Healthcare Directory

2019 Medical & Dental Directory | 37 areola in most cases. But there are less invasive variations, such as nipple- sparing mastectomies. Like the name implies, this procedure removes the entire breast except the nipple. Reconstructive surgery can then be done to recreate the breast using implants and the saved nipple. "Implant based reconstructive surgery is very similar to breast augmentation," Dr. Ortiz said. 'The original breast tissue may be gone, but we can use the remaining breast skin to recreate the breast." Sometimes remote-controlled gas inflatable tissue expanders can be used instead of implants. The devices allow patients to slowly stretch out the reconstructed breast tissue themselves before the final stage of the reconstruction. Another reconstructive option is TRAM flap surgery. TRAM stands for transverse rectus abdominis muscle, which is a muscle in the lower abdomen between the chest and pubic bone. A flap of the skin area, nearby fat, and all or part of the underlying abdominis "six-pack" tissue is used to recreate the breast. TRAM flap surgery has been around for a while and is often chosen because TRAM tissue is very similar to breast tissue. The downside is that it requires cutting through muscle, leading to an additional scar and healing time. Lumpectomies typically have much shorter recovery times and require smaller incisions. Dr. Sawyer, a certified hidden scar surgeon, uses the smallest incision possible, depending on tumor size and location. Incisions can be made under the breast lobe, around the nipple areola, or in the armpit area. Another reconstruction option is autologous stem cell transfer, also called fat grafting. The relatively new technique uses liposuctioned fat from other parts of the body and injects it into breasts that have undergone mastectomies. Some consider fat grafting safer because it doesn't involve major surgery and uses fat harvested from the patient's own body. But research data is incomplete because the procedure is so new. The technique is based on the principles behind stem cell therapy. Fat tissue contains more than just fat. It also contains stem cells that can grow into other types of tissue. Transplanting these specialized cells into the breast not only recreates a soft and natural appearance, but also promotes natural regrowth of fat tissue. Fat grafting takes about 1.5 hours, since the harvested fat must be thoroughly washed through a centrifuge process while the patient is still on the operating table. The biggest complaint patients have is discomfort in the area where the donated fat is taken. Whether simple mammography or major surgery, patients requiring breast care needn't feel alone or overwhelmed. Louis-Dreyfus made it a point to tell fans she had supportive family and friends to help her through treatment. Cape Fear Valley Breast Care Center can help local patients, as well. Angie Syphrit, RN, OCN, CBCN, a certified Breast Health Navigator, provides everything from case management and education to treatment and service coordination, making it easier for patients and their families during their treatment journeys. And patients have the option of receiving treatment at any of Cape Fear Valley's three Cancer Centers: the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Treatment and CyberKnife Center on Owen Drive, the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center at Health Pavilion North on Ramsey Street, or Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center at Harnett in Dunn. To learn more about Cape Fear Valley's Breast Health Navigator program, contact Angie Syphrit at (910) 615-6944. n Dr. Sawyer, right, is an oncology breast surgeon with Village Surgical Associates. She has nearly 20 years of surgery experience, as does her operating room colleague, Juan Ortiz, M.D., with Triangle Plastic Surgery Center. Angie Syphrit, RN, OCN, CBCN, a certified Breast Health Navigator, provides everything from case management and education to treatment and service coordination, making it easier for patients and their families during their treatment journeys.

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