Women's Health Online Portal

Options for breast reconstruction after cancer depend on the type of deformity that is left after breast cancer surgery. For those who have had only a small portion of their breast removed with no radiation therapy, breast augmentation implants can be an excellent choice. Radiation therapy can make matters a bit more complicated, since silicone gel implants have a much higher chance of becoming hard if you have undergone radiation.

In cases of breast reconstruction where the affected breast is smaller than the normal breast, a better option than breast augmentation implants in such cases would be a breast reduction and lift on the normal breast. In cases where the deformity is large, your cosmetic reconstructive surgeon can reconstruct your breast with your own tissue. There are many different options when it comes to using your own tissue for reconstruction. These include using a muscle from your back or using tissue, skin and fat from your belly, which can be harvested through a tummy tuck.

There are typically two stages of reconstruction. The initial stage is the breast mound reconstruction. There are several ways in which this can be performed during this first stage. Encouraging new skin growth in the area that will be implanted is the key so that there is eventually room for a permanent implant to be placed. This can be done in combination with other types of reconstruction which involve the transfer of skin from an area of the body to the breast mound. Once the breast mound has been reconstructed, the nipple can then be reconstructed. This is done by either sculpting or tattooing. If one breast was removed during the cancer treatment, the remaining breast can be reduced to create more symmetry, or breast augmentation implants can be matched. A breast lift is also an option, and can make the breasts more symmetrical.

Breast reconstruction is a way to recreate breasts after a mastectomy or partial removal of one or both breasts and is becoming more common among breast cancer patients. Because cosmetic surgery procedures have advanced, women are discovering that this can be a step toward restoring their figure, their self-esteem and lifestyle. Breast augmentation surgery and tissue harvesting are just a couple of ways to restore a bit of normalcy to a cancer survivors’ life.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Breast Cancer Surgery-Hotel Stay (modestneeds.org)
• Your Right to Breast Reconstruction (health.yahoo.com)

Often seen as the opposite of breast augmentations, breast reduction surgery is a surgical procedure that involves a reduction in the size of the breasts by removing fat, glandular tissue and skin. Once the extra fat, tissue and skin have been removed, the breasts are then reshaped and moved to a higher position on the chest to make them look younger and firmer. Depending on the patient, the procedure to reduce breast size varies in some ways. What differs from person to person is the number and length of incisions that need to be made. These incisions can cause permanent and visible scarring.

This procedure typically takes about two to three hours and is usually an outpatient procedure. In some cases the cosmetic surgeon will have the patient stay in the clinic or hospital for overnight observation. These are typically the women who began the procedure with extremely big breasts and have had a large amount of skin, fat and tissue removed. Although this surgery is more commonly performed on women, it is also performed on men who have an abnormal development of mammary glands that can cause enlargement of the breasts.

Breast reduction surgery is a procedure that is sometimes combined with other breast enhancements and surgical procedures. Usually, when this procedure is performed, a patient will combine the procedure with a breast lift in order to receive both practical and visual improvements. Most cosmetic surgeons specializing in breast surgery highly recommend combining the reduction of large breasts with other procedures like nipple repositioning, lifts and areola reduction in order to enhance the results.

Women who are considering having their breasts reduced should be completely aware of what the procedure entails; including the risks and complications that may occur. Bear in mind that no matter how many helpful resources you have investigated to learn more information about reducing breast size, there is no one way to do it. This type of surgery varies from one person to the next. It is best to go to a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation. During your consultation, you will discuss all aspects of the operation and ask any questions you may have.

A board certified plastic surgeon dealing with breast issues understands that a woman’s breasts are part of her public image. This is why many plastic surgery procedures have been studied, developed and tested over the years for women who want to resolve any issues they may have with their breasts. Many women feel that being contented with the way their bodies look is an important factor in building self-esteem, confidence and interpersonal relationships. One way for this to happen is through breast reduction surgery.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Would I regret having breast reduction surgery overseas? (telegraph.co.uk)

What would cause an otherwise normally healthy adolescents or adults to starve themselves, even to the point of death? North America and European nations are blessed with more than adequate food supplies; even people living in poverty conditions receive government subsidies in order to have sufficient food. How then to unlock the mystery of why some people actively choose self-starvation over healthy eating?

If there are physiological reasons for anorexia nervosa, none have yet been found. To date, no series of laboratory tests have discovered faulty DNA, the “heredity factor” is absent, and anorexics show no abnormalities of the brain through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Ruling out physical causes leaves us to turn to emotional/psychological causes of anorexia. Countless studies indicate these possible psychological causes of anorexia nervosa: Patients exhibit obsessive-compulsive features in many life areas e.g. maintaining rigid schedules, making lists, and “checking” behavior common to those with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

An anorexic will rarely, if ever, bring his or her self in for treatment or be open about their situation and problem. Most of the time, anorexics come to the attention of a therapist through their physician or a concerned family member.

Anorexic patients do not see their behavior as problematic; they see themselves through distorted eyes that tell them that they need to lose even more weight through starvation and excessive exercise. Patients often have co-morbid conditions such as major depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive features.

Anorexics never eat in public, have feelings of personal inadequacy, have a sense of perfectionism, seldom have a social life, and display rigidity in thinking patterns.
Patients have a very restricted emotional affect; real emotional displays (either positive or negative), are superficial or completely absent.  Anorexics have an intense need to control what goes into their bodies. If they believe they lack control in other aspect of their lives, only they have the power to eat or not to eat.

