We Love Cards & Notes From Patients: Testimonials

The following are two examples of messages sent from happy breast surgery patients. Obviously we are proud to share them with everyone.

First: "After arriving home form my post-op visit today, I gathered the courage to peek beneath the bandages. I am overjoyed by what I saw. Even with all the bruising and the sutures, there is great beauty to your work and I am so excited at what I see as the beginning of a wonderful change in my life. The entire process with you and your staff - especially Gail, Betty, Tina, Terri - has been unbelievably meticulous and handled with extraordinary kindness and professionalism.
I cannot begin to thank you and your staff for making this surgery a life changing event for me."

Second: "Wonderful. You did a great job and I am very pleased with the results. My daughter-in-law visited the office and she did some research and everything she heard about Dr. Graham was very positive. And after I talked with Dr. Graham, I knew I had the right doctor.
The doctor and staff were great. They treat you like you are family. They go out of their way to make sure you are comfortable. Could not have had a better group of people. Thanks for all the care that was given to me. Dr. Graham and staff are the best."

And finally there was simply, "I look fabulous in a bathing suit."

Sutton Graham, MD encourages breast cancer awareness

October in National Breast Cancer Awareness month. http://www.nbcam.org/ is a website designed to educate and promote public awareness. Other relevant sites: http://ww5.komen.org/ and http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

At Dr. Graham's Aesthetic Center for Breast & Cosmetic Surgery we constantly interact with women regarding breast health. A smaller portion of our practice is post-mastectomy reconstruction, and we have cared for breast cancer patients for 19 years. We have offered a variety of reconstruction techniques (tissue expanders, implants, autologous tissue reconstruction, latissimus flaps, abdominal flaps, TRAM flaps, and symmetry procedures such as reduction and breast lift).

A larger portion of our practice involves women without a personal history of breast cancer. We encourage our patients to be involved in breast health. We encourage monthly breast self exam, annual physician breast exam, recommended mammography, ultrasound, and now breast MRI if indicated. If your physician has a question examining you following breast reduction, breast augmentation or breast lift procedures, we offer advice. We are happy to help our patients. You can download a self-exam card at http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BreastSelfExam.html

Breast cancer is a very common condition and treatments have improved dramatically. We look forward to future advances, and eventually cures and prevention.

Breast Reconstruction: Brookwood Healthy Women's Confrence

The Aesthetic Center was one of the featured participants in the January 24th Brookwood Healthy Women's Conference at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville, SC.

Cathy Cole, RN, CPSN, our OR Director, and Betty Babb, our Patient Coordinator were present to discuss how we assist women following breast cancer surgery with various reconstruction methods. They provided advice and literature to interested participants. Hundreds of women attended the conference. We were pleased to be able to educate the community in this way.

http://www.brookwoodchurch.org/templates/_brookwoodchurch/details.asp?id=35527&PID=409133
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/other-breast.html

Oncoplastic Surgery: What Does That Mean To You?

Oncoplastic Surgery is a new and developing subset of breast cancer ("oncologic") surgery which incorporates plastic surgical reconstructive techniques. Breast skin incisions are planned as they would be in breast lift or reduction techniques, rather than simply directly over a lump to be biopsied. Going a step further, internal repositioning of remaining breast gland tissue may be done to avoid dents or contour defects. You may also be offered reshaping surgery on your other (uninvolved) breast, if this will improve symmetry.

When a woman learns she has breast cancer, she will first determine if she is a candidate for lumpectomy or mastectomy. If your surgeon offers oncoplastic surgery, ask whether she/he operates simultaneously with an experienced plastic surgeon. If your surgeon does not, she/he should have had significant additional reconstructive plastic surgical training. Optimum breast shaping, reconstruction, lift or reduction all require substantial plastic surgery experience.