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."

Dr. Graham's Reputation for Breast Enhancement (Augmentation, Lift, Reduction, Reconstruction)

Dr. Graham has been trusted by thousands of patients throughout over 15 years; and is proud of their confidence. We are also a trusted source where the area's doctors, nurses and other experienced health care professionals send their patients and friends, when they consider cosmetic breast surgery. Satisfied patients and referral sources further build our excellent reputation.

We are excited to care for so many wonderful patients.

Those wanting more information about Dr. Graham and our practice, or details about breast procedures can follow the link to our website http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/augmentation.html

Our website includes an extensive photo gallery. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/breast-augmentation-4793/case-1-12615-16304/32021

Sutton Graham, MD, FACS serves patients from throughout South Carolina, and many from North Carolina and Georgia. Greenville, Spartanburg, Asheville, Anderson, Greenwood, Hartwell, Keowee, Jocassee Lake Communities, Cliffs & Reserve Communities, Seneca, Pickens, Easley, Taylors, Greer, Simpsonville, Landrum, Tryon, Hendersonville, Columbia, Charlotte

Large, Heavy Breast Solution - Breast Reduction by Dr. Sutton Graham

Since we see many women about concerns they have with their breasts, large & heavy breasts is a common complaint. Breast reduction surgery is very common for Dr. Graham, and provides relief of back, neck and shoulder pain for hundreds of women.

Breast reduction provides a way to relieve these symptoms, as well as slumped posture, clothing fit problems, bra strap pain & grooving of the shoulders, headache, rashes, even occasionally arm tingling. The care begins with evaluation during a consultation with us. Referral from your primary care doctor is not required by us, but rarely required by your insurance company. If your doctor has recorded symptoms and treatments for them in the past, we may request those records. Dr. Graham will carefully assess you and your health, and the possible value of surgery, explain procedure details, risks and recovery. We'll prepare any necessary paperwork for the insurance company and await their response. Most patients are approved and scheduled within weeks.

If you do not have insurance coverage or they decline reimbursement, then there is the option of self-pay procedure in our facility at a much lower charge than hospital rates.

We monitor your recovery and very frequently hear how very happy patients are. Many of their testimonials are printed, along with before & after photos, in our photo gallery http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/breast-reduction-4799

Additional information is available on our website http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/breast-lift-reduction.html

Dr. Graham is pleased to serve patients throughout North & South Carolina and Northern Georgia.

Breast lift in South Carolina by Dr. Sutton Graham

In South Carolina, a very common patient request is breast lift. Women consult Dr. Graham about changes they have gone through. Their breasts have changed by their 30's to 40's, due to having children, nursing children, loosing weight, or simply time & gravity. They notice how good they look in supportive bras, but not without good support. They notice how sports bras and tight, fitted clothing flattens the breast. We often hear, "I'm only 30 and my breasts look like my grandmother's." (My apologies to beautiful grandmothers everywhere.)

Several before & after examples can be seen at our photo gallery: http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/breast-lift-mastopexy-4796

Mastopexy means to lift or tack up the breast. It is the operation we perform to improve breast sagging. There are a variety of types based on the issues that patients are experiencing. Mastopexy does not make breasts larger or smaller because it preserves your natural breast tissue. Only skin is removed.

If we simply remove skin above a low areola and nipple, the operation is called peri-areolar mastopexy. If we remove some of the loose skin beneath the breast, the operation is called a vertical-pattern, key-hole, or lollipop mastopexy. If we remove more skin from the breast, the operation is called a standard or Wise-pattern mastopexy. Incisions will fade over time and can be easily covered under swim suits, bra tops, plunging necklines, etc.

In addition to the skin removal, important internal tightening is done. The breast gland tissue and normal fat is often suspended or supported internally to improve breast projection and upper pole fullness. Many patients request the addition of a breast implant to increase breast size and enhance projection and fullness. Some patients request a size decrease, removal of a portion of their breast tissue. This is called a breast reduction. When a patient has two different sized breasts, different procedures improve symmetry.

If you are interested in more information, and live in the Greenville / Spartanburg / Asheville / Anderson / Columbia areas, please call 864-676-1707 or send an e-mail through our website. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/breast-lift-reduction.html

Breast + Tummy (times 30s - 40s) = Mommy Make-0ver: That's the formula

Families cherish their children. Their birth brings us innumerable joys. Pregnancy also effects women's bodies in many ways. Sometimes there are minimal visible after-effects, however women with more pronounced changes consult Dr. Graham to improve their situation.

Breast size, shape and firmness can change. For some women, breasts become much larger and uncomfortable; breast reduction is in order. For others, breasts sag, become much smaller, and loose their firm texture. In these situations clothes don't fit well. It becomes harder to find dresses, summer tops, and bathing suits that flatter the figure. Breast lift (mastopexy) or breast augmentation (implants) can help these situations. The two may be combined, known as augmentation mastopexy. Some of our patients tell us they look better than they did before children! http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/breast-lift-reduction.html#breast-lift

We are impressed by how trim, toned and fit some celebrities look after bearing children, but we know they have the best help and perhaps PhotoShop enhancement. Normal women's abdomens become stretched by pregnancies, some with prominent stretch marks (known as striae). Metabolism changes and body fat accumulates in different places such as the central / lower tummy and the "love handles" or flanks and iliac regions.