A fairly recent finding in the etiology of Anorexia Nervosa suggests that many sufferers were physically and/or sexually abused as children. As a result of this intrusion to their bodies, they subconsciously seek to make themselves unattractive to avoid future sexual exploitation. They share this characteristic with those suffering from Bulimia Nervosa where sufferers become obese to make themselves unattractive sexually.

Anorexia, it appears, is the result of many psychological factors combined to push the patient to starve themselves and exercise obsessively. One thing is certain though: If left untreated, anorexia nervosa can lead to death.

We’re all familiar with the aftermath of a good holiday meal. You know the one – the kind where you’ve waited all day for that turkey or ham to come out of the oven, along with all the other goodies for side dishes.  By the time you finally sit down, you stuff yourself silly, and then kick back to relax in semi-comatose state.  You’re so full that you can’t move for the rest of the night.

If you suffer from Bulimia Nervosa, none of this happens when you overeat.  And you overeat every day, sometimes several times a day.  But there are no sighs of satisfaction, no feelings of being pleasantly full.  There is only self-hatred for your inability to control your eating.  You have to get rid of what’s making you despise yourself, so you purge your body of the food by causing yourself to vomit, you abuse laxatives and diuretics, and you exercise frantically to avoid more weight gain.  This is the world of the bulimic.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Version Four, Text Revised (DSM-IV-TR), the following behaviors are the diagnostic features of Bulimia Nervosa, paraphrased: Frequent binges of very large amounts of food; lack of control over food. “Secret” eating; never binging when others are present, hording food to eat alone. After binge eating, the person then proceeds to engage in compensatory behavior by inducing vomiting, chronic abuse of laxatives and diuretics, enemas, and excessive exercising. Binge foods include great quantities of sweets and other carbohydrates. Binges are rapid – food is consumed very quickly. Intense feelings of shame, guilt, and self-disgust about binges are a direct result.

Co-existing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety manifest themselves. Purging by vomiting provides relief from the physical discomfort of binge eating; vomiting is induced with fingers, an instrument such as a spoon, or ingesting Ipecac syrup.  After an intense binge-purge episode, there may be total fasting for a day or two, combined with excessive, frantic exercise.  The binge and purge cycle begins all over again.

Not all bulimics go through the binge/purge cycle. There is a secondary category of bulimics called “non-purging”. Non-purging bulimics can be overweight or of normal weight; the former is obsessed with losing weight and the latter is deeply afraid of gaining weight. Non-purging bulimics will frequently binge but rather than purge, they will frantically exercise the calories off and then fast for several days before starting the cycle all over again.

Will power and good character have nothing to do with Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimics take no joy in binging and purging, and when you think about it, the act of purging isn’t all that pleasant. The only thing bulimics hate more than them is food. The situation is a constant war and if bulimics knew how to stop, they would. However, bulimics feel powerless to control anything, and the only key to changing the situation is for the bulimic to believe and understand that they do have the power to change their behavior.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Quick Hit: Doctor offers free advice on eating disorders (the-f-word.org)
• Update on Progress with Eating Disorder (faithallen.wordpress.com)
• Interview with a bulimia survivor (momblognetwork.com)
• ´Presentation Anorexic And Bulimic (slideshare.net)

It can be devastating for a couple to learn that their hopes of having a child of their own are diminished due to fertility problems. Women are often the ones who cope best with the news. Many men find themselves in unfamiliar ground and as a result often begin feeling insecure over their manhood. Why? Researchers and psychologist believe that it goes back to our primal instincts when only the strongest of the clan were allowed to pass on their genetic material.

The male figure in history was supposed to be the provider and ensure the legacy of his genes. It might be a better example to use the animal kingdom and wolf packs in particular. The Alpha male is the strongest male in the pack. It is his genes that are passed onto the next generation along with the Alpha females. If there are fertility problems then one or both are replaced as the pack leaders.

Luckily for humans the need to be the Alpha has diminished with the advent of society and technology. An awareness of human ailments or problems do not have any bearing on whether or not they are useful and productive means of society, have allowed many people the opportunity to speak out about issues such as fertility problems.

If a couple finds themselves facing difficulty getting pregnant there are avenues to turn to for help. The first is to have a complete physical done for both the male and female. The doctor will get a detailed medical history and perform a few routine tests. One of these is to test for any sexually transmitted diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases account for more instances of fertility problems and issues than any other. Many diseases such as Chlamydia or Gonorrhea if left untreated too long can have disastrous consequences for the reproductive system.

The next step in infertility treatments is to find out what the male sperm count is. The odds go down considerably for conception the lower the sperm count. Sperm motility is also a huge factor in conception. The gynecologist will also do a complete diagnostic on the woman’s reproductive system to ensure that her fallopian tubes and ovaries are working correctly. Endometriosis, a disease where tissue grows rampant from the uterus and can cause infertility, is also looked for.

When both the man and woman are physically checked out then the doctor will sit down with them at that point and discuss options available. Science and medical research have brought tremendous leaps in the fields of fertility problems and now there are more options than ever for problems conceiving that have plagued mankind since the beginning of time.