Putting Your Best Foot Forward with Cosmetic Foot Surgery

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Rob (Last updated on February 21, 2013)

For some ladies, slipping on the perfect pair of stilettos may require sculpting the perfect feet to match. A growing number of women are going beyond the standard pedicure in favor of cosmetic foot surgery (also known as cosmetic podiatry) to improve the way they look and feel in their favorite shoes.

Referred to as the “Cinderella treatment” by one specialist, these minimally invasive procedures can be performed for the sake of beauty alone, or in conjunction with the treatment of an underlying medical condition.

Common conditions motivating patients to choose cosmetic foot surgery include:

  • Crooked or Hammer Toes – one toe angled toward the other toes instead of sitting in straight or toes bent in a claw position.
  • Bunions – a painful, bony bump protruding just below the big toe.
  • Corns and Callouses – uncomfortable thickening of dry  skin causing pressure and friction.

For each of these conditions, cosmetic foot surgery provides relief of discomfort and an improvement in the appearance of the feet.  Incisions are inconspicuous so that any scaring is not readily visible.

According to Dr. Nancy Kadel, MD, a foot and ankle surgeon at the University of Washington in Seattle, requests are also up from women seeking surgery to narrow their feet, shorten their toes or to receive collagen or silicone injected into the pads of their feet for great comfort in high heels. “These are surgeries done on structurally normal feet that are pain-free,” she said.

The recent increase in demand for cosmetic foot surgery has stirred some controversy among Podiatric specialists. Prompting a statement from the American Podiatric Medical Association cautioning that cosmetic surgical procedures pose risks similar to that of traditional surgeries.

Patients considering cosmetic foot surgery  are advised by the American Podiatric Medical Association to consult with a credentialed Podiatrist.  Any specialist performing surgery for medical or cosmetic reasons should have appropriate training and experience to properly perform the surgery and manage the post-operative care.

Read more about cosmetic foot surgery in Inland Empire, CA.

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How to Recognize and Treat Spider Angiomas

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Rob (Last updated on February 21, 2013)

Spider angiomas often disappear as quietly as they show up. You wouldn’t even know you had the skin condition, except that it frequently forms on the face and other visible areas such as the neck, upper trunk and arms. Also called spider nevus, spider angiomas vary in size from 1-10 mm in diameter, and are characterized as a vascular lesion.

The condition is named for its hallmark, spider-like shape: a central, red dot surrounded by tiny blood vessels that radiate outward.

The vascular lesion is common, harmless, and does not discriminate. Children, men and women can all develop spider angiomas. While the lesions themselves are benign, the evidence of spider angiomas can sometimes signal an internal disorder or hormonal imbalance. The condition often develops when there are excess levels of estrogen in the body due to pregnancy or the birth control pill. Also, liver disease can cause spider angiomas when the liver fails to process estrogen like it normally would. Those with thyrotoxicosis, or hyperthyroidism, may also be prone to spider angiomas.

Treatment is usually unnecessary as spider angiomas clear up when the underlying hormonal imbalance is corrected. For pregnant women, the condition disappears between six weeks to nine months postpartum. This time frame also holds true for women who discontinue the birth control pill. If you are dealing with cirrhosis, regression occurs after liver transplantation.

Spider Angioma Removal Options

Though spider angioma removal is medically unnecessary, some patients seek treatment for cosmetic reasons. The following procedures may successfully remove this type of lesion. All three are directed at applying heat to the tissues in order to seal off the blood vessels that form the spider angioma.

  • Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): heat from light pulses seals off the blood vessels
  • Electrocautery: electrical current is applied via a needle to seal off the blood vessels
  • Laser surgery: directed laser beam seals off the vessels

There is a slight risk that these procedures will cause scarring. Left untreated, some spider angiomas are permanent, others fade over time. Visit your local Southern CA vascular surgeon if you are bothered by spider angiomas.

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Superficial Vein Thrombosis Treatment

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Rob (Last updated on February 21, 2013)

If you are suffering from inflammation of a vein located close to the skin’s surface, you may have what is called superficial vein thrombosis. This condition is directly caused by the formation of a blood clot in a superficial vein, a diagnosis that your vascular surgeon can confirm with ultrasound or venography.

When treating superficial vein thrombosis, tour vascular surgeon will work to reduce both inflammation and pain. For mildly painful thrombophlebitis, doctors often recommend that their patients follow these steps:

  • Wear support stockings
  • Keep the affected leg elevated
  • Apply warm compresses
  • Take Ibuprofen or similar nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Support stockings work to lightly compress the legs, which reduces swelling and encourages blood flow. Elevating the affected leg and applying a warm compress to the area can bring similar benefits. Applying gentle heat not only reduces inflammation, but it also feels great.

