We are pleased with the efforts of our Society, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in gaining legislation to empower women with breast cancer to better understand their care choices. 2012 alone saw the new diagnosis of >220,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the United States, not to mention the new diagnoses of in situ types such as DCIS and LCIS. We are in full support of H.R. 5937, the "Breast Cancer Patient Education Act", which was introduced through legislation this past year.
Since 1998 with the Women's Health & Cancer Rights (WHCR) Act, health plans that allow for breast cancer coverage are required to provide coverage for prostheses and breast reconstruction as well. However, of all women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, only 1/3 of these women will undergo breast reconstruction. Moreover, nearly 7 of every 10 women are not even informed of the options for breast reconstruction. The most common reasons being that they were not informed of their option to pursue such or they were not referred to a plastic surgeon to discuss the options available.
This "Breast Cancer Patient Education Act" requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to plan and implement a campaign for education of patients for the purpose of providing breast cancer patients with information about the availability and options for breast reconstruction as well as coverage for such. Also, it will provide information on prostheses, prosthetic garments, and other options available to them. The Secretary is to develop information for distribution or have others produce for distribution, which would include the information above such as timing, options, and available clothing/prosthetic options. It will also include information about the previously enacted WHCR Act. Several states have already enacted laws to require women to receive such information.
ASPS president Dr. Malcolm Roth stated, "The Breast Cancer Patient Education Act will get the best information in the hands of women and their families to empower them in making the best choice for their care...Knowledge is power. Federal law has long required coverage for reconstruction and prostheses and no woman should be denied the right to choose the care they need just because they were not aware of their choices."
We are very proud of the efforts of our Society and hope that this will assist others in making fully informed decisions in regards to their health care.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
October Breast Cancer
Stay tuned for some posts on breast reconstruction during this month of October...
Thank you for visiting!
Thank you for visiting!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Breast Resources of Arizona
We are all very excited about the upcoming start of Breast Resources of Arizona - our non-profit organization looks forward to educating and supporting those patients in need who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in various manners, with the funds donated by several of our very generous donors. This opportunity will hopefully assist those in need and help to increase public awareness of breast cancer. More information regarding this truly exciting charity to come once it is completed!
We also look forward to providing all women diagnosed with breast cancer the opportunity to obtain an additional opinion regarding breast reconstruction options prior to the surgery or provide opinions regarding revisions of reconstructions already done. Utilizing the vast experience of our surgeons, who have completed advanced fellowship training in breast reconstruction at some of the most renowned institutions internationally, we hope to offer our opinions and provide all options to women, including implant-based and the newest flap-based reconstruction options, such as the DIEP flap and other microsurgical perforator flap breast reconstructions.
We also look forward to providing all women diagnosed with breast cancer the opportunity to obtain an additional opinion regarding breast reconstruction options prior to the surgery or provide opinions regarding revisions of reconstructions already done. Utilizing the vast experience of our surgeons, who have completed advanced fellowship training in breast reconstruction at some of the most renowned institutions internationally, we hope to offer our opinions and provide all options to women, including implant-based and the newest flap-based reconstruction options, such as the DIEP flap and other microsurgical perforator flap breast reconstructions.
Phoenix/Scottsdale Breast Reconstruction Center
The Breast Reconstruction Center @ Advanced Aesthetic Associates is pleased to welcome Robert Bajnrauh, M.D. as the newest associate. He has just completed his advanced fellowship training in breast reconstruction/microsurgery at the internationally-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, NY. Prior to that, he completed another year of fellowship training with Operation Smile and is proficient in pediatric plastic surgery, clefts, and cranio/maxillofacial surgery as well.
His wealth of experience will add a tremendous amount to the Phoenix Breast Reconstruction Center. His expertise in microsurgery, including DIEP flaps and others, will add to the already highly skilled techniques at our Center. His overall knowledge in breast reconstruction will add another level of care to our continually growing Center. We look forward to the opportunity to assist and support all patients in any way that we can.
