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,…
So you’ve met the parents. Now I guess if you twist my arm I’ll talk about myself. Remember this wasn’t my idea! As I’ve said, I’m the youngest of four. The “baby” of the family is the end of reproductive life of the mother. So my theory is that the youngest gets spoiled because the…
Okay I have my bottle of wine, a Valium and the encouragement from my therapist who says that talking about my mother is therapeutic. Hmmmmm. I’m just kidding, mixing Valium and wine-that’s just crazy. Don’t get me wrong, this is no celebrity “I blame my mother for everything,” sob story. My mother did the best…
There’s no doubt about it, I am no “private person.” You ask me pretty much anything and I’ll tell you. I’m strong in my personality and convictions so I’ve got nothing to hide. Many physicians take great care to never discuss their personal lives with patients. And while it’s true that there must always be…
Sometimes as I sit here I wonder how great life as a plastic surgeon must have been 20 or more years ago; wake up early go to the office, see lots of patients and go home at the end of the day. You had competition, but if you worked hard in the ER and maybe…