We’re fortunate to live near the nation’s capital where you can tour some of the world’s most iconic and notable art galleries, museums, and historic monuments for free. But many do not realize that our very own Fairfax County also has a myriad of no-or-low-cost activities to enjoy. Read on to learn about our favorite…
The FDA recently updated its breast implant safety guidelines to address various concerns, including the potential risks of BIA-ALCL and breast implant illness. The revised guidelines add new safety information for surgeons to review with their patients in addition to the normal risks and benefits of breast implant surgery, as well as increase labeling and…
Maybe it’s the warmer weather, longer days, or being fully vaccinated—or a combo of all three—but spring has us ready to get out of the house and have some fun! Thankfully, Fairfax has a robust restaurant and retail scene we can all get behind. If you’re looking for ways to hit the town and make…
The global pandemic is changing the way we do things in both our personal and professional lives—and every industry has been compelled to reexamine how their businesses can operate safely. Here at Hess Plastic Surgery, we are building on decades of experience with surgical safety and sanitation to keep our patients safe during the pandemic,…
An estimated 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. While treatment options have improved and survival rates have dramatically increased, many patients still require invasive surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation, which can have unpleasant side effects. As a plastic surgeon who regularly performs breast reconstruction, I have seen first-hand…
As you may have heard, Allergan very recently chose to recall all of their BIOCELL textured breast implants at the request of the FDA—a decision made in an attempt to improve patient safety while investigation of the association between textured breast implants and BIA-ALCL continues. This news has been understandably alarming for many women with…
The first known case of gluteal implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (GIA-ALCL) was reported earlier this year, and unfortunately, the disease claimed the life of a patient. The 49-year-old patient developed symptoms including fluid accumulation and abdominal pain one year after having textured silicone gluteal implants placed and was diagnosed with ALCL shortly thereafter….
We all know exercise is good for our health, but did you know that there are specific benefits of exercising outdoors, from improved concentration to a boost in Vitamin D levels? If you’ve been a dedicated gym-goer all winter, it’s the perfect time of year to brighten up your workout routine by taking it outside….
Every patient who comes to our office for a consultation or surgery receives a patient experience survey, which we rely on heavily to learn directly from our patients. We use this information to improve our processes and communication systems within our office. It’s important to us that our patients are comfortable and have a wonderful…
Several months ago we embarked on an interesting new journey here at Hess Plastic Surgery, that we definitely had some apprehension toward. In the world of plastic surgeons, the fear of getting a bad online review keeps us awake at night. We plastic surgeons care very much about the results and experiences of our patients,…