Source: KVUE.com The way doctors, insurance companies and patients communicate about what surgery the patient is choosing has changed. Author: Dominique Newland Published: 12:43 PM CST January 22, 2023 Updated: 11:51 AM CST January 23, 2023 AUSTIN, Texas — A change in billing codes could limit reconstruction choices for breast cancer patients needing a mastectomy. Because of recent […]
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Source: CBS News BY ANNA WERNER WERNERA@CBSNEWS.COM, LEIGH ANN WINICK JANUARY 17, 2023 / 11:42 AM / CBS NEWS When Rita Davis found a small nodule on her right breast, the middle school teacher and her husband, Britt, had no idea that discovery would turn into more than a yearlong fight against aggressive cancer that involved […]
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When navigating the journey of life-saving treatments for breast cancer, the option to undergo reconstructive surgery is personal and unique to every individual. Depending on each patient’s circumstances, there are several reconstruction options, including implant-based reconstruction, Aesthetic Flat Closure, or DIEP Flap Reconstruction. With a DIEP Flap Surgery, skin and fat are taken from the […]
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The saying, “it takes a village,” applies to many aspects of life and a breast cancer diagnosis is no exception. In a moment where time may seem to simultaneously stand still and speed up all at once, the greatest thing a patient can do when ready is assemble their “village,” or treatment team. This may […]
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Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is a very personal choice often made in the midst of a life-changing decision for life-saving surgery. This choice is driven by unique and personal experiences. Options may include implant-based reconstruction, DIEP flap reconstruction or a procedure commonly called Aesthetic Flat Closure. These were just some of the decisions Molly […]
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Since 2006, breast augmentation has been the top cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Like all surgeries, however, its popularity does not mean that it comes without risk. That’s why it’s important to speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon about the risks of breast augmentation and […]
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[00:00:10] Hi, I’m Dr. Elisabeth Potter, I am a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Austin, Texas, and my specialty is breast reconstruction. As a DIEP flap surgeon, I have the privilege of being able to help women on their journey to reconstruction feel more confident and whole in their skin. In honor of Breast Reconstruction […]
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Navigating breast cancer or a genetic predisposition to it can be overwhelming. Empowering women to remain the captains of their own ships, my goal as a plastic surgeon is to provide advanced breast reconstruction options that make them feel confident and whole in their skin. Depending on a patient’s unique circumstance, preference and in consultation […]
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Andrea’s Story A cancer diagnosis brings with it what I call “so much more”. So much more time spent in doctor’s offices, MRI machines, corners of your closet crying so no one sees how scared you are. So much more time on the phone with insurance companies, staring in your mirror wondering who you are […]
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If you’re familiar with breast cancer, you know firsthand about the host of surgeries and procedures involved in a diagnosis – all of which can, and sometimes do, leave a lasting physical impact. From biopsies to lymph node removal, lumpectomies, mastectomies and reconstruction, breast cancer surgery side effects can be problematic post-surgery for many patients. […]
Read MoreThe words still echo in my mind, as perhaps they are permanently etched there: “I need you to mentally prepare for the worst. I think you have advanced breast cancer”. And so it began in May of 2016… my journey of survival through breast cancer treatment. My breast surgeon, a woman who I will always […]
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In the early days of breast reconstruction, patients were limited to implants. More recently, however, a number of techniques have been developed that involve using the patient’s natural tissue, fat, and even blood vessels to build the new breast(s). These procedures, collectively, are called natural breast reconstruction, and offer a more natural look and feel than […]
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and efforts are underway all around the country to encourage discussion, education, and fundraising regarding this disease. The increase in awareness has translated into a declining mortality rate for breast cancer (at a rate of almost 2 percent per year), as well as a decline in the number of […]
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With an estimated 246,600 women in the United States to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone, and with more than 2.8 million women in the United States with a history of breast cancer, the need for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month is clear. These 31 days of fundraising and discussion about breast cancer […]
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This past weekend was National Cancer Survivor’s Day. June 7th is a day to celebrate life and to raise awareness about the issues that cancer survivors face. Thanks to advances in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment more people than ever are surviving this disease. In America alone, more than 14 million people are alive today […]
Read MoreIt’s the Internet Age. Information is available right at our fingertips, and it’s frequently assumed that we are deferring to reliable sources, providing only the facts. Particularly when it comes to health and serious surgical procedures like breast reconstruction, it is imperative to filter out the vast amount of misinformation you may come across. […]
Read MoreIf your lymphatic system has been damaged or compromised because of cancer treatments, you could be at risk for lymphedema. Lymphedema is a buildup of fluid in soft tissue due to a blockage in the lymphatic system. People who have undergone treatment for cancer are particularly at risk, especially when lymph nodes have been […]
Read MoreAfter a diagnosis of breast cancer, a woman may need to have all or part of her breast removed as part of her treatment. When all of the breast is removed, this procedure is called a mastectomy. When part of the breast is removed, it is called a partial mastectomy or lumpectomy. The Women’s Health […]
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