Mohs surgery is one of the most effective weapons in the fight against skin cancer. It is an effective treatment for most types of skin cancer and has a high success rate. But how is Mohs surgery performed, and why is it the foremost treatment for cancer.

What is Mohs Surgery?
Mohs surgery or Mohs micrographic surgeryis a highly specialized and very precise treatment for skin cancer. The surgical technique was developed in the 1930’s by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs. Mohs surgeryis a popular treatment for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

How is Mohs Surgery performed?
Mohs surgery is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, and involves the progressive removal of the cancerous skin. The tumor is surgically excised along with a thin layer of tissue, which is color coded by placing a special dye along the edges. A map of the tissue is then created, so that the surgeon can identify where the cancer cells are, and remove the roots.

Once each layer of tissue is excised, it is examined under a microscopeto determine if any cancer cells are still there. If cancer cells are present, the area is marked on the map, and another layer of tissue removed. This process will continue until there are no more cancer cells.

Mohs surgery is the leading treatment for cancer, because it preserves much of the healthy tissue. Also, because of the technique used to perform the operation, there is much less chance that any of the underlying cancer cells will be missed during surgery.

Are you interested in learning more about Mohs surgery? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.

If you are in the Memphis TN area, Levy Dermatology is our featured practice.

You can reach them at www.levydermatology.com, or by calling (901) 295-0167.

Men with gynecomastia often find it difficult to cope with the conditionas it makes them feel self-conscious, and less masculine. Fortunately, gynecomastia surgery can reduce the enlargement, and contour the chest. Of course the question most men ask when they learn about this procedure is – Am I a candidate for gynecomastia surgery. Let’s find out.

What is gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia or enlarged male breasts, is a condition that is caused by the overdevelopment of the breast tissue. This often occurs as a result of a hormone imbalance that has its onset during puberty. The condition is usually temporary in boys,and generally goes away without any medical intervention.

Older men can also develop gynecomastia due to changes in hormone levels, drug use, and weight gain. Male breast reduction surgery or gynecomastia surgery is one of the top solutions for the condition.

Are you a candidate for gynecomastia surgery?
If you are at a stable weight, a non-smoker, and in overall good health, you may be a good candidate for gynecomastia surgery. The procedure is also very beneficial for men that are unhappy and embarrassed by the appearance of their chest.

However, before deciding to undergo surgery,it’snecessary to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to learn all about the details of the procedure. The surgeon will also review your medical history and assess your aesthetic goals, to help determine if gynecomastia surgery is right for you.

Are you interested in gynecomastia surgery? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.

If you are in the Fredericksburg VA area, Surgical Arts of Virginia & Ageless Innovations Medical Spa is our featured practice.

You can reach them at www.surgicalartsofvirginia.com, or by calling (540) 371-7372.

If you’re looking for a simple way to get smoother, brighter skin, you need to try out dermaplaning. Dermaplaning is asafe, painless procedure that takes the hair off your face and leaves it glowing. But what are the benefits of dermaplaning.

What is dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a facial rejuvenation treatment that revitalizes the skin by exfoliating dead skin cells that have built up on the surface, as well as vellus hair. Vellus hair is the short, fine hair on the skin also called peach fuzz. The dead skin and peach fuzz is sloughed off using a very thin, sterile surgical blade.

During the procedure the skin is held firmly, while the blade is moved across the skin using gentle, upward motions.The procedure takes about 20 minutes to complete and doesn’t hurt at all. The results are immediate, and there are no side-effects, and no downtime. Dermaplaning is safe for all skin types.

What are the benefits of dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning does more than remove superficial skin and hair, it also:

• Improves the tone and texture of the skin.
• Increases cell turnover in the long-term, which leads to a reduction in wrinkles, and improves pigmentation.
• Increases the brightness of the skin and restores its youthful glow.
• Allows skin care products to penetrate deeper and fully infuse into the skin, so that they work more effectively and produce better results. Makeup also goes on a lot easier after dermaplaning.
• Makes the skin smoother.

Are you ready to give dermaplaning a try? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.

If you are in the Orange County, CA area, Total Dermatology in Irvine, CA is our featured practice.

You can reach them at www.totaldermatology.com, or by calling 949-484-8660.

More female are participating in sports than ever before, so it’s not surprising that the rate of female sports-related injuries is higher than in previous years.  As a result, a common question being asked is- Are there preventative treatments for female athletes with stress injuries and fractures?

In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (JAAOS), researchers identified 3 common factors among female athletes that are most at risk for stress injuries and fractures. These symptoms which are referred to as the ‘female athlete triad,’ are – low energy, low bone mineral availability, and menstrual cycle abnormalities.

Preventative Treatments
Managing these prevailing factors is one way in which stress injuries and factors can be minimized. This requiresearly screening and medical evaluation of females, to identify those at risk. Preventive treatments can then be put in place to prevent premature bone loss, and keep bones healthy.

Treatments include:

• Improving nutrition to correct energy imbalance: Inadequate energy is linked to poor nutrition, and requires improved nutritional balance, which increases energy intake to meet the demand of exercise expenditure. This will in turn enhance the functions of the hormones that are vital to bone health.
• Restoring menstrual health: Irregular menstruation worsens bone health, and can result in increased fractures.  Eliminating menstrual abnormalities can therefore improve bone health.
• Boosting bone mineral density: Taking calcium along with vitamin D supplements has a positive effect on bone mineral density, especially when it is combined with weight bearing exercises.

Contact Frank McCormick, MD, of the LESS Institute,for help with preventative treatments for female athletes with stress injuries & fractures. Call 866-956-3837 to schedule an appointment.

After plastic surgery, the body must be given the necessary time to heal. But athletes and avid exercisers are often anxious to get back to their workout regimen. In this regard, one of the questions plastic surgeons are frequently asked is this – “I’m an athlete, how soon can I start working out at full pace after a plastic surgery procedure?” A lot depends on how quickly you regain your pre-operation energy levels.

How soon can you start working out at full pace after plastic surgery?
Recovery times after plastic surgery varies among patients and some feel better physically before the recommended time to resume a regular workout. The speed with which a workout program can be restarted, also depends on the nature of the procedure that was performed.

For example, after a facelift or liposuction, patients should take it very easy for at least the first 3 weeks, and all strenuous exercise should be avoided during this time.

It’s safe to say that you should limit all activities for the first 48 hours after surgery. It’s always advisable to take it very slowly, or you may end up jeopardizing your recovery.

Light activity such as cardio and light weight training can be resumed by the 4th week post op. Most patients can then do a gradual build-up and start working out at full pace after about 6 weeks. However, the timeline for resumption should be based on the instructions received from your plastic surgeon (read more).

Contact Rocheford Plastic Surgery located in Woodbury, Minnesota, to find out more about plastic surgery recovery times. Call (651) 739-1100 today, and schedule a consultation with Dr. Heather Rocheford.