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Menopause and Women’s Health

Posted on May 2, 2012 by admin

beautiful middle aged woman Menopause and Womens HealthMenopause is a part of  aging.The negative symptoms associated with menopause can range from very mild to severe. According to a recent onlinearticle few women seek treatment for the negative symptoms they are experiencing. According to the article women going through menopause now have a unique interactive guide designed to assist them in understanding better their wide range of treatment options, including evaluating if hormone therapy may be a viable option for them. The Endocrine Society and its Hormone Health Network today released the “Menopause Map,” an online tool to assist women and their doctors in a discussion that should include which hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options would be most effective and the safest to relieve the( in some cases) debilitating symptoms of menopause.

Menopause Treatments Are Available

A new associated survey found that most of the women who experience challenging symptoms are worried about hormone treatment and are not having any conversations about it , or other non-hormonal options, with their doctor. The Map was created by Endocrine Society physician experts who specialize in menopause management. Women’s health issues are front and center when it comes to managing lifestyle and making sound choices.

Menopause and Body Contour Changes

 

Menopause  causes many hormonal changes. Dr. Seify explains to patientsthat hormonal shifts in weight can occur with the onset of menopause. Many patients become discouraged when they realize that diet and exercise has not been effective for certain areas of their body. Some patients complain that their body contour has changed and that they have certain areas of fat that have a “stuck on” appearance. The most common areas patients are dissatisfied with include the upper abdomen, outer thighs, upper back      (above the bra line), and lower back. In many cases Dr. Seify will recommend liposuctionto treat these areas. Dr. Seify uses both artistic talent and  his expertise as skilled surgeon to contour the body by removing fat from targeted areas. Patients who have loose and lax skin on the abdomen may need an abdominoplastyto achieve the most aesthetically pleasing result. There are many options for women to maintain their best appearance at every age and stage of life.

 

 

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Breast Cancer May Be Detected Years Before a Tumor Appears

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

Dr talking with patient Breast Cancer May Be Detected Years Before a Tumor AppearsBreast cancer detection in the early stages makes a substantial difference in the chance of survival.  According to a BBC newsreport a genetic test could help predict breast cancer many years before the disease is ever diagnosed, experts are hopeful. Ultimately the discovery, in the journal Cancer Research, could pave the way for a simple blood test to screen women for breast cancer, they believe. The test analyzes how genes are altered by environmental factors including alcohol and hormones – a process known as epigenetics.

Breast Cancer Screening Advances

One in five women is believed to have such a genetic “switch” that doubles breast cancer risk. The scientists from Imperial College London analyzed blood samples from 1,380 women of different ages, 640 of whom later developed breast cancer. And they found a strong association between breast cancer risk and molecular changes to a single gene called ATM, which is found on white blood cells. They then searched for evidence of what was creating this change. Specifically, they were looking for a chemical effect called methylation, which is known to act as a “gene switch”. Women showing the highest methylation levels affecting the ATM gene were two times as likely to develop breast cancer compared to those with the lowest levels. In some cases the changes were apparent up to 11 years before a breast tumor was diagnosed.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis Early Benefits Patients

The resulst will need further study; however, the medical community agrees for the most part that the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed and treated the better the chances are for survival. DrSeify consults with woman recently diagnosed with breast cancer and helps them to understand their breastreconstruction options. In many cases he works directly with the doctors participating in the patientstreatment in order to recommend the best breast reconstructive options. Breast reconstruction options continue to evolve every day. Dr Seify is participating in one of the few clinical studies for stem cell fat transfer being conducted in the US for breastaugmentation and breast reconstruction.  As more options becoming available patients are able to benefit from more aesthetically pleasing results.

 

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Breast Augmentation Alternative Fat Injection Combination

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

sexy woman Breast Augmentation Alternative Fat Injection Combination Breast augmentation is the number one performed cosmetic surgery procedure in the United States. Some women would like larger breast but do not want breast implants. According to a study released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons expansion of the breast tissue prior to surgery followed by injection of the patient’s own fat provides a safe and effective alternative to breast implant surgery for breast augmentation, reports a study in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The method which requires using a special suction pump bra device for a few weeks prior to surgery to “pre- expand” breasts—provides greater augmentation than fat transfer performed by itself, according to the new report.

