconstruction are doing so of their own accord and not because they are uneducated or uninformed about their options.”

For more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons