Bay Area Plastic Surgeon On Reducing Risks and Improving Surgical Care

Posted on February 11, 2014

Dr. Lauren Greenberg analyzes her pre-operative and post-operative practices to reduce surgical risks associated with infection and blood clots.

Palo Alto, CA – According to Dr. Lauren Greenberg, her private Palo Alto plastic surgery practice allows her to provide an intimate setting for her patients where she can focus on each person’s unique questions, concerns, and aesthetic goals. She says she values one-on-one doctor-patient interactions and the rapport she has with her patients. Due in part to this commitment to individualized attention, Dr. Greenberg says she remains attentive to continually improving the quality of surgical care she provides.

In a blog post titled “Surgery Care Improvements. Shaving? Cold? What Improves Your Outcome?,” Dr. Greenberg gives an overview of an article published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal. The article, “Core Measures: Implications for Plastic Surgery,” discussed recent recommendations by the US Department of Health Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations on how to reduce a variety of risks during surgery. The three main areas of focus were blood clots, infections, and mortality. Dr. Greenberg read this article with an eye toward how she could apply the information to her role as a plastic surgeon.

To reduce the risk of blood clots after surgery, Dr. Greenberg utilizes leg compression devices during all procedures when their use might be a benefit. In addition, she encourages early ambulation for all of her patients to stimulate blood flow and boost circulation as soon as possible. For patients who are deemed higher risk for surgery, Dr. Greenberg discusses using low molecular weight heparin medication for anticoagulation.

To reduce infections and mortality, Dr. Greenberg says there are many contributing factors for surgeons to keep in mind, such as:

The Palo Alto plastic surgeon notes that her team administers antibiotics before surgical start to help ward off infection. However, according to the US Department of Health, there is a debate about the use of antibiotics after procedures such as breast augmentation or tummy tuck surgery. Antibiotics have the capacity to alter the bacteria in your body and they may become resistant to the drugs, causing Clostridium difficile infection.

Since using a catheter for more than two days increases the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs), Dr. Greenberg prefers to use them as little as possible. While some surgeries require the use of a catheter, Dr. Greenberg tries to minimize the need for them not only to reduce the risk of UTIs but also to force patients to leave their beds and move around to increase circulation and decrease the likelihood of blood clots.

Even an act as simple as shaving with a razor can increase the chance of infection. At Dr. Greenberg’s practice, if a patient’s hair needs to be trimmed for an operation – for example, the pubic area when preparing for a tummy tuck procedure – she says electric clippers are used instead of a razor so as not to irritate the skin before surgery.

Ultimately, Dr. Greenberg believes her attention to details such as these distinguish her level of care and contribute to successful surgical outcomes and healthy satisfied patients.

About Lauren Greenberg, MD

A graduate of Dartmouth College, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lauren Greenberg earned her medical degree at Northwestern University Medical School. Afterward, she completed both her general surgery residency and her plastic surgery residency at Stanford University. In addition to completing additional fellowship training that focused specifically on breast and cosmetic surgery, Dr. Greenberg delivers national medical presentations and has published chapters in several surgical textbooks. She is available for interview upon request.

For more information about Dr. Greenberg’s practice, please visit laurengreenbergmd.com or facebook.com/laurengreenbergmd.

Contact:

Lauren Greenberg, MD
750 Welch Road, Suite 117
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 617-9907

Rosemont Media
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(858) 200-0044
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