Liposuction addresses localised fat that does not respond to diet and exercise. It can produce great improvement when skin elasticity is good. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/body.html#liposuction

Tummy tuck is also known as abdominoplasty - reshaping the abdomen. It is capable of removing stretch marks, removing loose (even overhanging) skin, tightening lax muscle tone, improving posture, and excising fat from the lower abdomen. There are modifications of the tummy tuck in which the incision is smaller and the skin and fat removal are less, for selected patients. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/tummy-tuck.html

In conclusion, breast plus tummy (in your thirties or forties) equals mommy make-over. Therefore symbolically, B + T (30 - 40) = MMO
http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/tummy-tuck-abdominoplasty-4814/case-3-10730-16337

Dr. Graham frequently performs both breast enhancement and tummy procedures at our nationally accredited surgical facility in Greenville, SC. We serve patients from Columbia to Asheville and Charlotte to Atlanta. Upstate South Carolina, Western North Carolina, Northeast Georgia.

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.

Mommy Make-over is such a cute term: thoughts by Sutton Graham, MD

I don't know came up with the term, but it is certainly cleaver, "mommy-make-over." For over 15 years, we have been addressing women's concerns about their post-pregnancy changes (post-partum) with a variety of solutions for the breast and body, plus measures for the facial pigmentation, etc.

We have solutions for the breast sagging, loss of breast firmness, decrease or unwanted increase in breast size, stretch marks, loose tummy skin, loose tummy muscles, indented c-section scars, new fat accumulations about the hips, thighs, abdomen and buttocks.

Mommy make-over isn't a particular operation, but rather a combination of procedures to address each woman's concerns. They are done as an out-patient and you recover at home with you family and friends. Special anesthesia techniques are used to minimize discomfort and speed recovery.

Dr. Graham address the tummy by non-surgical skin tightening, stretch mark removal, liposuction, short-scar abdominoplasty, standard tummy tuck, and often adds liposuction of the love handles. These can reshape the torso, define the waist, flatten the stomach, firm abdominal tone, and smooth the skin. http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/tummy-tuck.html

He addresses the breast by implant augmentation, breast lift alone, breast lift with implants (augmentation mastopexy). If pregnancies have left you with uncomfortably larger breasts, then we offer breast reduction (standard of shot-scar techniques). http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/augmentation.html

Patients love our independent, private office and nationally accredited office surgical facility located on Halton Road in Greenville, SC. They come to us from throughout Upstate South Carolina, Western North Carolina and Georgia. Take a photo tour of our office by this link: http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/about.html#office-tour

We welcome you and look forward to hearing from you.

Greenville, SC breast augmentation: Sutton Graham, MD

Saline implant breast augmentation remains our most popular surgical procedure (Botox & Dysport are our most popular non-surgical procedures. See other posts.)

Saline implants are well known for their long-term safety. Their use was never restricted by the FDA. Subpectoral saline implants have an excellent record; low rates of capsular contracture, good compatibility with mammograms and attractive transition between the upper chest and the upper breast.

We have an approach to selection of implant size that pleases and informs. We assess your desires, your current cup size, changes with prior / future pregnancies, changes from weight gain or loss, your breast gland thickness and firmness, and finally your skin looseness. We show you a range of sizers, and you try them on in a bra here with our experienced staff. You get to see approximately how your figure will look after surgery.

Appropriate pre-medicaton, surgical anesthesia (by our board-certified MD), and post-op medications provide comfort. Most women are decreasing the pain pills in a few days. Patients resume most normal activities quickly. We only ask that you hold off on your vigorous exercise routines for a few weeks. Of course, the results are obvious right away.

If you are interested in more information check our website. There you'll find discussion, photos, and contact information. We'll mail you more information if you call 864-676-1707.

Website http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/html/augmentation.html

Photo gallery http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/photogallery/breast-augmentation-4793/case-1-12615-16304/32021

Providing all types of cosmetic breast surgery (breast lift, uneven breast correction, nipple correction, reduction of excessive size, breast implants, etc.). Serving Greenville, Spartanburg, Asheville, Anderson, Columbia and the surrounding areas of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia.

Office seminar last night: cosmetic surgery education by Dr. Sutton Graham

Last night, Tuesday, we hosted an in-office patient education seminar. It attracted a wonderful group of people who were treated to refreshments, an office tour, presentation by Dr. Graham including new developments & trends, and a variety of before and after photos.

The audience included our patients who were interested in new information about procedures, and many new faces we welcomed for the first time. We covered Breast & Body Contouring procedures: breast implants, breast lift (mastopexy), breast reduction (both cosmetic & to treat symptoms), breast augmentation, correction of uneven breast size, male breast reduction, gynecomastia, Mommy Makeover, tummy tuck abdominoplasty, flank and hip liposuction, suction lipectomy of the thighs or arms.