Breast Augmentation Alternatives

The lead author was ASPS Member Surgeon Roger K. Khouri, MD of Florida International University and Miami Breast Center, Key Biscayne, Fla.  The technique is a modification of the increasingly popular injection of the patient’s own fat. In this technique, fat obtained by liposuction from one part of the body—for example, the thighs—is transferred for use in breast augmentation and reshaping. Traditionally much of the fat was absorbed into the body and patients did not see a measurable difference. This new method combines the tissue expansion device and then the introduction of the patient’s fat. It is reported to have worked better, and the average increase was 230 cc after a year with the combination procedure compared with only  130 cc using fat alone. Patient should note that the average implant size is considerably larger (375 cc).

Breast Augmentation Options

While the idea of using a patient’s own fat and distributing it to a desirable area instead of in undesirable area is extremely appealing patients must do their research and be cautious before investing in that transfer procedures. Dr. Seify explains to his patientsthat patients choosing breastaugmentation are typically seeking not just larger breast but better proportion, tone, and aesthetic appearance. Many patients, especially those who have had children desire a breastlift as well as fullness along the cleavage line. Before patients consider that injections for breast augmentation they must first be realistic about their expectations for breast augmentation procedures. Fat injections as well as breastimplantshave limitations and patients should do extensive research prior to deciding which option is best for them. As an ASPS board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Seify remains involved in state-of-the-art methods at they become available for both reconstructive as well as cosmetic plastic surgery. Dr Seify’s practice is one of the centers nationwide used in the clinical study that Dr. Khouri initiated many years ago. This allows Dr. Seify to make the best individualized recommendations based on the patient’s desires, expectations, and overall health.

 

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Breast Cancer Fatigue Not Expected to Be As Severe As Previously Thought

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

tired woman 1 Breast Cancer Fatigue Not Expected to Be As Severe As Previously ThoughtBreast cancer diagnosis  for most women brings dread about the fatigue(among other things) that is widely considered to be part of treatment and the after affects. According to recent news story a study has shown that breast cancer related fatigue is not as widespread or severe as had been previously thought. According to the news story not many women who were treated for breast cancer feel persistent fatigue a year later, an Australian study suggests.

Breast Cancer Related Fatigue Is Generally Short Term If It Happens

Chronic debilitating breast cancer related fatigue is common after many breast cancer treatments, with some studies estimating up to 50% of women still experiencing chronic fatigue months after breast cancer treatment ends. Researchers in Australia organized a study to test how frequent breast cancer-related fatigue actually occurs among women with early-stage breast cancer who had surgery in conjunction with treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy. “The good news is that the vast majority of women who have undergone breast cancer treatment either never experience ongoing debilitating fatigue in the weeks and months after treatment ends or if they do, it passes relatively quickly,” said Professor David Goldstein of the University of New South Wales in Sydney.  Breast cancer-related fatigue is fairly prevalent but women can be reassured that in most cases, it is not debilitating in the long-term, he added in a press release about the study. For the study in April’s issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Goldstein and his colleagues followed 218 women for five years.

Breast Cancer Treatment Options Help Patients

Breast cancer treatment is a long journey. It is encouraging for women to know that if cancer related chronic fatigue is affecting them that it will get better and is not likely to be long-term. When Dr. Seify consults with patients who are recently diagnosed with breast cancer and helps them to create a breast reconstruction treatment plan, it is important for patients to discuss how they’re feeling both medically and psychologically. Patients who are recently diagnosed are faced with many decisions and Dr. Seify helps them to prioritize and make decisions based on as much information as possible from all of their treating physicians and surgeons. Breast reconstruction can be a long process and it is important for patients to understand the risk, complications and benefits they can expect. Just as with cosmetic plastic surgery ,expectations of the patient should be managed for the best possible outcome. Dr. Seify and his staff are committed to helping patients maintain a positive attitude and encourage healthy communication.

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Breast Cancer Survival Rates Increase with Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Posted on April 26, 2012 by admin

Healthy foods1 Breast Cancer Survival Rates Increase with Healthy Lifestyle ChoicesBreast cancer survival rates are much better with healthy lifestyle choices a new study shows. According to recent online news story  healthy lifestyle — including eating a healthy diet, exercising and maintaining normal stable weight — can boost the odds of long-term cancer survival, especially for breast, colorectal or prostate cancer, according to new recommendations from the American Cancer Society. About one in 25 Americans is a cancer survivor. “Many ask, ‘How can I keep the cancer from coming back?’ ” said Colleen Doyle, the cancer society’s director of nutrition and physical activity. Breast cancer survivors often are given advice to assume healthy behaviors, including eating  a healthy diet including lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein; exercise including fitting  walking or other aerobic activity most every day of the week; and keeping weight within a normal range, Doyle said. Studies have shown that those steps can help prevent breast cancer, but there wasn’t much research showing that a healthy lifestyle could keep breast cancer from recurring, or could prevent breast cancer survivors from developing a new type of cancer, she said.