If you are dealing with mild thrombosis you should be able to continue with your everyday activities, though intense exercise may aggravate the problem. Be sure to speak with your doctor for treatment recommendations tailored to you. It will probably only take a few days for the inflammation to diminish, but it may be a few weeks for all of your symptoms to disappear.

For those who are experiencing acute pain, treatment may involve surgical removal of the clot. After surgery, a compression bandage should be worn for about a week to support healing and reduce swelling.

Finally, treatment for superficial thrombosis should also treat its cause. If, for example, your doctor discovers that an infection is the root cause of the inflammation, he will prescribe antibiotics. If you are prone to sitting for prolonged periods, making behavior changes will be important.

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What is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Rob (Last updated on February 21, 2013)

Today nearly thirty four percent of American adults are obese, which is more than twice the percentage 30 years ago. It is no wonder then, that gastric bypass surgery is such a popular weight loss surgery in the United States. If anything, there has been an increase in the need for Roux-en-Y bypass surgeries since Dr. Mason conducted the first in 1967.

During the Roux-en-Y procedure, a small portion of the top of the stomach is detached and reconnected to the middle of the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach as well as a portion of the small intestine.

What makes this form of gastric bypass surgery so effective is that the new, smaller stomach pouch is too small to hold any more than a few ounces of food at a time. Big eaters are forced to eat smaller portions of food. Patients also have to learn to eat slower, as eating quickly can induce vomiting.

Not only does the surgery require that patients relearn how to eat, the new stomach pouch absorbs fewer calories, which leads to greater weight loss.

Roux-en-Y Risks

Because the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a major surgery it may surprise you that the procedure has fewer complications than other bariatric surgeries. But there are, of course, serious risks that you should consider.

As with any surgery, there is risk of infection in the incisions. Also, a relatively high percentage of patients develop gallstones following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Some surgeons even remove the gall bladder during the procedure to circumvent this risk.

If you are planning to undergo Roux-en-Y surgery, your doctor will likely recommend that you begin taking nutritional supplements in order to prevent conditions such as anemia, osteoporosis, or chronic B12 deficiency. Nutritional deficiencies occur because a portion of the stomach is bypassed and food is eliminated more quickly. Other possible complications include the development of ulcers and hernias.

Do The Benefits of Roux-en-Y Outweigh The Risks?

This is a question you will need to take time to consider. Many patients who receive Roux-en-Y surgery are largely overweight (BMI of 40 or higher) and are already facing life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. For these individuals, this procedure can be life saving.

Patients who undergo the surgery can expect to lose weight immediately after surgery and continue losing for approximately one year after surgery. At that time, weight lost averages at about 80% of the total excess weight. Some of this weight may be regained. On a positive note, many patients who elect to undergo Roux-en-Y surgery are ready to make the life changes necessary to make the positive results from surgery last.

Contact Surgical Arts of Inland Empire to learn more about Roux-en-Y in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

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What to Expect in Thrombophlebitis Treatment

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Rob (Last updated on February 21, 2013)

If you have a blood clot in your leg, you probably also suffer from thrombophlebitis: the inflammation of veins caused specifically by blood clots. Treatment for this condition is aimed at reducing both pain and swelling in the vein.

Because the severity of blood clots and inflammation can vary, so does thrombophlebitis treatment. Some patients will feel better within a few days of treatment that can be done at home, whereas others may require a trip to the emergency room.

Milder or ‘superficial’ thrombophlebitis may only last a week or two if you follow your vascular surgeon’s instructions. He may recommend that you apply heat to your leg for about twenty minutes twice daily. Wearing support hose can help alleviate swelling, as can keeping your leg elevated. For additional help with pain and swelling, you may be advised to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Once your vascular surgeon approves light exercise, regular walking can help maintain circulation and prevent future thrombophlebitis.

If your thrombophlebitis is related to deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot formed in a vein deep in the body, it may be necessary to administer anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin. Heparin acts immediately and must be given by a medical professional. Warafin is taken orally and is often used in long-term treatment for thrombophlebitis. Both medications work to dissolve blood clots.

Because blood clots hinder proper blood circulation, people that have them are at greater risk for infection. For this reason you may be given antibiotics to fight off any impending infections.

Surgery may be needed if your vascular surgeon suspects potential tissue damage. If this is the case, the vein will be stripped or a bypass of the vein will be conducted. Alternatively, a filter can be inserted permanently into the vein of the abdomen called ‘vena cava’ to prevent pulmonary embolus, or the traveling of clots from the legs to the lungs. This approach is especially beneficial for those who cannot tolerate blood thinners.

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