Eden Provides Pro-Bono Surgery to soldiers coming back from Iraq

We decided recently to offer our support to the troops fighting overseas, so we've launched a program to offer free reconstructive surgery for soldiers coming back from deployment who have been wounded and need reconstructive surgery. At this point, we are looking for eligible candidates for surgery. We want to do our part to thank our troops, so if you know of a soldier that may be interested, please let us know. Serving our country is a noble pursuit; the least we can do is help our troops feel better about themselves as they return to daily life here in the states.

Eden in the News

You're not the only one that knows about the care and service we provide; others are noticing too. Here is some recent media coverage about us:

· Eden was recently featured in the "Better Body" segment of My 13 News and Fox 11 News. They covered one of our patients undergoing our new "pain-free" breast technique.

· Telemundo recently featured a botox party at Eden. It will be posted on our website shortly, so keep an eye out.

· One of our patients is featured in an article on CosmeticSurgery.com

 

October 2006

I Think I May Have Carpal Tunnel ...

Dr. Majidian's Corner

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard these words over the past 20 years.  Many people have different kinds of hand symptoms, and for a lot of them –and also for many doctors who don’t specifically treat hand problems- “carpal tunnel syndrome” has become the catch-all diagnosis.  The truth is that there are, obviously, a multitude of things other than carpal tunnel syndrome that can cause various problems for the hands or arms.

Carpal tunnel syndrome specifically refers to problems arising from pressure on one of the nerves going to the hand.  Typically, it can cause pain or numbness of the hand or fingers, weakness, and “clumsiness”.  However, pressure on one of the two other main nerves going to the hand can cause similar symptoms, and it’s important to distinguish the cause before suggesting treatment.  What is treatment?  Well, it can involve anything from weight loss to making your home or office more “user friendly” to a small procedure to relieve pressure on the nerve.  The key is to know what the correct diagnosis is, so that the treatment is appropriate.

There are many other conditions which can lead to symptoms in the arms and hands.  “Tennis elbow” from tendonitis can cause elbow pain (and usually is seen in people who never play tennis!). “Trigger fingers” are from another form of tendonitis, and show up as clicking, popping, or locking of the joints of the fingers.  “Dupuytren’s Contracture” is a progressively worsening problem that can form nodules and cords in the palms, and can cause the fingers to become very stiff. 

These are only a few of the many diagnoses that can lead to pain, numbness, stiffness and other types of hand or arm problems.  The good news is that some type of treatment is available for all of them, and that most of them can be greatly improved or even cured.  A good general advice for many of these conditions is to make sure you’re keeping healthy and that your weight, diabetes, blood pressure, etc. are well controlled, and to avoid whatever activities worsen your symptoms.  Finally, your health insurance should cover the care of these types of problems, and we can perform a more thorough assessment and examination to identify your particular diagnosis, and proceed with appropriate treatment from there.

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August 2006

On Lumps and Bumps…

Dr. Majidian's Corner

We all have them. Well, almost all of us have them. I’m referring to lumps, bumps, and various masses that we can feel and sometimes see, but (unlike moles or skin blemishes) are under the skin. These can feel like “knots” of various sizes, and can appear anywhere from the top of the scalp to the sole of the foot and everywhere in between. They can be soft or firm, movable or “fixed” in one spot, tender or not. Why do we get them, and what, exactly, are they?

While there is often a genetic predisposition to getting these masses, as we age they become more and more common in the general population. Depending on the particular type of mass, they can even occur after a trauma, such as a fall. These masses can be any of a number of things, and may or may not need to be treated. The following are some of the more common causes for these lumps:

Lipomas are benign fatty tumors that can occur almost anywhere in the body. They can be tender and feel pretty firm. Most people prefer to have them removed either because of the discomfort, or if they don’t like their appearance. Epidermoid cysts are fluid filled masses that may or may not appear after an accidental cut or bump. They don’t have to be removed unless they get infected, in which case they can get red, swollen and painful. Ganglions are particular kinds of cysts that often arise around the hand or wrist. While they seem to be just under the skin, they can be deceptively deep, with roots extending down into the tendons or joints. The surgeon has to recognize this and excise the roots, otherwise the cyst is sure to return after removing it. (Incidentally, many moons ago, ganglions were thought to represent “evil” growths. The treatment was to say a prayer and slam a Bible down onto the mass. While this would often rupture the cyst and flatten the area, unfortunately it would almost always come back later).