Breast Cancer Survival Rates Increase With Healthy Lifestyles

Breast cancer is among the handful of cancers with increased survival rates due to healthy lifestyle choices experts say. An analysis of recent scientific evidence allowed a panel of cancer experts to make the conclusion that such measures help ward off cancer’s return. Dr. Stephanie Bernik, chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said the guidelines support what oncologists have told patients for years, and the American Cancer Society’s endorsement of that advice is an important step for public of acceptance and awareness.

Breast Cancer Patients Are Encouraged To Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Dr. Seify works closely with patients as a breast reconstruction plastic surgeon following the patient’s breast cancer diagnosis. Patients who are committed to healthy diet and exercise programs are likely to feel better, as well as benefit their overall recovery. Dr. Seify and his staff work closely with the team of radiologists, oncologist, and the general surgeon in order to create the best breast reconstruction treatment plan available for the patient. The team approach to breast cancer reconstruction is not only an effective way to facilitate a results oriented approach, it is also the best way to help patients achieve the best physician/ patient relationship. Dr. Seify reviews breast reconstruction procedures and options with the patient including Tram flap, tissue expanders, fat grafting and other methods designed to help patients restore as closely as possible the shape and contour of their own natural breast. Dr. Seify and his staff work individually with each patient to help patients reach their breast cancer treatment goals.

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Face lift| Is Video Chatting Making You More Critical of Your Face?

Posted on April 25, 2012 by admin

woman looking in mirror Face lift| Is Video Chatting Making You More Critical of Your Face? Face lift used to be a procedure associated with older celebrities. Now, a recent New York Times article says that some people are seeking face lift surgery not because of their appearance on the movie or TV screen;  but, rather their appearance on computer screens and smart phones. According to the article a Virginia plastic surgeon claimed that people usually look down into their video chat devices, which is a very unflattering angle, foreshortening the face and calling attention to any fat under the chin.  He claims that roughly a quarter of the 100 face lift patients he has a year told him that the way they look on webcams as a reason for going under the knife.

Face lift an Option for Aging Faces

Dr. Malcolm Z. Roth, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said other plastic surgeons reported similar facelift findings among their patients.  It is possible when you consider how popular video chats are becoming in everyday life, from job interviews to online dating.  One patient quoted in the article claimed that because she communicates so much by videoconferencing she made decision to have a face lift. “When you’re video calling someone, you can no longer ignore the fact” that your face and neck are starting to droop, the patient said. Some Mental health experts believe that the ever present camera has forced people into a perceived spotlight where they believe the demands for beauty, are equal to that of a celebrity.

Face lift Is Not Only For the Vain

Face lift and other procedures for the face are on the rise with a aging population. Facial rejuvenation procedures involve a combination of many different cosmetic surgery procedures which may or may not include a face lift . Dr. Seify stresses the importance of patients having realistic expectations about a face lift or other the facial rejuvenation procedures they have chosen. For example, an upper eyelid lift will correct loose and lax skin on the eyelid. Patients can add the lower eye area to their blepharoplasty procedure and this will help to smooth the bags and loose skin beneath the eyes. The procedure will not lift the brow. That is a separate procedure which is a brow lift. These are separate areas and they are treated separately.  When patients are preparing an anti-aging facial treatment plan with Dr. Seify each area is addressed separately. A face lift is generally made up of a combination of procedures.Patients are able to prioritize based on which areas are most bothersome and which procedures will yield the greatest value for the patient. Surgical procedures are performed in an accredited surgical facility to ensure patient safety. As an ASPS board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Seify is held to among the highest standards. Patients are encouraged to approach facial rejuvenation as an option for enhancing their facial features while allowing patients to enjoy their best possible appearance at every age.

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Breast Cancer Fears for Women with Foreign Breast Implants

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

red headed woman Breast Cancer Fears for Women with Foreign Breast ImplantsBreast cancer fears exist for every woman. They are magnified for women who received the now recalled PIP breast implants .According to a recent USnewspaper that published a story written by a plastic surgeon in Spain, breast surgery is the second most executed aesthetic surgery around the world. Many women are left asking themselves if their breast implant is the Prosthesis Poly Implant (PIP), which has been withdrawn from the market. These were never approved in the United States so the patients with cause to worry, should only be those who left the United States for breast augmentation.