His wealth of experience will add a tremendous amount to the Phoenix Breast Reconstruction Center. His expertise in microsurgery, including DIEP flaps and others, will add to the already highly skilled techniques at our Center. His overall knowledge in breast reconstruction will add another level of care to our continually growing Center. We look forward to the opportunity to assist and support all patients in any way that we can.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Fat grafting for contour deformity
Fat grafting has become a popular procedure to improve aesthetic outcome following breast reconstruction or for improvement of contour after lumpectomy. Much of the newest research has investigated the properties of fat, in terms of its stem cell properties and associated advantages.
At our Breast Reconstruction Center, we have utilizing this technique almost routinely to maximize the aesthetic outcomes after lumpectomy or mastectomy. We have refined the micro-fat grafting technique, and have been obtaining maximal fat graft survival into the breast. After harvesting of the fat from areas with excess fat, usually the belly, hips, or thighs, the fat is processed and injected back into the breast using the aforementioned techniques. Our patients have been very happy with the results as well as the areas where the liposuction was performed. Contour has been much improved using the micro-fat grafting technique, and the downtime is minimal.
Fat grafting has become a mainstay in breast reconstruction and has added another edge to breast reconstruction for aesthetics with minimal morbidity and complications.
At our Breast Reconstruction Center, we have utilizing this technique almost routinely to maximize the aesthetic outcomes after lumpectomy or mastectomy. We have refined the micro-fat grafting technique, and have been obtaining maximal fat graft survival into the breast. After harvesting of the fat from areas with excess fat, usually the belly, hips, or thighs, the fat is processed and injected back into the breast using the aforementioned techniques. Our patients have been very happy with the results as well as the areas where the liposuction was performed. Contour has been much improved using the micro-fat grafting technique, and the downtime is minimal.
Fat grafting has become a mainstay in breast reconstruction and has added another edge to breast reconstruction for aesthetics with minimal morbidity and complications.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
DIEP candidate with previous abdominal procedures
There have been much interest in a woman's candidacy for abdominal flap procedures if previous abdominal surgery has been done. Especially with c-sections, many women have been told that they are not candidates for the DIEP flap. Often times with low-transverse incisions (Pfannenstiel) incisions, the Superior Inferior Epigastric Artery (SIEA) has been transected.
A recent study has looked at DIEP flaps being performed after such incisions. While, if in fact the SIEA has been cut, it has actually improved circulation to the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator (DIEP) system and augmented its vascularity and survival rate. Unfortunately, there are rare instances that the DIEP artery system has also been transected, such as in the aforementioned cases, appendectomy, hysterectomy, exploratory laparatomy, cholecystectomy, etc. These should be assessed on an individual basis and discussion/tests performed prior in order to speak abou the DIEP flap. Physical examination, Doppler ultrasound, and CT angiograms can help to visualize the vascularity of the abdominal flaps prior.
All in all, abdominal procedures are not a contraindication to abdominal flap breast reconstructions such as the DIEP, but should be assessed by a skilled surgeon in such flaps. "Flaps raised from these abdomens are not only safe, but may be better vascularized".
A recent study has looked at DIEP flaps being performed after such incisions. While, if in fact the SIEA has been cut, it has actually improved circulation to the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator (DIEP) system and augmented its vascularity and survival rate. Unfortunately, there are rare instances that the DIEP artery system has also been transected, such as in the aforementioned cases, appendectomy, hysterectomy, exploratory laparatomy, cholecystectomy, etc. These should be assessed on an individual basis and discussion/tests performed prior in order to speak abou the DIEP flap. Physical examination, Doppler ultrasound, and CT angiograms can help to visualize the vascularity of the abdominal flaps prior.
All in all, abdominal procedures are not a contraindication to abdominal flap breast reconstructions such as the DIEP, but should be assessed by a skilled surgeon in such flaps. "Flaps raised from these abdomens are not only safe, but may be better vascularized".
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