fbpx

Game Changer

Last December, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration changed the conversation when it comes to reconstructive options for women following a mastectomy. That’s when the FDA approved marketing of the AeroForm Tissue Expander.

The device, which is implanted at the time of the mastectomy, gradually fills with carbon dioxide using a remote control given to the patient. Unlike the traditional saline tissue expander, a process that involves painful weekly injections of 50 cubic centimeters of saline, the AeroForm device allows the patient to independently trigger the release of 10 cc of carbon dioxide every three hours, up to three times a day.

Dr. Tracey Stokes
Dr. Tracey Stokes

“Aside from being painless and extremely convenient, it also speeds up the expansion process,” says Tracey Stokes, a Harvard-educated plastic surgeon and a partner with Laura Sudarsky at Esse Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale.

Darice Lang, 61, a two-time breast cancer survivor who underwent a bilateral mastectomy in March 2016 had the AeroForm expander implanted and called it a game changer.

“I had the expanders for 19 days,” Lang says. “It did not interfere with my routine, and I didn’t have to take time to go to the doctor’s office and go through all the pain of the [saline] expansion. It’s empowering to be in control of that.”

The device is covered by insurance companies, but, for patients, the psychological component is the most powerful selling point.

“Patients get to decide when they want to fill, and if they are having a bad day, they don’t have to fill,” Stokes says. “They don’t have to go to the doctor every Tuesday at 10, or leave their work or family to get filled.”

Perhaps the greatest testament to the device is when Stokes herself became a patient.

“I am BRCA positive,” she says, referring to the gene linked with a higher occurrence of breast cancer.

“I have more [medical] knowledge than the average person; when I had to undergo this surgery in May, [AeroForm] is what I opted for. [That’s] a powerful statement about the technology.”

You May Also Like

Hello Day Hosts Pilates Class and Wellness Event With Influencer Ginger Harris at The Diplomat Resort

The athleisure brand aims to provide top-notch quality pieces that cater to women of various body types and sizes.

United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention Takes Action to Address Addiction Crisis

The two-day event in May will be held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center.

Casa Privée in Miami Combines Science-Based Technologies for Mind and Body Enhancement

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, heatless red light LED therapy, and more.

Seagate Beach Club in Delray Beach Hosts Full Moon and Morning Yoga Sessions

Guests of all levels are invited to join, and the public is welcome.

Other Posts

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours Introduces “Tastes of Discovery” Culinary Voyages With World-Renowned Chefs

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours invites culinary enthusiasts and travel enthusiasts to experience the Tastes of Discovery Series, an unparalleled journey that takes passengers along the immaculate Kimberley coastline in Australia and the lively east coast of South America. This exceptional series opens the door to a world of taste, providing a distinctive combination of adventure

The Seagate Hotel in Delray Introduces Golf-Centric Hotel Package

The world-class golf and country club is home to one of the premier championship golf courses in Palm Beach County.

American Cancer Society of Parkland, Coral Springs, Margate and Coconut Creek Hosting Relay For Life Fundraiser

Nearly two million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society.

Diver’s Paradise Brings Under-the-Radar National Park to Forefront 

The commercial charter boat is the only company permitted to bring snorkelers and scuba divers to Biscayne National Park.