Breast Implants Were Defective

Breast implants  manufactured by PIP were not approved for patients.The silicone that was being used  for the implants was not approved, and according to the analysis that was conducted, the breast implants contained a gel of lower quality, a greater irritation power, and a 5% rate of breakage (normal rate ranges from 0.5% to 1%). Additionally, according to the conducted research, the silicone used contained a fuel additive, ship material (Basylone) and two others used for the manufacturing of rubber (Silopren and Rhodorsil). Jaume Serra, plastic surgeon at the Hospital Virgen del Consuelo, claims that when one of these PIP implants is ruptured, the silicone gel will leak to the nearest tissues. He explains further that some patients may remain unaffected while others could have serious reactions. As an example, the liquid can create a sort of barrier or capsule around the implant, or lymph nodes can appear around the area, both would cause swelling,  pain, and discomfort to the patient .

Breast Implant Exchange for Ruptured Breast Implants

Breast implant exchange is  recommended when breast implants are ruptured.Patients who have the misfortune of having these implants are continually searching for their options for having them removed. Dr. Seify has treated patients who have required breastsurgery which includes breastimplant exchange for many years. The reason patients have breast implants removed vary greatly. Most medical professionals would recommend that patients with PIP implants who traveled outside of the US for their initial surgery should consider having the implants removed, and if at all possible to have breast implant exchange surgery in the US with FDA approved breast implants. Dr. Seify advises patients who are considering breast implant exchange that as a second operation there are different risks and complications that could occur. Dr. Seify is careful to explain the risk and complications to his patients as well as his recommendations to reduce the risk. For an implant exchange procedure most patients will also require additional surgical expertise. Dr. Seify will check for capsular contracture which is a hardening of scar tissue around the implant and in most cases create a revised and improved breast pocket for the new implant. It is that important that patients understand that the breast implant exchange surgery is a new surgery and therefore the amount of time required for surgery, recovery time, recommendation, and pricing are likely to be different than the original breast augmentation procedure. With the new FDA approved breast implants patients will receive a lifetime warranty on the actual implant as well as additional warranties including financial assistance if patients have a ruptured implant in the future.

 

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Women Find That Trying on Swimsuits is “The Worst” Says Study

Posted on April 23, 2012 by admin

beautiful bikini body Women Find That Trying on Swimsuits is “The Worst” Says StudyWomen have mixed feelings when it comes to their summer wardrobe. Specifically, swimsuits and other summer fashions that accentuate a woman’s figure can actually cause anxiety and stress according to recent study. A Today Show news report found that a new study shows that, for women, even just thinking about trying on swimsuits can put a woman in a bad mood.  Imagining wearing a swimsuit also usually adds to feelings of self-objectification, a term used by psychologists to describe how people, women and girls, take an outsiders review of their bodies, reducing themselves to objects to be evaluated.”

Women Can Be Very Tough On Themselves

Self-objectification has a variety of negative consequences — always worrying about how you look, shame about the body, and [it] is linked to eating disorders and depression,” study researcher Marika Tiggemann, a psychologist at Flinders University in Australia, wrote in an email to LiveScience. Self-objectification is a result of a personality characteristic, meaning that some women are more subject to objectify themselves habitually than others.But certain situations can also raise feelings of self-objectification, no matter what your starting point. Swimsuits were number one in increasing the trigger feelings of self-objectification.

Women  Can Look Forward To Summer

Women do not have to dread swimsuit season. There are options for women who desire to look their best this summer. Dr. Seify recommends breast augmentation for women who are dissatisfied with the size, shape, or tone of their breast. Breast augmentation is the #1 most popular procedures performed in the United States. It also has one of the highest satisfaction rates of all cosmetic surgery procedures. Dr. Seify offers both saline and silicone implants and helps patients to determine the best size and proportion for their body frame. Many patients who are preparing for the summer season will also choose liposuction as an option to help shape their figure. Dr. Seify uses both artistic talent as well as surgical skill to help contour and shape the body. Liposuction can be performed on most any area of the body. The most popular areas include the abdomen, love handles, lower back, and outer thighs. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, and patients with excessive loose and lax skin are not suitable candidates for this procedure. Patients with loose and lax skin in the abdominal area may be better candidates for an abdominoplasty in combination with liposuction. Dr. Seify explains to each patient that the recommendation for all patients is based on several factors including the patient health, expectations, and desires.

