PS credentials.

[Guest guest]

To all, It is very important to listen to what Dr. Kolb has said about people making claims about microsurgery in relation to explantation and mastopexy. As Dr. Kolb has stated, microsurgery involves doing just that---microsurgery with vessels, and tendons, and whatever else. It is the fine and highly skilled technique of putting together nerves and vessels so that someone can function again without deficits. That said, there are doctors who do practice surgery which involves preventing unsightly scars, and these doctors have been specially trained. In reading Dr. Huang's CV, it states: "She studied plastic surgery at Duke University. A member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, and the author of several scientific articles, she has a particular interest in preventing unsightly scars for which she was awarded a grant from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery." The key words above is that she was awarded and recognized for her speciality by the ASAPS, which is different than the ABPRS. Because the ASAPS has recognized her interest, they support and helped fund her schooling to research ways to minimize scarring. But she still utilizes the suturing techniques that most other ps' use--she just may be more adept with her hands and/or know a slightly different way to suture which will leave even less of a scar. Dr. Huang is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, and American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. But if someone is claiming that a ps is skilled and trained in microsurgery in relation to the breasts, than they are misleading you terribly. I have seen microsurgery done by two of the hand specialists here in Denver (Dr. Kolb have you heard of either of these ps'--Dr. Pav and Dr. Mouchantat?). The hospital I worked at was a Level I Trauma Center, and we'd get lots of GSW's (gunshot wounds) where the hand would be cut off, or a finger would be sliced off, and these 2 docs were called in to work their magic. I have watched them use the tiniest instruments, and microscropes and special headgear over their eyes just to reattach hands and/or digits. The surgery is often long and grueling because you are dealing with such tiny vessels and nerves, and it's nothing for one of these microsurgery surgeries to take 8 hrs or longer, depending on how much damage is done. So, you can see how microsurgery does not play into explantation or mastopexy at all. Explantation and mastopexy scars just depend on how skilled the ps is in suturing. Typically, a ps will do a good job, but again, it's worth checking out previous pts to see how they like their scars and if they're very noticeable. And ask to see the before and after pics that every ps takes. Usually they have a catalog or 2 of these pics. You can then see their work. And of course, it always helps to have someone like Dr. Huang who has that special interest and will do all that she can to minimize scarring and not just by using internal sutures. Hope this helps some of the confusion. e

[Guest guest]

e:

Thanks for clarifying this matter. Your expertise and education is a big help to

us.

LM