TopSurgeons Blog

Adenoidectomy is the surgical procedure in which the adenoids are removed. The adenoids are two small lumps of tissue that lie on either side and at the very back of the throat, where it meets the back of the nose. They often are not understood by the lay public or by physicians who are not otolaryngologists because they are not observed during routine physical examinations because of their location. Between the ages of two and six years old, the adenoids can often swell up and become inflamed (possibly due to a viral infection). This can make it difficult to breath, especially when asleep. Swollen adenoids can also block the eustachian tube, a tube that connects the back of the throat to the middle part of the ear. Blockage of the eustachian tube can lead to a condition called ’secretory otitis media’ or, more commonly, ‘glue ear’. This reduces the child’s hearing until the blockage is relieved. Swollen adenoids are often associated with tonsillitis (infected tonsils) and are usually removed as part of an operation to remove them. In most situations, this surgery is performed as an outpatient at either the hospital or the surgicenter. The adenoids are most commonly removed through the mouth after placing an instrument to open the mouth and retract the palate. A mirror is used to see the adenoids behind the nasal cavity. Several instruments can then be used to remove the adenoids. Adenoids may also be removed through the nasal cavity with a surgical suction instrument called a microdebrider. With this procedure, bleeding is controlled either with packing or suction cautery

Who would have thought that a hike on a warm summer day would have turned into a permanent mark on my upper thigh? Southern Los Angeles is filled with amazing hiking spots and even a bit of infrequently used terrain. For an adventure lover this was very exciting to me, but the overgrowth proved to be a source of poison ivy. Two weeks later and I was covered not only with poison ivy, but with rash-filled wounds from where braches had scratched me.

Now I have a pretty large discolored scar area on my upper right thigh and it isn’t appealing in the least bit. When Neosporin and other scar treatments prove inadequate you can receive some pretty basic procedure called scars revisions.

It’s a surgical method of decreasing the appearance of scars and can even be applied to thick scars like hypertrophic scars and keloid scars which can otherwise be difficult to remove. You’re a candidate if you simply have a scar that you want to make appear less noticeable.

Each scar situation has to be approached differently, but the procedures are fairly simple and pain free. You usually only have to have one treatment. Treatments take anywhere from 30minutes to two hours depending on the size, location and severity of the scar. So if you have a scar that just won’t fade, it really makes sense to go through with something like scars revisions.

The average price is around $1800 but can be more or less depending on the scar.

You’ve Got That Healing Touch…

Frozen back, stiff neck, aching neck? These are often the symptoms of work related stress. Some times hunching over the computer brings it on. Perhaps simple tension is enough to send you into spasms. Chronic fatigue in muscles and ligaments even reduced circulation may result.

Fifty million Americans receive a massage each year and indications show massage therapy is on the increase. Deep tissue massage employs targeted finger pressure to ease the stiffness in muscles and ligaments. The technique can also increase circulation and lymphatic drainage. The power of healing in the form of touch has been an alternative form of medicine for centuries. Massage has been shown to reduce the effects of chronic headaches, insomnia chronic fatigue range of motion even – anxiety. There are various types of massage, those trained to perform any or all of the techniques should provide their credentials in their place of business. Swedish massage is a light massage, and involves long gliding strokes across the whole body. Sports massage is usually deep tissue and is designed for those who see a trainer and are highly involved in sports training. Aromatherapy massage involves aromatic essential oils combined with a massage that stimulates pressure points and increases blood circulation. Any way you look at it; a good massage sounds great to all of us, no matter what the ailment we are seeking to relieve.

I could be wrong, but I don’t really think that home remedies are really a very safe way of removing a mole. Mole Removal is usually a pretty simple and painless procedure, so if you’re bothered by the appearance of a mole that you have or even think that there’s a slight possibility that it could be cancerous or become cancerous then I would get it checked out by a dermatologist. They can do pretty quick procedures to zap it off for you.

When I was younger I had a mole on the back of my leg so small I didn’t even notice it myself. I went for a dermatologist visit and she noted that it might have the potential of being cancerous so she zapped it off for me. No pain. No worries.

There are two main types of removal - either save removal or excision surgery. Don’t let the word surgery scare you. It’s not as bad as it sounds. With shave removal, the mole is removed by a special blade that is designed to do the job. With the excision surgery, the mole is removed with a bit of the surrounding skin.

There’s no pain - the area is numbed. If it is a small mole then it probably won’t cost too much. In the realm of a few hundred dollars. Plus, if there is a medical reason behind removing the mole like the fact that it may be cancerous for example then many insurance companies will cover it.

Migraines are painful and annoying, especially if they occur several times a week. They are not just headaches. They also include nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, vomiting, light spots, speech difficulty, and numbness. A headache is merely one of the symptoms of a migraine. Unfortunately, migraines are an actual disease. Migraine pain is caused by an expansion of the blood vessels, while headache pain is caused by the narrowing of the blood vessels. A migraine causes the tissue around your brain to exacerbate. Medication used to treat headaches can actually make a Botox worse! One migraine, usually without treatment, can last up to eight hours. Some can even last for days or months. Since migraine is a neurological disorder, it can be treated with Intradermal Botox. Intradermal Botox is used to treat a variety of pain disorders. It is also known as BONTA: botulinum Toxin Type A. This type of procedure is where Botox is inserted into the skin, not into the muscles. It has actually been proven to relieve head pain. With more and more studies being done on Intradermal Botox , this can be a promising treatment for migraine sufferers. Check it out today if current treatments are not working for you.