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Women|The Relationship Between Stroke Risk and Alcohol

Posted on April 20, 2012 by admin

women drinking wine Women|The Relationship Between Stroke Risk and AlcoholWomen can access many different health reports. Many are notorious for providing information and studies that may seem to contradict other studies. However, new studies have value in helping women to have discussions with their doctors concerning their lifestyle choices. According to recent NBC news story women who consumed up to seven glasses of wine or beer per week are slightly less likely to suffer a stroke than those who did not indulge in alcohol, according to a U.S. study that covered thousands of women for nearly 30 years. The results,  were published in the journal Stroke, and support the  guidelines from the American Heart Association that recommend women have no more than one drink a day — this does not mean that women who do not drink should start drinking to prevent a stroke, researchers said. “Alcohol is a double-edged sword, because higher levels can increase high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation, which are risk factors for stroke as well,”   said Monik Jimenez, a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who led the study.

Women- Health and Lifestyle Choices

Women have specific health guidelines to help them stay healthy.Several reports in the past have proven that low levels of alcohol are associated with a smaller chance of having a stroke. Jimenez and her colleagues collected and analyzed data from the hugeNurses’ Health Study, which tracked the health, diet and lifestyle of more than 83,000 middle-aged women for 26 years. Comparatively they studied the drinking habits of women in the study who had had a stroke, to women who hadn’t. The study is important and should help patients to discuss with their doctor any concerns they may have for their risk of stroke. Alcohol consumption is a widely debated topic as it relates to women’s health.

Women, Alcohol and Surgery Preparation

For patients who are considering plastic surgery whether cosmetic or reconstructive, Dr. Seify does not recommend the consumption of alcohol prior to surgery. As patients prepare for surgery they are encouraged to abstain from alcohol at a minimum two weeks prior to surgery. For cosmetic surgery patients it can sometimes be tempting to indulge in activities including alcohol prior to having surgery. Procedures that may seem routine because of their popularity like breast augmentation and liposuction can cause some scheduled patients to believe that a few drinks the night before surgery shouldn’t make a difference. Preoperative paperwork that is discussed with the patient prior to their plastic surgery procedure advises against this practice and patients should heed all instructions before and after surgery. Alcohol can increase dehydration and also bleeding during surgery. All plastic surgery procedures should be taken seriously. Dr. Seify and his staff are readily available for patients who may have any questions prior to their plastic surgery procedure. Patients overwhelmingly have an exceptional plastic surgery experience with Dr. Seify.

 

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Breast Cancer Diagnosis for Wives Adds To the Husbands Stress as Caregiver

Posted on April 19, 2012 by admin

husband caring for wife with breast cancer Breast Cancer Diagnosis for Wives Adds To the Husbands Stress as CaregiverBreast cancer diagnosis changes the lives of not only the patient but also their loved ones. According to a recent online article husbands who have wives who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer experience high levels of stress. According to the article providing care for a wife with breast cancer can have a profoundly negative effect on men’s health, even many years following cancer diagnosis and completion of treatment, according to recent research.

Breast Cancer Can Be Stressful for Husbands Too

Men who were reported to have the highest levels of stress in relation to their wives’ cancer diagnosis were also at elevated risk for physical symptoms and had lower immune responses, the study showed. The researchers wanted to study  the health effects of a recurrence of breast cancer would have on patients’  who had male caregivers, but discovered that the amount of stress the men had about the cancer had a larger influence on their health than the actual current health status of their wives’ disease. The results show that medical professionals caring for breast cancer patients could provide more effective care for their patients by considering the caregivers’ health as well, the researchers say.

Breast Cancer Treatment Plans Include the Family

This study is very interesting because it supports the concept of a team approach to medical care as well as a team approach to patient support. Dr. Seify and his staff encourage patients to include family members and key support people in their breast cancer treatment plans. From breast cancer diagnosis to breast cancer reconstruction the journey can be stressful for everyone who is involved. Dr. Seify encourages married patients or those with significant others involved closely with their lives, to participate in open dialogue with the entire medical team. Support groups for caregivers can be extremely beneficial in helping to relieve stress and alleviate unnecessary fears. Having open communication is among the best advice for patients and their male caregivers.

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