We answered a wide range of questions about these procedures and about other areas of the body (facial pigmentation problems, eyelid bags, necklift, nonsurgical skin tightening, SkinTyte, laser procedures, etc.)

We hope the information was valuable to all. We encourage patient education in many ways. If you are interested in learning more, contact us by phone 864-676-1707 or e-mail info@expertplasticsurgeon.com.

Our next Seminar is on Facial Rejuvenation and takes place Tuesday, October 6th at 6:30pm. Register now.

Join us this Tuesday (next week); Learn about cosmetic breast surgery and body contouring

Sign-up is almost complete for our Fall Seminar featuring breast enhancement and body contouring. We'll have refreshments, a presentation that included many before & after examples, and there will be plenty of opportunity for questions. Dr. Graham and his staff always want to give you up-to-date information on procedures and plastic surgery in the news.

Tuesday's Seminar will be at our office suite on Halton Road in Greenville, starting at 6:30. If you are coming, please register so we know to expect you. You're welcome to bring a friend!

Call now (864-676-1707) or send an e-mail through our website http://www.expertplasticsurgeon.com/.

Dr. Graham has a strong reputation among both patients and professional colleagues (doctors and nurses) for attractive breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, correction of asymmetric breasts, correction of prior implant problems, tummy tucks, abdominoplasty, short-scar and mini-abdominoplasty, mommy make-over's, treatment of "love handles" & "saddlebags," liposuction, body contouring, arm and thigh lifts, etc.

Nationally Accredited Office Cosmetic Surgical Suite

One of the benefits of our location on Halton Road, Greenville, SC is a clean, modern, spacious, and specially equipped Cosmetic Surgical Facility. It operates under the name Plastic Surgery Specialty Center, PA, and is overseen by Dr. Sutton Graham. The head nurse is Cathy Cole, RN, CPSN (registered nurse, certified plastic surgery nurse).

Our facility anesthesia is only delivered by Dr. Merritt Tolan, board-certified anesthesiologist with years of experience, and a wonderful caring manner. Tina Kraus, RN is our recovery nurse, and brings years of hospital recovery experience. Dr. Graham's surgical assistant is Terri Scott, CST (certified surgical technologist).

Our location features a specialized office surgical facility, with over 2,000 square feet that are designed and engineered to national accreditation standards. Our facility offers outstanding patient safety as well as comfort and privacy, and includes the following features:
Convenient and private entrance/exit
Sterility and infection control
Patient and blanket warming equipment
High-temperature in-house laundry facilities
Dedicated OR Nursing Director
Certified medical gas system
Experienced Anesthesiologist (physician)
Electronic patient monitoring equipment
Back-up power generator
High-efficiency OR air filtration system
Instrument processing and sterilization rooms
Monitored recovery spaces
Our Patients Experience the Difference
Unlike a typical hospital or multi-specialty surgery center, our facilities are used only for cosmetic surgery procedures. We do not have many different surgeons treating all types of unrelated procedures and diseases. Our accredited, on-site facilities are used only by cosmetic surgeon Sutton Graham, M.D., and each member of our staff really understands the unique needs and concerns of cosmetic surgery patients. Our specialized facilities and expertise helps ensure the quality and safety of each surgical procedure. In addition, we have carefully designed a number of protocols to optimize the postoperative recovery of each patient. Every patient is educated and given detailed information in advance.
To learn more about what sets our practice apart from others in Greenville, including our cosmetic plastic surgeon and nationally accredited facilities, please contact the Aesthetic Center for Breast and Cosmetic Surgery today.

Procedures performed include: Breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, nipple & areola corrections, replacement of breast implants, correction of implant problems, facelift, cheeklift, necklift, browlift, eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), chin implant, fat grafts for lips / cheels / nasolabial grooves, tummy tuck abdominoplasty, liposuction, thigh lifts, arm tucks (brachioplasty), and others.

Patients come to us from throughout our region and beyond. (North Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina). For example: Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Easley, Pickens, Seneca, Clemson, Pendleton, Piedmont, Tryon, Landrum, Greenwood, Hartwell, Newberry, Clinton, Asheville, Hendersonville, Flat Rock, Brevard, Highlands, Cashiers

Just Released: 2008 statistics on plastic srugery

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) just published its 2008 annual statistical comparisons. The main findings are:

For the first time in 12 years, liposuction is no longer the most popular cosmetic surgery -- it is breast augmentation. Botox is again the most popular non-surgical treatment.

The top 5 surgery procedures for women (92% of patients) were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty and breast reduction. That is reflective of my practice, although facelift is also very common.

The number of procedures decreased 11% from 2007. Among males, procedures decreased 23%. 53% of procedures were performed in office-based surgery facilities. Total spending was $12 billion. Details are available at http://www.surgery.org/

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.