Chronic Lateral ankle pain is actually a type of ankle pain that develops after an injury like a sprained ankle. There are, however, other ways such pain can develop. Signs of Chronic Lateral ankle pain are as follows: First of all, the pain itself is usually on the otter part of the ankle and because of its intensity one will have trouble walking or exerting large amounts of pressure. Uneven ground or wearing high heels makes it particularly difficult to walk. There will also be swelling, stiffness, tenderness and or repeated sprains.

The most common way of developing chronic lateral ankle pain is getting a sprain and then having the area not heal completely. The connecting tissue called ligaments stretches and tears during a sprain and without careful and complete rehabilitation the ankle is at risk of additional injuries. Also, if during an ankle injury, a nerve that passes through the ankle gets injured or pinched it will cause pain. A torn or inflamed tendon, arthritis or even a fracture in the bone can also cause chronic pain.

Treatments for such ankle pain included receiving anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. Physically therapy with tilt-board exercises which are directed at strengthening the muscles. An orthotist may recommend an ankle brace or other type of support. Your doctor may suggest an injection or a steroid medication. Future sprains and fractures should be handled with care – immobilization to allow the bone to heal is key.

Actinic Keratosis (AKs) are dry, scaly, rough-textured patches or lesions that form on the outermost layer of the skin after years of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as sunlight. These lesions typically range in color from skin-toned to reddish brown and in size from that of a pinhead to larger than a quarter. Occasionally, a lesion grows to resemble an animal horn and is called a “cutaneous horn.”

It is important that anyone with AKs be under a dermatologist’s care. AKs are considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer and have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that can be fatal. Anyone who develops AKs has extensive sun-damaged skin. This makes one more susceptible to other forms of skin cancer, including melanoma. Melanoma is considered the most lethal form of skin cancer because it can rapidly spread to the lymph system and internal organs. Years of sun exposure cause AKs to develop. All AKs, including actinic cheilitis, develop in the skin cells called the “keratinocytes”, which are the tough-walled cells that make up 90% of the epidermis, the outermost layer of skin, and give the skin its texture. Years of sun exposure cause these cells to change in size, shape, and the way they are organized. Cellular damage can even extend to the dermis, the layer of skin beneath the epidermis.

Individuals with fair skin, a history of cumulative sun exposure, or a weak immune system are at greatest risk for developing AKs. These lesions develop on areas of the body that have received years of sun exposure, such as the face, ears, lip, scalp, neck, forearms, and back of the hands. AKs usually appear after age 40 because they take years to develop. However, even teens can have AKs when they live in areas that receive high-intensity sunlight year round, such as Florida and Southern California.

Research shows that p53, a mutant protein found in sun-damaged cells in the body, is present in more than 90% of people who have AKs and squamous cell carcinomas.

moles can be a natural occurrence of the skin, such as a birthmark. Sometimes moles can occur out of nowhere, especially if your skin is known for having many freckles.

Nearly all moles do not pose any threat, but some do. Some moles can be cancerous. The important thing is prevention. To prevent skin cancer from a mole you must use measures to keep track of it. If it changes in color, size, shape, or appearance you need to let your medical health professional know immediately and be seen.

Some risk factors for skin cancer concerning moles are having moles when you are born, having numerous moles, and moles that run in families. If you have one or more of these risk factors, you should see a dermatologist.

According to the Mayo Clinic Online, you should seek medical attention if a new mole appears after age twenty, if it’s itchy, painful, oozing, bleeding, burning, inflamed, scaly, crusty, change in any way, or if you simply are concerned.

Many people want to have a mole removed for cosmetic reasons, and that’s good too. There are three options you have -

1. Shave Excision: Your doctor will numb the area and the mole will be removed with a small blade.

2. Punch Biopsy: Your doctor will use a device that acts sort of like a cookie cutter.

3. Excisional Surgery: Your mole will be cut out along with the surrounding healthy skin.

Birthmarks can be annoying, and even lower one’s self-esteem. Some birthmarks do fade or completely go away as we age, but some just stay. If you are self-conscious about your birthmark, or simply want it removed to prevent skin cancer, you can and should.

Laser therapy and surgery are usually the two choices for removing a birthmark, but it depends on the size and appearance of the birthmark.

Laser Therapy is used to treat birthmarks that are close to the surface of the skin. This method can be performed at any age. During treatment, tiny bursts of laser light are aimed at the birthmark in order to shrink it or to make it stop growing. Several visits may be essential to achieve the best results.

Surgery is used when other non-surgical treatments have not worked. A hemangioma that is large, or found on an internal organ also requires surgery and general anesthesia.

I was grocery shopping the other day when I came across a magazine with Ashlee Simpson on the cover. She’s finally telling the truth about her plastic surgery. As if we all didn’t notice she got a nose job. Come on, she went from looking mannish to looking pretty darn good. That’s right. Pretty darn good. In fact, I kinda think she looks cute. Having such thoughts made me think a bit. Is it really that bad that people are having these procedures done? Ashley apparently had Chin Surgery and nose surgery which is also called Rhinoplasty I mean Hollywood celebs are one thing, but maybe it isn’t so bad to get work done if it’s really going to make you feel better about yourself. The sad fact of the matter is we are a superficial world in a lot of ways, but we can’t go around with this attitude of trying to change people by saying “just see the inner beauty.” It’s human nature to want to look at pretty things and sadly enough if you’re disrupted by your own looks, uncomfortable with yourself, or experiencing low self esteem because of the way you look than it can have an effect on everything else in your life - your career, your social life, your love life.

We should feel good about ourselves for many reasons. Give yourself a pat on the back if you succeed on the job. Reward yourself if you get an extra hour or two of exercise in each week, and if you’re bothered by the bump in your nose that Mother Nature blessed you with, then chalk it up to giving you character up until that point and then lop it off.

Good for you Ashlee. Hope your plastic surgery is helping you L.O.V. E., L.O.V.E yourself a little bit more.