There are, of course, many other causes for masses as well. It’s always a good idea to at least have a doctor examine a lump or bump, and together you can decide whether or not to remove it. Insurance companies will almost always cover the treatment and excision of these masses, whatever their cause.

Take a look at our new website. It is up and running. We have some updated procedure information and before and after pictures. Let us know what you think.

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July 2006

Beware of Mesotherapy

Dr. Majidian's Corner

Occasionally, one of my clients will ask if I perform mesotherapy. The answer is no, and I thought I would share my thoughts on the procedure and why I don’t use it. Simply put, mesotherapy involves injecting various ingredients into the deep dermis (skin) or underlying tissue in an effort to “melt” fat. While this sounds great, the problem is there are no good scientific studies evaluating the efficiency, or even the safety, of most of the mesotherapy protocols out there. And what’s more, there is no uniformity to mesotherapy treatments.

By lack of uniformity, I mean that different mesotherapy “practitioners” use different ingredients in their solutions. Various solutions have included detergents, fish oil, plant extracts,alcohol, and even cooking oil! Furthermore, there isn’t even a standard protocol for the amounts of various ingredients used. This means that twenty different practitioners can be injecting completely different ingredients, and in different amounts and ratios, making it impossible to evaluate the safety or usefulness of the process as a whole.

There are numerous reports of mesotherapy complications in medical literature, including infections, rashes, hard scar tissue formation, damage to the skin and soft tissue causing large open wounds, and other problems. Even if you’re lucky enough to avoid complications, there is still a very good chance you won’t see any benefit from the treatments! To date, the FDA has not exercised its enforcement power to restrict the use of these injections.

Currently, the Mesotherapy Committee of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (to which I belong) is initiating the process of trying to standardize treatments and have the FDA evaluate the process. It will probably be a year or more before any meaningful results are available; until then, I am strongly advising my family, friends and clients to avoid this as yet untested, unproven process.

I hope you had a happy, safe, Fourth of July, and, as always, feel free to call us with any questions or topics you’d like to see addressed in this newsletter. Thanks!

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June 2006

The 21st Century “Tummy Tuck”; not your grandmother’s tummy tuck anymore!

Dr. Majidian's Corner

While your grandmother may not have ever had a tummy tuck, it’s certainly true that the tummy tucks we do today have little resemblance to those done 20 or even 10 years ago. Tummy tucks are among the most misunderstood procedures among the public. Some think of them as drastic operations, and many people think they are only meant for women who are left with extra abdominal skin after having children.

In reality, tummy tucks, or abdominoplasties, are consistently among the most popular and commonly performed procedures nationwide. Not only that, but there are more types of tummy tucks than ever before, with different length scars, different amounts of “down time” afterward, and different magnitudes of results. In my practice alone, I choose from among about ten different options when I am evaluating someone who may be a tummy tuck candidate. I will often do liposuction to enhance the results of the procedure, and considering the various liposuction options available today, it’s no wonder I may perform three tummy tucks on three friends, but with each one being a totally unique approach!

What this means is that I completely individualize and tailor my approach to fit the goals of each individual, from the woman who has a little “pooch” of her lower abdomen which she can’t get rid of on her own, to the person who has lost a significant amount of weight, and needs a more extensive body lift and contouring.

From a plastic surgeon’s perspective, it’s extremely gratifying to know we can address the needs and desires of so many people in so many ways. I hope this article has shed a little light on a hazy subject, and, as always, feel free to call us with any questions.

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